Structure-property and structure-activity relationships of phenylferrocene derivatives as androgen receptor antagonists

Design and synthesis of ferrocenyl 1,4-dihydropyridines and their evaluation as kinesin-5 inhibitors

Kinesin-5 inhibitors offer cancer cell-targeted approach, thus securing reduced systemic toxicity compared to other antimitotic agents. By modifying the 1,4-dihydropyridine-based kinesin-5 inhibitor CPUYL064 with a ferrocenyl moiety (Fc), we designed and prepared a series of organometallic hybrids that show high antiproliferative activity, with the best compounds exhibiting up to 19-fold increased activity. This enhanced activity can be attributed to the presence of the ferrocenyl moiety.

Convenient Size Analysis of Nanoplastics on a Microelectrode

Chemical recycling is a promising approach to reduce plastic pollution. Timely and accurate size analysis of produced nanoplastics is necessary to monitor the process and assess the quality of chemical recycling. In this work, a sandwich-type microelectrode sensor was developed for the size assessment of nanoplastics. β-Mercaptoethylamine was modified on the microelectrode to enhance its surface positive charge density. Polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics were captured on the sensor through electrostatic interactions. Ferrocene was used as an electrochemical beacon and attached to PS via hydrophobic interactions. The results show a nonlinear dependence of the sensor's current response on the PS particle size. The size resolving ability of the microelectrode is mainly attributed to the small size of the electrode and the resulting attenuation of the electric field strength. For mixed samples with different particle sizes, this method can provide accurate average particle sizes. Through an effective pretreatment process, the method can be applied to PS nanoplastics with different surface properties, ensuring its application in evaluating different chemical recycling methods.

Structural Development of Androgen Receptor Antagonists Using Phenylferrocene Framework as a Hydrophobic Pharmacophore

We previously identified nitrophenylferrocenes and cyanophenylferrocenes as promising lead structures of novel androgen receptor (AR) antagonists, based on the structural similarity between ferrocene and the steroidal skeleton. In the present research, we explored the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of phenylferrocene derivatives. Introduction of a hydrophobic substituent such as a chlorine atom at the 2-position or 3-position of phenylferrocene derivatives significantly increased the antagonistic activity toward wild-type AR, and among the synthesized compounds, 3-chloro-4-cyanophenylferrocene (29) exhibited the most potent anti-proliferative activity toward the androgen-dependent growth of SC-3 cells expressing wild-type AR (IC50 14 nM). Like conventional antiandrogens such as hydroxyflutamide, the major active metabolite of flutamide, compound 29 exhibited agonistic activity toward T877A-AR, a mutant AR expressed in human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Notably, however, the 2-chloro isomer 27 showed potent antagonistic activity toward wild-type AR (IC50 49 nM) and also exhibited antagonistic activity toward T877A-AR. Our SAR data should prove helpful for the development of new-generation AR antagonists based on phenylferrocene as candidate agents to treat drug-resistant prostate cancer.

Contemporary Developments in Ferrocene Chemistry: Physical, Chemical, Biological and Industrial Aspects

Ferrocenyl-based compounds have many applications in diverse scientific disciplines, including in polymer chemistry as redox dynamic polymers and dendrimers, in materials science as bioreceptors, and in pharmacology, biochemistry, electrochemistry, and nonlinear optics. Considering the horizon of ferrocene chemistry, we attempted to condense the neoteric advancements in the synthesis and applications of ferrocene derivatives reported in the literature from 2016 to date. This paper presents data on the progression of the synthesis of diverse classes of organic compounds having ferrocene scaffolds and recent developments in applications of ferrocene-based organometallic compounds, with a special focus on their biological, medicinal, bio-sensing, chemosensing, asymmetric catalysis, material, and industrial applications.

Synthesis, structural characterization, DFT calculations, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations of a novel ferrocene derivative to unravel its potential antitumor activity

In this article, we describe a set of subsequent five-steps chemical reactions to synthesize a ferrocene derivative named 1-(5-(diphenylphosphaneyl)cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl)ethyl)imino)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)methanol (compound 10). Structural characterization of 10 and its intermediate products was also performed and reported to attest to their formation. A molecular docking study was performed to propose the novel synthesized ferrocene derivative (10) as a potential antitumor candidate targeting the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases interacting kinase (Mnk) 1. The computed docking score of (10) at -9.50 kcal/mol compared to the native anticancer staurosporine at -8.72 kcal/mol postulated a promising anticancer activity. Also, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for 500 ns followed by MM-GBSA-binding free energy calculations for both the docked complexes of ferrocene and staurosporine to give more deep insights into their dynamic behavior in physiological conditions. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed to unravel some of the physiochemical characteristics of the ferrocene derivative (10). The quantum mechanics calculations shed the light on some of the structural and electrochemical configurations of (10) which would open the horizon for further investigation. HighlightsThe synthesis of a ferrocene derivative named 1-(5-(diphenylphosphaneyl)cyclopenta-1,3-dien-1-yl)ethyl)imino)-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-5-yl)methanol (compound 10) was described.Structural characterizations of ferrocene derivative (10) and its intermediate products were also performed.DFT calculations, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and MM-GBSA calculations were carried out.Computational studies revealed the antitumor potential of ferrocene derivative (10) through targeting and inhibiting mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases interacting kinase (Mnk) 1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Flavonoids Seen through the Energy Perspective

In all life forms, opposing forces provide the energy that flows through networks in an organism, which fuels life. In this concept, health is the ability of an organism to maintain the balance between these opposing forces, which creates resilience, and a deranged flow of energy is the basis for diseases. Treatment should focus on adjusting the deranged flow of energy, e.g., by the redox modulating activity of antioxidants. A major group of antioxidants is formed by flavonoids, a group of polyphenolic compounds abundantly present in our diet. The objective here is to review how the redox modulation by flavonoids fits in the various concepts on the mode of action of bioactive compounds, so we can 'see' where there is overlap and where the missing links are. Based on this fundament, we should choose our research path aiming to 'understand' the redox modulating profile of specific flavonoids, so we can ultimately rationally apply the redox modulating power of flavonoids to improve our health.