Sulfur Analogues Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of Se-adenosyl-L-selenohomocysteine selenoxide

Selenium is an essential micronutrient in humans due to the important roles of the selenocysteine-containing selenoproteins. Organoselenium metabolites are generally found to be substrates for the biochemical pathways of their sulfur analogs, and the redox chemistry of selenomethionine and some other metabolites have been previously reported. We now report the first synthesis and characterization of Se-adenosylselenohomocysteine selenoxide (SeAHO) prepared via hydrogen peroxide oxidation of Se-adenosylselenohomocysteine. The selenoxide SeAHO, in contrast to its corresponding sulfoxide S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAHO), can form hydrate, has an electrostatic interaction between the α-amino acid moiety and the highly polar selenoxide functional group, and readily oxidizes glutathione (GSH) and cysteine thiols.

Effective selenium detoxification in the seed proteins of a hyperaccumulator plant: the analysis of selenium-containing proteins of monkeypot nut (Lecythis minor) seeds.

A shotgun proteomic approach was applied to characterize the selenium (Se)-containing proteins of the selenium hyperaccumulator monkeypot nut (Lecythis minor) seeds. The exceptionally high Se content (>4,000 mg kg(-1)) of the sample enabled a straightforward procedure without the need for multiple preconcentration and fractionation steps. The proteins identified were sulfur-rich seed proteins, namely, 11S globulin (Q84ND2), 2S albumin (B6EU54), 2S sulfur-rich seed storage proteins (P04403 and P0C8Y8) and a 11S globulin-like protein (A0EM48). Database directed search for theoretically selenium-containing peptides was assisted by manual spectra evaluation to achieve around 25% coverage on sulfur analogues. Remarkable detoxification mechanisms on the proteome level were revealed in the form of multiple selenomethionine-methionine substitution and the lack of selenocysteine residues. The degree of selenomethionine substitution could be characterized by an exponential function that implies the inhibition of protein elongation by selenomethionine. Our results contribute to the deeper understanding of selenium detoxification procedures in hyperaccumulator plants.

Complex Formation between [(η 6 ‐ p ‐cymene)Ru(H 2 O) 3 ] 2+ and Hydroxycarboxylates or their Sulfur Analogues – The Role of Thiolate Groups in Metal Ion Binding

The interactions between [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(H2O)3]2+ and L-malic acid (H2mal), L-tartaric acid (H2tart), and their sulfur-containing analogues dl-thiomalic acid (H3thiomal) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (H4dmsa) were studied by pH potentiometry, NMR spectroscopy, and ESI-MS. The hydroxycarboxylates are potent metal ion binders and prevent hydrolysis at pH 7.4 in aqueous solution. Although H2mal forms mononuclear complexes with different degrees of protonation by the involvement of the alcohol/alkoxide group in addition to the carboxylate groups, the presence of binding isomers is detected for the H2tart system. The replacement of the alcohol group by a thiolate group results in the formation of dinuclear [Ru2A2] complexes as the single species over a wide pH range. Complexes with identical binding modes with H3thiomal or polymeric species with H4dmsa are identified, and the X-ray structure of [{(η6-p-cym)Ru}2(Hthiomal)2] is reported. The stereochemistry of the chiral-at-metal complexes was explored by NMR spectroscopy and is also discussed.

Organochalcogen compounds from glycerol: Synthesis of new antioxidants

We describe here a simple method for the synthesis of glycerol derivatives containing an organochalcogen unit (Se, Te and S) using NaBH4 and PEG-400 as a solvent. The new methodology was used to synthesize a range of new organochalcogen compounds in good yields. Furthermore, four of synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using different assays, such as 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, nitric oxide (NO) and hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ferrous ion chelating, superoxide dismutase-like activity and inhibition of linoleic acid lipid peroxidation. The new organotellurium 2,2-dimethyl-4-(phenyltellanylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane 3j showed antioxidant activity and was more effective in inhibition of induced lipid peroxidation compared to solketal 4. Selenium and sulfur analogs 3a and 3m and solketal 4 did not present antioxidant effect. These findings suggest that 2,2-dimethyl-4-(phenyltellanylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane 3j is a promising antioxidant and that its activity is influenced by the presence of the tellurium atom on the structure.

