Furocoumarin Derivatives Research Articles

Synthesis and fluorescent study of 5-phenyl furocoumarin derivatives as vasodilatory agents.

Two series of 5-phenyl furocoumarin derivatives were designed and prepared based on our previous research. All new compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and mass spectra. Furthermore, they were screened for their vasodilatory activity on the mesenteric artery of Sprague-Dawley rats, and they all presented with moderate vasodilatory activity. Fluorescent properties of the target compounds were tested in methanol. The fluorescence variation of 4a was investigated in different solvents, various pH and the migration time was determined. All results indicated that this type of fluorescent compound can be used as vasodilatory agents and probes simultaneously after further structural modifications.

Synthesis and vasorelaxation evaluation of novel biphenyl–furocoumarin derivatives

A series of novel biphenyl–furocoumarin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their vasorelaxant activities in vitro against rat mesenteric artery, basilar artery, and renal artery ring models pre-contracted by high KCl. The results showed that compounds 12b, 13b, 13d, 14b, and 14d exhibited good broad spectrum vasorelaxant activities on three kinds of rat artery ring models compared to imperatorin. Noteworthy, most of the compounds had potent good selectivity against mesenteric artery in which compound 14c exhibited highest vasodilation activity (pEC50 = 6.44, Emax = 105.8 %). These were suggested that the introduction of biphenyl in imperatorin was useful to improve vasodilation activities. The preliminary structure–activity relationships studies revealed that larger halogen substituent R1 on phenyl ring and smaller nitrogenous base R2 were favorable for vasorelaxant activities. In addition, the CoMFA model showed acceptable correlative and predictive abilities (r2 = 0.875, q2 = 0.502).

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of fluorescent biphenyl–furocoumarin derivatives

A series of new biphenyl–furocoumarin derivatives were synthesized via Suzuki–Miyaura reaction as a critical step. The structures were characterized by NMR, IR and HRMS. All the derivatives presented vasodilatory activity in different degree, especially 6b. Photoelectric properties of all derivatives were investigated by fluorescence, including the variation in different solvents and various pH of 6b. All the ground state molecular geometries from 6a–6j are fully optimized by Density Functional Theory (DFT) on gas phase, which was in accordance with the fluorescence detection. The results suggested compounds with biphenyl–furocoumarin skeleton would serve as promising vasodilatory candidates as well as fluorescent indicators.

Synthesis and Photooxygenation of Linear and Angular Furocoumarin Derivatives as a Hydroxyl Radical Source: Psoralen, Pseudopsoralen, Isopseudopsoralen, and Allopsoralen

Synthesis of linear and angular furocoumarins with new skeleton structure of potential photobiological feature interest was carried out through Williamson reaction of hydroxycoumarins with 3‐chloro‐2‐butanone followed by cyclization with polyphosphoric acid or by heating in a strongly alkaline solution. The photooxygenation reactions of synthesized furocoumarins were performed in chloroform and in the presence of tetraphenylporphyrin as singlet oxygen sensitizer (1O2). The photooxygenation reactions afforded the photocleaved product through [2 + 2] cycloaddition and the photooxygenated products through ene reaction and [4 + 2] cycloaddition. The photoproducts were isolated and fully characterized by spectral analyses.

Photohemolysis Sensitized by the Furocoumarin Derivative Alloimperatorin and its Hydroperoxide Photooxidation Product

The dark and photosensitized effects of alloimperatorin methyl ether 1 (hereafter simply alloimperatorin) and its photooxygenation product alloimperatorin hydroperoxide 2 were investigated on human erythrocytes. The results reveal that the furocoumarin 1 photosensitizes efficiently the hemolysis of erythrocytes. The rate of photohemolysis increases on raising the temperature of the postirradiated incubation from 4°C to 37°C. Thermal activation of the photohemolysis and inhibition by 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (BHT) suggest that the furocoumarin 1 photosensitizes lipid peroxidation, increasing permeability in the erythrocyte membrane. The hydroperoxide 2 induces dark and photosensitized hemolysis more efficiently than the furocoumarin 1. The rate of hemolysis induced by 2 increases with the incubation temperature and decreases in the presence of tert-butanol and BHT. The hydroperoxide 2 photosensitizes the formation of lipid peroxidation products as shown by the reaction with thiobarbituric acid. This process is diminished by BHT. Our data imply that the photohemolysis sensitized by the furocoumarin 1 is caused by the in situ-formed photooxygenation product 2. Such hydroperoxides are potent hemolytic agents in the dark and especially on photosensitization.

