Synthesis, Polymorphism, and Insecticidal Activity of Methyl 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-iodo-2-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]quinazoline-3-Carboxylate Against Anopheles arabiensis Mosquito

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and computational investigation of ethyl 2,4,6-trisubstituted-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates as potential larvicidal agents against Anopheles arabiensis

Malaria is one of the most known vector-borne diseases caused by female Anopheles mosquito bites. According to WHO, about 247 million cases of malaria and 619,000 deaths were estimated worldwide in 2021, of which 95% of the cases and 96% of deaths occurred in the African region. Sadly, about 80% of all malaria deaths were of children under five years old. Despite the availability of different insecticides used to control this disease, the emergence of drug-resistant mosquitoes threatens public health. This, in turn, highlighted the need for new larvicidal agents that are effective at different larval life stages. This study aimed to identify novel larvicidal agents. To this end, a series of ethyl 2,4,6-trisubstituted-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates 8a-i was synthesized using a three-step chemical synthetic approach via a Biginelli reaction employed as a key step. All title compounds were screened against Anopheles arabiensis to determine their larvicidal activities. Among them, two derivatives, ethyl 2-((4-bromophenyl)amino)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate 8b and ethyl 2-((4-bromo-2-cyanophenyl)amino)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate 8f, showed the highest larvicidal activity, with mortality of 94% and 91%, respectively, and emerged as potential larvicidal agents. In addition, computational studies, including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, were carried out to investigate their mechanism of action. The computational results showed that acetylcholinesterase appears to be a plausible molecular target for their larvicidal property.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Potential for Aedes aegypti Larval Control and Environmental Friendliness of the Compounds Containing 2-Methyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one Heterocycle

2-Methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one was prepared by the reaction of anthranilic acid, acetic anhydride, and ammonium acetate. The reaction of 2-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one with N-aryl-2-chloroacetamides in acetone in the presence of potassium carbonate gave nine N-aryl-2-(2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetamide compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their IR, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) spectral data. These synthesized compounds containing the 2-methyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one moiety exhibited activity against Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae with LC₅₀ values of 2.085-4.201 μg/mL after 72 h exposure, which is also confirmed using a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model. Interestingly, these compounds did not exhibit toxicity to the nontarget organism Diplonychus rusticus. In silico molecular docking revealed acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to be potential molecular targets. These data indicated the larvicidal potential and environmental friendliness of these N-aryl-2-(2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetamide derivatives.

Diversity oriented synthesis and SAR studies of new quinazolinones and related compounds as insecticidal agents against Culex pipiens L. Larvae and associated predator

The ongoing study reports the synthesis, spectroscopic analyses and larvicidal efficacy of novel series of quinazolinone derivatives and related compounds. The structures of the products were confirmed relied on their analytical and spectral data (IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR). The spectral documentation promoted the successful isolation of the desirable compounds. The insecticidal activities of the synthesized compounds were assessed against laboratory and field strains of Culex pipiens larvae and a predator from the same ecological niche, Cybister tripunctatus. The results revealed that most of the tested compounds showed high potencies against lab strain of C. pipiens larvae with low resistance ratios in filed strain. In particular, compounds 15, 6 and 16 showed low LC₅₀ values, 0.094, 0.106, 0.129 (µg/mL), respectively against lab strain of C. pipiens larvae. The present study also explored the toxicity of tested compounds against field strain of non-target C. tripunctatus. Most of tested compounds were safer than temephos, especially 15 and 6 with SI/PSF values 96.746 and 83.167, respectively. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) was discussed the effect of substituents insertion on the derivatives activities. Quinazolinone derivatives and related compounds are promising compounds in the mosquito control programs and further studies are recommended to develop more effective derivatives and reveal their mode of action.

Seeking heterocyclic scaffolds as antivirals against dengue virus

Dengue is one of the most typical viral infection categorized in the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). It is transmitted via the female Aedes aegypti mosquito to humans and majorly puts risk to the lives of more than half of the world. Recent advancements in medicinal chemistry have led to the design and development of numerous potential heterocyclic scaffolds as antiviral drug candidates for the inhibition of the dengue virus (DENV). Thus, in this review, we have discussed the significance of inhibitory and antiviral activities of nitrogen, oxygen, and mixed (nitrogen-sulfur and nitrogen-oxygen) heterocyclic scaffolds that are published in the last seven years (2016–2022). Furthermore, we have also discussed the probable mechanisms of action and the diverse structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the heterocyclic scaffolds. In addition, this review has elaborately outlined the mechanism of viral infection and the life cycle of DENV in the host cells. The wide set of heterocycles and their SARs will aid in the development of pharmaceuticals that will allow the researchers to synthesize the promising anti-dengue drug candidate in the future.

