Decompositions of Hydroperoxides in Oxidizing Olefins

Epoxides: an underestimated lipid oxidation product

Immense gains in understanding of mechanisms and effects of lipid oxidation have been achieved in the nearly 90 years over which lipid oxidation has been an active research focus. Even so, the substantial questions still being raised about lipid oxidation in this special issue show clearly that missing pieces remain and must be considered for full accounting of this important reaction in any system. In this context, epoxides are spotlighted as a critical overlooked product of lipid autoxidation - underestimated in analysis, underestimated in presence as a functionally active and competitive intermediate and product of lipid oxidation, and underestimated in potential contributions to impact of lipid oxidation on other molecules and cell functions. Logical reasons for ignoring or not finding epoxides are offered in historical development of lipid oxidation knowledge. Reactions generating lipid epoxides in autoxidation are reviewed, limitations in detecting and tracking epoxides are outlined to explain why epoxides may not be detected when they should be present, and justifications for increased research and analysis of epoxides are argued. The main goal is to provide a context for recognizing epoxides as critical products that must be accounted for in determining the state rather than extent of lipid oxidation and in tracking its consequences in oils, foods, personal care products, and tissues. A secondary goal is to stimulate new research using contemporary analyses to fill in the gaps of knowledge about epoxide formation, structure, and reactions in lipid autoxidation.

Characterization of a series of 3-amino-2-phenylpropene derivatives as novel bovine chromaffin vesicular monoamine transporter inhibitors

A series of 3-amino-2-phenylpropene (APP) derivatives have been synthesized and characterized as novel competitive inhibitors, with K(i) values in the microM range, for the bovine chromaffin granule membrane monoamine transporter(s) (bVMAT). Although, these inhibitors are structurally similar to the bVMAT substrate tyramine, none of them were measurably transported into the granule. Structure-activity studies have revealed that, while the 3'- or 4'-OH groups on the aromatic ring enhance the inhibition potency, Me or OMe groups in these positions reduce the inhibition potency. Halogen substitution on the 4'-position of the aromatic ring causes gradual increase of the inhibition potency parallel to the electron donor ability of the halogen. Substituents on the NH(2) as well as on the 3-position of the alkyl chain reduce the inhibition potency. Comparative structure-activity analyses of APP derivatives with tyramine and the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium suggest that the flexibility of the side chain and the relative orientation of the NH(2) group may be critical for the efficient transport of the substrate through the bVMAT. Comparable bVMAT affinities of these inhibitors to that of DA and other pharmacologically active amines suggest that they are suitable for the structure-activity and mechanistic studies of monoamine transporters and may also be useful in modeling the mechanism of action of amphetamine-related derivatives.

Synthesis and biological activity of strongly fluorescent tricyclic analogues of acyclovir and ganciclovir

In search of strongly fluorescent tricyclic analogues of acyclovir (ACV, 1) and ganciclovir (GCV, 2), derivatives of the 3,9-dihydro-9-oxo-5H-imidazo[1,2-a]purine system, several 6-[4-(acyloxy)phenyl], 6-[4-(acylamino)phenyl], and 6-[4-(phenoxycarbonyloxy)phenyl]-substituted TACV and TGCV analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in cell culture. All TACV and TGCV analogues showed strong fluorescence (quantum yield of 30-65% vs 2-aminopurine 100%). The 6-[4-(phenoxycarbonyloxy)phenyl]-substituted compounds 11 and 19 displayed the best combination of the fluorescence and antiviral potency.

