Sangit Kumar

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diaryl Chalcogenides from Arenes and Diaryl Dichalcogenides

A transition-metal-free synthetic method has been developed for the synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl chalcogenides (S, Se, and Te) from diaryl dichalcogenides and arenes under oxidative conditions by using potassium persulfate at room temperature. Variously substituted arenes such as anisole, thioanisole, diphenyl ether, phenol, naphthol, di- and trimethoxy benzenes, xylene, mesitylene, N,N-dimethylaniline, bromine-substituted arenes, naphthalene, and diaryl dichalcogenides underwent carbon-chalcogen bond-forming reaction to give unsymmetrical diaryl chalcogenides in trifluoroacetic acid. To understand the mechanistic part of the reaction, a detailed in situ characterization of the intermediates has been carried out by (77)Se NMR spectroscopy by using diphenyl diselenide as the substrate. (77)Se NMR study suggests that electrophilic species ArE(+) is generated by the reaction of diaryl dichalcogenide with persulfate in trifluoroacetic acid. The electrophilic attack of arylchalcogenium ion on the arene may be responsible for the formation of the aryl-chalcogen bond.

KOtBu Mediated Synthesis of Phenanthridinones and Dibenzoazepinones

Synthesis of substituted phenanthridinones and dibenzoazepinones has been realized from 2-halo-benzamides in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide and a catalytic amount of 1,10-phenanthroline or AIBN. This new carbon-carbon bond forming reaction gives direct access to various biaryl lactams containing six- and seven-membered rings chemoselectively. Carbon-carbon coupling seems to proceed by the generation of a radical in the amide ring which leads to C-H arylation of aniline.

Cu-Catalyzed Efficient Synthetic Methodology for Ebselen and Related Se−N Heterocycles

An efficient copper-catalyzed method for the synthesis of biologically important ebselen and related analogues containing a Se-N bond has been developed. This is the first report of a catalytic process of selenation and Se-N bond formation reaction. Copper-catalyzed reaction tolerates functional groups such as amides, hydroxyls, ethers, nitro, fluorides, and chlorides. The best results are obtained by using a combination of potassium carbonate as a base, iodo- or bromo-arylamide substrates, selenium powder, and copper iodide catalyst.

Catalytic Chain-Breaking Pyridinol Antioxidants

The synthesis of 3-pyridinols carrying alkyltelluro, alkylseleno, and alkylthio groups is described together with a detailed kinetic, thermodynamic, and mechanistic study of their antioxidant activity. When assayed for their capacity to inhibit azo-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid in a water/chlorobenzene two-phase system, tellurium-containing 3-pyridinols were readily regenerable by N-acetylcysteine contained in the aqueous phase. The best inhibitors quenched peroxyl radicals more efficiently than alpha-tocopherol, and the duration of inhibition was limited only by the availability of the thiol reducing agent. In homogeneous phase, inhibition of styrene autoxidation absolute rate constants k(inh) for quenching of peroxyl radical were as large as 1 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), thus outperforming the best phenolic antioxidants including alpha-tocopherol. Tellurium-containing 3-pyridinols could be quantitatively regenerated in homogeneous phase by N-tert-butoxycarbonyl cysteine methyl ester, a lipid-soluble analogue of N-acetylcysteine. In the presence of an excess of the thiol, a catalytic mode of action was observed, similar to the one in the two-phase system. Overall, compounds bearing the alkyltelluro moiety ortho to the OH group were much more effective antioxidants than the corresponding para isomers. The origin of the high reactivity of these compounds was explored using pulse-radiolysis thermodynamic measurements, and a mechanism for their unusual antioxidant activity was proposed. The tellurium-containing 3-pyridinols were also found to catalyze reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of thiol reducing agents, thereby acting as multifunctional (preventive and chain-breaking) catalytic antioxidants.

Isoselenazolones as catalysts for the activation of bromine: Bromolactonization of alkenoic acids and oxidation of alcohols

Isoselenazolones were synthesized by a copper-catalyzed Se-N bond forming reaction between 2-halobenzamides and selenium powder. The catalytic activity of the various isoselenazolones was studied in the bromolactonization of pent-4-enoic acid. Isoselenazolone 9 was studied as a catalyst in several reactions: the bromolactonization of a series of alkenoic acids with bromine or N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in the presence of potassium carbonate as base, the bromoesterification of a series of alkenes using NBS and a variety of carboxylic acids, and the oxidation of secondary alcohols to ketones using bromine as an oxidizing reagent. Mechanistic details of the isoselenazolone-catalyzed bromination reaction were revealed by (77)Se NMR spectroscopic and ES-MS studies. The oxidative addition of bromine to the isoselenazolone gives the isoselenazolone(IV) dibromide, which could be responsible for the activation of bromine under the reaction conditions. Steric effects from an N-phenylethyl group on the amide of the isoselenazolone and electron-withdrawing fluoro substituents on the benzo fused-ring of the isoselenazolone appear to enhance the stability of the isoselenazolone as a catalyst for the bromination reaction.

