Nikola Cindro

Zwitterionic biphenyl quinone methides in photodehydration reactions of 3-hydroxybiphenyl derivatives: laser flash photolysis and antiproliferation study

In aqueous media, photochemical excitation to S(1) of 3-phenylphenols 4-8 leads to deprotonation of the phenol OH, coupled with protonation of the benzyl alcohol and overall dehydration that delivers zwitterions 17-21. The zwitterions react with nucleophiles (CH(3)OH, CF(3)CH(2)OH and ethanolamine) converting them in high quantum yields to the corresponding adducts and photosolvolysis products (for photomethanolysis Φ~0.1-0.5). Zwitterions 20 and 21 were characterized by laser flash photolysis in CH(3)CN-H(2)O (τ~7.5 and 25 μs, respectively) and the associated quenching rate constants with nucleophiles azide and ethanolamine determined. In vitro studies of antiproliferative activity of the photochemicaly generated QMs and zwitterions formed from 2-, 3- and 4-phenylphenols were carried out on three human cancer cell lines HCT 116 (colon), MCF-7 (breast), and H 460 (lung). Irradiation of cells incubated with 3, 6, and 26 showed enhanced antiproliferative activity compared to the cells that were not irradiated.

Thermodynamic study of dihydrogen phosphate dimerisation and complexation with novel urea- and thiourea-based receptors.

Complexation of dihydrogen phosphate by novel thiourea and urea receptors in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide was studied in detail by an integrated approach by using several methods (isothermal titration calorimetry, ESI-MS, and (1)H NMR and UV spectroscopy). Thermodynamic investigations into H2PO4(-) dimerisation, which is a process that has been frequently recognised, but rarely quantitatively described, were carried out as well. The corresponding equilibrium was taken into account in the anion-binding studies, which enabled reliable determination of the complexation thermodynamic quantities. In both solvents the thiourea derivatives exhibited considerably higher binding affinities with respect to those containing the urea moiety. In acetonitrile, 1:1 and 2:1 (anion/receptor) complexes formed, whereas in dimethyl sulfoxide only the significantly less stable complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry were detected. The solvent effects on the thermodynamic parameters of dihydrogen phosphate dimerisation and complexation reactions are discussed.

Evaluation of antiproliferative effect of N-(alkyladamantyl)phthalimides in vitro.

A series of (1‐adamantyl)phthalimides, 1–4, and (2‐adamantyl)phthalimides, 5–8, characterized by different chain length between the adamantyl and the phthalimide moiety were synthesized, as well as 1‐ and 2‐adamantylphthalimides substituted by nitro 9, 10, and amino group 11, 12, and phthalimides bearing homoadamantyl 13 and protoadamantyl substituent 14 and 15. The compounds were tested for antiproliferative activity in vitro on a series of five human cancer lines: MCF‐7 (breast carcinoma), SW 620 (colon carcinoma), HCT 116 (colon carcinoma), MOLT‐4 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), H 460 (lung carcinoma), and a non‐tumor cell line HaCaT (human keratinocytes). All compounds except nitro derivatives 9 and 10 exhibited antiproliferative activity. The activity was generally better in the 2‐adamantyl series 5–8 and in the compounds having the longest alkyl spacers as in 4 and 8, or with an amino group as in 9 and 10. The most active compounds with the propylene spacer 4 and 8 showed the highest selectivity toward tumor cells. The activity was found to be due to a delay in the progress through the cell cycle at G1/S phase.

Antiproliferative and antiviral activity of three libraries of adamantane derivatives.

Three libraries of adamantane derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiviral and antiproliferative activities against a broad variety of DNA and RNA viruses. Whereas none of the compounds exhibit antiviral activity at subtoxic concentrations, antiproliferative activity was found against murine leukemia cells (L1210), human T‐lymphocyte cells (CEM), and cervix carcinoma cells (HeLa) for 4, 8, and 10.

Photoinduced homolytic C–H activation in N-(4-homoadamantyl)phthalimide

Summary N-(4-homoadamantyl)phthalimide (5) on excitation and population of the triplet excited state underwent intramolecular H-abstractions and gave products 6 and 7. The major product, exo-alcohol 6 was a result of the regioselective δ H-abstraction and the stereoselective cyclization of the 1,5-biradical. Minor products 7 were formed by photoinduced γ H-abstractions, followed by ring closure to azetidinols and ring enlargement to azepinediones. The observed selectivity to exo-alcohol 6 was explained by the conformation of 5 and the best orientation and the availability of the δ-H for the abstraction.

Phototautomerization in Pyrrolylphenylpyridine Terphenyl Systems

[4-(2-Pyrrolyl)phenyl]pyridines 2-4 were synthesized and their photophysical properties and reactivity in phototautomerization reactions investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis (LFP). The pKa for the protonation of the pyridine nitrogen in 2-4 was determined by UV-vis and fluorescence titration (pKa = 5.5 for 4). On excitation in polar protic solvents, 2-4 populate charge-transfer states leading to an enhanced basicity of the pyridine (pKa* ≈ 12) and enhanced acidity of pyrrole (pKa* ≈ 8-9) enabling excited-state proton transfer (ESPT). ESPT gives rise to phototautomers and significantly quenches the fluorescence of 2-4. Phototautomers 2-T and 4-T were detected by LFP with strong transient absorption maxima at 390 nm. Phototautomers 2-T and 4-T decayed by competing uni- and bimolecular reactions. However, at pH 11 the decay of 4-T followed exponential kinetics with a rate constant of 4.2 × 10(6) s(-1). The pyridinium salt 4H(+) forms a stable complex with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) with 1:1 stoichiometry (β11 = (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10(5) M(-1), [Na(+)] = 39 mM). Complexation to CB[7] increased the pKa for 4H(+) (pKa = 6.9) and changed its photochemical reactivity. Homolytic cleavage of the pyrrole NH leads to the formation of an N-radical because of the decreased acidity of the pyrrole in the inclusion complex.