The chemical synthesis of sulfur analogues of lysophospholipids and cyclophospholipids

The chemical synthesis of sulfur analogues of lysophospholipids and cyclophospholipids

New carbocyclic nucleosides: synthesis of carbocyclic pseudoisocytidine and its analogs

Cyclopentane-containing nucleoside analogs with a CC connection between the (heterocyclic) base and the carbocyclic scaffold are quite rare. Herein, we report the synthesis of previously unknown racemic carbocyclic pseudoisocytidine and its analogs, which were prepared in 13 steps from commercially available materials. Pseudoisocytidine and its sulfur analog were moderately active against the mantle cell lymphoma cell line, JVM-3. We also prepared a versatile cyclopentanone intermediate, which can be converted into novel carbocyclic nucleosides via highly stereoselective addition of organometallic nucleophiles; the adduct with phenyllithium, the stereochemistry of which was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography, inhibits glycosylase NEIL1 in a dose-dependent manner.

Cyclocarbopalladation/cross-coupling cascade reactions in sulfide series: access to sulfur heterocycles.

Cyclocarbopalladation/cross-coupling cascade reactions were applied for the first time in a sulfur series and represent an efficient route to access sulfur heterocycles. Stille or Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling was successfully used as the final reaction. The products are original benzothiolane and isothiochromane scaffolds with a stereodefined tetrasubstituted exocyclic double bond. To illustrate the application of this method to the synthesis of bioactive molecules, a sulfur analogue of the anticancer agent tamoxifen was prepared as a potential selective estrogen-receptor modulator.

Catalytic antioxidant AEOL 10150 treatment ameliorates sulfur mustard analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide-associated cutaneous toxic effects

Our previous studies and other published reports on the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (SM) and its analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) have indicated a role of oxidative stress in skin injuries caused by these vesicating agents. We examined the effects of the catalytic antioxidant AEOL 10150 in the attenuation of CEES-induced toxicity using our established skin injury models (skin epidermal cells and SKH-1 hairless mice) to validate the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of mustard vesicating agents. Treatment of mouse epidermal JB6 and human HaCaT cells with AEOL 10150 (50μM) 1h post-CEES exposure resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reversal of CEES-induced decreases in both cell viability and DNA synthesis. Similarly, AEOL 10150 treatment 1h after CEES exposure attenuated CEES-induced DNA damage in these cells. Similar AEOL 10150 treatments also caused significant (p < 0.05) reversal of CEES-induced decreases in cell viability in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species measurements showed that AEOL 10150 treatment drastically ameliorated the CEES-induced oxidative stress in both JB6 and HaCaT cells. Based on AEOL 10150 pharmacokinetic studies in SKH-1 mouse skin, mice were treated with a topical formulation plus subcutaneous injection (5mg/kg) of AEOL 10150 1h after CEES (4mg/mouse) exposure and every 4h thereafter for 12h. This AEOL 10150 treatment regimen resulted in over 50% (p < 0.05) reversal of CEES-induced skin bi-fold and epidermal thickness, myeloperoxidase activity, and DNA oxidation in mouse skin. Results from this study demonstrate the potential therapeutic efficacy of AEOL 10150 against CEES-mediated cutaneous lesions, supporting AEOL 10150 as a medical countermeasure against SM-induced skin injuries.