Synthesis and photooxygenation of angular furocoumarins: isopsedopsoralen and allopsoralen

Synthesis of 9-methyl-1-phenyl-7H-furo[3,2-f]chromen-7-one and 4,9-dimethyl-3-phenyl-7H-furo[2,3-f]chromen-7-one as angular furocoumarin derivatives were carried out through Williamson reaction of hydroxycoumarins with phenacyl bromide followed by cyclization in polyphosphoric acid. The photooxygenation of synthesized furocoumarins in the presence of tetraphenylporphine as singlet oxygen sensitizer at room temperature gave the photo-cleaved product, o-benzoylhydroxy derivatives, through [2+2] cycloaddition of singlet oxygen with the double bond of the furan moiety. o-Benzoylhydroxy derivatives were prepared through the photooxygenation reactions and Fries rearrangement.

ChemInform Abstract: Palladium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroarylation of 4‐Benzofuranyl Alkynoates. Approach to Angelicin Derivatives.

Intramolecular hydroarylation of 4-benzofuranyl alkynoates using Pd(OAc)2 as catalyst took place selectively and efficiently, giving angular furocoumarin derivatives in high yields. The parent angelicin was obtained in 80% yield by this method. The starting 4-benzofuranyl alkynoates were easily accessible from readily available 4-hydroxybenzofurans and alkynoic acids.

Synthesis of Furocoumarins and Biscoumarins by an Isocyanide-Induced Multicomponent Reaction: Isocyanide as a Masked Amine

The three-component reaction involving chromone-3-carbaldehyde, 4-hydroxycoumarin and cyclohexyl isocyanide produces furocoumarin and biscoumarin derivatives. Formation of the latter compound seems to involve cyclohexylamine. Cyclohexyl isocyanide was found to act as a masked source of cyclohexylamine.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroarylation of 4-Benzofuranyl Alkynoates. Approach to Angelicin Derivatives

Intramolecular hydroarylation of 4-benzofuranyl alkynoates using Pd(OAc)(2) as catalyst took place selectively and efficiently, giving angular furocoumarin derivatives in high yields. The parent angelicin was obtained in 80% yield by this method. The starting 4-benzofuranyl alkynoates were easily accessible from readily available 4-hydroxybenzofurans and alkynoic acids.

Synthesis and Photooxygenation of Furo[3,2‐c]coumarin Derivatives as Antibacterial and DNA Intercalating Agent

AbstractSyntheses of 2,3‐dimethyl‐4H‐furo[3,2‐c]coumarin and 3‐phenyl‐4H‐furo[3,2‐c]coumarin as angular furocoumarins were carried out through Williamson reaction of 4‐hydroxycoumarin with α‐haloketones followed by cyclization. Photooxygenation of the synthesized furocoumarin derivatives was performed and the photoproducts were isolated and characterized. The affinity of 2,3‐dimethyl‐4H‐furo[3,2‐c]coumarin towards DNA and the antibacterial activity were evaluated and compared with 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP).

ChemInform Abstract: Development of a Novel Furocoumarin Derivative Inhibiting NF‐ϰB Dependent Biological Functions: Design, Synthesis and Biological Effects.

AbstractBiological evaluation of novel compounds (VI) is described.

Furocoumarin Derivatives from Radix Angelicae Dahuricae and Their Effects on RXRα Transcriptional Regulation

A novel furocoumarin derivative named oxyalloimperatorin (1), together with seventeen furocoumarins 2–18 were isolated from the radix of Angelica dahurica. The chemical structure of new metabolite was characterized by analysis of IR, NMR, and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data. Among the isolated compounds, 13, 16, and 18 (each at 20 μM) could significantly promote the gene transcriptional function of nuclear receptor RXRα. While 7–9, 13, 14, and the new structure 1 (each at 20 μM) showed significant reduction in RXRα gene transcriptional activities induced by 9-cis-retinoid acid. The findings indicated that these furocoumarin skeleton derivatives might hold beneficial effects on many intractable diseases, such as cancer and metabolic diseases, due to their potential activities on regulating the transcriptional activation function of RXRα.

