Potential Biological Activity Research Articles

Daphnane diterpenoid orthoesters with an odd-numbered aliphatic side chain from Daphne pedunculata.

Daphnane diterpenoids were recognized for their extensive range of potent biological activities. In the present study, phytochemical investigation including LC-MS/MS analysis resulted in the identification of five daphnane diterpenoid orthoesters (1-5). Among the five daphnane diterpenoids, two previously unreported compounds, daphnepedunins I and J (2 and 4) were isolated from Daphne pedunculata. The structure of new compounds was elucidated with extensive physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses. Their structure was characterized by the presence of an unusual odd-numbered aliphatic chain connected to an orthoester. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-HIV activity against HIV-1 infection of MT4 cells, and the results indicated that compound 1 showed the most potent anti-HIV activity with an IC50 value of 0.82nM.

Novel Cholesterol-Based Dihydropyrimidinone Derivatives with Potential Biological Activities: An In-silico Investigation

Steroids play essential physiological roles in the living systems, including their role as sex hormones, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids. Usually, they engage in interactions with steroid receptors. Target cell nuclei, cytosol and plasma membranes all have steroid hormone receptors. Cytoplasmic or nuclear, intracellular receptors start the signal transduction process for steroid hormones and cause gene expression alterations over the course of several hours to days. Certain steroid hormones bind to cell surface receptors, including ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors and several nuclear receptors. Dihydropyrimidinones are also significant moieties with important physiological roles. The hybrid molecules can offer several potential biological activities. In this work, we have checked the in silico interaction of some novel cholesterol–dihydropyrimidinones interactions with the sex hormones, mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors to screen their potential use in the regulation of the sexual cycle or the carbohydrate metabolism or the mineral imbalance.

Cell-free biosynthesis and engineering of ribosomally synthesized lanthipeptides

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a major class of natural products with diverse chemical structures and potent biological activities. A vast majority of RiPP gene clusters remain unexplored in microbial genomes, which is partially due to the lack of rapid and efficient heterologous expression systems for RiPP characterization and biosynthesis. Here, we report a unified biocatalysis (UniBioCat) system based on cell-free gene expression for rapid biosynthesis and engineering of RiPPs. We demonstrate UniBioCat by reconstituting a full biosynthetic pathway for de novo biosynthesis of salivaricin B, a lanthipeptide RiPP. Next, we delete several protease/peptidase genes from the source strain to enhance the performance of UniBioCat, which then can synthesize and screen salivaricin B variants with enhanced antimicrobial activity. Finally, we show that UniBioCat is generalizable by synthesizing and evaluating the bioactivity of ten uncharacterized lanthipeptides. We expect UniBioCat to accelerate the discovery, characterization, and synthesis of RiPPs.

The potential biological activities of Aspergillus luchuensis-aided green synthesis of silver nanoparticles

Biosynthetic metals have attracted global attention because of their safety, affordability, and environmental friendliness. As a consequence, the cell-free filtrate (CFF) of Dill leaf-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus luchuensis was employed for the extracellularly synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A reddish-brown color shift confirmed that AgNPs were successfully produced. The obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis (ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, EDX, and zeta potential. Results demonstrated the creation of crystalline AgNPs with a spherical shape at 427.81 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum, and size ranged from 16 to 18 nm as observed by TEM. Additionally, the biogenic AgNPs had a promising antibacterial activity versus multidrug-resistant bacteria, notably, S. aureus, E. coli, and S. typhi. The highest growth reduction was recorded in the case of E. coli. Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated potent antifungal potential versus a variety of harmful fungi. The maximum growth inhibition was evaluated from A. brasinsilles, followed by C. albicans as compared to cell-free extract and AgNO3. In addition, data revealed that AgNPs possess powerful antioxidant activity, and their ability to scavenge radicals increased from 33.0 to 85.1% with an increment in their concentration from 3.9 to 1,000 μg/mL. Furthermore, data showed that AgNPs displayed high catalytic activity of safranin under light irradiation. The maximum decolorization percentage (100%) was observed after 6 h. Besides, the biosynthesized AgNPs showed high insecticidal potential against 3rd larval instar of Culex pipiens. Taken together, data suggested that endophytic fungus, A. luchuensis, is an attractive candidate as an environmentally sustainable and friendly fungal nanofactory.