Fundamental Vibrational Frequencies and Spectroscopic Constants of cis- and trans-HOCS, HSCO, and Isotopologues via Quartic Force Fields

Highly accurate, coupled-cluster-based quartic force fields (QFFs) have been employed recently to provide spectroscopic reference for a myriad of molecules. Here, we are extending the same approach to provide vibrational and rotational spectroscopic reference data for the sulfur analogues of HOCO, HSCO, and HOCS, in both the cis and trans conformations as well as the D and (34)S isotopologues of each system. The resulting energies corroborate previous computations showing that trans-HSCO is the lowest-energy isomer for this system. The vibrational frequencies are computed with both second-order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) and vibrational configuration interaction (VCI) methods. The VPT2 and VCI QFF frequencies largely agree with one another to better than 5.0 cm(-1) (often better than 1.0 cm(-1)) and are also consistent with the type of behavior exhibited in previous studies. As such, the reference data provided here should assist in analysis of environments in which these sulfur systems may be found, including the interstellar medium, combustion flames, or laboratory simulations of either.

Intratracheal heparin improves plastic bronchitis due to sulfur mustard analog

Inhalation of sulfur mustard (SM) and SM analog, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), cause fibrinous cast formation that occludes the conducting airways, similar to children with Fontan physiology-induced plastic bronchitis. These airway casts cause significant mortality and morbidity, including hypoxemia and respiratory distress. Our hypothesis was that intratracheal heparin, a highly cost effective and easily preserved rescue therapy, could reverse morbidity and mortality induced by bronchial cast formation. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 7.5% CEES via nose-only aerosol inhalation to produce extensive cast formation and mortality. The rats were distributed into three groups: non-treated, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated, and heparin-treated groups. Morbidity was assessed with oxygen saturations and clinical distress. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained for analysis, and lungs were fixed for airway microdissection to quantify the extent of airway cast formation. Heparin, given intratracheally, improved survival (100%) when compared to non-treated (75%) and PBS-treated (90%) controls. Heparin-treated rats also had improved oxygen saturations, clinical distress and airway cast scores. Heparin-treated rats had increased thrombin clotting times, factor Xa inhibition and activated partial thromboplastin times, indicating systemic absorption of heparin. There were also increased red blood cells (RBCs) in the BALF in 2/6 heparin-treated rats compared to PBS-treated control rats. Intratracheal heparin 1 hr after CEES inhalation improved survival, oxygenation, airway obstruction, and clinical distress. There was systemic absorption of heparin in rats treated intratracheally. Some rats had increased RBCs in BALF, suggesting a potential for intrapulmonary bleeding if used chronically after SM inhalation.

Oxidative properties of [1,2-b]selenophenes and 4H-selenochromenes and their interaction with hydrogen sulfide

Electrochemical behavior of [1,2-b]selenophenes and 4H-selenochromenes in organic media and their interaction with hydrogen sulfide have been studied. In aprotic solvents (CH2Cl2 and CH3CN), the organoselenium compounds are oxidized at anode to give cation-radicals. In the presence of hydrogen sulfide, at its oxidation potential (1.60 V) [1,2-b]selenophenes and 4H-selenochromenes undergo recyclization into corresponding thiophenes and thiochromenes. The recyclization yielding sulfur analogs have been studied in the presence of organic electromediators, including the transition metal complex with redox-active ligands, as well.

Dimethylglycine provides salt and temperature stress protection to Bacillus subtilis.

Glycine betaine is a potent osmotic and thermal stress protectant of many microorganisms. Its synthesis from glycine results in the formation of the intermediates monomethylglycine (sarcosine) and dimethylglycine (DMG), and these compounds are also produced when it is catabolized. Bacillus subtilis does not produce sarcosine or DMG, and it cannot metabolize these compounds. Here we have studied the potential of sarcosine and DMG to protect B. subtilis against osmotic, heat, and cold stress. Sarcosine, a compatible solute that possesses considerable protein-stabilizing properties, did not serve as a stress protectant of B. subtilis. DMG, on the other hand, proved to be only moderately effective as an osmotic stress protectant, but it exhibited good heat stress-relieving and excellent cold stress-relieving properties. DMG is imported into B. subtilis cells primarily under osmotic and temperature stress conditions via OpuA, a member of the ABC family of transporters. Ligand-binding studies with the extracellular solute receptor (OpuAC) of the OpuA system showed that OpuAC possesses a moderate affinity for DMG, with a Kd value of approximate 172 μM; its Kd for glycine betaine is about 26 μM. Docking studies using the crystal structures of the OpuAC protein with the sulfur analog of DMG, dimethylsulfonioacetate, as a template suggest a model of how the DMG molecule can be stably accommodated within the aromatic cage of the OpuAC ligand-binding pocket. Collectively, our data show that the ability to acquire DMG from exogenous sources under stressful environmental conditions helps the B. subtilis cell to cope with growth-restricting osmotic and temperature challenges.