Reactivity of Cations and Zwitterions Formed in Photochemical and Acid-Catalyzed Reactions from m-Hydroxycycloalkyl-Substituted Phenol Derivatives

Three m-substituted phenol derivatives, each with a labile benzylic alcohol group and bearing either protoadamantyl 4, homoadamantyl 5, or a cyclohexyl group 6, were synthesized and their thermal acid-catalyzed and photochemical solvolytic reactivity studied, using preparative irradiations, fluorescence measurements, nanosecond laser flash photolysis, and quantum chemical calculations. The choice of m-hydroxy-substitution was driven by the potential for these phenolic systems to generate m-quinone methides on photolysis, which could ultimately drive the excited-state pathway, as opposed to forming simple benzylic carbocations in the corresponding thermal route. Indeed, thermal acid-catalyzed reactions gave the corresponding cations, which undergo rearrangement and elimination from 4, only elimination from 5, and substitution and elimination from 6. On the other hand, upon photoexcitation of 4-6 to S1 in a polar protic solvent, proton dissociation from the phenol, coupled with elimination of the benzylic OH (as hydroxide ion) gave zwitterions (formal m-quinone methides). The zwitterions exhibit reactivity different from the corresponding cations due to a difference in charge distribution, as shown by DFT calculations. Thus, protoadamantyl zwitterion has a less nonclassical character than the corresponding cation, so it does not undergo 1,2-shift of the carbon atom, as observed in the acid-catalyzed reaction.

Complexation of fluoride anion and its ion pairs with alkali metal cations by tetra-substituted lower rim calix[4]arene tryptophan derivative

Abstract Selective binding of fluoride anion and its alkali metal cation ion pairs by a fluorescent calix[4]arene (L) derivative bearing tryptophan moieties was studied in acetonitrile at 25 °C. It was found that LF− and LF22− complexes were formed and their stability constants were determined by means of UV and 1H NMR titrations. Both amide and indole NH groups were involved in the stabilisation of the fluoride complexes, i.e. L afforded two anion-binding sites. 1H NMR titrations provided evidence of simultaneous complexation of both Na+ cation and fluoride anion resulting in the formation of a ternary NaLF complex. In this ion pair complex, the Na+ cation was most probably bound primarily by the calixarene ether and amide oxygen atoms, whereas the indole NH groups interacted with the fluoride ion. A highly favourable ion pairing between Na+ and F– in acetonitrile was studied using potentiometric measurements. The results pointed out the importance of fluoride pairing with alkali metal cations in aprotic organic solvents and the necessity of taking these reactions into account in the course of speciation studies of such solutions.

Solvation Effect on Complexation of Alkali Metal Cations by a Calix[4]arene Ketone Derivative

The medium effect on the complexation of alkali metal cations with a calix[4]arene ketone derivative (L) was systematically examined in methanol, ethanol, N-methylformamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetonitrile. In all solvents the binding of Na+ cation by L was rather efficient, whereas the complexation of other alkali metal cations was observed only in methanol and acetonitrile. Complexation reactions were enthalpically controlled, while ligand dissolution was endothermic in all cases. A notable influence of the solvent on NaL+ complex stability could be mainly attributed to the differences in complexation entropies. The higher NaL+ stability in comparison to complexes with other alkali metal cations in acetonitrile was predominantly due to a more favorable complexation enthalpy. The 1H NMR investigations revealed a relatively low affinity of the calixarene sodium complex for inclusion of the solvent molecule in the calixarene hydrophobic cavity, with the exception of acetonitrile. Differences in complex stabilities in the explored solvents, apart from N,N-dimethylformamide and acetonitrile, could be mostly explained by taking into account solely the cation and complex solvation. A considerable solvent effect on the complexation equilibria was proven to be due to an interesting interplay between the transfer enthalpies and entropies of the reactants and the complexes formed.

Dehydroacetic acid derivatives bearing amide and urea moieties as effective anion receptors

Derivatives of dehydroacetic acid comprising amide or urea subunits have been synthesized and their anion-binding properties investigated. Among a series of halides and oxyanions, the studied compounds selectively bind acetate and dihydrogen phosphate in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide. The corresponding complexation processes were characterized by means of 1 H NMR titrations, which revealed a 1:1 complex stoichiometry in most cases, with the exception of dihydrogen phosphate, which formed 2:1 (anion/ligand) complexes in acetonitrile. The complex stability constants were determined and are discussed with respect to the structural properties of the receptors, the hydrogen-bond-forming potential of the anions, and the characteristics of the solvents used. Based on the spectroscopic data and results of Monte Carlo simulations, the amide or urea groups were affirmed as the primary binding sites in all cases. The results of the computational methods indicate that an array of both inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds can form in the studied systems, and these were shown to play an important role in defining the overall stability of the complexes. Solubility measurements were carried out in both solvents and the thermodynamics of transfer from acetonitrile to dimethyl sulfoxide were characterized on a quantitative level. This has afforded a detailed insight into the impact of the medium on the complexation reactions.