Prashant Narayan Muskawar

Recent developments of metal N-heterocyclic carbenes as anticancer agents

Metal based anticancer drugs have demonstrated their crucial role in preventing all types of cancers whereas their effectiveness is selective with respect to the cancer cells rather than the normal cells. Recently metal N-heterocyclic carbenes have established their selective performance for cancer cells excluding normal healthy cells based on which they are widely utilised for targeting cancer cells specifically which leads to cell death or cell growth inhibition. This is mainly due to their ionic character which helps them to localise in cancer cells with the help of enhanced expression of Organic Cation Transporters (OCT). Also their unique mechanism of action involving DNA binding, less recognizable by DNA repair machinery, mitochondria targeting gives them a new area for anticancer drug development. This review summarises the medicinal as well as pharmacological approach to the anticancer properties of metal NHC complexes.

Polymer-supported benzimidazolium based ionic liquid: an efficient and reusable Brønsted acid catalyst for Biginelli reaction

A polymer-supported benzimidazolium based ionic liquid (PSBIL) was synthesized by reaction of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) and benzimidazole followed by ring opening of 1,4-butane sultone and acidification with sulphuric acid. The resulting Bronsted acid heterogeneous organocatalyst is very competent for the Biginelli reactions under mild conditions in high yields of 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-one/thiones (DHPMs). Since poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) makes the catalyst bed, the sulphonic acid catalyst will have high loading level of acidic groups compare to other heterogeneous acid catalysts. In spite of conventional heterogeneous ionic liquid catalysts, current PSBIL shows thermal stability up to 334 °C and recyclability up to 5 cycles. This PSBIL signifies a new class of heterogeneous catalyst which is particularly noticeable in green chemistry. The present protocol highlights the easy separation of products without further purification. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this protocol has demonstrated by synthesis of mitotic Kinesin EG5 inhibitor, “Monastrol” under optimized conditions.

Novel and efficient method for esterification catalyzed by 1-glycyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride-iron (III) complex

Abstract1-Glycyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride-iron (III) complex [[Gmim]Cl–Fe(III)] was found to be a heterogeneous catalyst for an efficient and greener solvent free synthesis of esters by the condensation of carboxylic acids and alcohols with excellent yield at ambient temperature. This operation formulates very interesting, ecological perspective due to simple reaction condition, isolation, and purification of products. In addition, this method features reusability of catalyst, reduced waste, thus making new protocol more environmentally suitable whilst no catalyst leaching was observed.