An efficient method for synthesis of bis(indolyl)methane and di-bis(indolyl)methane derivatives in environmentally benign conditions using TBAHS

Green electrosynthesis of bis(indolyl)methane derivatives in deep eutectic solvents

In this study, a new green method was developed for the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methane derivatives using electrochemical bisarylation reaction in deep eutectic solvents as a green alternative to traditional solvents and electrolytes. The effects of varying time, current, type of solvent and material of electrodes were all studied. The optimum reaction conditions involved the use of ethylene glycol/choline chloride with a ratio of 2:1 at 80 °C for 45 min. Graphite and platinum were used as cathode and anode, respectively. The newly developed method offered many advantages such as using mild reaction conditions, short reaction time and affording high product yields with a wide range of substituted aromatic aldehydes bearing electron donating or electron withdrawing substituents. In addition, the electrochemical method proved to be more effective than heating in deep eutectic solvents and afforded higher yields of products in shorter reaction time. The mechanism of the electrochemical reaction was proposed and confirmed using the cyclic voltammetry study.

Valorization of discarded face mask for bioactive compound synthesis and photodegradation of dye

To keep COVID-19 at bay, most countries have mandated the use of face masks in public places and imposed heavy penalties for those who fail to do so. This has inadvertently created a huge demand for disposable face masks and worsened the problem of littering, where a large number of used masks are constantly discarded into the environment. As such, an efficient and innovative waste management strategy for the discarded face mask is urgently needed. This study presents the transformation of discarded face mask into catalyst termed 'mask waste ash catalyst (MWAC)' to synthesise bisindolylmethanes (BIMs), alkaloids that possess antibacterial, antioxidant and antiviral properties. Using commercially available aldehydes and indole, an excellent yield of reaction (62-94%) was achieved using the MWAC in the presence of water as the sole solvent. On the other hand, the FT-IR spectrum of MWAC showed the absorption bands at 2337 cm-1, 1415 cm-1 and 871 cm-1, which correspond to the signals of calcium oxide. It is then proposed that the calcium oxides mainly present in MWAC can protonate oxygen atoms in the carbonyl molecule of the aldehyde group, thus facilitating the nucleophile attack by indole which consequently improved the product yield. Moreover, the MWAC is also observed to facilitate the photodegradation of methylene blue with an efficiency of up to 94.55%. Our results showed the potential applications of the MWAC derived from discarded face masks as a sustainable catalyst for bioactive compound synthesis and photodegradation of dye compounds.

Accessing Unsymmetrically Linked Heterocycles through Stereoselective Palladium-Catalyzed Domino Cyclization

A palladium-catalyzed strategy is presented to synthesize unsymmetrically linked heterocycles within stereoselective tetrasubstituted olefins. This reaction is proposed to occur via a vinyl-Pd^II intermediate capable of initiating the cyclization of various alkyne-tethered nucleophiles. Products are formed in up to 96 % yield and excellent stereoselectivities are obtained using low catalyst loadings. This transformation was scalable up to 1 mmol and mechanistic studies suggest a syn-carbopalladation of the carbamoyl chloride followed by Pd^II -catalyzed cyclization of alkyne-tethered nucleophiles.

Isoniazid-functionalized Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Green and Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and their Sulfur Derivatives

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of dihydropyrimidins (DHPMs) exhibit pharmacological and biological activities. Herein, an efficient one-pot synthesis of some 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives is reported using Fe3O4 @SiO2-Pr-INH.

OBJECTIVE

Recently, several catalysts have been used to improve the Biginellis-reaction. However, some of these catalysts have imperfections. Herein, a convenient method for the synthesis of 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin- 2(1H)-ones and their sulfur derivatives using Fe3O4 @SiO2-Pr-INH is reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the catalyst was synthesized through a simple four-step method. The Fe3O4 MNPs were synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation method, coated with a layer of silica using TEOS, and then functionalized with CPTMS. Subsequently, a nucleophilic substitution of Cl by isoniazid resulted in the formation of the magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2-Pr-INH. After the preparation and characterization of Fe3O4@SiO2-Pr-INH, its catalytic activity was studied in the synthesis of 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives. Following the optimization of the reaction conditions, several 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of ethyl acetoacetate or acetylacetone, thiourea or urea and aromatic aldehydes at 80 °C under solvent-free conditions.

RESULTS

Isoniazid-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-Pr-INH) were prepared using Fe3O4 with silica layer and their surface was modified with isoniazid. They were characterized successfully by infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and were used for the synthesis of some 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives as catalysts. Aromatic aldehydes with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups afforded 3, 4- dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and their sulfur derivatives in good to excellent yields in short reaction times.

CONCLUSION

Isoniazid-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-Pr-INH) were used as an efficient catalyst for Biginelli-type synthesis of 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin- 2(1H)-thiones in good to excellent yields and short reaction times. It is noteworthy that this method has several advantages such as simple experimental procedures, the absence of solvent, environmentally benign process, stability and reusability of the catalyst.

(Thio)urea-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Reaction: Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)- methanes

:

Bis(indolyl)methane derivatives (BIMs) were synthesized in moderate to good yields by (thio)urea catalyzed electrophilic substitution of indole (2) with various aldehydes 1. Reactions were performed under conventional and microwave (MW) heating, either using 1,2-dichloroetane as solvent or without solvent. The procedure using microwave heating was also applied to the synthesis of the natural products vibrindole A (3n), arsindoline A (3i), arundine (3o) and tris(1H-indol-3-yl)methane (3j). Additionally, the synthesis of streptindole was carried out via intermediate 3g. This methodology is well suited for the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes: it offers good yields of products, low sensitivity to moisture and oxygen, high tolerance to different functional groups on the aldehydes such as alkynes and trimethylsilane, and simplicity in operation

Dietary phytochemicals in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and associated enzymes: A promising anticancer therapeutic approach

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological phenomenon that plays a primordial role for initiation of metastasis. It renders cancer cells with increased self-renewal and tumor-initiating capabilities and exacerbated resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. Hence, regulation of EMT stands out to be an important strategy in controlling the behavior of malignant cells. Despite the enormous amount of preclinical data on the implication of EMT in cancer progression, there is still lack of routine clinical translation at therapeutic levels. The need of EMT-modulating drugs with high efficacy and low cytotoxicity has led to studies involving the evaluation of the efficacy of a plethora of various classes of phytochemicals present in dietary sources of fruits and vegetables. This review summarizes the role of these different classes of phytochemicals, their natural/synthetic analogs, and their nano-formulations in regulation of EMT in various preclinical models through attenuation of primary signaling pathways. Numerous proteins, transcription factors and enzymes targeted by various classes of phytochemicals in repression of EMT has been presented in this review. Additionally, we have critically analyzed the existing literature and provided views on new direction for accelerating the discovery of novel drug candidates which could be cautiously administered without concomitant effects.