Methyl Ester Derivatives Research Articles

Caboxamycin biosynthesis pathway and identification of novel benzoxazoles produced by cross-talk in Streptomyces sp. NTK 937.

Summary Streptomyces sp. NTK937, producer of benzoxazole antibiotic caboxamycin, produces in addition a methyl ester derivative, O‐methylcaboxamycin. Caboxamycin cluster, comprising one regulatory and nine structural genes, has been delimited, and each gene has been individually inactivated to demonstrate its role in the biosynthetic process. The O‐methyltransferase potentially responsible for O‐methylcaboxamycin synthesis would reside outside this cluster. Five of the genes, cbxR, cbxA, cbxB, cbxD and cbxE, encoding a SARP transcriptional regulator, salicylate synthase, 3‐oxoacyl‐ACP‐synthase, ACP and amidohydrolase, respectively, have been found to be essential for caboxamycin biosynthesis. The remaining five structural genes were found to have paralogues distributed throughout the genome, capable of partaking in the process when their cluster homologue is inactivated. Two of such paralogues, cbxC’ and cbxI’, coding an AMP‐dependent synthetase‐ligase and an anthranilate synthase, respectively, have been identified. However, the other three genes might simultaneously have more than one paralogue, given that cbxF (DAHP synthase), cbxG (2,3‐dihydro‐2,3‐dihydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase) and cbxH (isochorismatase) have three, three and five putative paralogue genes, respectively, of similar function within the genome. As a result of genetic manipulation, a novel benzoxazole (3′‐hydroxycaboxamycin) has been identified in the salicylate synthase‐deficient mutant strain ΔcbxA. 3′‐hydroxycaboxamycin derives from the cross‐talk between the caboxamycin and enterobactin pathways.

Hydroxytyrosol prevents reduction in liver activity of \u0394-5 and \u0394-6 desaturases, oxidative stress, and depletion in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content in different tissues of high-fat diet fed mice

BackgroundEicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) with relevant roles in the organism. EPA and DHA are synthesized from the precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n-3), whereas AA is produced from linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6) through the action of Δ5 and Δ6-desaturases. High-fat diet (HFD) decreases the activity of both desaturases and LCPUFA accretion in liver and other tissues. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a natural antioxidant, has an important cytoprotective effects in different cells and tissues.MethodsMale mice C57BL/6 J were fed a control diet (CD) (10% fat, 20% protein, 70% carbohydrates) or a HFD (60% fat, 20% protein, 20% carbohydrates) for 12 weeks. Animals were daily supplemented with saline (CD) or 5 mg HT (HFD), and blood and the studied tissues were analyzed after the HT intervention. Parameters studied included liver histology (optical microscopy), activity of hepatic desaturases 5 and 6 (gas-liquid chromatography of methyl esters derivatives) and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase by spectrophotometry), oxidative stress indicators (glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactants, and the antioxidant capacity of plasma), gene expression assays for sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) (qPCR and ELISA), and LCPUFA profiles in liver, erythrocyte, brain, heart, and testicle (gas-liquid chromatography).ResultsHFD led to insulin resistance and liver steatosis associated with SREBP-1c upregulation, with enhancement in plasma and liver oxidative stress status and diminution in the synthesis and storage of n-6 and n-3 LCPUFAs in the studied tissues, compared to animals given control diet. HT supplementation significantly reduced fat accumulation in liver and plasma as well as tissue metabolic alterations induced by HFD. Furthermore, a normalization of desaturase activities, oxidative stress-related parameters, and tissue n-3 LCPUFA content was observed in HT-treated rats over control animals.ConclusionsHT supplementation prevents metabolic alterations in desaturase activities, oxidative stress status, and n-3 LCPUFA content in the liver and extrahepatic tissues of mice fed HFD.

A New Depigmenting-Antifungal Methylated Grindelane from Grindelia chiloensis.