Recent research progress and outlook in agricultural chemical discovery based on quinazoline scaffold

The discovery of new scaffolds and targets for pesticides is still a huge challenge facing the sustainable development of modern agriculture. In recent years, quinazoline derivatives have achieved great progress in drug discovery and have attracted great attention. Quinazoline is a unique bicyclic scaffold with a variety of biological activities, which increases the possibilities and flexibility of structural modification, showing enormous appeal in the discovery of new pesticides. Therefore, the agricultural biological activities, structure-activity relationships (SAR), and mechanism of action of quinazoline derivatives in the past decade were reviewed systematically, with emphasis on SAR and mechanism. Then, we prospected the application of the quinazoline scaffold as a special structure in agricultural chemical discovery, hoping to provide new ideas for the rational design and mechanism of novel quinazoline agricultural chemicals in the future.

1,2,3-Triazolyl-tetrahydropyrimidine Conjugates as Potential Sterol Carrier Protein-2 Inhibitors: Larvicidal Activity against the Malaria Vector Anopheles arabiensis and In Silico Molecular Docking Study

Alteration of insect growth regulators by the action of inhibitors is becoming an attractive strategy to combat disease-transmitting insects. In the present study, we investigated the larvicidal effect of 1,2,3-triazolyl-pyrimidinone derivatives against the larvae of the mosquito Anopheles arabiensis, a vector of malaria. All compounds demonstrated insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae in a dose-dependent fashion. A preliminary study of the structure-activity relationship indicated that the electron-withdrawing substituent in the para position of the 4-phenyl-pyrimidinone moiety enhanced the molecules' potency. A docking study of these derivatives revealed favorable binding affinity for the sterol carrier protein-2 receptor, a protein present in the intestine of the mosquito larvae. Being effective insecticides against the malaria-transmitting Anopheles arabiensis, 1,2,3-triazole-based pyrimidinones represent a starting point to develop novel inhibitors of insect growth regulators.

Montmorillonite clay-based heterogenous catalyst for the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycle organic moieties: a review

The use of montmorillonite clay as solid catalyst has grabbed much attention in the liquid phase reactions for organic synthesis. In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in organic synthesis using montmorillonite-based composites, especially in the synthesis of heterogeneous nanoparticles. Due to the robust and green nature of montmorillonite-based nanocatalysts, it has been widely used in N-heterocyclic reactions. In this review, we have concentrated on the reports pertaining the use of montmorillonite-based nanocatalyst in the synthesis of N-heterocycles, a category of organic compounds with excellent biological properties. This manuscript is arranged by the types of N-containing heterocycles synthesized using montmorillonite-based composite as catalysts including polycyclic spirooxindoles, heterocyclic propargylamine, indole-based heterocycles, quinoline and its derivatives, six-membered N-heterocyclic-based compounds and five-membered N-heterocyclic-based compounds. Special attention was given to the structural stability under experimental parameters of the montmorillonite-based composite with the incidence of metal leaching and reusability. Finally, along with recent developments, new findings in heterogeneous montmorillonite (Mt)-based catalysis have also been addressed.

Synthesis, molecular docking and mosquitocidal efficacy of lawsone and its derivatives against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

BACKGROUND

Aedes aegypti is the primary dengue vector, a significant public health problem in many countries. Controlling the growth of Ae. aegypti is the biggest challenge in the mosquito control program, and there is a need for finding bioactive molecules to control Ae. aegypti in order to prevent dengue virus transmission.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the mosquitocidal property of lawsone and its 3-methyl-4H-chromen-3-yl-1-phenylbenzo[6,7]chromeno[2,3,c]pyrazole-dione derivatives (6a-6h) against various life stages of Ae. aegypti. Besides, to study the mode of action of the active compound by molecular docking and histopathological analysis.

METHODS

All derivatives were synthesized from the reaction between 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, chromene-3-carbaldehyde, and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-pyrazol-5-one by using one pot sequential multicomponent reaction. The mosquito life stages were subjected to diverse concentrations ranging from 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 10 ppm for lawsone and its derivatives. The structure of all synthesized compounds was characterized by spectroscopic analysis. Docking analysis was performed using autodock tools. Midgut sections of Ae. aegypti larvae were analyzed for histopathological effects.

