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Reactions of picolinamides with 1,3-propanesultone in methanol followed by the treatment with ketones led to a series of previously unknown chemical transformations, yielding first pyridinium salts (2a–f), with a protonated endocyclic nitrogen atom, and then heterocyclic salts (3a–j) containing an imidazolidin-4-one ring. The structures of intermediate and final products were determined by IR and 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray study. The effects of the ketone and alcohol structures on the product yield were studied by quantum-chemical calculations. The stability of salts 3a–j towards hydrolysis and alcoholysis makes them excellent candidates for the search for new types of biologically active compounds.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is an extremely widespread pathogen characterized by recurrent infections. HSV-1 most commonly causes painful blisters or sores around the mouth or on the genitals, but it can also cause keratitis or, rarely, encephalitis. First-line and second-line antiviral drugs used to treat HSV infections, acyclovir and related compounds, as well as foscarnet and cidofovir, selectively inhibit herpesvirus DNA polymerase (DNA-pol). It has been previously found that (S)-4-[6-(purin-6-yl)aminohexanoyl]-7,8-difluoro-3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-2H-[1,4]benzoxazine (compound 1) exhibits selective anti-herpesvirus activity against HSV-1 in cell culture, including acyclovir-resistant mutants, so we consider it as a lead compound. In this work, the selection of HSV-1 clones resistant to the lead compound was carried out. High-throughput sequencing of resistant clones and reference HSV-1/L2 parent strain was performed to identify the genetic determinants of the virus’s resistance to the lead compound. We identified a candidate mutation presumably associated with resistance to the virus, namely the T321I mutation in the UL15 gene encoding the large terminase subunit. Molecular modeling was used to evaluate the affinity and dynamics of the lead compound binding to the putative terminase binding site. The results obtained suggest that the lead compound, by binding to pUL15, affects the terminase complex. pUL15, which is directly involved in the processing and packaging of viral DNA, is one of the crucial components of the HSV terminase complex. The loss of its functional activity leads to disruption of the formation of mature virions, so it represents a promising drug target. The discovery of anti-herpesvirus agents that affect biotargets other than DNA polymerase will expand our possibilities of targeting HSV infections, including those resistant to baseline drugs.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes annual epidemics of respiratory infection. Usually harmless to adults, the RSV infection can be dangerous to children under 3 years of age and elderly people over 65 years of age, often causing serious problems, even death. At present, there are no vaccines and specific chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of this disease, so the search for low-molecular weight compounds to combat RSV is a challenge. In this work, we have shown, for the first time, that monoterpene-substituted arylcoumarins are efficient RSV replication inhibitors at low micromolar concentrations. The most active compound has a selectivity index of about 200 and acts most effectively at the early stages of infection. The F protein of RSV is a potential target for these compounds, which is also confirmed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation data.

4-Arylhydrazinylidene-5-(polyfluoroalkyl)pyrazol-3-ones (4-AHPs) were found to be obtained by the regiospecific cyclization of 2-arylhydrazinylidene-3-(polyfluoroalkyl)-3-oxoesters with hydrazines, by the azo coupling of 4-nonsubstituted pyrazol-5-oles with aryldiazonium chlorides or by the firstly discovered acid-promoted self-condensation of 2-arylhydrazinylidene-3-oxoesters. All the 4-AHPs had an acceptable ADME profile. Varying the substituents in 4-AHPs promoted the switching or combining of their biological activity. The polyfluoroalkyl residue in 4-AHPs led to the appearance of an anticarboxylesterase action in the micromolar range. An NH-fragment and/or methyl group instead of the polyfluoroalkyl one in the 4-AHPs promoted antioxidant properties in the ABTS, FRAP and ORAC tests, as well as anti-cancer activity against HeLa that was at the Doxorubicin level coupled with lower cytotoxicity against normal human fibroblasts. Some Ph-N-substituted 4-AHPs could inhibit the growth of N. gonorrhoeae bacteria at MIC 0.9 μg/mL. The possibility of using 4-AHPs for cell visualization was shown. Most of the 4-AHPs exhibited a pronounced analgesic effect in a hot plate test in vivo at and above the diclofenac and metamizole levels except for the ones with two chlorine atoms in the aryl group. The methylsulfonyl residue was proved to raise the anti-inflammatory effect also. A mechanism of the antinociceptive action of the 4-AHPs through blocking the TRPV1 receptor was proposed and confirmed using in vitro experiment and molecular docking.

