Iodine(III) reagents for oxidative aromatic halogenation

Iodine(III) reagents have attracted chemical relvance in organic synthesis by their use as safe, non-toxic, green and easy to handle reagents in different transformations. These characteristics make them important alternatives to procedures involving hazardous and harsh reaction conditions. Their versatility as oxidants has been exploited in the functionalization of different aromatic cores, which allow the introduction of several groups. Metal-free arylation using iodine(III) reagents is by far one of the most described topics in the literature; however, other highly relevant non-aromatic groups have been also introduced. Herein, we summarize the most representative developed procedures for the functionalization of aryls and heteroaryls by introducing halogens, using different iodine(III) reagents.

Novel 2-aryl-4-aryloxyquinoline-based fungistatics for Mucor circinelloides. Biological evaluation of activity, QSAR and docking study

Zygomycetes are ubiquitous saprophytes in natural environments which transform organic matter. Some zygomycetes of gender Mucor have attracted interest in health sector. Due to its ability as opportunistic microorganisms infecting immuno-compromised people and to the few available pharmacological treatments, the mucormycosis is receiving worldwide attention. Concerning to the pharmacological treatments, some triazole-based compounds such as fluconazole are extensively used. Nevertheless, we focused in the quinolines since they are broadly used models for the design and development of new synthetic antifungal agents. In this study, the fungistatic activity on M. circinelloides of various 2-aryl-4-aryloxyquinoline-based compounds was discovered, and in some cases, it resulted better than reference compound fluconazole. These quinoline derivatives were synthesized via the C_sp²-O bond formation using diaryliodonium(III) salts chemistry. A QSAR study was carried out to quantitatively correlate the chemical structure of the tested compounds with their biological activity. Also, a docking study to identify a plausible action target of our more active quinolines was carried out. The results highlighted an increased activity with the fluorine- and nitro-containing derivatives. In light of the few mucormycosis pharmacological treatments, herein we present some non-described molecules with excellent in vitro activities and potential use in the mucormycosis treatment.

Evaluation of the neuropharmacological effects of Gardenin A in mice

This work describes the neuropharmacological (sedative, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant) actions of Gardenin A (GA) (0.1-25 mg/kg p.o.), a flavonoid found in medicinal plants. The sedative effects of GA were assessed with the pentobarbital-induced sleep test. The anxiolytic actions of GA were evaluated with the elevated plus-maze, the light-dark box test, the exploratory cylinder assay, and the open field test. Motor coordination was evaluated with the rotarod test and the open field test. The antidepressant-like actions of GA were evaluated with the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. The mechanisms of the anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects of GA were assessed using inhibitors of neurotransmission pathways. The anticonvulsant activity of GA was evaluated with the strychnine-induced seizure test. The sedative effects of GA were evident only at a dose of 25 mg/kg, which increased the duration of sleep but did not alter sleep onset. GA showed anxiolytic-like actions with activity comparable to that of clonazepam in all experimental tests. The GABA_A receptor antagonist bicuculline reversed the anxiolytic-like effects of GA. Furthermore, GA showed significant antidepressant-like actions in both models with activity comparable to that of fluoxetine. Yohimbine, an α2-adrenoceptor blocker, inhibited the antidepressant-like actions of GA. In addition, GA (1-10 mg/kg) did not affect locomotor coordination in mice and delayed the onset of convulsions. These findings suggest that GA induces anxiolytic-like effects and has anticonvulsant actions by the possible involvement of the GABAergic system. The antidepressant-like actions of GA may be mediated by noradrenergic neurotransmission.

Antidiarrheal, vasorelaxant, and neuropharmacological actions of the diterpene tilifodiolide

Salvia tiliifolia is used in folk medicine as a relaxant agent and for the treatment of diarrhea and neurodegenerative diseases. Tilifodiolide (TFD) is a diterpene obtained from this plant. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the antidiarrheal, vasorelaxant, and neuropharmacological actions of TFD. These effects were selected based on the folk medicinal use of S. tiliifolia. The antidiarrheal activity of 1-50 mg/kg p.o. TFD was assessed with the castor oil related tests. The vasorelaxant effect of TFD (0.9-298 μM) was performed with smooth muscle tissues from rats, and its mechanism of action was evaluated using different inhibitors. The sedative, anxiolytic, and antidepressant effects of 1-100 mg/kg TFD were assessed. The possible mechanisms of action of the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of TFD were evaluated using inhibitors. TFD exhibited antidiarrheal (ED₅₀ = 10.62 mg/kg) and vasorelaxant (EC₅₀ = 48 ± 3.51 μM) effects. The coadministration of TFD with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), reverted the vasorelaxant action showed by TFD alone. TFD exerted anxiolytic actions (ED₅₀ = 20 mg/kg) in the cylinder exploratory test, whereas TFD (50 mg/kg) showed antidepressant actions in the tail suspension test by 44%. The pretreatment with 2 mg/kg flumazenil partially reverted the anxiolytic actions of TFD, whereas the pretreatment with 1 mg/kg yohimbine abolished the antidepressant effects of TFD. In summary, TFD exerted antidiarrheal activity by decreasing the intestinal fluid accumulation and vasorelaxant effects mediated by nitric oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. TFD showed anxiolytic and antidepressant effects by the partial involvement of gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and the possible participation of α2-adrenoreceptors, respectively.

Total synthesis of kealiiquinone: the regio-controlled strategy for accessing its 1-methyl-4-arylbenzimidazolone core

A practical, concise and straightforward total synthesis of kealiiquinone 1, a naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole alkaloid obtained from the Micronesian marine sponge Leucetta sp. was accomplished. The squaric acid chemistry to construct the 1,4-quinoid ring and the regioselective N-methylation through a benzo[c][1,2,5]selenadiazolium heterocycle are the key features in this report. The full details of the representative approaches involving the different attempted synthetic strategies are also presented. Finally a successful total synthesis of this complex secondary metabolite is described.

A practical, concise and straightforward total synthesis of kealiiquinone 1, a naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole alkaloid obtained from the Micronesian marine sponge Leucetta sp. was accomplished.

Practical, mild and efficient electrophilic bromination of phenols by a new I(iii)-based reagent: the PIDA–AlBr3system

A practical electrophilic bromination procedure for the phenolic core was developed under efficient and very mild reaction conditions. The new I(iii)-based brominating reagentPhIOAcBroperationally easy to prepare by mixing PIDA and AlBr₃was used.