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As a member of the class I PI3K family, phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) is an important signaling biomolecule that controls immune cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and survival. It also represents a potential and promising therapeutic approach for the management of numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We designed and assessed the biological activity of new fluorinated analogues of CPL302415, taking into account the therapeutic potential of our selective PI3K inhibitor and fluorine introduction as one of the most frequently used modifications of a lead compound to further improve its biological activity. In this paper, we compare and evaluate the accuracy of our previously described and validated in silico workflow with that of the standard (rigid) molecular docking approach. The findings demonstrated that a properly fitted catalytic (binding) pocket for our chemical cores at the induced-fit docking (IFD) and molecular dynamics (MD) stages, along with QM-derived atomic charges, can be used for activity prediction to better distinguish between active and inactive molecules. Moreover, the standard approach seems to be insufficient to score the halogenated derivatives due to the fixed atomic charges, which do not consider the response and indictive effects caused by fluorine. The proposed computational workflow provides a computational tool for the rational design of novel halogenated drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ), a member of the class I PI3K family, is an essential signaling biomolecule that regulates the differentiation, proliferation, migration, and survival of immune cells. The overactivity of this protein causes cellular dysfunctions in many human disorders, for example, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this work, we designed and synthesized a new library of small-molecule inhibitors based on indol-4-yl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range and high selectivity against the PI3Kδ isoform. CPL302253 (54), the most potent compound of all the structures obtained, with IC50 = 2.8 nM, is a potential future candidate for clinical development as an inhaled drug to prevent asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is the family of lipid kinases participating in vital cellular processes such as cell proliferation, growth, migration, or cytokines production. Due to the high expression of these proteins in many human cells and their involvement in metabolism regulation, normal embryogenesis, or maintaining glucose homeostasis, the inhibition of PI3K (especially the first class which contains four subunits: α, β, γ, δ) is considered to be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or multiple sclerosis. In this work, we synthesized a library of benzimidazole derivatives of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine representing a collection of new, potent, active, and selective inhibitors of PI3Kδ, displaying IC50 values ranging from 1.892 to 0.018 μM. Among all compounds obtained, CPL302415 (6) showed the highest activity (IC50 value of 18 nM for PI3Kδ), good selectivity (for PI3Kδ relative to other PI3K isoforms: PI3Kα/δ = 79; PI3Kβ/δ = 1415; PI3Kγ/δ = 939), and promising physicochemical properties. As a lead compound synthesized on a relatively large scale, this structure is considered a potential future candidate for clinical trials in SLE treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Hydroxy sulfones are important in organic synthesis. The simplest method of β-hydroxy sulfones synthesis is the hydrogenation of β-keto sulfones. Herein, we report the reducing properties of alkyl aluminum compounds R3Al (R = Et, i-Bu, n-Bu, t-Bu and n-Hex); i-Bu2AlH; Et2AlCl and EtAlCl2 in the hydrogenation of β-keto sulfones. The compounds i-Bu2AlH, i-Bu3Al and Et3Al are the at best reducing agents of β-keto sulfones to β-hydroxy sulfones. In reactions of β-keto sulfones with aluminum trialkyls, hydroalumination products with β-hydroxy sulfone ligands [R2AlOC(C6H5)CH2S(O)2(p-R1C6H4]n [where n = 1,2; 2aa: R = i-Bu, R1 = CH3; 2ab: R = i-Bu, R1 = Cl; 2ba: R = Et, R1 = CH3; 2bb: R = Et, R1 = Cl] and {[Et2AlOC(C6H5)CH2S(O)2(p-ClC6H4]∙Et3Al}n3bb were obtained. These complexes in the solid state have a dimeric structure, while in solutions, they appear as equilibrium monomer–dimer mixtures. The hydrolysis of both the isolated 2aa, 2ab, 2ba, 2bb and 3bb and the postreaction mixtures quantitatively leads to pure racemic β-hydroxy sulfones. Hydroalumination reaction of β-keto sulfones with alkyl aluminum compounds and subsequent hydrolysis of the complexes is a simple and very efficient method of β-hydroxy sulfones synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

