Zbigniew Karczmarzyk

Synthesis and structure of p-chlorophenylhydrazone of 3-(methylthio)-5-propanoyl-1,2,4-triazine

The reaction of 3-(methylthio)-5-propanoyl-1,2,4-triazine with p-chlorophenylhydrazine hydrochloride is completed within 5 min at room temperature in ethanol leading to p-chlorophenylhydrazone of 3-(methylthio)-5-propanoyl-1,2,4-triazine 1 in good yield. Title compound, 1 (R = C2H5, R1 = Cl, Z = SCH3), C13H14N5SCl, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n, with cell constants a = 12.5206(6) Å, b = 9.3122(8) Å, c = 12.8524(9) Å, and β = 98.822(5)°, Z = 4, T = 293 K, Dcal = 1.381 g cm−3. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R value of 0.0671 for 1,679 reflections. The molecule as a whole has an almost planar conformation and possesses (E) configuration with respect to the C=N double bond. The crystal structure is stabilized by a weak N(13)–H(13)···N(2) intermolecular hydrogen bond and significant stacking, characteristic for π-electron systems.

New approaches to the synthesis of sildenafil analogues and their enzyme inhibitory activity

In the search for new biologically active chemotypes, several sildenafil analogs were prepared and characterized. The presence of the pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazine core is thought to be of interest for the enzyme inhibitory activity of these compounds. The designed derivatives incorporating the sildenafil scaffold were assayed as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and for their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and K562 cell lines. The X-ray analysis of one of these model compounds was performed and its crystal structure is described/compared to that of sildenafil.

Structural studies, homology modeling and molecular docking of novel non-competitive antagonists of GluK1/GluK2 receptors.

Non-competitive ligands of kainate receptors have focused significant attention as medicinal compounds because they seem to be better tolerated than competitive antagonists and uncompetitive blocker of these receptors. Here we present structural studies (X-ray structure determination, NMR and MS spectra) of novel indole-derived non-competitive antagonists of GluK1/GluK2 receptors, homology models of GluK1 and GluK2 receptors based on novel AMPA receptor template as well as molecular docking of ligands to their molecular targets. We find that the allosteric site is in the receptor transduction domain, in one receptor subunit, not between the two subunits as it was indicated by our earlier studies.

Synthetic Approaches for Sulfur Derivatives Containing 1,2,4-Triazine Moiety: Their Activity for in Vitro Screening towards Two Human Cancer Cell Lines

A series of sulfur 1,2,4-triazine derivatives were prepared and evaluated as anticancer compounds for two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) with some of them acting as low micromolar inhibitors. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the inhibition of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and collagen synthesis inhibition demonstrated that these products exhibit cytotoxic effects on these breast cancer cell lines in vitro. The most effective were disulfide and sulfenamide compounds with two valence sulfur atoms. A structure-activity relationship study was performed using X-ray analysis and theoretical calculations at an ab initio density functional theory (DFT) level.

Synthesis, photophysics and electrochemistry of novel, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivatives

A series of new π-conjugated donor (thienyl – T) and acceptor (A) oligomers were prepared by Stille coupling reaction. The T–A oligomers consisting of thiophene/bithiophene as donors and 1,2,4-triazine as an acceptor were prepared to investigate their photophysical and electrochemical properties. These compounds were spectroscopically confirmed to be highly conjugated. These UV-vis data show that the number and position of the thiophene considerably affect the width of the HOMO–LUMO gap and the rigidity of the conjugated system. Compounds A2TA, A3TA, A4TA show photoluminescence in a range 466–543 nm.

Synthesis, Structural Studies and Molecular Modelling of a Novel Imidazoline Derivative with Antifungal Activity

Six novel imidazoline derivatives were synthesized and tested in antifungal assays. One of the compounds, N-cyclohexyl-2-imino-3-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazolidine-1-carboxamide showed moderate activity against several clinical strains of Candida albicans. Its structure was solved by X-ray crystallography and its mode of action was deduced using molecular modelling. It was found to be similar to that of fluconazole. The potential for further optimization including SAR of the compound is briefly discussed.