Thiophenone and furanone in control ofEscherichia coliO103:H2 virulence

Escherichia coli are a mutual and foodborne pathogen, causing severe intestinal infections typically characterized by diarrhoea and vomiting. Biofilms are often a common source of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria. Quorum sensing is a phenomenon where bacteria communicate and initiate the regulation of several virulence factors and biofilm formation. Thus, quorum sensing has been a new target in the fight against bacterial biofilms. In this study, we investigated the effect of two quorum-sensing inhibitors for preventing in vitro biofilm formation in wild-type E. coli O103:H2. Furanone F202 originates from the red algae Delisea pulchra, and thiophenone TF101 is a sulphur analogue of furanone. We also investigated the effect of thiophenone and furanone on virulence factors controlled by quorum sensing. Both TF101 and F202 interfered with biofilm formation, although TF101 was more effective. TF101 reduced motility presumably by interfering with flagella production, visualized by microscopic techniques. The expressions of flhd, which are involved in flagella synthesis, were affected by thiophenone. This is the first study exploring the effect of thiophenone on E. coli biofilm formation and virulence factors.

ChemInform Abstract: Silica Gel Supported Bismuth Nitrate Pentahydrate: A Highly Active Catalyst Under Solvent Free Conditions Towards the Synthesis of Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones and Their Sulfur Analogues

Abstractvia Biginelli‐type reactions

Optical “Turn off” based selective detection and concomitant degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) via Mg-porphyrazine complex immobilized on glass

Covalently assembled monolayers (CAMs) of Mg-porphyrazine complex on glass and silicon substrates were fabricated and employed as “Turn off” sensor for ppm level detection and degradation of a sulfur mustard analogue: 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES). The detection process was read-out optically via an off-the-shelf UV/Vis spectrophotometer in transmission mode. Monolayer based sensor system was shown to be quite robust and stable, sufficiently accurate and reversible under given experimental conditions. Notably, the sensor system exhibited marked selectivity for CEES when exposed exclusively or in mix to different potent analytes. Moreover, action of KMnO4 on monolayer-CEES complex lead to CEES degradation and resetting of the sensor to its native state for reuse.

The Synthetic Challenge of Thioglycolurils

AbstractThe very high stability of cucurbiturils under harsh acidic conditions and their reported prolific chemistry over more than three decades pose a question: why has no thiocucurbituril been reported to date? Furthermore, although glycoluril is a highly stable, easily accessible precursor of all cucurbiturils, its sulfur analog represents a yet unmet synthetic challenge. The reaction between glyoxal and thiourea was found to stop at the level of dihydroxyimidazolidine‐2‐thione, which is quite unstable under various acidic conditions. In an attempt to answer these questions, several stable analogs of thioglycoluril, that is, monothioglycoluril, ditolylthioglycoluril, and its diether derivative were prepared and characterized in the hope that they could be employed as building blocks for the synthesis of thiocucurbiturils. Several side products were also obtained that highlight the complex reactivity of thiourea in these reactions. The crystal structures of the above‐mentioned thioglycolurils are dominated by networks of hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Attempts to co‐oligomerize these compounds with formaldehyde clearly suggest that it is impossible to synthesize thiocucurbiturils by the methods commonly used for the preparation of cucurbiturils. Given that thiocucurbiturils are expected to be stable molecules, alternative synthetic strategies that are different from the thermodynamically controlled approaches must be designed.