t‐Butyl derivatives play a significant role in the organometallic chemistry of group 13 metals. It was shown on the basis of reactions of t‐Bu3Al·OEt2 with [p‐RC6H4S(O)2C(H)2C(Ph) = O] (where R = CH3, Cl) β‐keto sulfones that the structure of the reaction products depends on the purity of the aluminum compound used. In the reactions, in addition to the expected complexes [p‐RC6H4S(O2)C(H) = C (Ph)‐OAl(t‐Bu)2] [where R = CH3 (2); R = Cl (4)] possessing β‐keto sulfone ligands, complexes with β‐hydroxy sulfone ligands [p‐RC6H4S(O2)C(H)2‐C (Ph)‐OAl(t‐Bu)2] [where R = CH3 (1); R = Cl (3)] were formed. Compounds 1 and 3 were the result of the hydroalumination reaction of the β‐keto sulfone ligands with t‐Bu2AlH, which is an impurity of t‐Bu3Al. These compounds are obtained, for the first time, as intermediate products in the hydrogenation reaction of β‐keto sulfones. In this work, during t‐Bu3Al·OEt2 production t‐Bu2AlH·OEt2 formed as a by‐product. Re‐examination of reaction conditions of AlCl3 with t‐BuMgCl resulted in a control of the t‐Bu2AlH·OEt2 by‐product content in t‐Bu3Al·OEt2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formylation of ansa[4]-ferrocene, obtained through the ruthenium-catalysed olefin metathesis, yields two separable, planar chiral 1,3- and 1,2-ansa-ferrocene aldehydes. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis reveals that both regioisomers crystallize with spontaneous resolution of the racemate in the chiral P212121 space group with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The major 1,3-isomer was further transformed into a conjugate with 1,2,3-triazole and uracil using "click" chemistry as the key synthetic step. This inorganic–organic hybrid displays anticancer activity (MCF-7, A549, MDA-MB-231 cell lines) with EC50 values comparable to those for cisplatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new, concise, and efficient route towards both antipodes of N-(β-hydroxypropyl)indoles is described. The key step is an enantioselective lipase-mediated acetylation of racemic indolic alcohols [1-(1 H-indol-1-yl)propan-2-ol, 1-(2-methyl-1 H-indol-1-yl)propan-2-ol, and 1-(5-bromo-1 H-indol-1-yl)propan-2-ol] with enol esters (vinyl acetate and isopropenyl acetate) as acyl group donors, performed under kinetically controlled conditions. A substantial influence of enzyme type, acyl group donor, and organic solvent on conversion rates and enantioselectivity of the enzymatic kinetic resolutions (EKRs) of the respective racemates was examined in detail. The best results in terms of enantioselectivity were obtained for the resolutions performed with native lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL, Amano AK) in diisopropyl ether (DIPE) or tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME) solution. To support the assignment of the absolute configurations of EKR products, chemical correlations with enantiomerically enriched analytical standards and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis were applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions between O2 and organometallics with non-redox-active metal centers have received continuous interest for over 150 years, although significant uncertainties concerning the character and details of the actual mechanism of these reactions persist. Harnessing dinuclear three-coordinate alkylzinc derivatives of an N, N-coupled bis(β-diketimine) proligand (LH2) as a model system, we demonstrate for the first time that a slight modification of the reaction conditions might have a dramatic influence on the oxygenation reaction outcomes, leading to an unprecedented variety of products originating from a single reaction system, that is, partially and fully oxygenated zinc alkoxides, zinc alkylperoxides, and zinc hydroxide compounds. Our studies indicate that accessibility of the three-coordinate zinc center by the O2 molecule, coupled with the lower reactivity of Zn-Me vs. Zn-Et units towards dioxygen, are key factors in the oxygenation process, providing a novel tetranuclear methyl(methoxy)zinc {[L][ZnMe][Zn(μ-OMe]}2 and zinc ethoxide {[L][Zn(μ-OEt)]2}2. Remarkably, oxygenation of three-coordinate alkylzinc [L][ZnR]2 complexes at ambient temperature afforded a unique hydroxide {[L][Zn(μ-OH)]2}2. Oxygenation of the [L][ZnEt]2 complex in the presence of 4-methylpyridine (py-Me) at low temperature led to the isolation of a dinuclear zinc ethylperoxide [L][Zn(OOEt)(py-Me)]2, which nicely substantiates the intermediacy of an unstable zinc alkylperoxide in the formation of the subsequent zinc alkoxide and hydroxide compounds. Finally, our investigations provide compelling evidence that a non-redox-active metal center plays a crucial role in the oxygenation process through assisting in single-electron transfer from an M−C bond to an O2 molecule. Although the oxygenation of zinc alkyls occurs by radical pathways, the reported results stand in clear contradiction to the widely accepted free-radical chain mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Mercapto-1,3-benzothiazole (mbztH) may act as a chelating or bridging ligand. In this study, reactions of mbztH with Me3Ga and Me3In were examined. The products were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, melting point, and molecular weight determinations. Formation of mononuclear chelating complexes Me2M(mbzt) (M = Ga, In) was observed in solutions. Crystallization of Me2M(mbzt) yielded uncommon non-symmetrical dinuclear complexes Me4M2(mbzt)2, in which one metal is bonded to two sulfurs and the other to two nitrogens. