Giovanna Longhi

Chiral aromatase and dual aromatase−steroid sulfatase inhibitors from the letrozole template:synthesis, absolute configuration, and in vitro activity

To explore aromatase inhibition and to broaden the structural diversity of dual aromatase-sulfatase inhibitors (DASIs), we introduced the steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitory pharmacophore to letrozole. Letrozole derivatives were prepared bearing bis-sulfamates or mono-sulfamates with or without adjacent substituents. The most potent of the achiral and racemic aromatase inhibitor was 40 (IC 50 = 3.0 nM). Its phenolic precursor 39 was separated by chiral HPLC, and the absolute configuration of each enantiomer was determined using vibrational and electronic circular dichroism in tandem with calculations of the predicted spectra. Of the two enantiomers, ( R)-phenol ( 39a) was the most potent aromatase inhibitor (IC 50 = 0.6 nM, comparable to letrozole), whereas the ( S)-sulfamate, ( 40b) inhibited STS most potently (IC 50 = 553 nM). These results suggest that a new structural class of DASI for potential treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer has been identified, and this is the first report of STS inhibition by an enantiopure nonsteroidal compound.

Circularly Polarized Luminescence: A Review of Experimental and Theoretical Aspects

We review the present status of experiments and calculations for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) of simple organic molecules and of stimuli-responsive organic molecules. Together with the historical report of the main instrumental approaches, a few crucial points about experiments are tackled, with the aim of defining measurement protocols, in view of the wide availability of commercial apparatuses in the near future. The calculations aimed at interpreting the CPL spectra, mostly based on time-dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations, which started around 2010, are reviewed, limiting the discussion to small to mid-sized molecules. Some applications of CPL spectra of organic molecules-based systems are presented, with a focus especially on two fields: material science and biology. Chirality 28:696-707, 2016.

Experimental and calculated CPL spectra and related spectroscopic data of camphor and other simple chiral bicyclic ketones.

UV, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra were recorded for a set of four related [2.2.1] bicyclic compounds ((1S,4S)-and (1R,4R)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, namely (1S)- and (1R)-camphor (), (1S,4R)-4,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-one, (1S)-dehydro-epicamphor (), (1S,4S)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,5-dione, (1S)-5-oxocamphor (), (1S,4R)- and (1R,4S)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dione, (1S)- and (1R)-camphorquinone ()) and a set of three related [2.2.2] bicyclic compounds (1S,4S)-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2,5-dione (saturated diketone ()), (1R,4R)-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-en-2,5-dione (unsaturated diketone ()), ((1S,4S)-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-en-5(S)-ol-2-one (which we refer to as unsaturated hydroxy-ketone ()). For the latter three compounds also mid-IR vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra were recorded and are presented. Time-Dependent Density Functional (TD-DFT) calculations provide a satisfactory interpretation of both absorption and emission chiroptical spectra and permit insight into ground and excited state electronic properties. We discuss the applicability of the octant rule or of other approximated models to rationalize the observed sign of the CPL.

Revisiting with updated hardware an old spectroscopic technique: circularly polarized luminescence.

Among the various chiroptical spectroscopic techniques available today, circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) plays a minor role and is still used by a limited number of specialists. The cost of the few commercial instruments available and the complexity of homemade apparatuses have strongly limited the widespread application of this technique. New technological approaches, such as the use of light-emitting diode (LED) sources, may significantly simplify the required instrumentation and encourage new potential users. Calibration procedure and the quantitative determination of CPL and total luminescence intensity as well as the corresponding g ratio are described.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Aqueous Solutions of 26-Unit Segments of p(NIPAAm) and of p(NIPAAm) “Doped” with Amino Acid Based Comonomers

We have performed 75-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of aqueous solutions of a 26-unit NIPAAm oligomer at two temperatures, 302 and 315 K, below and above the experimentally determined lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of p(NIPAAm). We have been able to show that at 315 K the oligomer assumes a compact form, while it keeps a more extended form at 302 K. A similar behavior has been demonstrated for a similar NIPAAm oligomer, where two units had been substituted by methacryloyl-l-valine (MAVA) comonomers, one of them being charged and one neutral. For another analogous oligomer, where the same units had been substituted by methacryloyl-l-leucine (MALEU) comonomers, no transition from the extended to the more compact conformation has been found within the same simulation time. Statistical analysis of the trajectories indicates that this transition is related to the dynamics of the oligomer backbone, and to the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and water-bridges between distant units of the solute. In the MAVA case, we have also evidenced an important role of the neutral MAVA comonomer in stabilizing the compact coiled structure. In the MALEU case, the corresponding comonomer is not equally efficacious and, possibly, is even hindering the readjustment of the oligomer backbone. Finally the self-diffusion coefficient of water molecules surrounding the oligomers at the two temperatures for selected relevant times is observed to characteristically depend on the distance from the solute molecules.

