Cancer treatment represents one of the main scientific study targets today, mainly due to the pronounced side effects arising from chemotherapy. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of ten compounds from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. Ethylene glycol diacrylate was used as a double Michael acceptor in reactions with isatin derivatives to give homodimers of 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one core, recognized in the literature for its extensive pharmacological profile. The use of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) as a catalyst and room temperature were the optimal conditions for the study reaction. The isolated yields were up to 63%, with most reaction times inferior to 24 h, some as fast as 15 min. The anticancer potential of the synthesized dimers was evaluated in vitro against three cancer strains, resulting in average inhibitory concentrations up to 0.72 µM. It was also found that the best performing homodimers are more active than their monomeric counterparts. Considering the promising selectivity indices observed, the preliminary results obtained here act as a basis for broader tests regarding the effectiveness of homodimeric adducts against cancer cells.

We report a didactic experience in teaching Pearson's theory (HSAB) to graduate students in organic chemistry. This approach was based on teaching students how to use computer programs to calculate frontier orbitals (HOMO-LUMO). The suggested level of calculation was a semi-empiric PM3, proving to be efficient for obtaining robust and fast numerical results that can be performed easily in the classroom. We described a practical computational exercise and asked students to compare these numerical data with qualitative analysis using valence bond theory. A comprehensive solution of this exercise is presented, aiming to support teachers in their lessons.

Piperine is the major alkaloid of Piper nigrum Linn., used as a spice and in folk medicine. We present a molecular docking study supporting experimental data on the enhancement in bioavailability of propranolol, theophylline, phenytoin, nevirapine, nimesulide, pyrazinamide, carbamazepine, and spartein in the presence of piperine. The complex formed with piperine and CYP3A4 was shown to be the most stable of all, with a binding energy of -8.60 kcal/mol. This explains the related mechanism of drug-herb interaction, since the better anchoring of piperine in the active site of CYP3A4 can hinder the drug-enzyme interaction, thereby increasing the bioavailability of the drugs studied.

Neste artigo, um estudo sintético assistido por irradiação de micro-ondas para produzir 2-indolizina-carbonitrila e 2-indolizina-carboxilato de metila em bons a altos rendimentos (70 e 81%) em uma etapa a partir de adutos de Morita-Baylis-Hillman (AMBH) é apresentado. Estes compostos foram subsequentemente transformados em altos rendimentos (94-100%) em três derivados 2-indolizínicos. Os cinco compostos sintetizados foram idealizados in silico objetivando potenciais atividades seletivas como moduladores de canais iônicos. Estas atividades foram sugeridas pelos valores de pontuação usando o programa quimioinformático Molinspiration.

In this work, a microwave-assisted synthesis study by microwave irradiation to produce indolizine-2-carbonitrile and indolizine-2-carboxylate in good to high yields (70 and 81%, respectively) in one step from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHA) is presented. These compounds were subsequently transformed to high yields (94 to 100%, respectively) in three 2-indolizine derivatives. The five synthesized compounds were designed in silico aiming to present potential selective activities as ion channel modulators. These activities were suggested by the score values using Molinspiration Cheminformatics program.

O processo de biorredução enzimática do grupo nitro é de grande importância para a ação molecular de nitrocompostos aromáticos biologicamente ativos. Os métodos eletroquímicos são considerados ferramentas úteis para a simulação de processos metabólicos in vivo. No presente trabalho, realizaram-se estudos eletroquímicos em meio aprótico (N, N-dimetilformamida (DMF) mais perclorato de tetrabutilamônio (TBAP) 0,1 mol L-1) utilizando-se as técnicas de voltametria cíclica (CV), de pulso diferencial (DPV) e de onda quadrada (SWV) de 12 adutos de Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBHA) com atividade leishmanicida significativa. Para facilitar a análise, os adutos foram agrupados em quatro classes de acordo com a cadeia lateral. Os estudos de CV evidenciam duas ondas referentes à redução do grupo nitro e uma ou duas outras ondas (em potencial mais negativo) relativas à redução da função carbonila α,β-insaturada ou da olefina ativada por grupos nitrila. Adutos orto-substituídos apresentam maior facilidade de redução quando comparados aos demais isômeros (meta e para) em função, provavelmente, da ligação de hidrogênio entre o grupo nitro e a hidroxila benzílica, o que estabiliza mais o produto eletrogerado do que o composto de partida. Derivados orto também mostram uma maior atividade leishmanicida em comparação com seus isômeros em cada série. Estudos conformacionais usando HF/6-31+G(d)/PCM como nível de cálculo evidenciaram este efeito. Valores calculados de dureza molecular (N) e de cargas atômicas (Q N) explicam corretamente os dados experimentais obtidos.