Synthesis and Reactions of 1,3,4-Selenadiazines

Various 1,3,4-selenadiazines were prepared by cyclization of selenosemicarbazides with phenacyl bromides. The compounds generally exist in their 6H-tautomeric form and contain an exocyclic imino group in the solid state. 1,3,4-4H-Selenadiazines, available from 1,2-dimethylated selenosemicarbazides, cannot be isolated because they rapidly undergo a deselenation reaction under the conditions of their formation. Deselenation can be induced for 1,3,4-6H-selenadiazines under forcing conditions by reflux of a solution in glacial acetic acid. On the other hand, a ring contraction is observed when concentrated HCl or HBr is used. INTRODUCTION Selenium represents an essential element for higher organisms and selenium containing enzymes, such as Glutathioneperoxidase and 5’-Deiodase type 1, play an important role in the organism. Selenium containing molecules, such as the antitumor and antiviral C-glycosyl selenazole selenazofurin, are of considerable pharmacological importance because selenium deficiency can result in a number of diseases. However, selenium heterocycles are mostly less stable as compared to their sulfur analogues. In HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 88, No. 2, 2014 1397

Atropisomerization inN-aryl-2(1H)-pyrimidin-(thi)ones: A Ring-Opening/Rotation/Ring-Closure Process in Place of a Classical Rotation around the Pivot Bond

Uncatalyzed racemization processes in atropisomeric diphenyl-like frameworks are classically described as the result of the rotation around the pivotal single bond linking two planar frameworks. Severe constraints leading to more or less distorted transition states account for the experimental barrier to atropenantiomerization. In 1988, one of us hypothesized that, in N-aryl-2(1H)-pyrimidin-(thi)ones, a ring-opening/ring-closure process was contributing to the observed racemization process accounting for the lower barriers in the sulfur analogues than in oxygen analogues. Now, a series of six novel 6-amino-5-cyano-1,4-disubstituted-2(1H)-pyrimidinones 5a-5f and two 6-amino-5-cyano-4-p-tolyl-1-substituted-2(1H)-pyrimidinethiones 6a and 6b were synthesized and characterized through spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies. Semipreparative HPLC chiral separation was achieved, and enantiomerization barriers were obtained by thermal racemization. The rotational barriers of 6-amino-5-cyano-1-o-tolyl-4-p-tolyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (5b) and 6-amino-5-cyano-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)-4-p-tolyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (5e) were found to be 120.4 and 125.1 kJ·mol(-1) (n-BuOH, 117 °C), respectively, and those of the corresponding thiones were 116.8 and 109.6 kJ·mol(-1) (EtOH, 78 °C), respectively. DFT calculations of the rotational barriers clearly ruled out the classical rotation around the pivotal bond with distorted transition states in the case of the sulfur derivatives. Instead, the ranking of the experimental barriers (sulfur versus oxygen, and o-tolyl versus 1-naphthyl in both series) was nicely reproduced by calculations when the rotation occurred via a ring-opened form in N-aryl-2(1H)-pyrimidinethiones.

ChemInform Abstract: S‐Pechmann Dye: A Thiolactone‐Containing Organic Dye with a Pronounced Electron‐Accepting Character and Its Solid‐State Photophysical Properties.

AbstractA sulfur analogue of a Pechmann dye is synthesized.

The chemical synthesis and cytotoxicity of new sulfur analogues of 2-methoxy-lysophosphatidylcholine

The chemical synthesis of phosphorothioate/phosphorodithioate analogues of 2-methoxy-lysophosphatidylcholine has been described. For the preparation of new sulfur derivatives of lysophosphatidylcholine both oxathiaphospholane and dithiaphospholane approaches have been employed. Each lysophospholipid analogue was synthesized as a series of five compounds, bearing different fatty acid residues both saturated (12:0, 14:0, 16:0, 18:0) and unsaturated (18:1). The methylation of glycerol 2-hydroxyl function was applied in order to increase the stability of prepared analogues by preventing 1→2 acyl migration. The cellular toxicity of newly synthesized 2-methoxy-lysophosphatidylcholine derivatives was measured using MTT viability assay and lactate dehydrogenase release method.