One of the powerful antioxidants used clinically is Edaravone (EDA). We synthesized a series of new EDA analogs, 4-aminopyrazol-5-ol hydrochlorides, including polyfluoroalkyl derivatives, via the reduction of 4-hydroxyiminopyrazol-5-ones. The primary antioxidant activity of the compounds in comparison with EDA was investigated in vitro using ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC tests. In all tests, 4-Amino-3-pyrazol-5-ols were effective. The lead compound, 4-amino-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-ol hydrochloride (APH), showed the following activities: ABTS, 0.93 TEAC; FRAP, 0.98 TE; and ORAC, 4.39 TE. APH and its NH-analog were not cytotoxic against cultured normal human fibroblasts even at 100 μM, in contrast to EDA. According to QM calculations, 4-aminopyrazolols were characterized by lower gaps, IP, and η compared to 4-hydroxyiminopyrazol-5-ones, consistent with their higher antioxidant activities in ABTS and FRAP tests, realized by the SET mechanism. The radical-scavenging action evaluated in the ORAC test occurred by the HAT mechanism through OH bond breaking in all compounds, directly dependent on the dissociation energy of the OH bond. All the studied compounds demonstrated the absence of anticholinesterase activity and moderate inhibition of CES by some 4-aminopyrazolols. Thus, the lead compound APH was found to be a good antioxidant with the potential to be developed as a novel therapeutic drug candidate in the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress.

The synthesis of the products of the 1,3-propanesultone ring opening during its interaction with amides of pyridinecarboxylic acids has been carried out. The dependence of the yield of the reaction products on the position (ortho-, meta-, para-) of the substituent in the heteroaromatic fragment and temperature condition was revealed. In contrast to the meta- and para-substituted substrates, the reaction involving ortho-derivatives at the boiling point of methanol unexpectedly led to the formation of a salt. On the basis of spectroscopic, X-Ray, and quantum-chemical calculation data, a model of the transition-state, as well as a mechanism for this alkylation reaction of pyridine carboxamides with sultone were proposed in order to explain the higher yields obtained with the nicotinamide and its N-methyl analog compared to ortho or meta parents. Based on the analysis of ESP maps, the positions of the binding sites of reagents with a potential complexing agent in space were determined. The in silico evaluation of possible biological activity showed that the synthetized compounds revealed some promising pharmacological effects and low acute toxicity.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a critical cause of infant mortality. However, there are no vaccines and adequate drugs for its treatment. We showed, for the first time, that O-linked coumarin–monoterpene conjugates are effective RSV inhibitors. The most potent compounds are active against both RSV serotypes, A and B. According to the results of the time-of-addition experiment, the conjugates act at the early stages of virus cycle. Based on molecular modelling data, RSV F protein may be considered as a possible target.

A number of framework amides with a ginsenol backbone have been synthesized using the Ritter reaction. We named the acetamide as Ginsamide. A method was developed for the synthesis of the corresponding amine and thioacetamide. The new compounds revealed a high activity against H1N1 influenza, which was confirmed using an animal model. Biological experiments were performed to determine the mechanism of action of the new agents, a ginsamide-resistant strain of influenza virus was obtained, and the pathogenicity of the resistant strain and the control strain was studied. It was shown that the emergence of resistance to Ginsamide was accompanied by a reduction in the pathogenicity of the influenza virus.