Spectroscopic and Structural Investigation of the Confinement of d and l Dimethyl Tartrate in Lecithin Reverse Micelles

The confinement of D and L dimethyl tartrate in lecithin reverse micelles dispersed in cyclohexane has been investigated by FT-IR, polarimetry, electronic and vibrational circular dichroism (ECD and VCD), 1H NMR, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Measurements have been performed at room temperature as a function of the solubilizate-to-surfactant molar ratio (R) at fixed lecithin concentration. The analysis of experimental data indicates that the dimethyl tartrate molecules are solubilized within reverse micelles in proximity to the surfactant head groups in the same way for the D and L forms. The encapsulation of dimethyl tatrate within lecithin reverse micelles involves changes in its H-bonds, from what is observed in the pure solid or in CCl4 solutions; this is a consequence of the establishment of specific solute-surfactant headgroup interactions and of confinement effects. In the 0 < or = R < or = 1.7 range, SAXS profiles of dimethyl tartrate/lecithin/ cyclohexane micellar solutions are well-described by a model of interacting polydisperse spherical micellar cores whose mean radius does not change appreciably with R (i.e., it changes from about 18 to 20 angstroms). 1H NMR diffusion measurements of both dimethyl tartrates and lecithin were rationalized in terms of collective translational motions of the entire micellar aggregate and of their molecular diffusion among clusters of reverse micelles. The association of optically active lecithin with D and L dimethyl tartrate leads to the formation of self-organized supramolecular aggregates whose interesting chiroptical features are evidenced by polarimetry and CD.

Inherently Chiral Macrocyclic Oligothiophenes: Easily Accessible Electrosensitive Cavities with Outstanding Enantioselection Performances

Linear conjugated oligothiophenes of variable length and different substitution pattern are ubiquitous in technologically advanced optoelectronic devices, though limitations in application derive from insolubility, scarce processability and chain-end effects. This study describes an easy access to chiral cyclic oligothiophenes constituted by 12 and 18 fully conjugated thiophene units. Chemical oxidation of an “inherently chiral” sexithiophene monomer, synthesized in two steps from commercially available materials, induces the formation of an elliptical dimer and a triangular trimer endowed with electrosensitive cavities of different tunable sizes. Combination of chirality with electroactivity makes these molecules unique in the current oligothiophenes literature. These macrocycles, which are stable and soluble in most organic solvents, show outstanding chiroptical properties, high circularly polarized luminescence effects and an exceptional enantiorecognition ability.

Vibrational circular dichroism in the near infrared: instrumental developments and applications.

Near infrared vibrational circular dichroism spectra in the region of 1300 to 800 nm were recorded for 12 enantiomeric pairs of molecules with a home-made dispersive apparatus. With respect to earlier measurements, a better signal-to-noise ratio was obtained, thus allowing a more precise determination of molecular parameters. A detailed examination of the spectra between 1300 and 1100 nm allowed us to correlate the data of the different molecules, based on local properties of given molecular moieties. The relevance of this correlation in configurational and/or conformational studies is discussed.

Raman and ROA Spectra of (−)- and (+)-2-Br-Hexahelicene: Experimental and DFT Studies of a π-Conjugated Chiral System

The Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra of both enantiomers of 2-Br-hexahelicene in chloroform solution have been measured in the range 1700-300 cm(-1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations accurately reproduce the observed features. The most intense ROA features are also the most intense Raman features, in the region 1350-1400 cm(-1), and correspond to the so-called D-modes, which play a major role in coronene and other PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Together with a detailed analysis of the normal mode structure, the polarizability tensors for the intense Raman features are investigated and related to the principal characteristics of helicene systems, namely, chirality and π-conjugation. Through electron-phonon coupling analysis, we propose a mechanism that justifies the intense ROA signals.

THE USE OF CROSS-CORRELATION FUNCTIONS IN THE ANALYSIS OF CIRCULAR DICHROISM SPECTRA

Following Gordon, we show that the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum is proportional to the imaginary part of the Fourier transform of the cross-correlation function of the electric dipole moment and of the magnetic dipole moment. Such a result is useful in the study of CD band shapes, and also in obtaining a spectrum from a classical trajectory calculation, as was done for absorption by Noid, Koszykowski, and Marcus. For ergodic and multiperiodic regimes, the formula reduces to the Fourier cross spectrum of the two moment functions. As an application, we have run classical trajectories calculations for two coupled CH stretchings belonging to a chiral HCCH fragment, in the fixed partial charge approximation. Two sets of results are presented, relative to low and high total energy: Comments are made about the spectroscopic manifestation of normal, local, and chaotic modes.