Metabolite Profiling and Biological Activity Assessment of Paeonia ostii Anthers and Pollen Using UPLC-QTOF-MS.

Paeonia ostii is an important economic oil and medicinal crop. Its anthers are often used to make tea in China with beneficial effects on human health. However, the metabolite profiles, as well as potential biological activities of P. ostii anthers and the pollen within anthers have not been systematically analyzed, which hinders the improvement of P. ostii utilization. With comprehensive untargeted metabolomic analysis using UPLC-QTOF-MS, we identified a total of 105 metabolites in anthers and pollen, mainly including phenylpropanoids, polyketides, organic acids, benzenoids, lipids, and organic oxygen compounds. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed the metabolite differences between anthers and pollen, with higher carbohydrates and flavonoids content in pollen and higher phenolic content in anthers. Meanwhile, both anthers and pollen extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity. In general, the anther stage of S4 showed the highest biological activity among all samples. This study illuminated the metabolites and biological activities of anthers and pollen of P. ostii, which supports the further utilization of them.

Exploring the Potential Biological Activities of Pyrazole-Based Schiff Bases as Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Alzheimer's, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Agents: In Vitro Studies with Computational Predictions.

In this innovative research, we aim to reveal pyrazole-based Schiff bases as new multi-target agents. In this context, we re-synthesized three sets of pyrazole-based Schiff bases, 5a-f, 6a-f, and 7a-f, to evaluate their biological applications. The data from in vitro biological assays (including antioxidant and scavenging activities, anti-diabetes, anti-Alzheimer's, and anti-inflammatory properties) of the pyrazole-based Schiff bases 5a-f, 6a-f, and 7a-f showed that the six pyrazole-based Schiff bases 5a, 5d, 5e, 5f, 7a, and 7f possess the highest biological properties among the compounds evaluated. The cytotoxicity against lung (A549) and colon (Caco-2) human cancer types, as well as normal lung (WI-38) cell lines, was evaluated. The data from the cytotoxicity investigation demonstrated that the three Schiff bases 5d, 5e, and 7a are active against lung (A549) cells, while the two Schiff bases 5e and 7a exhibited the highest cytotoxicity towards colon (Caco-2) cells. Additionally, the enzymatic activities against caspase-3 and Bcl-2 of the six pyrazole-based Schiff bases 5a, 5d, 5e, 5f, 7a, and 7f were evaluated. Furthermore, we assessed the in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, and toxicity (ADMT) properties of the more potent pyrazole-based Schiff bases. After modifying the structures of the six pyrazole-based Schiff bases, we plan to further extend the studies in the future.

Studies on the Biomimetic Synthesis of Marine Ladder Polyethers via Endo‐Selective Epoxide‐to‐Epoxonium Ring‐Opening Cascades

Marine ladder polyethers have attracted the attention of chemists and biologists because of their potent biological activities. Synthetic chemists have attempted to construct their polyether frameworks by epoxide ring‐opening cascades, as Nakanishi hypothesis describes. However, Baldwin’s rules of ring closure state that exo‐selective intramolecular cyclization of epoxy alcohols is preferred over endo‐selective cyclization. Herein, we investigated epoxide ring‐opening cascades of polyepoxy alcohols in [EMIM]BF4/PFTB (1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate /perfluoro‐tert‐butyl alcohol) and found that all‐endo products were formed via epoxide‐to‐epoxonium ring‐opening cyclizations (not restricted by Baldwin’s rules, which only apply to intramolecular hydroxyl‐to‐epoxide cyclizations). We determined that the key factor enabling polyepoxy alcohols to undergo a high proportion of all‐endo‐selective cyclizations was inhibition of exo‐selective hydroxyl‐to‐epoxide cyclization starting from the terminal hydroxyl group of a polyepoxy alcohol. By introducing a slow‐release protecting group to the terminal hydroxyl group, we could markedly increase the cyclization yields of polyether fragments with hydrogen atoms at the ring junctions. For the first time, we constructed consecutively fused six‐membered‐ring and fused seven‐, eight‐, and nine‐membered‐ring polyether fragments by epoxide‐to‐epoxonium ring‐opening cyclizations through the addition of a suitable Lewis acid. We also suggest that the biosynthesis of marine ladder polyethers may proceed via epoxide‐to‐epoxonium ring‐opening cyclization of polyepoxide.

