Search Results (53)

An important field of research in medicinal and organic chemistry involves halogen-containing heterocyclic synthones, which form the backbone of more complex organic compounds. This study aimed to design and synthesize 28 novel derivatives of 7-aryl-2,3-dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-9(1H)-one. The derivatives were created from 7-bromoquinoline intermediates to evaluate their potential as cholinesterase inhibitors for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The conditions for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction were optimized to improve yield and purity. The derivatives were evaluated for their anticholinesterase activity using Ellman’s method, revealing that it most effectively inhibited cholinesterase within the micromolar range. 7-(3-Chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-2,3-dihydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-9(1H)-one derivative exhibited the highest inhibitory potency, with an IC₅₀ value of 6.084 ± 0.26 μM. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations provided insight into how this lead compound interacts with the enzyme, suggesting its potential as a drug candidate for Alzheimer’s disease. Full article

In this review article the synthesis and solid state structure of squaramide/squarate based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are analyzed and discussed. In detail, a thorough search in the literature revealed the successful utilization of these two organic molecules as MOF building blocks capable of catalyzing (i) water splitting reactions, (ii) electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reactions, and (iii) Michael addition reactions. Additionally, some of the highlighted examples also utilized these two molecular synthons to compose MOFs exhibiting gas adsorbent properties, concretely for capturing propadiene and propylene. In each of the selected examples a theoretical study of the noncovalent interactions (NCIs) established between the squaramide/squarate-based MOF and the guest molecules trapped inside was carried out, providing additional information regarding the strength of the MOF–guest interactions, which certainly influence the catalytic/adsorbent capabilities of these materials. We believe that the examples collected herein will be useful for those scientists working in the fields of supramolecular chemistry, crystal engineering, catalysis, and materials science by providing a retrospective guide on the role of squaramide and squarate in the formation of MOFs. Full article

Molecular reactions occur through functional groups that drive covalent synthesis. These reactions often proceed via catalytic processes, leading to the formation of time crystals, which can be integrated into shared molecules or reactions—a concept referred to as the time crystal synthon. The concept of time crystal synthons, introduced by Sahoo, pushes these ideas into the temporal realm, where molecular assemblies exhibit periodic behavior over time. This temporal aspect allows the creation of materials with unique functionalities, such as enhanced stability and responsiveness to external stimuli. A molecular synthon generates a specifically designed molecule within a catalytic reaction cycle or a time crystal. If this molecule or any associated reaction steps can be transferred or shared with a neighboring time crystal to facilitate their integration, it can be identified as a time crystal synthon. Supramolecular synthons, in contrast, enable the assembly of complex structures through non-covalent interactions among the molecules, playing a crucial role in crystal engineering. This paper further explores the applications of these synthons in various domains, including supramolecular architecture design, the integration of time crystal cycles, and the development of advanced materials. By mastering these interconnected synthons, scientists can gain greater control over molecular and material properties, driving advances in nanotechnology, materials science, and beyond. This paper explores the interconnected paradigms of molecular, supramolecular, and time crystal synthons within their respective engineering fields. Molecular synthons are foundational units within molecules, essential for designing and synthesizing new compounds with targeted properties. Full article

A series of novel salts based on aromatic polyamines and 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid, such as C₁₀H₁₂N₆O₅ (1), C₁₀H₉ClN₆O₄ (2), C₁₁H₁₀N₈O₄ (3), and C₁₄H₁₇N₁₆O_5.5 (4) or 3,4-thiophenedicarboxylic acid, such as C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₄S (5), C₁₀H₉ClN₄O₄S (6), and C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₄S₂ (7), were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds crystallize in a monoclinic space group. The structure was subjected to complex Hirshfeld surface analysis, molecular electrostatic potential, enrichment ratio, and energy framework calculations. The influence of different cations on the packing of 3-carboxypyrazine-2-carboxylate and 4-carboxythiophene-3-carboxylate anions in the crystal lattice was studied. O^…H/H^…O interactions are the main contributor in all crystals. In addition, in a series of pyrazine-containing structures, N(C)^…H/H^…N(C) interactions have relevance, while in a series of thiophene-based compounds, C^…H/H^…C and S^…H(O)/H(O)^…S. In addition, Cl-based interactions are observed in compound 2. According to the enrichment ratio calculations, O^…H/H^…O and C^…C are the most preferable interactions in all structures. The energy frameworks are dominated by the dispersive contribution, only in compound 3 is the electrostatic term dominant. The analyzed structures reveal intra- and intermolecular recurrent supramolecular synthons. In both series of crystals, the robust H-bonded centrosymmetric dimer R²₂(8) as homo- or as heterosynthon (in compounds 2, 3, 6, and 7) and the intramolecular synthon S(7) generated by O-H^…O interactions (in compounds 2, 6, and 7) are present. The supramolecular patterns formed by π^…π (C^…C) and C-O(Cl,S)^…C are also noticeable. Notably, a dual synthon linking the supramolecular chain via π^…π interactions and the homosynthon R²₂(8) via N-H^…N interactions is visible in both series of new salts. A library of H-bonding motifs at diverse levels of supramolecular architecture is provided. We extended the analysis of intramolecular H-bonding motifs to similar structures deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database. Another important feature is the existence of an intramolecular O^…H^…O bridge between two neighboring carboxylic groups as substituents in anions in compounds 3 and 5. In this context, we performed quantum theory of atoms-in-molecule calculations to reveal more details. Full article

