Srinivas Kantevari

Design, Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Correlations of Novel Dibenzo[b,d]furan, Dibenzo[b,d]thiophene, and N-Methylcarbazole Clubbed 1,2,3-Triazoles as Potent Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A molecular hybridization approach is an emerging structural modification tool to design new molecules with improved pharmacophoric properties. In this study, 1,2,3-triazole-based Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitors and synthetic and natural product-based tricyclic (carbazole, dibenzo[b,d]furan, and dibenzo[b,d]thiophene) antimycobacterial agents were integrated in one molecular platform to prepare various novel clubbed 1,2,3-triazole hybrids using click chemistry. Structure-activity correlations and in vitro activity against M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv of new analogues revealed the order: dibenzo[b,d]thiophene > dibenzo[b,d]furan > 9-methyl-9H-carbazole series. Two of the most potent M. tuberculosis inhibitors 13h and 13q with MIC = 0.78 μg/mL (∼1.9 μM) displayed a low cytotoxicity and high selectivity index (50-255) against four different human cancer cell lines. These results together provided the potential importance of molecular hybridization and the development of triazole clubbed dibenzo[b,d]thiophene-based lead candidates to treat mycobacterial infections.

Two-color, two-photon uncaging of glutamate and GABA

We developed a caged GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), which, when combined with an appropriate caged glutamate, allows bimodal control of neuronal membrane potential with subcellular resolution using optically independent two-photon uncaging of each neurotransmitter. We used two-color, two-photon uncaging to fire and block action potentials from rat hippocampal CA1 neurons in brain slices with 720-nm and 830-nm light, respectively. Our method should be generalizable to other chemical messenger pairs.

Synthesis and Two-photon Photolysis of 6-(ortho-Nitroveratryl)-Caged IP3 in Living Cells

The synthesis of a photolabile derivative of inositol‐1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) is described. This new caged second messenger (6‐ortho‐nitroveratryl)‐IP3 (6‐NV‐IP3) has an extinction coefficient of 5000 M−1 cm−1 at 350 nm, and a quantum yield of photolysis of 0.12. Therefore, 6‐NV‐IP3 is photolyzed with UV light about three times more efficiently than the widely used P4(5)‐1‐(2‐nitrophenyl)ethyl‐caged IP3 (NPE‐IP3). 6‐NV‐IP3 has a two‐photon cross‐section of about 0.035 GM at 730 nm. This absorbance is sufficiently large for effective two‐photon excitation in living cells at modest power levels. Using near‐IR light (5 mW, 710 nm, 80 MHz, pulse‐width 70 fs), we produced focal bursts of IP3 in HeLa cells, as revealed by laser‐scanning confocal imaging of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Therefore, 6‐NV‐IP3 can be used for efficient, subcellular photorelease of IP3, not only in cultured cells but also, potentially, in vivo. It is in the latter situation that two‐photon photolysis should reveal its true forte.

Synthesis and antitubercular evaluation of novel dibenzo[b,d]furan and 9-methyl-9H-carbazole derived hexahydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinolines via Povarov reaction

A series of novel hexahydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline analogues derived from dibenzo[b,d]furan and 9-methyl-9H-carbazole has been synthesized in very good yields through SnCl(2)·2H(2)O catalyzed one-pot Povarov reaction (imino-Diels-Alder reaction). The imines generated in situ from dibenzo[b,d]furan-2-carbaldehyde or 9-methyl-9H-carbazole-3-carbaldehyde and aromatic amines, were reacted with 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran in a diasteroselective manner in acetonitrile at RT. These synthesized isomeric pyranoquinoline analogues have been evaluated for their in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) by agar dilution method. Among the 23 compounds screened, 5-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)-9-fluoro-3,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline 4f, 5-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)-9-fluoro-3,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline 5f and 9-fluoro-5-(9-methyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-3,4,4a,5,6,10b-hexa hydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline 7f (MIC 3.13 μg/mL) were resulted as most active antitubercular agents.

Facile Diversity-Oriented Synthesis and Antitubercular Evaluation of Novel Aryl and Heteroaryl Tethered Pyridines and Dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones Derived via Variants of the Bohlmann–Rahtz Reaction

The diversity oriented synthesis of substituted pyridines and dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones tethered with aryls and heteroaryls was achieved in very good yields through CeCl(3)·7H(2)O-NaI catalyst via variants of the Bohlmann-Rahtz reaction. β-Enaminones derived from various aryl and heteroaryl methyl ketones were regioselectively reacted with ethyl acetoacetate or 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione or 4,4-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione and ammonium acetate refluxing in 2-propanol. Applicability of nontoxic cerium catalyst, high reactivity with wide range of aryl and heteroaryl β-enaminones leading to diverse analogues, operational simplicity, and shorter reaction time at comparatively low temperatures are prominent features of the developed protocol. These synthesized substituted pyridines and dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-one analogues have been evaluated for their in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) by agar dilution method. Among the 48 compounds screened, six compounds 2-(5-chlorothiophen-2-yl)-7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-one 4{13,2}, 2-(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-7,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-one 4{14,2}, 2-(5-chloro thiophen-2-yl)-6,6-dimethyl-7,8-dihydroquinolin-5(6H)-one 4{13,3}, and 2-(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)-6,6-dimethyl-7,8-dihydroquinolin-5(6H)-one 4{14,3}, 7,7-dimethyl-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)-7,8-dihydroquinoline-5(6H)-one 4{6,2}, 6,6-dimethyl-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)-7,8-di hydroquinolin-5(6H)-one 4{6,3} resulted as the most promising antitubercular agents.