Studies on the Biomimetic Synthesis of Marine Ladder Polyethers via Endo-Selective Epoxide-to-Epoxonium Ring-Opening Cascades.

Marine ladder polyethers have attracted the attention of chemists and biologists because of their potent biological activities. Synthetic chemists have attempted to construct their polyether frameworks by epoxide ring-opening cascades, as Nakanishi hypothesis describes. However, Baldwin's rules of ring closure state that exo-selective intramolecular cyclization of epoxy alcohols is preferred over endo-selective cyclization. Herein, we investigated epoxide ring-opening cascades of polyepoxy alcohols in [EMIM]BF4/PFTB (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate /perfluoro-tert-butyl alcohol) and found that all-endo products were formed via epoxide-to-epoxonium ring-opening cyclizations (not restricted by Baldwin's rules, which only apply to intramolecular hydroxyl-to-epoxide cyclizations). We determined that the key factor enabling polyepoxy alcohols to undergo a high proportion of all-endo-selective cyclizations was inhibition of exo-selective hydroxyl-to-epoxide cyclization starting from the terminal hydroxyl group of a polyepoxy alcohol. By introducing a slow-release protecting group to the terminal hydroxyl group, we could markedly increase the cyclization yields of polyether fragments with hydrogen atoms at the ring junctions. For the first time, we constructed consecutively fused six-membered-ring and fused seven-, eight-, and nine-membered-ring polyether fragments by epoxide-to-epoxonium ring-opening cyclizations through the addition of a suitable Lewis acid. We also suggest that the biosynthesis of marine ladder polyethers may proceed via epoxide-to-epoxonium ring-opening cyclization of polyepoxide.

CNSMolGen: A Bidirectional Recurrent Neural Network-Based Generative Model for De Novo Central Nervous System Drug Design.

Central nervous system (CNS) drugs have had a significant impact on treating a wide range of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. In recent years, deep learning-based generative models have shown great potential for accelerating drug discovery and improving efficacy. However, specific applications of these techniques in CNS drug discovery have not been widely reported. In this study, we developed the CNSMolGen model, which uses a framework of bidirectional recurrent neural networks (Bi-RNNs) for de novo molecular design of CNS drugs. Results showed that the pretrained model was able to generate more than 90% of completely new molecular structures, which possessed the properties of CNS drug molecules and were synthesizable. In addition, transfer learning was performed on small data sets with specific biological activities to evaluate the potential application of the model for CNS drug optimization. Here, we used drugs against the classical CNS disease target serotonin transporter (SERT) as a fine-tuned data set and generated a focused database against the target protein. The potential biological activities of the generated molecules were verified by using the physics-based induced-fit docking study. The success of this model demonstrates its potential in CNS drug design and optimization, which provides a new impetus for future CNS drug development.

A comparative metabolomic investigation of different sections of Sicilian Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck, characterization of bioactive metabolites, and evaluation of in vivo toxicity on zebrafish embryo.