Development of a novel furocoumarin derivative inhibiting NF-κB dependent biological functions: Design, synthesis and biological effects

Nuclear Factor kappaB (NF-κB) plays a very important role in the control of gene expression and is deeply involved in several human pathologies. Accordingly, molecules targeting NF-κB dependent biological functions are considered of great interest. Virtual screening of furocoumarin libraries against NF-κB p50 allowed to rank compounds in respect to their expected ability to bind NF-κB and the identified compound might be considered for the development of analogs to be tested for biological activity on inhibition of NF-κB/DNA complex formation. The data reported in the present paper suggest that, following this approach, the best ranked compounds identified by virtual screening (a) strongly bind in silico to NF-κB and (b) efficiently inhibit the molecular interactions between 32P-labeled NF-κB double stranded DNA and p50 or p50/p65 complex. These data allowed to develop a novel lead of great interest for inhibiting NF-κB dependent biological functions. This novel molecule (compound 2), bearing a methyl group in the 9 position of the psoralen nucleus, exhibits high efficiency in inhibiting NF-κB/DNA interactions. In addition, we found that compound 2 is a potent inhibitor of IL-8 gene expression in TNF-α treated IB3-1 cystic fibrosis cells. Taken together, our data indicate that compound 2 might find an important place in the set of molecules of interest for the development of pharmaceutical strategies against the inflammatory phenotype of cystic fibrosis.

Plant coumarins: V. Palladium-catalyzed amination of 2-(1,3-dibromopropan-2-ylidene)oreoselone

Palladium-catalyzed amination of 2-(1,3-dibromopropan-2-ylidene)-7H-furo[3,2-g]chromene-3,7(2H)-dione with various amines and amino acid derivatives led to the formation of the corresponding 2-(1,3-diaminopropan-2-ylidene)-substituted oreoselones. The yields depended on the catalytic system, base, and amine structure. Di- and polyazamacrocyclic furocoumarin derivatives were obtained by reactions of 2-(1,3-dibromopropan-2-ylidene)-7H-furo[3,2-g]chromene-3,7(2H)-dione with linear di- and polyamines (hexamethylenediamine, spermine, spermidine, and 3,6-dithiaoctane-1,8-diamine), catalyzed by palladium complexes.

Virtual screening against nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) of a focus library: Identification of bioactive furocoumarin derivatives inhibiting NF-κB dependent biological functions involved in cystic fibrosis

In the present study, a structured-based virtual screening (VS) of differently substituted furocoumarins and analogues has been carried out against nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), with the objective of selecting molecules able to inhibit the binding of this transcription factor to the DNA. The focus library was developed starting from chemical structures obtained from the literature, as well as retrieving compounds from available commercial databases. A two dimensional substructure searching method based on four different chemical scaffolds was used for this purpose. Among the 10 highest-scored ligands selected from the docking studies, five commercially available molecules were investigated in biological assays. Four furocoumarin derivatives showed IC50 values in the range of 40–100μM in inhibiting NF-κB/DNA interactions studied by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Three compounds significantly inhibited NF-κB dependent biological functions (expression of IL-8) in cellular analysis based on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of cystic fibrosis IB3-1 cells. These findings validated the virtual screening approach here presented and reinforce the successful results of our previously computational studies aimed at the identification of molecules targeting NF-κB. The discovered novel compounds could be of relevance to identify more potent inhibitors of NF-κB dependent biological functions beneficial to control lung inflammation occurring in patients affected by cystic fibrosis.

Differentiation and Apoptosis in UVA‐Irradiated Cells Treated with Furocoumarin Derivatives

In this review we summarize the structure and biological effects of linear and angular psoralens. These compounds exhibit interesting biological effects on the cell cycle, apoptosis and differentiation. These molecules should be considered promising drugs in the therapy of several diseases, including psoriasis, mycosis fungoides and cancer. Also, preclinical data demonstrate a possible use of these molecules for the treatment of beta-thalassemia and other hematological disorders.