Rational design and synthesis of novel dibenzo[b,d]furan-1,2,3-triazole conjugates as potent inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A series of novel dibenzo[b,d]furan-1,2,3-triazole conjugates, rationally designed by reorientation of dibenzo[b,d]furan pharmacophore and alkyl/aryl groups appended on 1,2,3-triazole core, were synthesized using click chemistry. The required key intermediate, 2-ethynyl dibenzo[b,d]furan 3 was prepared from dibenzofuran-2-carboxaldehyde using Corey-Fuchs reaction. Further reaction of 3 with various alkyl/aryl azides in the presence of copper catalyst produced 1,2,3-triazole conjugates in excellent yields. Evaluation of all the new compounds for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC27294), resulted 5a (MIC: 1.56 μg/mL), 5d (MIC: 0.78 μg/mL) and 5f (MIC: 0.78 μg/mL) as promising lead analogues. Among these three compounds, 1-(4-bromobenzyl)-4-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole (5f) emerged as the most promising antitubercular agent with lowest cytotoxicity (selectivity index: ≫25) against the HEK-293T cell line.

Synthesis and antitubercular evaluation of novel substituted aryl and thiophenyl tethered dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones

A series of novel aryl and thiophenyl tethered dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones have been synthesized in very good yields through CeCl(3)·7H(2)O-NaI catalyzed one-pot condensation of β-enaminones derived from the respective methyl ketones; 1,3-cyclohexanedione & 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione and ammonium acetate refluxing in 2-propanol. Dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones 3a-f was further derivatized to the respective hydroxymethyl analogs using proline as an organocatalyst in aqueous media. Among the all 18 compounds screened for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv (MTB), dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones 4e and 4f were found to be most active with MIC 3.13 μg/mL.

Molecular hybridization of bioactives: Synthesis and antitubercular evaluation of novel dibenzofuran embodied homoisoflavonoids via Baylis–Hillman reaction

A novel series of natural product like dibenzofuran embodied homoisoflavonoids [(E)-3-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-2-ylmethylene)chroman-4-ones] designed by molecular hybridization were synthesized in very good yields via a sequence of reactions involving base catalyzed Baylis-Hillmann (BH) reaction of 2-dibenzofuran carboxaldehyde and methyl acrylate; bromination of BH adduct; condensation of resulted allylic bromide with substituted phenols or 2-dibenzofuranol followed by cyclization. Among the all 11 new compounds screened for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB), (E)-3-(dibenzo[b,d]furan-2-ylmethylene)-6-fluorochroman-4-one (7f) and (E)-3-(dibenzo[b,d] furan-2-ylmethylene)-6-fluorochroman-4-one (7 g) were found to be active with MIC 12.5 μg/mL.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 2-butyl-4-chloro-1-methylimidazole embedded chalcones and pyrazoles as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

A series of novel 2-butyl-4-chloro-1-methylimidazole embedded aryl and heteroaryl derived chalcones and pyrazoles were synthesized and evaluated for their angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The condensation of 2-butyl-4-chloro-1-methylimidazole-5-carboxaldehyde with various aryl and heteroaryl methyl ketones in the presence of 10% aqueous NaOH in methanol proceeded efficiently to give the respective chalcones in very good yields. Further, the reaction of chalcones with hydrazine hydrate in acetic acid gave substituted pyrazole analogues. Screening all 36 new compounds using ACE inhibition assay, resulted chalcones with better ACE inhibitory activity compared to the respective pyrazole analogues. Among the chalcones 4a-r, three compounds, (E)-3-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-1-(5-chlorothiophen-2-yl)prop-2-enone 4i, (E)-3-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)prop-2-enone 4l, (E)-3-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-1-(dibenzo[b,d] thiophen-2-yl)prop-2-enone 4q were resulted as most active ACE inhibitors with IC(50) of 3.60 μM, 2.24 μM, and 2.68 μM, respectively.

Design, synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of novel 1-benzyl 2-butyl-4-chloroimidazole embodied 4-azafluorenones via molecular hybridization approach

A series of novel 1-benzyl-2-butyl-4-chloroimidazole embodied 4-azafluorenone hybrids, designed via molecular hybridization approach, were synthesized in very good yields using one pot condensation of 1-benzyl-2-butyl-4-chloroimidazole-5-carboxaldehyde, 1,3-indanedione, aryl/heteroaryl methyl ketones and ammonium acetate. All the synthetic derivatives were fully characterized by spectral data and evaluated for antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method against selected bacteria and fungal strains. Among the 15 new compounds screened, 4-(1-benzyl-2-butyl-4-chloro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-2-(furan-2-yl)-5H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridin-5-one(10k) has pronounced activity with higher zone of inhibition (ZoI) against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. Also 4-(1-benzyl-2-butyl-4-chloro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-2-(dibenzo[b,d]thiophen-2-yl)-5H-indeno [1,2-b]pyridin-5-one (10n) and 4-(1-benzyl-2-butyl-4-chloro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-2-(3-tosyl-3H-inden-1-yl)-5H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridin-5-one (10o) showed selective higher inhibitory activity against Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. The results demonstrated potential importance of molecular hybridization in the development of 10k as potential antimicrobial agent.