Deprotonative metalation of substituted aromatics using mixed lithium-cobalt combinations

International audienceThe deprotonation of anisole was attempted using different homo- and heteroleptic TMP/Bu mixed lithium-cobalt combinations. Using iodine to intercept the metalated anisole, an optimization of the reaction conditions showed that in THF at room temperature 2 equiv of base were required to suppress the formation of the corresponding 2,2'-dimer. The origin of the dimer was not identified, but its formation was favored with allyl bromide as electrophile. The metalated anisole was efficiently trapped using iodine, anisaldehyde, and chlorodiphenylphosphine, and moderately employing benzophenone, and benzoyl chloride. 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene were similarly converted regioselectively to the corresponding iodides. It was observed that 2-methoxy- and 2,6-dimethoxypyridine were more prone to dimerization than the corresponding benzenes when treated similarly. Involving ethyl benzoate in the metalation-iodination sequence showed the method was not suitable to functionalize substrates bearing reactive functions

Interaction of Iron II Complexes with B-DNA. Insights from Molecular Modeling, Spectroscopy, and Cellular Biology

We report the characterization of the interaction between B-DNA and three terpyridin iron II complexes. Relatively long time-scale molecular dynamics is used in order to characterize the stable interaction modes. By means of molecular modeling and UV-vis spectroscopy, we prove that they may lead to stable interactions with the DNA duplex. Furthermore, the presence of larger π-conjugated moieties also leads to the appearance of intercalation binding mode. Non-covalent stabilizing interactions between the iron complexes and the DNA are also characterized and evidenced by the analysis of the gradient of the electronic density. Finally, the structural deformations induced on the DNA in the different binding modes are also evidenced. The synthesis and chemical characterization of the three complexes is reported, as well as their absorption spectra in presence of DNA duplexes to prove the interaction with DNA. Finally, their effects on human cell cultures have also been evidenced to further enlighten their biological effects

Rocaglates as dual-targeting agents for experimental cerebral malaria

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe and rapidly progressing complication of infection by Plasmodium parasites that is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Treatment options are currently few, and intervention with artemisinin (Art) has limited efficacy, a problem that is compounded by the emergence of resistance to Art in Plasmodium parasites. Rocaglates are a class of natural products derived from plants of the Aglaia genus that have been shown to interfere with eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A), ultimately blocking initiation of protein synthesis. Here, we show that the rocaglate CR-1-31B perturbs association of Plasmodium falciparum eIF4A (PfeIF4A) with RNA. CR-1-31B shows potent prophylactic and therapeutic antiplasmodial activity in vivo in mouse models of infection with Plasmodium berghei (CM) and Plasmodium chabaudi (blood-stage malaria), and can also block replication of different clinical isolates of P. falciparum in human erythrocytes infected ex vivo, including drug-resistant P. falciparum isolates. In vivo, a single dosing of CR-1-31B in P. berghei-infected animals is sufficient to provide protection against lethality. CR-1-31B is shown to dampen expression of the early proinflammatory response in myeloid cells in vitro and dampens the inflammatory response in vivo in P. berghei-infected mice. The dual activity of CR-1-31B as an antiplasmodial and as an inhibitor of the inflammatory response in myeloid cells should prove extremely valuable for therapeutic intervention in human cases of CM.We thank Susan Gauthier, Genevieve Perreault, and Patrick Senechal for technical assistance. This work was supported by a research grant (to P.G.) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (Foundation Grant). J.P. and P.G. are supported by a James McGill Professorship salary award. D.L. is supported by fellowships from the Fonds de recherche sante Quebec, the CIHR Neuroinflammation training program. J.P. is supported by CIHR Research Grant FDN-148366. M.S. is supported by a CIHR Foundation grant. J.A.P. is supported by NIH Grant R35 GM118173. Work at the Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery is supported by Grant R24 GM111625. K.C.K. was supported by a CIHR Foundation Grant and the Canada Research Chair program. (Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); James McGill Professorship salary award; Fonds de recherche sante Quebec; CIHR Neuroinflammation training program; FDN-148366 - CIHR Research Grant; CIHR Foundation grant; R35 GM118173 - NIH; Canada Research Chair program; R24 GM111625

Efficient two-step access to azafluorenones and related compounds

International audienceCrystals of a lithiocuprate prepared from copper(I) chloride and lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (2 equiv) were isolated and analyzed by X-ray diffraction as (TMP)2Cu(Cl)Li2*THF. The observation of this species is consistent with its having a role in deprotocupration-aroylation. Phenyl pyridyl ketones, phenyl quinolyl ketones, and phenyl thienyl ketones were prepared in tetrahydrofuran using the lithiocuprate and aroyl chorides as electrophiles. Diaryl ketones bearing a chloro group at the 2 position (of a pyridyl or phenyl group) thus synthesized were next converted through palladium-catalyzed ring closure to polycycles of the 5H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridin-5-one, 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinolin-11-one, 9H-indeno[2,1-c]pyridin-9-one, and 8H-indeno[2,1-b]thiophen-8-one families

Deproto-metallation using mixed lithium-zinc and lithium-copper bases and computed CH acidity of 2-substituted quinolines

International audience2-Substituted quinolines were synthesized, and their deproto-metallation using the bases prepared by mixing LiTMP with either ZnCl2*TMEDA (1/3 equiv) or CuCl (1/2 equiv) was studied. With phenyl and 2-naphthyl substituents, the reaction occurred at the 8 position of the quinoline ring, affording the corresponding iodo derivatives or 2-chlorophenyl ketones using the lithium-zinc or the lithium-copper combination, respectively. With a 4-anisyl substituent, a dideprotonation at the 8 and 3' position was noted using the lithium-zinc base. With 3-pyridyl, 2-furyl and 2-thienyl substituents, the reaction took place on the subtituent, at a position adjacent to its heteroatom. 2-Chlorophenyl 2-phenyl-8-quinolyl ketone could be cyclized under palladium catalysis. The experimental results were analyzed with the help of the CH acidities of the substrates, determined in THF solution using the DFT B3LYP method