Thioredoxin reductase and cancer cell growth inhibition by organogold(III) compounds

Thioredoxin (Trx) expression is increased in several human primary cancers associated with aggressive tumor growth and decreased patient survival, and the Trx/Trx reductase (TrxR) system therefore provides an attractive target for cancer drug development. Various gold(III) compounds with none, one, two or three carbon–gold bonds were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit TrxR and the growth of MCF-7 cancer cells in vitro. Compounds with up to two carbon–gold bonds were often potent inhibitors of TrxR with IC50 values as low as 2 nmol/l. In the presence of Trx and insulin the inhibiting capacity was much lower. However, the inhibitory concentrations of the compounds did not correlate with the ability to kill cells. Out of the organometallics tested, only compound 8 with two carbon–gold bonds was able to inhibit colony formation by MCF-7 breast cancer cells at low micromolar concentrations (IC50=1.6 μmol/l). Unfortunately, the compound did not show any anti-tumor activity against MCF-7 breast cancer and HT-29 colon cancer xenografts in scid mice.

KOtBu-Mediated Synthesis of Dimethylisoindolin-1-ones and Dimethyl-5-phenylisoindolin-1-ones: Selective C–C Coupling of an Unreactive Tertiary sp3 C–H Bond

A new reaction for the synthesis of dimethylisoindolinones has been presented from 2-halo-N-isopropyl-N-alkylbenzamide substrates and KO(t)Bu by the selective C-C coupling of an unreactive tertiary sp(3) C-H bond. The reaction manifested an excellent selectivity toward a tertiary sp(3) C-H bond over primary or sec C-H bond. Moreover, biaryl C-C coupling along with alkyl-aryl C-C coupling can be achieved in one pot using dihalobenzamides for the synthesis of biaryl 5-phenylisoindolin-1-ones. It seems that the reaction proceeds via a radical pathway in which the aryl radical translocates via 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), forming a tertiary alkyl carbon-centered radical. The generated tertiary alkyl radical could attack the benzamide ring in a 5-exo/endo-trig manner followed by the release of an electron and a proton, leading to a five-membered isoindolinone ring. HAT seems to be responsible for the selective functionalization of the tertiary alkyl group over primary and secondary C-H bonds.

KOtBu-Mediated Aerobic Transition-Metal-Free Regioselective β-Arylation of Indoles: Synthesis of β-(2-/4-Nitroaryl)-indoles

A KO(t)Bu-mediated intermolecular oxidative C-C coupling of nitroarenes with indoles is presented in DMSO at room temperature in an open flask. By using this mild and economical methodology, syntheses of β-(2/4-nitroaryl)-indoles with sensitive functionalities such as bromo, iodo, cyano, and nitro were achieved chemo- and regioselectively. Synthesized β-(2/4-nitroaryl) indoles were transformed into densely functionalized biindoles, indoloindoles, and (4-aminoaryl)-indoles which demonstrate post-transformation utility of the developed methodology.

Multifunctional Antioxidants : Regenerable Radical-Trapping and Hydroperoxide-Decomposing Ebselenols

Regenerable, multifunctional ebselenol antioxidants were prepared that could quench peroxyl radicals more efficiently than α-tocopherol. These compounds act as better mimics of the glutathione peroxidase enzymes than ebselen. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in human mononuclear cells was considerably decreased upon exposure to the organoselenium compounds. At a concentration of 25 μm, the ebselenol derivatives showed minimal toxicity in pre-osteoblast MC3T3 cells.

Ebsulfur is a benzisothiazolone cytocidal inhibitor targeting the trypanothione reductase of Trypanosoma brucei

Background: The trypanosoma-specific trypanothione system is essential for the redox metabolism in the parasite. Results: The benzisothiazolone compound ebsulfur is a cytocidal agent that disrupts parasitic trypanothione system and redox balance. Conclusion: Ebsulfur and its analogues irreversibly inhibit TryR activity hampering ROS detoxification and leading to parasite death. Significance: The antiparasitic mechanism of benzisothiazolone helps the development of new strategies against trypanosomiasis. Trypanosoma brucei is the causing agent of African trypanosomiasis. These parasites possess a unique thiol redox system required for DNA synthesis and defense against oxidative stress. It includes trypanothione and trypanothione reductase (TryR) instead of the thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems of mammalian hosts. Here, we show that the benzisothiazolone compound ebsulfur (EbS), a sulfur analogue of ebselen, is a potent inhibitor of T. brucei growth with a favorable selectivity index over mammalian cells. EbS inhibited the TryR activity and decreased non-protein thiol levels in cultured parasites. The inhibition of TryR by EbS was irreversible and NADPH-dependent. EbS formed a complex with TryR and caused oxidation and inactivation of the enzyme. EbS was more toxic for T. brucei than for Trypanosoma cruzi, probably due to lower levels of TryR and trypanothione in T. brucei. Furthermore, inhibition of TryR produced high intracellular reactive oxygen species. Hydrogen peroxide, known to be constitutively high in T. brucei, enhanced the EbS inhibition of TryR. The elevation of reactive oxygen species production in parasites caused by EbS induced a programmed cell death. Soluble EbS analogues were synthesized and cured T. brucei brucei infection in mice when used together with nifurtimox. Altogether, EbS and EbS analogues disrupt the trypanothione system, hampering the defense against oxidative stress. Thus, EbS is a promising lead for development of drugs against African trypanosomiasis.