The new methylated grindelane diterpenoid, 7β-hydroxy-8(17)-dehydrogrindelic acid (1b), together with the known 7α-hydroxy-8(17)-dehydrogrindelic acid (2a), 6-oxogrindelic acid (3a), 4β-hydroxy-6-oxo-19-norgrindelic (4a), 19-hydroxygrindelic acid (5a), 18-hydroxygrindelic acid (6a), 4α-carboxygrindelic acid (7a), 17-hydroxygrindelic acid (8a), 6α-hydroxygrindelic acid (9a), 8,17-bisnor-8-oxagrindelic acid (10a), 7α,8α-epoxygrindelic acid (11a), and strictanonic acid (12a) as methyl esters were obtained from an Argentine collection of Grindelia chiloensis (Cornel.) Cabrera. Their structures and relative configurations were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. CHCl3 extract from the aerial parts and their pure compounds were evaluated for their antifungal and depigmenting effects. Methyl ester derivative of 10a (10b) exhibited a remarkable mycelial growth inhibition against Botritis cinerea with an IC50 of 13.5μgml-1 . While the new grindelane 1b exerted a clear color reduction of the yellow-orange pigment developed by Fusarium oxysporum against UV-induced damage.

Building a Synthetic Library of Fluorogenic Ester Substrates to Analyze Serine Hydrolases

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism responsible for the respiratory infection tuberculosis, has evolved multi‐drug resistance strains, introducing the need for novel drug targets. Serine hydrolases with diverse roles in lipid metabolism and dormant growth have been proposed as novel targets for tuberculosis. Although many serine hydrolases from TB have been identified by proteomics and activity based protein profiling, the natural substrates and biological reactions for these serine hydrolases are still unknown. To globally investigate the natural substrates for mycobacterial serine hydrolases, we synthesized a structure activity library of 32 fluorogenic ester substrates to screen against mycobacterial hydrolases. The library contains acyloxy methyl ester derivatives of fluorescein with small variations in ester functionalities to mimic mycobacterial lipids. Synthesis of novel compounds required separation techniques including silica‐gel column chromatography, along with characterization techniques including 1HNMR and 13CNMR and high‐resolution mass spectroscopy. To confirm the utility of the fluorogenic library for characterizing serine hydrolases, two structurally homologous bacterial serine hydrolases, Rv0045c from M. tuberculosis and ybfF from V. cholera, were screened against the library of fluorogenic substrates to determine the catalytic efficiency of these enzymes on each substrate. Rv0045c and ybfF both favor short, 3‐atom, ether chains with the heteroatom in the b‐position. ybfF with the most favored substrates showed catalytic efficiencies of high activity (kcat/kM > 104 M−1s−1), while Rv0045c did not perform as well (kcat/kM 103–104 M−1s−1). In addition, comparative kinetic analysis of hydrolase variants with substitutions in their binding pocket provided insight into the substrate specificity of the enzymes, and thereby the natural substrate. Catalytic efficiency deviations from the WT, could be a result of steric hindrance, hydrogen bond interactions, and localized acid‐base chemistry. Future work would be aimed at making more variants and determining the structural features, which contribute to their substrate specificity.Support or Funding InformationFunded by NIH 1R15GM110641‐01A1

Lanostane triterpenoids from fruiting bodies of the bracket fungus Fomitopsis feei

Three 24-methyl-lanostane triterpenoids, fomitopsins D–F (1–3), were isolated together with four known compounds (4–7) from fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Fomitopsis feei. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical correlations, including the conversion of 1 into a mixture of 2 and 3 under acidic conditions. Compound 1 was previously isolated after conversion to a methyl ester derivative, however, the side-chain stereochemistry was not determined. Fomitopsins E (2) and F (3) exhibited activity against Bacillus cereus with MIC values of 6.25μg/mL. On the other hand, fomitopsin D (1) showed activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with an IC50 value of 17μg/mL.