NHC-Based Iron Sensitizers for DSSCs

Nanostructured dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are promising photovoltaic devices because of their low cost and transparency. Ruthenium polypyridine complexes have long been considered as lead sensitizers for DSSCs, allowing them to reach up to 11% conversion efficiency. However, ruthenium suffers from serious drawbacks potentially limiting its widespread applicability, mainly related to its potential toxicity and scarcity. This has motivated continuous research efforts to develop valuable alternatives from cheap earth-abundant metals, and among them, iron is particularly attractive. Making iron complexes applicable in DSSCs is highly challenging due to an ultrafast deactivation of the metal-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) states into metal-centered (MC) states, leading to inefficient injection into TiO2. In this review, we present our latest developments in the field using Fe(II)-based photosensitizers bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, and their use in DSSCs. Special attention is paid to synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical, and computational characterization

Structural and metal-halogen exchange reactivity studies of sodium magnesiate biphenolate complexes

Bimetallic sodium magnesiates have been employed in metal-halogen exchange for the first time. Utilising the racemic phenoxide ligand 5,5´,6,6´-tetramethyl-3,3´-di-tert-butyl-1,1´-biphenyl-2,2´-diol [(rac)-BIPHEN-H2], the dialkyl sodium magnesiates [(rac)-BIPHEN]Na2MgBu2(TMEDA)2 3 and [(rac)-BIPHEN]Na2MgBu2(PMDETA)2 4 have been synthesised. Both 3 and 4 can be easily prepared through co-complexation of di-n-butylmagnesium with the sodiated (rac)-BIPHEN precursor which can be prepared in situ in hydrocarbon solvent. Prior to the main investigation, synthesis of the sodiated precursor [BIPHEN]2Na4(THF)4 1 was explored in order to better understand the formation of sodium magnesiates utilising the dianionic (rac)-BIPHEN ligand as the parent ligand. In addition, a BIPHEN-rich sodium magnesiate [BIPHEN]2Na2Mg(THF)4 2 was prepared and characterised, and its formation was rationalised. Complex 1 and 4 have also been fully characterised in both solid and solution state. In terms of onward reactivity, 3 and 4 have been tested as potential exchange reagents with aryl and heteroaryl iodides to produce aryl and heteroaryl magnesium phenoxides utilising toluene as a non-polar hydrocarbon solvent. Complex 3 reacted smoothly to give a range of aryl and heteroaryl magnesium phenoxides, whilst 4’s reactivity is more sluggish

C5 deficiency and C5a or C5aR blockade protects against cerebral malaria

Experimental infection of mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) provides a powerful model to define genetic determinants that regulate the development of cerebral malaria (CM). Based on the hypothesis that excessive activation of the complement system may confer susceptibility to CM, we investigated the role of C5/C5a in the development of CM. We show a spectrum of susceptibility to PbA in a panel of inbred mice; all CM-susceptible mice examined were found to be C5 sufficient, whereas all C5-deficient strains were resistant to CM. Transfer of the C5-defective allele from an A/J (CM resistant) onto a C57BL/6 (CM-susceptible) genetic background in a congenic strain conferred increased resistance to CM; conversely, transfer of the C5-sufficient allele from the C57BL/6 onto the A/J background recapitulated the CM-susceptible phenotype. The role of C5 was further explored in B10.D2 mice, which are identical for all loci other than C5. C5-deficient B10.D2 mice were protected from CM, whereas C5-sufficient B10.D2 mice were susceptible. Antibody blockade of C5a or C5a receptor (C5aR) rescued susceptible mice from CM. In vitro studies showed that C5a-potentiated cytokine secretion induced by the malaria product P. falciparum glycosylphosphatidylinositol and C5aR blockade abrogated these amplified responses. These data provide evidence implicating C5/C5a in the pathogenesis of CM

Bacterial Symbiosis Maintenance in the Asexually Reproducing and Regenerating Flatworm Paracatenula galateia

Bacteriocytes set the stage for some of the most intimate interactions between animal and bacterial cells. In all bacteriocyte possessing systems studied so far, de novo formation of bacteriocytes occurs only once in the host development, at the time of symbiosis establishment. Here, we present the free-living symbiotic flatworm Paracatenula galateia and its intracellular, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as a system with previously undescribed strategies of bacteriocyte formation and bacterial symbiont transmission. Using thymidine analogue S-phase labeling and immunohistochemistry, we show that all somatic cells in adult worms – including bacteriocytes – originate exclusively from aposymbiotic stem cells (neoblasts). The continued bacteriocyte formation from aposymbiotic stem cells in adult animals represents a previously undescribed strategy of symbiosis maintenance and makes P. galateia a unique system to study bacteriocyte differentiation and development. We also provide morphological and immunohistochemical evidence that P. galateia reproduces by asexual fragmentation and regeneration (paratomy) and, thereby, vertically transmits numerous symbiont-containing bacteriocytes to its asexual progeny. Our data support the earlier reported hypothesis that the symbiont population is subjected to reduced bottleneck effects. This would justify both the codiversification between Paracatenula hosts and their Candidatus Riegeria symbionts, and the slow evolutionary rates observed for several symbiont genes

Proteomic Analysis of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Isolated from RAW 264.7 Macrophages

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