A series of novel salts of heterocyclic polyamines with 5-sulfosalicylic acid (C₄H₇N₄⁺)(C₇H₅O₆S⁻)∙2(H₂O) (1), (C₄H₆ClN₄⁺)(C₇H₅O₆S⁻)∙H₂O (2), (C₅H₈N₃⁺)(C₇H₅O₆S⁻)∙H₂O (3), (C₅H₇N₆⁺)(C₇H₅O₆S⁻)∙H₂O (4), (C₆H₁₄N₂²⁺)(C₇H₄O₆S²⁻)∙H₂O (5), and (C₁₄H₁₉N₂⁺)(C₇H₅O₆S⁻) (6) have been successfully synthesized. Their crystal structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Overall, compounds adopt a layered structure with aminium cations and 5-sulfosalicylic anions linked via water molecules. The solid-state architectures of these compounds are dominated by O(N,H)-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds and stabilized by weak interconnects. C-Cl⋯π and S-O⋯π interactions, apart from π⋯π and C-H(O)⋯π, were reported. Diverse approaches were used to study the effect of substituents in the polyamines in solid-state arrangement. A Hirshfeld surface analysis, with associated 3D Hirshfeld surface maps and 2D fingerprint plots, molecular electrostatic potential, and energy frameworks were used to comprehensively investigate the nature and hierarchy of non-covalent interactions and inspect supramolecular differences. The contact enrichment ratio calculations provided deeper insight into the propensity of interconnects to influence crystal packing. The evaluation of the effects of H-bonding synthons resulting from different substituents in the polyamines on self-assemblies is also presented. In the context of crystal engineering, a specific intramolecular synthon via O-H⋯O observed in nearly all crystals can be employed in the pseudo-cyclic replacement strategy in the design of new molecules. Full article

The synthesis of hybrid molecules is one of the current strategies of drug discovery for the development of new lead compounds. The 1,2,3-triazole moiety represents an important building block in Medicinal Chemistry, extensively present in recent years. In this paper, we presented the design and the synthesis of new 1,2,3-triazole hybrids, containing both an isatine and a phenolic core. Firstly, the non-commercial azide and the alkyne synthons were prepared by different isatines and phenolic acids, respectively. Then, the highly regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted triazoles was obtained in excellent yields by a click chemistry approach, catalyzed by Cu(I). Finally, a molecular docking study was performed on the hybrid library, finding four different therapeutic targets. Among them, the most promising results were obtained on 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme involved in the inflammatory processes. Full article

The short-lived positron-emitter carbon-11 (t_1/2 = 20.4 min; β⁺, 99.8%) is prominent for labeling tracers for use in biomedical research with positron emission tomography (PET). Carbon-11 is produced for this purpose with a cyclotron, nowadays almost exclusively by the ¹⁴N(p,α)¹¹C nuclear reaction, either on nitrogen containing a low concentration of oxygen (0.1–0.5%) or hydrogen (~5%) to produce [¹¹C]carbon dioxide or [¹¹C]methane, respectively. These primary radioactive products can be produced in high yields and with high molar activities. However, only [¹¹C]carbon dioxide has some utility for directly labeling PET tracers. Primary products are required to be converted rapidly and efficiently into secondary labeling synthons to provide versatile radiochemistry for labeling diverse tracer chemotypes at molecular positions of choice. This review surveys known gas phase transformations of carbon-11 and summarizes the important roles that many of these transformations now play for producing a broad range of labeling synthons in carbon-11 chemistry. Full article