Enhancement of lipid production in Scenedesmus sp. by UV mutagenesis and hydrogen peroxide treatment

The high potential UV mutagenized Scenedesmus sp. was obtained in which the cells had a higher biomass and lipid content than the wild type with an increase from 1.9 to 2.4g/L and from 40 to 55% of dry cell weight respectively after 12days. Oxidative stress imposed by H2O2 treatment decreased the biomass of both the wild type and the mutant. The H2O2 treated mutant when grown in BG11 medium showed an increase in biomass which was in contrast to a decreased biomass observed in the H2O2 treated wild type. A 3-fold increase in lipid yield of 1.63g/L was obtained in the oxidative stress-induced mutant compared to the wild type. Overall results indicate that prior treatment of UV-mutagenized Scenedesmus with oxidative stress can increase the total lipid production which, due to its derived methyl ester having acceptable biodiesel properties, can be potentially utilized for biodiesel production.

Gallstone Analysis

Gallstone is a crystal deposit which is formed in the gallbladder or bile duct. Gallstone is classified into cholesterol stone, pigment stone (black and brown), and mixed stone. Mechanism which underlies the formation of cholesterol or pigment gallstone is different. Information on chemical component of the stone will assist the management and prevention of its recurrence. Analysis of gallstone component can be performed by colorimetry method or even gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Chemical component analysis of gallstone by colorimetry includes examination of cholesterol, bilirubin, and calcium. Stone is classified as cholesterol stone if the cholesterol content is 80%, pigment stone if cholesterol content is 20%, and mixed stone if cholesterol content is 25-80%. Gallstone analysis by GLC method is conducted by separation of fatty acid chain and evaluation of fatty acid quantity in the methylester derivatives form, which is fatty acid methyl estered. Fatty acid content in cholesterol stone (310.09 + 49.7 mg/gram) is higher compared to pigment stone (55.59 +7.71 mg/gram). Saturated to unsaturated fatty acid (S/U) ration in cholesterol stone (8.6 + 3.1) is higher compared to pigment stone (4.8 + 1.5).

Structural and Epimeric Isomers of HPPH [3-Devinyl 3-{1-(1-hexyloxy) ethyl}pyropheophorbide-a]: Effects on Uptake and Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer.

The tetrapyrrole structure of porphyrins used as photosentizing agents is thought to determine uptake and retention by malignant epithelial cancer cells. To assess the contribution of the oxidized state of individual rings to these cellular processes, bacteriochlorophyll a was converted into the ring "D" reduced 3-devinyl-3-[1-(1-hexyloxy)ethyl]pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) and the corresponding ring "B" reduced isomer (iso-HPPH). The carboxylic acid analogs of both ring "B" and ring "D" reduced isomers showed several-fold higher accumulation into the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum by primary culture of human lung and head and neck cancer cells than the corresponding methyl ester analogs that localize primarily to granular vesicles and to a lesser extent to mitochondria. However, long-term cellular retention of these compounds exhibited an inverse relationship with tumor cells generally retaining better the methyl-ester derivatives. In vivo distribution and tumor uptake was evaluated in the isogenic model of BALB/c mice bearing Colon26 tumors using the respective 14C-labeled analogs. Both carboxylic acid derivatives demonstrated similar intracellular localization and long-term tumor cure with no significant skin phototoxicity. PDT-mediated tumor action involved vascular damage, which was confirmed by a reduction in blood flow and immunohistochemical assessment of damage to the vascular endothelium. The HPPH stereoisomers (epimers) showed identical uptake (in vitro & in vivo), intracellular retention and photoreaction.

Benzofuran-2-acetic ester derivatives induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells by upregulating p21Cip/WAF1 gene expression in p53-independent manner

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. High toxicity of used chemotherapeutics and resistance of cancer cells to treatments are a driving force for searching the new drug candidates for breast cancer therapy. In this study, we tested the antiproliferative effects of a series of benzofuran-2-acetic methyl ester derivatives, synthesized by a palladium-catalyzed carbonylative heterocyclization approach, on breast cancer cells. We observed that benzofuran compounds bearing a phenyl or tert-butyl substituent α to the methoxycarbonyl group significantly inhibited anchorage-dependent and -independent cell growth, and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in human estrogen receptor alpha positive (MCF-7 and T47D) and in triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, without affecting growth of MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells. Mechanistically, benzofuran derivatives enhanced the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Cip/WAF1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels and this occurs transcriptionally in an Sp1-dependent manner. Moreover, benzofuran derivatives induced apoptosis, increased poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio along with a marked DNA fragmentation along with a marked DNA fragmentation and a strong increase in TUNEL-positive breast cancer cells. Overall, we provide evidence that the newly tested benzofuran derivatives showed antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities against breast cancer cells regardless estrogen receptor status, suggesting their possible clinical development as anticancer agents.