Reactions of picolinamides with 1,3-propanesultone in methanol followed by the treatment with ketones led to a series of previously unknown chemical transformations, yielding first pyridinium salts (2a–f), with a protonated endocyclic nitrogen atom, and then heterocyclic salts (3a–j) containing an imidazolidin-4-one ring. The structures of intermediate and final products were determined by IR and 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray study. The effects of the ketone and alcohol structures on the product yield were studied by quantum-chemical calculations. The stability of salts 3a–j towards hydrolysis and alcoholysis makes them excellent candidates for the search for new types of biologically active compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed an in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assessment of a potassium 2-[2-(2-oxo-4-phenylpyrrolidin-1-yl) acetamido]ethanesulfonate (compound 1) as a potential prodrug for cognitive function improvement in ischemic brain injury. Using in silico methods, we predicted the pharmacological efficacy and possible safety in rat models. In addition, in silico data showed neuroprotective features of compound 1, which were further supported by in vitro experiments in a glutamate excitotoxicity-induced model in newborn rat cortical neuron cultures. Next, we checked whether compound 1 is capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier in intact and ischemic animals. Compound 1 improved animal behavior both in intact and ischemic rats and, even though the concentration in intact brains was low, we still observed a significant anxiety reduction and activity escalation. We used molecular docking and molecular dynamics to support our hypothesis that compound 1 could affect the AMPA receptor function. In a rat model of acute focal cerebral ischemia, we studied the effects of compound 1 on the behavior and neurological deficit. An in vivo experiment demonstrated that compound 1 significantly reduced the neurological deficit and improved neurological symptom regression, exploratory behavior, and anxiety. Thus, here, for the first time, we show that compound 1 can be considered as an agent for restoring cognitive functions.

To date, the ‘one bug-one drug’ approach to antiviral drug development cannot effectively respond to the constant threat posed by an increasing diversity of viruses causing outbreaks of viral infections that turn out to be pathogenic for humans. Evidently, there is an urgent need for new strategies to develop efficient antiviral agents with broad-spectrum activities. In this paper, we identified camphene derivatives that showed broad antiviral activities in vitro against a panel of enveloped pathogenic viruses, including influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), Ebola virus (EBOV), and the Hantaan virus. The lead-compound 2a, with pyrrolidine cycle in its structure, displayed antiviral activity against influenza virus (IC50 = 45.3 µM), Ebola pseudotype viruses (IC50 = 0.12 µM), and authentic EBOV (IC50 = 18.3 µM), as well as against pseudoviruses with Hantaan virus Gn-Gc glycoprotein (IC50 = 9.1 µM). The results of antiviral activity studies using pseudotype viruses and molecular modeling suggest that surface proteins of the viruses required for the fusion process between viral and cellular membranes are the likely target of compound 2a. The key structural fragments responsible for efficient binding are the bicyclic natural framework and the nitrogen atom. These data encourage us to conduct further investigations using bicyclic monoterpenoids as a scaffold for the rational design of membrane-fusion targeting inhibitors.

4-Arylhydrazinylidene-5-(polyfluoroalkyl)pyrazol-3-ones (4-AHPs) were found to be obtained by the regiospecific cyclization of 2-arylhydrazinylidene-3-(polyfluoroalkyl)-3-oxoesters with hydrazines, by the azo coupling of 4-nonsubstituted pyrazol-5-oles with aryldiazonium chlorides or by the firstly discovered acid-promoted self-condensation of 2-arylhydrazinylidene-3-oxoesters. All the 4-AHPs had an acceptable ADME profile. Varying the substituents in 4-AHPs promoted the switching or combining of their biological activity. The polyfluoroalkyl residue in 4-AHPs led to the appearance of an anticarboxylesterase action in the micromolar range. An NH-fragment and/or methyl group instead of the polyfluoroalkyl one in the 4-AHPs promoted antioxidant properties in the ABTS, FRAP and ORAC tests, as well as anti-cancer activity against HeLa that was at the Doxorubicin level coupled with lower cytotoxicity against normal human fibroblasts. Some Ph-N-substituted 4-AHPs could inhibit the growth of N. gonorrhoeae bacteria at MIC 0.9 μg/mL. The possibility of using 4-AHPs for cell visualization was shown. Most of the 4-AHPs exhibited a pronounced analgesic effect in a hot plate test in vivo at and above the diclofenac and metamizole levels except for the ones with two chlorine atoms in the aryl group. The methylsulfonyl residue was proved to raise the anti-inflammatory effect also. A mechanism of the antinociceptive action of the 4-AHPs through blocking the TRPV1 receptor was proposed and confirmed using in vitro experiment and molecular docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]