Easy synthesis of new series of pteridine analogs: di- and tetra-hydropyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines via 5-pyrimidinecarbaldehydes

Pyrimidine-5-carbaldehyde derivatives, of easy access, were selected as precursors for the synthesis of mimic pteridine derivatives 5,6-dihydropyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines and 5,6,7,8- tetrahydropyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidines via 4-amino-(5-aminomethyl)pyrimidine intermediates. Straightforward procedures allow a quick access to these compounds. The dihydro derivatives were prepared means of a final cyclocondensation carried out with orthoesters, catalysed by acid and assisted by microwaves irradiation under solvent free conditions. The final cyclocondensation with carbonyl compounds forming the tetrahydro derivatives was done under mild conditions, in which stereochemical induction was carried out on the building of this skeleton, and stereochemistry assignments corroborated by theoretical calculations.Fil: de la Torre, José M.. Universidad de Jaén; EspañaFil: Nogueras, Manuel. Universidad de Jaén; EspañaFil: Borkowski, Eduardo Jorge. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Suvire, Fernando D.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Enriz, Ricardo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cobo, Justo. Universidad de Jaén; Españ

Penetratin and Derivatives Acting as Antibacterial Agents

The synthesis, in vitro evaluation and conformational study of penetratin and structurally related derivatives acting as antibacterial agents are reported. Among the compounds evaluated here, two methionine sulphoxide derivatives (RQIKIWFQNRRM[O]KWKK-NH2 and RQIKIFFQNRRM[O]KFKK-NH2) exhibited the strongest antibacterial effect in this series. In order to better understand the antimicrobial activity obtained for these peptides, we performed an exhaustive conformational analysis using different approaches. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed using two different media (water and trifluoroethanol/water). The results of these theoretical calculations were corroborated using experimental CD measurements. The electronic study for these peptides was carried out using molecular electrostatic potentials obtained from RHF/6-31G(d) calculations. In addition, the non-apeptide RQIRRWWQR-NH2 showed strong inhibitory action against the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria tested in this study

The antimicrobial activity of annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer and most active isolated compounds against clinically important bacteria

This research was partially supported by grants from Universidad Nacional de San Luis and PIP 444-CONICET. J.D. thanks a fellowship from CONICET. E.S. and R.M. appreciate National Science Centre grant No 2013/09/B/NZ7/00423. J.K. and J.J. were supported by the grant of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Comenius University in Bratislava No. FaF UK/37/2018 and by SANOFI-AVENTIS Pharma Slovakia, s.r.o. The authors thank Luis A. Del Vitto (UNSL) for his help in the botanical classification and Marcos Maiocchi (UNNE) for the help in the collection of the plant material. B.L., G.E.F. and A.T. thank CICITCA-UNSJ.Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer, commonly known as “arachichú”, “araticú”, “aratigú”, and “yerba mora”, is a plant that grows in Argentina. Infusions and decoctions are used in folk medicine as a gargle against throat pain and for calming toothache; another way to use the plant for these purposes is chewing its leaves. Extracts from bark, flowers, leaves, and fruits from A. emarginata were subjected to antibacterial assays against a panel of Gram (+) and Gram (−) pathogenic bacteria according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols. Extracts from the stem bark and leaves showed moderate activity against the bacteria tested with values between 250–1000 µg/mL. Regarding flower extracts, less polar extracts (hexane, dichloromethane) showed very strong antibacterial activity against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 43300 with values between 16–125 µg/mL. Additionally, hexane extract showed activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC = 250 µg/mL). The global methanolic extract of the fruits (MeOHGEF) was also active against the three strains mentioned above, with MICs values 250–500 µg/mL. Bioassay-guided fractionation of MeOHGEF led to the isolation of a new main compound—(R)-2-(4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)propan-2-yl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylate (1). The structure and relative configurations have been determined by means of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY correlations. Compound 1 showed strong antimicrobial activity against all Gram (+) species tested (MICs = 3.12–6.25 µg/mL). In addition, the synthesis and antibacterial activity of some compounds structurally related to compound 1 (including four new compounds) are reported. A SAR study for these compounds was performed based on the results obtained by using molecular calculations.NC

Novel sulfonamide-based carbamates as selective inhibitors of BChE

A series of 14 target benzyl [2-(arylsulfamoyl)-1-substituted-ethyl]carbamates was prepared by multi-step synthesis and characterized. All the final compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in vitro, and the selectivity index (SI) was determined. Except for three compounds, all compounds showed strong preferential inhibition of BChE, and nine compounds were even more active than the clinically used rivastigmine. Benzyl {(2S)-1-[(2-methoxybenzyl)sulfamoyl]-4-methylpentan-2-yl}carbamate (5k), benzyl {(2S)-1-[(4-chlorobenzyl)sulfamoyl]-4-methylpentan-2-yl}carbamate (5j), and benzyl [(2S)-1-(benzylsulfamoyl)-4-methylpentan-2-yl]carbamate (5c) showed the highest BChE inhibition (IC50 = 4.33, 6.57, and 8.52 µM, respectively), indicating that derivatives 5c and 5j had approximately 5-fold higher inhibitory activity against BChE than rivastigmine, and 5k was even 9-fold more effective than rivastigmine. In addition, the selectivity index of 5c and 5j was approx. 10 and that of 5k was even 34. The process of carbamylation and reactivation of BChE was studied for the most active derivatives 5k, 5j. The detailed information about the mode of binding of these compounds to the active site of both BChE and AChE was obtained in a molecular modeling study. In this study, combined techniques (docking, molecular dynamic simulations, and QTAIM (quantum theory of atoms in molecules) calculations) were employed