Insights into peptide-membrane interactions of newly synthesized, nitroxide-containing analogs of the peptaibiotic trichogin GA IV using EPR.

Trichogin GA IV is a short-length (10-amino acid long), mostly hydrophobic, peptaibiotic with an N-terminal fatty acyl chain and a C-terminal 1,2-amino alcohol. A cardinal role of the terminal moieties in the cytotoxic activity of trichogin has been recently found. Previously, peptide orientation and dynamics of trichogin analogs in the membrane were studied using methyl ester derivatives. Therefore, in the present work we synthesized several trichogin analogs with naturally occurring terminal groups to verify whether these moieties have any effect on peptide-membrane interaction. These trichogin analogs, both neutral and carrying a positively charged Lys residue, bear the nitroxide-containing α-amino acid TOAC to study them using EPR spectroscopy. Vesicles were used to investigate orientation and penetration depth of the peptide at room temperature. Bicelles were employed to evaluate the order, dynamics, and orientation of the peptide at a near physiological temperature. In addition, the position of the N-terminal 1-octanoyl chain in the membrane was studied by labeling it with a nitroxide. The secondary structure of the peptides in vesicles was studied by CD spectroscopy showing that they adopt a mostly α-helical structure. In vesicles, the analogs insert below the lipid headgroups with the helix axis oriented parallel to the membrane surface at a peptide-to-lipid (P:L) ratio of 1:100. The presence of the single, positively charged Lys residue does not alter the orientation adopted by the peptides. In bicelles at P:L ratios 1:100 and 1:60, the peptide adopts a transmembrane orientation characterized by a very low orientational order, whereas at a 1:15 P:L ratio it severely disrupts the membrane. Our data shows that overall orientation and insertion in model membranes of the native trichogin GA IV are strictly comparable to those of its methyl ester analogs previously examined.

Evaluation of substituted ebselen derivatives as potential trypanocidal agents

Human African trypanosomiasis is a disease of sub-Saharan Africa, where millions are at risk for the illness. The disease, commonly referred to as African sleeping sickness, is caused by an infection by the eukaryotic pathogen, Trypanosoma brucei. Previously, a target-based high throughput screen revealed ebselen (EbSe), and its sulfur analog, EbS, to be potent in vitro inhibitors of the T. brucei hexokinase 1 (TbHK1). These molecules also exhibited potent trypanocidal activity in vivo. In this manuscript, we synthesized a series of sixteen EbSe and EbS derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing carboxylic acid and methyl ester functional groups, and evaluated the influence of these substituents on the biological efficacy of the parent scaffold. With the exception of one methyl ester derivative, these modifications ablated or blunted the potent TbHK1 inhibition of the parent scaffold. Nonetheless, a few of the methyl ester derivatives still exhibited trypanocidal effects with single-digit micromolar or high nanomolar EC50 values.

Nanostructured Polymeric Micelles Carrying Xanthene Dyes for Photodynamic Evaluation

It was evaluated the properties of the xanthene dyes Erythrosin B, Eosin Y and theirs Methyl, Butyl and Decyl ester derivatives as possible photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic treatments. The more hydrophobic dyes self-aggregate in water/ethanol solutions above 70% water (vol/vol) in the mixture. In buffered water, these PS were encapsulated in Pluronic polymeric surfactants of P-123 and F-127 by two methodologies: direct addition and the thin-film solid dispersion methods. The thin-film solid method provided formulations with higher stabilities besides effective encapsulation of the PS as monomers. Size measurements demonstrated that Pluronic forms self-assembled micelles with uniform size, which present slightly negative surface potential and a spherical form detected by TEM microscopy. The ester length modulates xanthene localization in the micelle, which is deeper with the increase in the alkyl chain. Moreover, some PS are distributed into two populations: one on the corona micelle interface shell (PEO layer) and the other into the core (PPO region). Although all PS formulations show high singlet oxygen quantum yield, promising results were obtained for Erythrosin B esters with the hydrophobic P-123, which ensures their potential as drug for clinical photodynamic applications.