Effect of psoralen on the cloned Kv3.1 currents

The psoralen, a furocoumarin derivative, on the cloned neuronal rat Kv3.1 channels stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells was investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Psoralen reduced Kv3.1 whole-cell currents in a reversible concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 value and a Hill coefficient of 2.3 +/- 0.03 microM and 0.9 +/- 0.08, respectively. Psoralen accelerated the decay rate of inactivation of Kv3.1 currents without modifying the kinetics of current activation. The psoralen-induced inhibition of Kv3.1 channels was voltage-dependent, with a steep increase over the voltage range of channel opening. However, the inhibition exhibited voltage independence over the voltage range in which channels are fully activated. Psoralen slowed the deactivation time course, resulting in a tail crossover phenomenon when the tail currents, recorded in the presence and absence of psoralen, were superimposed. Inhibition of Kv3.1 by psoralen was use-dependent at a frequency of 1 Hz. The present results suggest that psoralen acts on Kv3.1 currents as an open-channel blocker.

132 LOW-LEVEL LASER IRRADIATION IN THE COMPLEX THERAPY OF PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATED FORMS OF CHOLELITHIASIS

1,4,8-Trimethylfuro[2,3-h]quinolin-2(1H)-one (compound 5a) is the most interesting derivative among some new furoquinolinones prepared with the aim of moderating the strong toxic effects of 1,4,6,8-tetramethyl derivative (FQ), a powerful potential drug for photomedicine. Compound 5a showed a photobiological activity lower than FQ, but considerable higher than 8-MOP, the furocoumarin used in clinical photomedicine; contrary to classic furocoumarins, 5a induced a strong inhibition of protein synthesis in mammalian cells. Genotoxicity and skin erythema induction, the main side effects of both FQ and 8-MOP photosensitization, are virtually absent with 5a. This behavior seems to be connected to its particular reaction mechanism: differently from furocoumarin derivatives, 5a induced low levels of DNA-protein and no inter-strands cross-links, but formed covalent RNA-protein linkages, lesions not observed with known furocoumarins. Moreover, compound 5a generated reactive oxygen species to a considerable extent. For these features, compound 5a appears to be a new photosensitizing agent whose special activity deserves to be deeply investigated.

Synthesis of psoralen derivatives and their blocking effect of hKv1.5 channel

Previously, we found that a furocoumarin derivative, psoralen (7H-furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-7-one), blocked a human Kv1.5 potassium channel (hKv1.5) and has a potential antiarrhythmic effect. In the present study, to develop more potent hKv1.5 blockers or antiarrhythmic drugs, we synthesized ten psoralen derivatives and examined their blocking effects on hKv1.5 stably expressed in Ltk cells. Among the newly synthesized psoralen derivatives, three derivatives (Compounds 5, 9 and 10) showed the open channel-blocking effect. Compound 9 among them was the most potent in blocking hKv1.5. We found that compound 9, one of the psoralen derivatives, inhibited the hKv1.5 current in a concentration-, use- and voltage-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 27.4 +/- 5.1 nM at +60 mV. Compound 9 accelerated the inactivation kinetics of the hKv1.5 channel, slowed the deactivation kinetics of hKv1.5 current resulting in a tail crossover phenomenon. Compound 9 inhibited hKv1.5 current in a use-dependent manner. These results indicate that compound 9, one of psoralen derivatives, acts on hKv1.5 channel as an open channel blocker and is much more potent than psoralen in blocking hKv1.5 channel. If further studies were done, compound 9 might be an ideal antiarrhythmic drug for atrial fibrillation.

A New Efficient Method for the Total Synthesis of Linear Furocoumarins

A new efficient method for the synthesis of linear furocoumarins by a Nef reaction and intramolecular cyclocondensation in one pot results in the construction of a benzofuran ring. This method provides a new strategy to furnish the benzofuran framework easily, and also allows the convenient synthesis of furocoumarin derivatives with different substituents on the coumarin ring by a subsequent Pechmann reaction. This strategy has also been applied to the preparation of four additional benzofuran derivatives.