The synthesis and characterization of the multicomponent crystals formed by 2,2′-thiodiacetic acid (H₂tda) and 2,6-diaminopurine (Hdap) or N9-(2-hydroxyethyl)adenine (9heade) are detailed in this report. These crystals exist in a salt rather than a co-crystal form, as confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, which reflects their ionic nature. This analysis confirmed proton transfer from the 2,2′-thiodiacetic acid to the basic groups of the coformers. The new multicomponent crystals have molecular formulas [(H9heade⁺)(Htda⁻)] 1 and [(H₂dap⁺)₂(tda²⁻)]·2H₂O 2. These were also characterized using FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) analyses. In the crystal packing the ions interact with each other via O–H⋯N, O–H⋯O, N–H⋯O, and N–H⋯N hydrogen bonds, generating cyclic hydrogen-bonded motifs with graph-set notation of $R_2^2$(16), $R_2^2$(10), $R_3^2$(10), $R_3^3$(10), $R_2^2$(9), $R_3^2$(8), and $R_4^2$(8), to form different supramolecular homo- and hetero-synthons. In addition, in the crystal packing of 2, pairs of diaminopurinium ions display a strong anti-parallel π,π-stacking interaction, characterized by short inter-centroids and interplanar distances (3.39 and 3.24 Å, respectively) and a fairly tight angle (17.5°). These assemblies were further analyzed energetically using DFT calculations, MEP surface analysis, and QTAIM characterization. Full article

Multistep flow catalytic reactions in organic chemistry integrate multiple sequential organic reactions to enhance cost-efficiency, time management, and labour resources, all while boosting effectiveness and environmental sustainability. Similar to how we select molecular synthons for reactions in retrosynthesis, we can employ time-crystal synthons to integrate catalytic reaction cycles in the development of a reaction pathway. This involves considering individual catalytic reaction steps of cycles as time-consuming events that can be topologically arranged like a clock. This results in a perpetual machine that violates time translational symmetry, leading to the production of a time crystal. This approach involves transferring a single product from one catalytic cycle to a neighbouring reaction cycle, connecting various reaction vessels vertically to establish a ‘cascade’ of reaction cycles. Additionally, catalytic cycles can be integrated by sharing common reaction steps or implementing a metathesis reaction at the junction zone of two neighbouring cycles. Here, the concept of time-crystal synthons facilitates the linear integration of heterogeneous catalytic cycles, step by step, to transfer products through the common reaction medium when modifying conventional flow synthesis. Significantly, this time-crystal synthon-driven multistep approach offers advantages over conventional flow synthesis, as the reaction vessels can be equipped with microwave and photosynthesis methodologies, allowing for the collection of specific products from their respective vessels as needed, providing more options to integrate reactions and enabling flow control using gravity. Full article

The exploitation of metallacarboranes’ potential in various fields of research and practical applications requires the availability of convenient and versatile methods for their functionalization with various functional moieties and/or linkers of different types and lengths. Herein, we report a study on cobalt bis(1,2-dicarbollide) functionalization at 8,8′-boron atoms with different hetero-bifunctional moieties possessing a protected hydroxyl function allowing further modification after deprotection. Moreover, an approach to the synthesis of three and four functionalized metallacarboranes, at boron and carbon atoms simultaneously via additional functionalization at carbon to obtain derivatives carrying three or four rationally oriented and distinct reactive surfaces, is described. Full article

Structures of three cocrystals of nootropic racetams were studied. They included two cocrystals of phenylpiracetam (PPA) with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) with different stoichiometries, PPA·HBA and PPA·2HBA, and cocrystal of 2-(4-phenyl-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)-N’-isopropylideneacetohydrazide (PPAH) with 4-hydroxybenzamide (HBD), PPAH·HBD·(acetone solvate). X-ray study of the pure forms of PPA and PPAH was also carried out to identify variations of molecular synthons under the influence of conformers. The cocrystal structures revealed the diversity of supramolecular synthons namely, amide-amide, amide-acid, acid-acid, and hydroxyl-hydroxyl; however, very similar molecular chains were found in PPA and PPA·2HBA, and similar molecular dimers in PPAH and PPAH·HBD. In addition, conformational molecular diversity was observed as disorder in PPA·2HBA as it was observed earlier for rac-PPA that allows for the consideration that cocrystal as an example of partial solid solution. Quantum chemical calculations of PPA and PPAH conformers demonstrated that for most conformers, energy differences do not exceed 2 kcal/mol that suggests the influence of packing conditions (in this case R- and S-enantiomers intend to occupy the same molecular position in crystal) on molecular conformation. Full article

Multicomponent reactions have been demonstrated as a promising tool for the creation of diverse molecular structures with enhanced efficiency, reduced waste, and a high atom economy. Arylglyoxal monohydrates with two different carbonyl groups are well known as worthwhile synthons in organic synthesis. 2-Pyrone and pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of key intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry as well as in medicinal chemistry. A simple and efficient tandem Knoevenagel–Michael protocol for the synthesis of the previously unknown 5-(1-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl)-2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-1,3-dimet-hylpyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione was elaborated. The suggested method is based on the multicomponent reaction of phenylglyoxal hydrate, 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid, and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one. The structure of the synthesized compound was proven by ¹H, ¹³C-NMR, and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. A procedure for predicting the possible types of its biological activity was carried out for the title compound. Full article