Bile Acid Composition Changes over 6 Months Following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Children with Recurrent C. difficile Infections: 2016 ACG Presidential Poster Award

Introduction: The mechanism by which Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) cures C. difficile infection (CDI) is incompletely understood. Some studies have suggested that bile acid composition may contribute to FMT effects independent of restored bacterial diversity. We aimed to determine bile acid profiles of pediatric CDI patients before and after FMT as well as from FMT donors. We further compared these results to our previously published 16S rRNA sequencing data from these samples. Methods: Children with a history of recurrent CDI underwent FMT by colonoscopy. Stool was collected from donors, as well as recipients prior to FMT and after FMT at 2-10 weeks, 10-20 weeks and 6 months. After acetonitrile extraction, fecal bile acids were assessed as their methyl ester derivatives by LC-MS using a Simultaneous Ion Monitoring program. The proportions of primary (1°: cholic and chenodeoxycholic) and secondary (2°: deoxycholic and lithocholic) bile acids were determined for each sample, and results were compared using independent t-tests.Figure 1Figure 2Results: All 8 children had resolution of CDI symptoms and eradication of C. difficile 10-20 weeks after FMT, as well as at 6 months for those tested. Before FMT, patients had lower proportions of 2° bile acids compared to donors (31.5% vs 95.0%, p < 0.001), but were restored to donor levels by 6 months (p=0.16). Of the patients, 5 had IBD. Bile acid proportions did not differ by IBD status at baseline. However after 6 months, differences between non-IBD patients and donors persisted for both 1° (23.5% vs 4.7%, p < 0.05) and 2° (74.3% vs 95.0%, p < 0.05) bile acids whereas IBD patients normalized. In comparison to bacterial diversity, bile acid profiles took longer to normalize. Furthermore, whereas bacterial diversity remained restored in non-IBD patients but returned to low baseline values among IBD patients at 6 months, 2° bile acids levels remained normal in IBD patients. Conclusion: Increased 1° bile acids were found in pre-FMT samples, regardless of IBD status. Interestingly, IBD patients exhibited a stronger reversion towards donor bile acid compositions following FMT even though they did not differ from non-IBD patients at baseline. Furthermore, IBD patients had normalized bile acid profiles, even though their gut bacterial diversity returned to pre-FMT values by 6 months. Our results demonstrate that bile acid profiles may change independently of gut bacterial diversity following FMT and may differ by IBD status.

In situ complexation of rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates with some derivatives of cysteine and related ligands studied by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The complexation of N-phthaloyl, N-formyl, and N,N-dimethyl derivatives of S-methylcysteine methyl ester (both racemic and optically pure) with three dimeric rhodium(II) salts, acetate Rh2AcO4, trifluoroacetate Rh2TFA4, and (R)-(+)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetate Rh2Mosh4 was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) at room and lower temperatures. The complexation was carried out in situ, in CDCl3 solution using titration procedure; the results were examined by the analysis of 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift change (Δδ). The complexation of free S-methyl cysteine and hydrochloride salt of its methyl ester was performed in D2O solution. For comparison, complexation of some derivatives of leucine, phenylalanine, and proline was examined.N-phthaloyl and N-formyl derivatives of cysteine formed 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 axial complexes with all dirhodium salts. Rhodium substrates were bonded via sulfur. In one case, the complexation of Rh2TFA4 by both sulfur and N-formyl oxygen was noted. Similar complexation of Rh2TFA4, via CHO group, was found for N-formyl derivatives of leucine, phenylalanine, and proline. For N,N-dimethyl derivative of cysteine, both N and S atoms were involved in bonding. At room temperature, in all cases, ligand exchange was fast on the NMR timescale.