Citrus fruits are a diverse and economically important group of fruit crops known for their distinctive flavors and high nutritional value. Their cultivation and consumption contribute significantly to the global agricultural economy and offer a wide range of health benefits. Among the genetic diversity of citrus species, Citrus x limon (L.) Osbeck is particularly relevant due to its chemical composition and potential health benefits. Two cultivars from the Sicily region (southern Italy) were compared for their phenolic content and preliminary antioxidant activity to select the distinctive extract with potential biological activity. A detailed characterization revealed the occurrence of phenolics, coumarins, and flavonoids. The quantification of metabolites contained in the selected extract was performed by an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with an ultraviolet detector. Different concentrations were tested in vivo through the fish embryo acute toxicity test, and the 50% lethal dose of 107,833µgmL-1 was calculated. Finally, the effect of the extract on hatching was evaluated, and a dose-dependent relationship with the accelerated hatching rate was reported, suggesting a Femminello Zagara Bianca green peel upregulating effect on the hatching enzymes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Citrus fruits and their products continue to be one of the natural food sources with the highest waste output. In this study, we demonstrate how food industry waste, particularly lemon peel, is rich in bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may be used in the nutraceuticals industry.

The beneficial health effects of puerarin in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: from mechanisms to therapeutics.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death globally that seriously threaten human health. Although novel western medicines have continued to be discovered over the past few decades to inhibit the progression of CVDs, new drug research and development for treating CVDs with less side effects and adverse reactions are continuously being desired. Puerarin is a natural product found in a variety of medicinal plants belonging to the flavonoid family with potent biological and pharmacological activities. Abundant research findings in the literature have suggested that puerarin possesses a promising prospect in treating CVDs. In recent years, numerous new molecular mechanisms of puerarin have been explored in experimental and clinical studies, providing new evidence for this plant metabolite to protect against CVDs. This article systematically introduces the history of use, bioavailability, and various dosage forms of puerarin and further summarizes recently published data on the major research advances and their underlying therapeutic mechanisms in treating CVDs. It may provide references for researchers in the fields of pharmacology, natural products, and internal medicine.

Dereplication tools for Rhizophora mangle extracts from different mangrove areas and their potential against Staphylococcus aureus.

Rhizophora extracts have several potential biological activities, and their metabolites can be used in the pharmaceutical industry. Extracts of Rhizophora species obtained from mangroves have shown prospective activity against Staphylococcus aureus. This study aimed to investigate the chemical profile of Rhizophora mangle leaves from fringe, basin, and transition mangrove zones and their bactericidal/bacteriostatic potential against S. aureus. R. mangle leaves were collected monthly in 2018 from litterfall in three different zones of the mangrove of Guaratiba State Reserve: fringe, basin, and transition. Extracts were prepared from the material collected in October and December for LC-HRMS/MS analysis, and dereplication was performed using a molecular library search and the classical molecular networkingGNPS platform. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the aqueous extract of R. mangle against S. aureus were determined. No S. aureus growth was observed compared to the control for extracts collected from September to December. Different compounds were annotated in each region, yet a marked presence of phenolic compounds was noted, among them glycosylated flavonoid derivatives of quercetin and kaempferol. The results suggest bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity for extracts of R. mangle leaves collected in 2018 from three mangrove forest zones.

Coconut-sourced MCT oil: its potential health benefits beyond traditional coconut oil

AbstractPlant dietary lipids remain one of the most intriguing and complex classes of biological molecules. Among them, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have garnered recognition for their unique physico-chemical properties and potential health benefits. Despite their classification as saturated fats, they stand apart from other saturated fatty acids due to their distinctive characteristics, positioning them as a valuable component in nutrition. While traditional dietary fats primarily contain long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), MCTs consist of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), naturally found in coconut and palm oils. The structural dissimilarity grants MCTs advantageous attributes, encompassing rapid digestion and absorption, providing a swift source of energy. Importantly, MCT oil derived from coconuts surpasses traditional coconut oil in efficiency and speed of energy conversion due to its higher concentration of readily metabolizable MCTs, making it a superior choice in human nutrition. This comprehensive study delves deeply into the potential of coconut-derived MCT oil, illuminating its chemical constituents, production from coconut oil, distinctive physical and chemical properties, and metabolic characteristics. Additionally, it highlights a range of potential biological activities of the oil, including its efficacy in managing gastrointestinal disorders and promising roles in anticancer, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial effects. The report also discusses the extensive applications of MCT oil across diverse industrial and technological sectors, as well as its utilization in structured lipids, oleogels, and as a carrier for capsaicin. Addressing safety concerns and providing dosage guidelines, this paper emphasizes MCT oil as an alternative to coconut oil in various applications, offering a holistic perspective on its benefits.