2-Amino-3-aroyl-4,5-alkylthiophenes: agonist allosteric enhancers at human A(1) adenosine receptors

2-Amino-3-benzoylthiophenes are allosteric enhancers (AE) of agonist activity at the A(1) adenosine receptor. The present report describes syntheses and assays of the AE activity at the human A(1)AR (hA(1)AR) of a panel of compounds consisting of nine 2-amino-3-aroylthiophenes (3a-i), eight 2-amino-3-benzoyl-4,5-dimethylthiophenes (12a-h), three 3-aroyl-2-carboxy-4,5-dimethylthiophenes (15a-c), 10 2-amino-3-benzoyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[b]thiophenes (17a-j), 14 2-amino-3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophenes (18a-n), and 15 2-amino-3-benzoyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-cyclohepta[b]thiophenes (19a-o). An in vitro assay employing the A(1)AR agonist [(125)I]ABA and membranes from CHO-K1 cells stably expressing the hA(1)AR measured, as an index of AE activity, the ability of a candidate AE to stabilize the agonist-A(1)AR-G protein ternary complex. Compounds 3a-i had little or no AE activity, and compounds 12a-h had only modest activity, evidence that AE activity depended absolutely on the presence of at least a methyl group at C-4 and C-5. Compounds 17a-c lacked AE activity, suggesting the 2-amino group is essential. Polymethylene bridges linked thiophene C-4 and C-5 of compounds 17a-j, 18a-n, and 19a-o. AE activity increased with the size of the -(CH(2))(n)()- bridge, n = 3 < n = 4 < n = 5. The 3-carbethoxy substituents of 17a, 18a, and 19a did not support AE activity, but a 3-aroyl group did. Bulky (or hydrophobic) substituents at the meta and para positions of the 3-benzoyl group and also 3-naphthoyl groups greatly enhanced activity. Thus, the hA(1)AR contains an allosteric binding site able to accommodate 3-aroyl substituents that are bulky and/or hydrophobic but not necessarily planar. A second region in the allosteric binding site interacts constructively with alkyl substituents at thiophene C-4 and/or C-5.

Synthesis of ring B unsaturated estriols. Confirming the structure of a diagnostic analyte for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

[structure: see text] Brief partial syntheses are described for ring B unsaturated estriols, which are candidate metabolites diagnostic for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome prenatally. These steroids are also likely metabolites of the Premarin preparation used in estrogen replacement therapy. Equilin (8) was converted in three steps to 7-dehydroestriol, which was isomerized to 8-dehydroestriol. The simplicity of the transformations belies the lability of these previously inaccessible metabolites and their synthetic precursors.

Discovery and structure-activity relationship of the first non-peptide competitive human glucagon receptor antagonists

The first non-peptide competitive human glucagon receptor antagonist, 2-(benzimidazol-2-ylthio)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-ethan one, NNC 92-1687 (2), is described. This antagonist has a binding affinity of 20 microM (IC50) and a functional Ki = 9.1 microM at the human glucagon receptor. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) was obtained on this compound, and the results show that only the benzimidazole part can be changed without complete loss of affinity. Analogues with tert-butyl or benzyloxy groups in the 5-position of the benzimidazole moiety were found to be equipotent or slightly more potent, all displaying binding affinities around 5-20 microM. Most of the changes to the catechol and the linker gave compounds without any affinity toward the human glucagon receptor. The 3-hydroxy group could, however, in the presence of a 4-hydroxy group be changed to a methoxy or a chloro group while retaining affinity.

THE INHIBITED AUTOXIDATION OF STYRENE: PART V. THE KINETICS AND DEUTERIUM ISOTOPE EFFECT FOR INHIBITION BY DIPHENYLAMINE, PHENYL-α-NAPHTHYLAMINE, AND PHENYL-β-NAPHTHYLAMINE

The thermal oxidation of styrene inhibited by diphenylamine, phenyl-α-naphthylamine, and phenyl-β-naphthylamine has been examined. It has been shown that the autocatalysis of the diphenylamine- and phenyl-β-naphthylamine-inhibited oxidations is probably due to a reaction between the inhibitor radical and the hydroperoxide formed in the primary step of inhibition. This reaction is too slow to produce significant autocatalysis with phenyl-α:-naphthylamine under the present experimental conditions.The primary inhibition reaction involves abstraction of the amino hydrogen since its replacement by deuterium leads to a fairly large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD ~ 3–4).