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of six bis(5-X-pyridine-2-yl)isophthalamides (X = H, F, Br, Cl, I, NO₂) are reported, together with five crystal structure analyses (for X = H, F to I). The isophthalamides span a range of conformations as syn/anti (H-DIP; I-DIP), anti/anti- (F-DIP; Br-DIP) and with both present in ratio 2:1 in Cl-DIP. The essentially isostructural F-DIP and Br-DIP molecules (using strong amide…amide interactions) aggregate into 2D molecular sheets that align with either F/H or Br atoms at the sheet surfaces (interfaces), respectively. Sheets are linked by weak C-H⋯F contacts in F-DIP and by Br⋯Br halogen bonding interactions as a ‘wall of bromines’ at the Br atom rich interfaces in Br-DIP. Cl-DIP is an unusual crystal structure incorporating both syn/anti and anti/anti molecular conformations in the asymmetric unit (Z’ = 3). The I-DIP•½(H₂O) hemihydrate structure has a water molecule residing on a twofold axis between two I-DIPs and has hydrogen and N⋯I (N_c = 0.88) halogen bonding. The hydrate is central to an unusual synthon and involved in six hydrogen bonding interactions/contacts. Contact enrichment analysis on the Hirshfeld surface demonstrates that F-DIP, Cl-DIP and Br-DIP have especially over-represented halogen···halogen interactions. With the F-DIP, Cl-DIP and Br-DIP molecules having an elongated skeleton, the formation of layers of halogen atoms in planes perpendicular to the long unit cell axis occurs in the crystal packings. All six DIPs were analysed by ab initio calculations and conformational analysis; comparisons are made between their minimized structures and the five crystal structures. In addition, physicochemical properties are compared and assessed. Full article

The landscape of viral strains and lineages of SARS-CoV-2 keeps changing and is currently dominated by Delta and Omicron variants. Members of the latest Omicron variants, including BA.1, are showing a high level of immune evasion, and Omicron has become a prominent variant circulating globally. In our search for versatile medicinal chemistry scaffolds, we prepared a library of substituted ɑ-aminocyclobutanones from an ɑ-aminocyclobutanone synthon (11). We performed an in silico screen of this actual chemical library as well as other virtual 2-aminocyclobutanone analogs against seven SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins to identify potential drug leads against SARS-CoV-2, and more broadly against coronavirus antiviral targets. Several of these analogs were initially identified as in silico hits against SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 13 (Nsp13) helicase through molecular docking and dynamics simulations. Antiviral activity of the original hits as well as ɑ-aminocyclobutanone analogs that were predicted to bind more tightly to SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase are reported. We now report cyclobutanone derivatives that exhibit anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Furthermore, the Nsp13 helicase enzyme has been the target of relatively few target-based drug discovery efforts, in part due to a very late release of a high-resolution structure accompanied by a limited understanding of its protein biochemistry. In general, antiviral agents initially efficacious against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strains have lower activities against variants due to heavy viral loads and greater turnover rates, but the inhibitors we are reporting have higher activities against the later variants than the wild-type (10–20X). We speculate this could be due to Nsp13 helicase being a critical bottleneck in faster replication rates of the new variants, so targeting this enzyme affects these variants to an even greater extent. This work calls attention to cyclobutanones as a useful medicinal chemistry scaffold, and the need for additional focus on the discovery of Nsp13 helicase inhibitors to combat the aggressive and immune-evading variants of concern (VOCs). Full article

Lauric acid was used to synthesize the low-molecular-weight organogelators (LMOGs), derivatives of two endogenous (L)-alanine, (L)-leucine, and three exogenous (L)-valine, (L)-phenylalanine, and (L)-proline amino acids. The nature of processes responsible for the gel formation both in polar and in apolar solvents of such compounds is still under investigation. Knowing that the organization of surfactant molecules affects the properties of nano scale materials and gels, we decided to elucidate this problem using crystallographic diffraction and energy frameworks analysis. The single crystals of the mentioned compounds were produced successfully from heptane/^tBuOMe mixture. The compounds form lamellar self-assemblies in crystals. The energetic landscapes of single crystals of a series of studied amphiphilic gelators have been analyzed to explore the gelling properties. The presented results may be used as model systems to understand which supramolecular interactions observed in the solid state and what energy contributions are desired in the designing of new low-molecular-weight organic gelators. Full article