RESULTS

Among the nine compounds screened, derivative 6e showed the highest mortality on Ae. aegypti life stages. The analyzed LC50 and LC90 results of derivative 6e were 3.01, 5.87 ppm, and 3.41, 6.28 ppm on larvae and pupae of Ae. aegypti, respectively. In the ovicidal assay, the derivative 6e recorded 47.2% egg mortality after 96-hour post-exposure to 10 ppm concentration. In molecular docking analysis, the derivative 6e confirmed strong binding interaction (-9.09 kcal/mol and -10.17 kcal/mol) with VAL 60 and HIS 62 of acetylcholinesterase 1 (AChE1) model and LYS 255, LYS 263 of kynurenine aminotransferase of Ae. aegypti, respectively. The histopathological results showed that the derivative 6e affected the columnar epithelial cells (CC) and peritrophic membrane (pM).

CONCLUSION

The derivative 6e is highly effective in the life stages of Ae. aegypti mosquito and it could be used in the integrated mosquito management programme.

4-Aryl-1,4-Dihydropyridines as Potential Enoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase Inhibitors: Antitubercular Activity and Molecular Docking Study

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis remains one of the most deadly infectious diseases worldwide due to the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) and extensively drug resistance (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).

AIMS

Currently, available drugs are getting resistant and toxic. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of potent molecules to treat tuberculosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Herein, the screening of a total of eight symmetrical 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4- DHP) derivatives (4a-4h) was carried out for whole-cell anti-TB activity against the susceptible H37Rv and MDR strains of MTB.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Most of the compounds exhibited moderate to excellent activity against the susceptible H37Rv. Moreover, the most promising compound 4f (against H37Rv) having paratrifluoromethyl phenyl group at 4-position and bis para-methoxy benzyl ester group at 3- and 5- positions of 1,4-dihydropyridine pharmacophore, exhibited no toxicity, but demonstrated weak activity against MTB strains resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin. In light of the inhibitory profile of the title compounds, enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) appeared to be the appropriate molecular target. A docking study of these derivatives against InhA receptor revealed favorable binding interactions. Further, in silico predicted ADME properties of these compounds 4a-4h were found to be in the acceptable ranges, including satisfactory Lipinski's rule of five, thereby indicating their potential as drug-like molecules.

CONCLUSION

In particular, the 1,4-DHP derivative 4f can be considered an attractive lead molecule for further exploration and development of more potent anti-TB agents as InhA inhibitors.

Antidiabetic Activity of Dihydropyrimidine Scaffolds and Structural Insight by Single Crystal X-ray Studies

BACKGROUND

This research project is designed to identify the anti-diabetic effects of the newly synthesized compounds to conclude the perspective of consuming one or more of these new synthetic compounds for diabetes management.

INTRODUCTION

A series of dihydropyrimidine (DHPM) derivative bearing electron releasing and electron-withdrawing substituent's on phenyl ring (a-j) were synthesized and screened for antihyperglycemic( anti-diabetic) activity on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat model. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by using FT-IR, melting point, 1H and 13C NMR analysis. The crystal structure and supramolecular features were analyzed through single-crystal X-ray study. Anti-diabetic activity testing of newly prepared DHPM scaffolds was mainly based on their relative substituent on the phenyl ring along with urea and thiourea. Among the synthesized DHPM scaffold, the test compound c having chlorine group on phenyl ring at the ortho position to the hydropyrimidine ring with urea and methyl acetoacetate derivative shows moderate lowering of glucose level. However, the title compounds methyl 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- 6-methyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate(g) and ethyl 4-(3-ethoxy-4- hydroxyphenyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate(h) having methoxy and ethoxy substituents on phenyl ring show significant hypoglycemic activity compared to the remaining compounds from the Scheme 1.

METHODS

The experimental rat models for the study were divided into 13 groups (n = 10); group 1 animals were treated with 0.5% CMC (0.5mL) (vehicle); group 2 were considered the streptozotocin (STZ)/nicotinamide diabetic control group (DC) and untreated, group 3 diabetic animals were administered with gliclazide 50 mg/kg and act as a reference drug group. The remaining groups of the diabetic animals were administered with the newly synthesized dihydropyrimidine compounds in a single dose of 50 mg/kg orally using the oral gavage, daily for 7 days continuously. The blood glucose level was measured before and 72 hrs after nicotinamide-STZ injection, for confirmation of hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes development.

RESULTS

Blood glucose levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced after treatment with these derivatives. The mean percentage reduction for gliclazide was 50%, while that of synthesized compounds were approximately 36%.