In vitro and in silico based assessment of biological activity of endemic Allium species: LC-MS/MS analysis of onions

In this study, the beneficial biological activity of four Allium species was examined to determine the metabolite components, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, wound healing, and enzyme inhibitory activities. All in vitro tests were compared to their reference compounds. The quantitative phytochemical analysis was distinctively profiled fifteen metabolites. The extract of A. eldivanense exhibited promising inhibitory effect against AChE (IC50: 0.335 ± 0.04 mg mLˉˡ), BChE (IC50: 0.375 ± 0.04 mg mLˉˡ), α-glucosidase (IC50: 0.148 ± 0.01 mg mLˉˡ), and tyrosinase (IC50: 11.87 ± 1.07 μg mLˉˡ) enzymes. The extract from A. olympicum and A. ilgazense exhibited ABTS scavenging activity closer to that of BHT among four antioxidant assays. A. eldivanense showed antibacterial ability ranging from 4 to 8 mg mLˉˡ concentrations, and the extract is promising compared to ampicillin. A. peroninianum demonstrated the highest cytotoxic effect (IC50: 84.03 μg mLˉˡ) on cervical cancer cells, and all Allium extracts applied to the HeLa cell line significantly slowed down wound closure. The molecular implementation studies predicate the in vitro enzyme inhibitory findings, and the major compounds in the onion extract have the highest affinity for the targets. The findings suggested that Allium species have potential biological activities according to the comprehensive in vitro and in silico analysis.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti‐Inflammatory, and Antimicrobial Activities of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Adiantum capillus‐veneris L. Leaf Extract

AbstractDue to its unique properties and advantageous traits, zinc oxide has garnered significant attention in recent years for the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO‐NP). This paper is focused on the synthesis of ZnO‐NPs mediated by Adiantum capillus‐veneris L. leaf extract and assesses their potential biological activities. In this study, ZnO‐NP is synthesized using A. capillus‐veneris L. leaf extract. The synthesized nanoparticles are characterized using, UV–vis spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), (SEM) scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrophotometry. The antibacterial, antifungal, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of the formulated ZnO‐NPs are also inspected. The UV–vis, XRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR confirmed the formation and purity of synthesized ZnO‐NPs. The ZnO‐NPs exhibit efficient antimicrobial potency against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Gram‐positive bacteria, particularly S. aureus, are more susceptible to ZnO‐NPs, with the largest inhibition zone of 32 mm. In contrast, E. coli and P. aeruginosa display smaller inhibition zones of 25 and 27 mm respectively. Anti‐inflammatory tests show that ZnO‐NPs have a significant anti‐inflammatory effect against egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation, possess low toxicity on erythrocytes, and are highly hemocompatible.

Exploring the Biomedical Potential of Terpenoid Alkaloids: Sources, Structures, and Activities.

Terpenoid alkaloids are recognized as a class of compounds with limited numbers but potent biological activities, primarily derived from plants, with a minor proportion originating from animals and microorganisms. These alkaloids are synthesized from the same prenyl unit that forms the terpene skeleton, with the nitrogen atom introduced through β-aminoethanol, ethylamine, or methylamine, leading to a range of complex and diverse structures. Based on their skeleton type, they can be categorized into monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and triterpene alkaloids. To date, 289 natural terpenoid alkaloids, excluding triterpene alkaloids, have been identified in studies published between 2019 and 2024. These compounds demonstrate a spectrum of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, analgesic, and cardioprotective effects, making them promising candidates for further development. This review provides an overview of the sources, chemical structures, and biological activities of natural terpenoid alkaloids, serving as a reference for future research and applications in this area.