Enzymatic bioreduction of nitro groups plays an important role on the activity of biologically active nitroaromatic compounds. Electrochemical methods are useful tools to simulate in vivo metabolic processes. This work presents electrochemical studies in aprotic media (N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) plus tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) 0.1 mol L-1) using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) of twelve Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHA) with significant leishmanicidal activity. To facilitate the analysis, the molecules were grouped in four classes according to the side chain. CV studies show three up to four reduction waves, in which the first two waves are related to nitro group reduction. The other waves (presenting more negative potential) refer to the reduction of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl or to the nitrile activated olefin side-chain. Ortho adducts present facilitated reduction in comparison to the other isomers (meta and para) possibly due to hydrogen bond formation between the benzylic-OH and the nitro group, which stabilizes the reduction product (anion radical nitro) more efficiently than the original compound. Ortho derivatives also present higher leishmanicidal activity upon comparison to the other derivatives of each class. Conformational studies using HF/6-31+G(d)/PCM as a calculation level highlight this effect. Molecular hardness (N) and atomic charges (Q N) values corroborate the obtained experimental data.

Relatamos a síntese de 24 adutos de Morita-Baylis-Hillman (3a-3l/6a-6l) usando irradiação de microondas a 80 ºC ou protocolo convencional a 0 ºC para promover reações entre aldeídos aromáticos e acrilato de metila ou acrilonitrila (81-99%). Provamos que a reação de formação do acrilato de 2-hidroxi(4-bromofenil)metila é reversível a 120 ºC.

It is reported the synthesis of 24 Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (3a-3l/6a-6l) using microwave irradiation at 80 ºC or conventional protocol at 0 ºC to promote the reactions between aromatic aldehydes and methyl acrylate or acrylonitrile (81-99%). It is shown that the reaction of 2-hydroxy(4-bromophenyl)methyl acrylate formation is reversible at 120 ºC.

Descrevemos neste artigo, a irradiação por microondas promovendo a síntese de monoacilglicerol hidrofílico, MAG, a partir da hidrólise de um acrilato (15 min, 100%). Depois, o MAG foi transformado em adutos de Morita-Baylis-Hillman (AMBH) hidrofílicos, (54-82%, caminho 1). No caminho 2, outros AMBHs foram preparados em altos rendimentos (90-100%) e transformados em AMBH hidrofílicos em 70-90%. Durante e síntese em alta temperatura do AMBH, foi detectado por CG-EM a formação de uma indolizina inédita. Todos estes resultados estão de acordo com o novo mecanismo unificado para a reação de Morita-Baylis-Hillman. Estes novos monoacilgliceróis, bem como seus precursores sintéticos, são novos compostos antiparasitários em potencial.

In this article we describe microwave irradiation promoting the synthesis of a hydrophilic monoacylglycerol, MAG, by hydrolysis of acrylate (15 min, 100%). After, MAG was transformed in hydrophilic Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHA), (54-82%, pathway 1). In pathway 2, the different lipophilic MBHAs were prepared in high yields (90-100%) and transformed on hydrophilic MBHA, in 70-90%. Through the high temperature synthesis of one MBHA, a unprecedented indolizine formation was detected by GC-MS, . All results are in agreement with the new unified mechanism to the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. These new monoacylglycerols, as well the its synthetic precursors, are new potential antiparasitic compounds.

Neste artigo reportamos um estudo teórico objetivando revisitar a origem da conformação π-π stacking do (+)-acrilato de 8-fenilmentila (2) ser a preferencial. Para isso, calculamos geometrias de mínimo local, freqüências vibracionais, propriedades termoquímicas e deslocamentos químicos de RMN de ¹H para 2 e para o composto modelo acrilato de 3-fenilpropila (3) usando vários métodos ab initio e de DFT. Observamos que o funcional MPW1B95 foi o método mais apropriado em explicar os dados experimentais de RMN de ¹H nos quais mostram que a conformação stacking de 2 (2S) é mais estável que a conformação trans (2T) e a conformação stacking de 3 (3S) é menos estável que a conformação trans (3T) . Após isso, detalhes geométricos e energéticos do complexo intermolecular benzeno...metilacrilato (4) também foram estudados usando o método MPW1B95. A partir dos nossos resultados percebemos que ambos os efeitos, estérico e de dispersão, desempenham papéis chave no equilíbrio conformacional de 2.

In this paper we report a theoretical study aiming to revisit the origin of the preferential π-π stacking conformation of the (+)-8-phenylmentyl acrylate (2). For this, we have applied several DFT and ab initio methods to calculate local minimum geometries, vibrational frequencies, thermochemical properties and ¹H NMR chemical shifts for 2 and the model compound 3-phenylpropyl acrylate (3). We have observed that the MPW1B95 functional was the most suitable method to explain ¹H NMR experimental data which show the stacking conformation of 2 (2S) is more stable that trans conformation (2T) and the stacking conformation of 3 (3S) is less stable that trans conformation (3T). After that, geometrical and energetic features of the intermolecular complex benzene...methylacrylate (4) have also been studied using MPW1B95 method. From our results, we have noticed that both steric and dispersion effects play a key role in the conformational equilibrium of 2.

We present in this educational article a theoretical analysis based on DFT/B3LYP 6-311++G (d,p) and ab initio MP2/6-311++G(d,p) computational calculation about the reactivity and the regioselectivity on the chlorination reaction of anisole, toluene and nitrobenzene, using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TICA) as donor of Cl+. The H.O.M.O. / L.U.M.O. energy and N.B.O. atomic charges of various aromatic systems were calculated in ab initio level. The energies of the reagents and intermediaries were calculated using D.F.T.. These results have been presented as a quantitative example for the S E A mechanism, in the undergraduate organic chemistry disciplines.