The Brown Alga Stypopodium zonale (Dictyotaceae): A Potential Source of Anti-Leishmania Drugs.

This study evaluated the anti-Leishmania amazonensis activity of a lipophilic extract from the brown alga Stypopodium zonale and atomaric acid, its major compound. Our initial results revealed high inhibitory activity for intracellular amastigotes in a dose-dependent manner and an IC50 of 0.27 μg/mL. Due to its high anti-Leishmania activity and low toxicity toward host cells, we fractionated the lipophilic extract. A major meroditerpene in this extract, atomaric acid, and its methyl ester derivative, which was obtained by a methylation procedure, were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Both compounds inhibited intracellular amastigotes, with IC50 values of 20.2 μM (9 μg/mL) and 22.9 μM (10 μg/mL), and selectivity indexes of 8.4 μM and 11.5 μM. The leishmanicidal activity of both meroditerpenes was independent of nitric oxide (NO) production, but the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be at least partially responsible for the amastigote killing. Our results suggest that the lipophilic extract of S. zonale may represent an important source of compounds for the development of anti-Leishmania drugs.

Quantitative analysis of 3-OH oxylipins in fermentation yeast.

Despite the ubiquitous distribution of oxylipins in plants, animals, and microbes, and the application of numerous analytical techniques to study these molecules, 3-OH oxylipins have never been quantitatively assayed in yeasts. The formation of heptafluorobutyrate methyl ester derivatives and subsequent analysis with gas chromatography - negative chemical ionization - mass spectrometry allowed for the first determination of yeast 3-OH oxylipins. The concentration of 3-OH 10:0 (0.68-4.82 ng/mg dry cell mass) in the SMA strain of Saccharomyces pastorianus grown in laboratory-scale beverage fermentations was elevated relative to oxylipin concentrations in plant tissues and macroalgae. In fermenting yeasts, the onset of 3-OH oxylipin formation has been related to fermentation progression and flocculation initiation. When the SMA strain was grown in laboratory-scale fermentations, the maximal sugar consumption rate preceded the lowest concentration of 3-OH 10:0 by ∼4.5 h and a distinct increase in 3-OH 10:0 concentration by ∼16.5 h.

LAT1 activity of carboxylic acid bioisosteres: Evaluation of hydroxamic acids as substrates

Large neutral amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) is a solute carrier protein located primarily in the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that offers the potential to deliver drugs to the brain. It is also up-regulated in cancer cells, as part of a tumor’s increased metabolic demands. Previously, amino acid prodrugs have been shown to be transported by LAT1. Carboxylic acid bioisosteres may afford prodrugs with an altered physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profile than those derived from natural amino acids, allowing for higher brain or tumor levels of drug and/or lower toxicity. The effect of replacing phenylalanine’s carboxylic acid with a tetrazole, acylsulfonamide and hydroxamic acid (HA) bioisostere was examined. Compounds were tested for their ability to be LAT1 substrates using both cis-inhibition and trans-stimulation cell assays. As HA-Phe demonstrated weak substrate activity, its structure–activity relationship (SAR) was further explored by synthesis and testing of HA derivatives of other LAT1 amino acid substrates (i.e., Tyr, Leu, Ile, and Met). The potential for a false positive in the trans-stimulation assay caused by parent amino acid was evaluated by conducting compound stability experiments for both HA-Leu and the corresponding methyl ester derivative. We concluded that HA’s are transported by LAT1. In addition, our results lend support to a recent account that amino acid esters are LAT1 substrates, and that hydrogen bonding may be as important as charge for interaction with the transporter binding site.

