Isomorphism in Two (E)-1-(4-Halophenyl)-N-[1-(4-Methylphenyl)-1H-Imidazol-4-yl]Methanimines (Halide = Cl, Br)

The crystal structures of two imidazole-4-imines, (E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-[1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl]methanimine (1, C17H14ClN3), and (E)-1-(4-bromophenyl)-N-[1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl]methanimine, (2, C17H14BrN3), are isomorphous, the isostructurality index is 99.4 %. Both compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group P-1 with unit cell parameters at 100(1) K as follows: for (1), a = 7.9767(5) Å, b = 10.9517(7) Å, c = 16.6753(12) Å, α = 80.522(6)°, β = 87.046(6)°, γ = 89.207(5)°, and for (2), a = 8.0720(7) Å, b = 10.9334(10) Å, c = 16.8433(13) Å, α = 81.161(7)°, β = 86.605(7)°, γ = 89.505(7)°. The structures contain two symmetry—independent but conformationally similar molecules in the asymmetric unit (Z’ = 2). In both compounds the overall twist of the molecule, defined as the dihedral angle between the terminal phenyl ring planes is significant, around 56°. The crystal packing is determined mainly be weak specific intermolecular interactions: the C–H···N hydrogen bonds connect molecules into infinite chains, and the chains are linked via C–H···X hydrogen bonds and by π–π interactions. This study illustrates the significant role of the weak interactions, which—in spite of their weakness—can robustly repeat in the crystal structures of similar compounds

Present state and future perspectives of using pluripotent stem cells in toxicology research

The use of novel drugs and chemicals requires reliable data on their potential toxic effects on humans. Current test systems are mainly based on animals or in vitro–cultured animal-derived cells and do not or not sufficiently mirror the situation in humans. Therefore, in vitro models based on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have become an attractive alternative. The article summarizes the characteristics of pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic carcinoma and embryonic germ cells, and discusses the potential of pluripotent stem cells for safety pharmacology and toxicology. Special attention is directed to the potential application of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the assessment of developmental toxicology as well as cardio- and hepatotoxicology. With respect to embryotoxicology, recent achievements of the embryonic stem cell test (EST) are described and current limitations as well as prospects of embryotoxicity studies using pluripotent stem cells are discussed. Furthermore, recent efforts to establish hPSC-based cell models for testing cardio- and hepatotoxicity are presented. In this context, methods for differentiation and selection of cardiac and hepatic cells from hPSCs are summarized, requirements and implications with respect to the use of these cells in safety pharmacology and toxicology are presented, and future challenges and perspectives of using hPSCs are discussed