Peptide Models - XXIV: An ab Initio Study on N-formyl-l-prolinamide With Trans Peptide Bond. The Existence or Non-existence of Alpha(l) And Epsilon(l) Conformations

N-formyl-L-prolinamide was subjected to geometry optimization at three levels of theory: HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G (d) and B3LYP/6-31G (d). At all three levels of computation the global minimum was gamma(L) (inverse gamma-Turn) backbone conformation with two ring-puckered forms "UP" and "DOWN". At HF/3-21G level of theory three backbone conformations were found gamma(L), epsilon(L), and alpha(L). At higher levels of theory the epsilon(L), and alpha(L) conformations disappeared. The ''UP'' and ''DOWN'' ring-puckered forms, in the gamma(L) backbone conformation, led to practically identical vibrational spectra at the B3LYP/6-31G (d) level of theory

Second generation 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]thiazoles as novel DNA gyrase inhibitors

Aim: DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are essential bacterial enzymes, and in the fight against bacterial resistance, they are important targets for the development of novel antibacterial drugs. Results: Building from our first generation of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]thiazole-based DNA gyrase inhibitors, we designed and prepared an optimized series of analogs that show improved inhibition of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV from Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Importantly, these inhibitors also show improved antibacterial activity against Gram-positive strains. Conclusion: The most promising inhibitor, 29, is active against Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and S. aureus wild-type and resistant strains, with minimum inhibitory concentrations between 4 and 8 mu g/ml, which represents good starting point for development of novel antibacterials. Graphical abstractPeer reviewe

2,3,9- and 2,3,11-Trisubstituted tetrahydroprotoberberines as D2 dopaminergic ligands

Dopamine-mediated neurotransmission plays an important role in relevant psychiatric and neurological disorders. Nowadays, there is an enormous interest in the development of new dopamine receptors (DR) acting drugs as potential new targets for the treatment of schizophrenia or Parkinson's disease. Previous studies have revealed that isoquinoline compounds such as tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) and tetrahydroprotoberberines (THPBs) can behave as selective D2 dopaminergic alkaloids since they share structural similarities with dopamine. In the present study we have synthesized eleven 2,3,9- and 2,3,11-trisubstituted THPB compounds (six of them are described for the first time) and evaluated their potential dopaminergic activity. Binding studies on rat striatal membranes were used to evaluate their affinity and selectivity towards D1 and D2 DR and establish the structure-activity relationship (SAR) as dopaminergic agents. In general, all the tested THPBs with protected phenolic hydroxyls showed a lower affinity for D1 and D2 DR than their corresponding homologues with free hydroxyl groups. In previous studies in which dopaminergic affinity of 1-benzyl-THIQs (BTHIQs) was evaluated, the presence of a Cl into the A-ring resulted in increased affinity and selectivity towards D2 DR. This is in contrast with the current study since the existence of a chlorine atom into the A-ring of the THPBs caused increased affinity for D1 DR but dramatically reduced the selectivity for D2 DR. An OH group in position 9 of the THPB (9f) resulted in a higher affinity for DR than its homologue with an OH group in position 11 (9e) (250 fold for D2 DR). None of the compounds showed any cytotoxicity in freshly isolated human neutrophils. A molecular modelling study of three representative THPBs was carried out. The combination of MD simulations with DFT calculations provided a clear picture of the ligand binding interactions from a structural and energetic point of view. Therefore, it is likely that compound 9d (2,3,9-trihydroxy-THPB) behave as D2 DR agonist since serine residues cluster are crucial for agonist binding and receptor activation

The Eighth Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology": snapshot

The Eighth Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology" was held in Brno, Czech Republic, on 28 August – 1 September 2016The Eighth Central European Conference "Chemistry towards Biology" was held in Brno, Czech Republic, on 28 August-1 September 2016 to bring together experts in biology, chemistry and design of bioactive compounds; promote the exchange of scientific results, methods and ideas; and encourage cooperation between researchers from all over the world. The topics of the conference covered "Chemistry towards Biology", meaning that the event welcomed chemists working on biology-related problems, biologists using chemical methods, and students and other researchers of the respective areas that fall within the common scope of chemistry and biology. The authors of this manuscript are plenary speakers and other participants of the symposium and members of their research teams. The following summary highlights the major points/topics of the meeting