Synthesis, characterisation, and properties of p-cymene Ruthenium(II) tetracarboxylate bipyridine complexes [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(Rn,Rn′-tcbpy)Cl][Cl

We report the synthesis and properties of new ruthenium-p-cymene complexes [(η6- -cymene)Ru(L)Cl][Cl] prepared from tetracarboxylic acid ligands L = 3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylicacid-2,2′-bipyridine (3,3′,4,4′-H4tcbpy), their methyl and ethyl ester derivatives (R4tcbpy), 4,4′,5,5′-tetracarboxylicacid-2,2′-bipyridine (4,4′,5,5′-H4tcbpy), and 4,4′-di-n-nonyl bipyridine (4,4′-dnbpy). The complexes were fully characterized by NMR, IR, MS, elemental analysis, UV–vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The single-crystal structure of [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4′,5,5′-H4tcbpy)Cl]Cl 2 shows a ‘piano stool’ geometry with Ru-C (2.177(2)-2.231(2) Å), Ru-N (2.0791–2.0801 Å) distances and an N-Ru-N bond angle (77.4°) similar to equivalents in the 4,4′-dicarboxylic acid sister complex. Compared to the latter and also the 4,4′-dnbpy derivative 3, the UV–vis spectra show MLTC absorptions of the tetracarboxylates shifted to lower energy. The CVs show Ru(II/III) oxidation processes at 0.56–0.98 V (vs Fc/Fc+), depending on the ligand substitution. Changes in the electronic situation at the Ru centre reflected in the UV–vis and voltammetric data are correlated to HOMO levels calculated from photoelectron spectroscopy in air spectra recorded for all complexes. According to NMR experiments rapid ligand dissociation occurred when dissolving [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(3,3′,4,4′-Me4tcbpy)Cl]Cl 1b in DMF. In hot DMF decarboxylation led to the isolation of the 4′-dicarboxylic acid complex derivative.

Antimicrobial activities of some synthesized 1-(3-(2-methylphenyl)-4-Oxo-3H-quinazolin-2-yl-4-(substituted)thiosemicarbazide derivatives

The substituted thiosemicarbazide moiety was placed at the C-2 position and 2-methylphenyl group at N-3 position of quinazoline ring and obtained compounds were tested for their antitubercular activities and antibacterial activities against selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The target compounds 1-(3-(2-methylphenyl)-4-oxo-3H-quinazolin-2-yl)-4-(substituted) thiosemicarbazides were obtained by the reaction of 2-hydrazino-3-(2-methylphenyl) quinazolin-4(3H)-one with different dithiocarbamic acid methyl ester derivatives. All synthesized compounds were also screened for their antimicrobial activity against selective gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by agar dilution method. Among the series, 1-[3-(2-methylphenyl)-4-oxo-3H-quinazolin-2-yl]-4-[4-chlorophenyl]-thiosemicarbazide exhibited the most potent activity against S. typhi, E. coli, and B. subtilis, while 1-[3-(2-methylphenyl)-4-oxo-3H-quinazolin-2-yl]-4-[4-nitrophenyl]-thiosemicarbazide was the most potent against E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, and S. flexneri. These two compounds exhibited the antitubercular activity at the minimum concentration (3 μg/mL) that offered potential for further optimization and development of new antitubercular agents. The obtained results demonstrated promising antimicrobial and antitubercular activities of the synthesized quinazoline compounds which could be used as new scaffolds for improving their antimicrobial activity.

Pyrene–Fullerene Interaction and Its Effect on the Behavior of Photovoltaic Blends

Improving the dispersion properties of unfunctionalized fullerenes in photovoltaic blends is a key factor for replacing the commonly employed butyric acid methyl ester derivatives (PBCM and PC71BM), with economical and light harvesting advantages. We consider here the effects of a pyrene derivative (PyBB) as dispersant of neat fullerenes (C60 or C70) in photovoltaic blends prepared with a low energy gap conjugated polymer (PTB7) as electron donor. The morphological and spectroscopic properties in the presence and absence of PyBB were evaluated by AFM, emission fluorescence, and light induced EPR, and the deep trap density of states was calculated in the two cases. The electrical properties of the devices prepared with or without PyBB were investigated and compared. The intimate interaction of fullerene/PyBB aromatic species revealed by the spectroscopic analysis is in agreement with the enhanced dispersion of the three-component blends. At the same time the deep trap density of states is varied, and the mobility of negative charge carriers is reduced in films prepared with PyBB dispersant, frustrating the beneficial effect of PyBB on the blend morphology.