Synthesis of novel isothiazolopyridines and their in vitro evaluation against Mycobacterium and Propionibacterium acnes

In this paper we describe synthesis, structures and some physicochemical properties of 20 isothiazolopyridines 8-13 substituted differently into an isothiazole ring as well as their in vitro antibacterial assays against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, Mycobacterium fortuitum PCM 672 and Propionibacterium acnes PCM 2400. Compound 13a was found to be the most active derivative against M. tuberculosis H37Rv, demonstrating 100% growth inhibition of microorganisms in the primary screen (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] 6.25μg/mL). Nineteen of the prepared compounds were evaluated against M. fortuitum PCM 672 and P. acnes PCM 2400 and only compounds 9 and 12d exhibited excellent activity against individual strains of microorganisms with MIC90 <1μg/mL. The inhibitory action of the remaining isothiazolopyridines towards the tested strains of the microorganism was low, absent, or a non-linear correlation prohibited accurate determination of MIC values. Unexpectedly, seven of the remaining isothiazolopyridines tested against M. fortuitum and P. acnes stimulated growth of the microorganisms in the range 10-50% or even more (10b) under experimental conditions.

Novel thiosemicarbazide derivatives with 4-nitrophenyl group as multi-target drugs: α-glucosidase inhibitors with antibacterial and antiproliferative activity

A series of thiosemicarbazides with 4-nitrophenyl group was obtained in the reaction of carboxylic acid hydrazides with isothiocyanates. All compounds were checked for their antibacterial and antiproliferative activity. Our results have shown that derivatives 6-8 possessed antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. mutans and S. sanguinis, moderate cytotoxicity and good therapeutic safety in vitro. Additionally, compounds 1 and 4 significantly inhibited A549, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell division. Moreover, PASS software indicated that newly obtained compounds are potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. This was confirmed by in vitro studies. To investigate the mode of interaction with the molecular target compounds were docked to glucose binding site of the enzyme and exhibited a similar binding mode as glucose.

Synthesis, photophysics and electrochemical properties of 1,1′-(2,2′-bithiophene-5,5′-diyl)bis(cycloalkeno[c]pyridine) as a result of the Diels–Alder reaction of 3-(2-thienyl)-1,2,4-triazine

Two π-conjugated thienylenecycloalkeno[c]pyridine (A–D)2 (cyclopentane, 1, and cycloheptane, 2, units when n = 1 and 3, respectively) compounds were prepared using a palladium C–C coupling reaction. The π–π* absorption peak of compound 1 was observed at the longer wavelength of 392 nm than that of compound 2, which was observed at 364 nm. UV-Vis data reflect the interaction between the thiophene ring (donor – D) and cycloalkeno[c]pyridine (acceptor – A) units. These compounds show photoluminescence (PL) in the range of 466–470 nm and give quantum yields, Φ, of 15%. Furthermore, intermediates 5 and 6 are characterized by their shorter absorption peaks (304 and 292 nm, respectively). The electrochemical parameters of compounds 1 and 2 were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements and theoretical calculations at the DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level.

Structural and Molecular Docking Studies of 4-Benzyl-3-[(1-methylpyrrol- 2-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-one with Anticancer Activity

The 1,2,4-triazoles are an important group of medicinal substances which exhibit a wide range of activity, such as analgesic, antibacterial, fungicidal, antinflammatory, antiviral and anticancer. As a part of our long-term study on 1,2,4- triazoles we synthesize 4-benzyl-3-[(1-methylpyrrol-2-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-one which is characterized with anticancer activity. Here, we present an exhaustive studies of its electronic and molecular structure, aimed to rationalize the observed pharmacological activity, supported by the molecular docking to the EGFR kinase domain ATP binding site. The structural studies include X-ray analysis, experimental and computed spectral analysis (1H and 13C NMR, IR) as well as conformational analysis and the frontal molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis. The results of molecular docking indicate that interaction of 4-benzyl-3-[(1-methylpyrrol-2-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-one with the EGFR kinase domain ATP binding site may be responsible for the observed anticancer activity of this 1,2,4-triazole derivative. Moreover, we find that formation of the respective ligand-protein complex is conditioned by the keto-enol tautomerism of the ligand, i.e. the energetic prevalence of the keto form.