CONCLUSION

Our result suggests that the synthesized new DHPM derivative containing alkoxy group on the phenyl ring shows a significant lowering of glucose level compared to other derivatives.

Larvicidal study of tetrahydropyrimidine scaffolds against Anopheles arabiensis and structural insight by single crystal X-ray studies

A series of methyl or ethyl 4-(substitutedphenyl/pyridyl)-6-methyl-2-oxo/thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate (HPM) analogues 4a-g were synthesized and evaluated for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis. These newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral studies such as FT-IR, NMR (¹ H and ¹³ C), LC-MS, and elemental analysis. The conformational features and supramolecular assembly of molecules 4a, 4b, and 4e were further analyzed from single crystal X-ray study. The larvicidal activity of these tetrahydropyrimidine pharmacophore series was analyzed based on their relative substituents. Among the synthesized HPM analogous from the series, compounds 4d and 4e both having electron withdrawing chlorine group on phenyl ring at the fourth position of the tetrahydropyrimidine pharmacophore exhibited the most promising larvicidal activity.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Time-Dependent DFT Calculations of 1-Methyl-5-phenyl-5H-pyrido[1,2-a]quinazoline-3,6-dione and Its Starting Precursor in Different Solvents

In this study, 2-mercapto-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (1), which exists as a thiol and thione tautomer, was treated with acetylacetone to give the target compound, namely, 1-methyl-5-phenyl-5H-pyrido[1,2-a]quinazoline-3,6-dione (2). The spectroscopic data, including UV/Vis, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass data, of this compound were recorded. The molecular structures of the starting material (1) and the product (2) were optimized by using density functional theory (DFT) by employing the B3LYP exchange correlation with the 6-311G (d, p) and 6-31G++ (d, p) basis sets. The electronic spectra were determined based on time-dependent DFT calculations in three different solvents (i.e., chloroform, ethanol, and acetonitrile) starting from the same solvated run of the optimized geometry with the same two basis sets. The solvent effects were considered based on the polarizable continuum model (PCM), and the energetic behavior of the compounds and the total static dipole moment (μ) in different solvents were examined in the two basis sets; the results showed that the total energy of the compounds decreased upon increasing the polarity of the solvent. Time-dependent DFT calculations were performed to analyze the electronic transitions for various excited states that reproduced the experimental band observed in the UV/Vis spectrum. A study on the electronic properties, such as the HOMO and LUMO energies, was performed by the time-independent DFT approach. Using the gauge-independent atomic orbital method (GIAO), the 1H NMR chemical shifts were calculated and correlated with the experimental ones. The computed results showed that the introduction of different dielectric media had a slight effect on the stability and reactivity of the title compound as well as on the Milliken atomic charges and the molecular geometry. Besides, the molecular electrostatic potential of target product 2 was evaluated in different solvents.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel series of 1,4-dihydropyridine analogues for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis

The new-fangled bis(4-substituted benzyl) 4-(4-substitued phenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate derivatives were synthesized by the union of substituted aryl aldehyde, tert-butyl acetoacetate, ammonium carbonate with 4-substituted benzyl alcohol via Hantzsch ester synthesis in aqueous medium under catalyst-free conditions. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques such as IR, NMR (¹ H and ¹³ C), ESI mass, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The characterized title compounds were evaluated for the larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis by standard WHO larvicidal assay method using Temephos as standard at 4 μg/ml. The title compounds bis(4-methoxybenzyl) 2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate and bis(4-chlorobenzyl) 2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate exhibited promising larvicidal activity at 65.6% and 72.2%, respectively, when compared with the standard compound at 98.9%.

Design, synthesis, and characterization of (1-(4-aryl)- 1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl, substituted phenyl-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The novel (1-(4-aryl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl, substituted phenyl-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate derivatives were synthesized by the click reaction of the dihydropyrimidinones, bearing a terminal alkynyl group, with various substituted aryl azides at room temperature using a catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂ and sodium ascorbate in a 1:2 ratio of acetone and water as a solvent. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by a number of spectroscopic techniques, such as infrared, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, ¹H, and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance along with single crystal X-ray diffraction. The current procedure for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole hybrids with dihydropyrimidinones is appropriate for the synthesis of a library of analogs 7a-l and the method accessible here is operationally simple and has excellent yields. The title compounds 7a-l were evaluated for their in vitro antitubercular activity against H37R_V and multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by resazurin microplate assay plate method and it was found that compound 7d was promising against H37R_V and multidrug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis at 10 and 15 μg/mL, respectively.