Multicomponent Synthesis of Novel Unsymmetric 6-Aryl Substituted 5-Nitropyridines

We have previously studied a multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridines using unsubstituted 2-nitroacetophenone, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and various aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and furfural. This paper reports the use of unsymmetrical 3-acetyl-5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridines containing aryl substituents at the 6-position in a multicomponent synthesis reaction. The starting aryl-substituted nitroacetophenones were prepared by two methods. The first method involved the two-step Katritzky method, which is described in the literature. This method consists of preparing N-acylbenzotriazoles from the corresponding substituted derivatives of benzoic acid and 1,2,3-benzotriazole in the presence of thionyl chloride. This is followed by C-acylation of nitromethane in supernatron medium (t-BuOK – DMSO). A number of 2-nitroacetophenone derivatives were prepared from more commercially available aromatic aldehydes by the Henry reaction with nitromethane followed by oxidation of the resulting secondary nitroalcohols. The multicomponent reaction of 6-aryl-substituted 5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridines and their subsequent aromatization into 5-nitropyridines allowed us to reduce the overall reaction time by more than 40 times and to increase the total yield of 5-nitro-6-arylpyridines by an average of twofold compared to the method described in the literature. Furthermore, the 3-acetyl-5-nitropyridines we have obtained are significant intermediates in the synthesis of novel, more complex heterocyclic systems with potential biological activity. These systems include δ-carbolines and epoxybenzooxocyno[4,3-b]pyridines, which are currently of great interest for the study of their properties.

"Novel Aryl Substituted Alkenol (Ladimejol) from the Chemical Modifications of Caffeic Acid and Prospection for its Potential Biological Activities"

"Novel Aryl Substituted Alkenol (Ladimejol) from the Chemical Modifications of Caffeic Acid and Prospection for its Potential Biological Activities"

Microbial exopolysaccharides: Unveiling the pharmacological aspects for therapeutic advancements

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have emerged as a fascinating area of research in the field of pharmacology due to their diverse and potent biological activities. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological properties exhibited by EPSs, shedding light on their potential applications in various therapeutic areas. The review begins by introducing EPSs, exploring their various sources, significance in microbial growth and survival, and their applications across different industries. Subsequently, a thorough examination of the pharmaceutical properties of microbial EPSs unveils their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antidepressant, antidiabetic, antiviral, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Mechanistic insights into how different EPSs exert these therapeutic effects have also been discussed in this review. The review also provides comprehensive information about the monosaccharide composition, backbone, branches, glycosidic bonds, and molecular weight of pharmacologically active EPSs from various microbial sources. Furthermore, the factors that can affect the pharmacological activities of EPSs and approaches to improve the EPSs’ pharmacological activity have also been discussed. In conclusion, this review illuminates the immense pharmaceutical promise of microbial EPS as versatile bioactive compounds with wide-ranging therapeutic applications. By elucidating their structural features, biological activities, and potential applications, this review aims to catalyze further research and development efforts in leveraging the pharmaceutical potential of microbial EPS for the advancement of human health and well-being, while also contributing to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in the pharmaceutical industry.

Application of the Photo‐Fries Reaction as a Key Step in the Preparation of Valuable Aryloxyethyl Selenocyanates

A multi‐step sequence leads to the preparation of a series of aryl selenocyanate WC‐9 homologues which are interesting compounds with potential biological activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The synthetic sequence involves the application of the photo‐Fries rearrangement reaction as a key step for the preparation of a series of 2‐hydroxyphenones bearing alkyl chains of different length and a phenyl group. These intermediates are obtained upon direct irradiation (254 nm) of 4‐phenoxyphenyl esters in different solvents at room temperature. Then, reaction of the 2‐hydroxyphenones with 2‐(2‐bromoethoxy)tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran followed by acid deprotection, tosylation (or mesylation) reaction and, finally, nucleophilic attack with potassium selenocyanate provides the target aryloxyethyl selenocyanate homologues in good yields.