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite the fact that extensive research has been carried out, the oxygenation of alkyl magnesium species still remains a highly unexplored research area and significant uncertainties concerning the mechanism of these reactions and the composition of the resulting products persist. This case study compares the viability of the controlled oxygenation of alkylmagnesium complexes supported by β-diketiminates. The structural tracking of the reactivity of (N,N)MgR-type complexes towards O2 at low temperature showed that their oxygenation led exclusively to the formation of magnesium alkylperoxides (N,N)MgOOR. The results also highlight significant differences in the stability of the resulting alkylperoxides in solution and demonstrate that [(BDI)Mg(μ-η2:η1-OOBn)]2 (in which BDI=[(ArNCMe)2CH]− and Ar=C6H3 iPr2-2,6) can be easily transformed to the corresponding magnesium alkoxide [(BDI)MgOBn]2 at ambient temperature, whilst [(F3BDI)Mg(μ-OO tBu)]2 (in which F3BDI=[(ArNCMe)2CH]− and Ar=C6H2F3-2,4,6) is stable under similar conditions. The observed selective oxygenation of (N,N)MgR-type complexes to the corresponding (N,N)MgOOR alkylperoxides strongly contradicts the widely accepted radical-chain mechanism for the oxygenation of the main-group-metal alkyls. Furthermore, either the observed transformation of the alkylperoxide [(BDI)MgOOBn]2 to the alkoxide [(BDI)MgOBn]2 as well as the formation of an intractable mixture of products in the control reaction between the alkylperoxide [(F3BDI)MgOO tBu]2 and the parent alkylmagnesium [(F3BDI)Mg tBu] complex are not in line with the common wisdom that magnesium alkoxide complexes' formation results from the metathesis reaction between MgOOR and Mg−R species. In addition, a high catalytic activity of well-defined magnesium alkylperoxides, in combination with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxygen source, in the epoxidation of trans-chalcone is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the antifungal activity of novel a 2-bromo-2-chloro- 2-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-1-phenylethanone (compound 4). The synthesis of compound 4 was commenced from sodium 4-chlorobenzene sulfinate and the final product was obtained by treatment of a-chloro-b-keto-sulfone with sodium hypobromite. The sensitivity of 63 clinical isolates belonging to the most relevant Candida species toward compound 4 using the method M27-A3 was evaluated. We observed among most of the clinical strains of C. albicans MIC ranging from 0.00195 to 0.0078µg/mL. Compound 4 at 32µg/mL exhibited fungicidal activity against nine Candida strains tested using the MFC assay. Compound 4 displayed anti-Candida activity (with clear endpoint) against 22% of clinical strains of Candida. Under compound 4, Candida susceptibility and tolerance, namely paradoxical effect (PG), was found for only two clinical isolates (C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis) and reference strain 14053 using both M27-A3 and MFC method. We found that compound 4 does not induce toxicity in vivo against larvae of Galleria mellonella (=97% survival) and it displays reduced toxicity on mammalian cells in vitro (

A rapidly growing resistance of Candida spp. requires a search for bioactive compounds with fungicidal or fungistatic activity. In this context a characteristics and comparison of antifungal properties of 19 sulfone derivatives were conducted. MICs of the Compounds were determined using the M27-A3 protocol following CLSI recommendations. The SAP expression was analyzed using RT-PCR; relative quantification was normalized against ACT1 in cells grown in YEPD and on Caco-2. 79 % of sulfone derivatives (15 out of 19) exhibited an activity against Candida albicans in the tested concentrations. While the addition of both chlorine and bromine atoms to halogenomethylsulfonyl groups stimulates sulfone's antifungal activity, a chlorine atom more effectively up-regulates antifungal properties of the tested sulfones. The insertion of a fluorine atom has a binary effect on antifungal properties of the tested sulfones. The fluorine atom enhances anti- Candida properties when introduced to the aromatic ring, while its presence in halogenomethylsulfonyl group generally lowers the Compound's efficiency. The deletion of particular SAP genes resulted in an increased susceptibility of C. albicans toward sulfones indicating the role of this gene family in resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that sulfone derivatives inhibit the SAP2 expression but not that of SAP7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of (R)-(+)-ethyl aryloxypropionates (4a-4p) have been synthesized by the reaction of substituted phenols with ethyl (S)-(-)-tosyloxy lactate under the conditions of microwave irradiation and without solvents. The reaction conditions have been optimized. A good method for the preparation of (R)-(+)-ethyl aryloxypropionate was developed, with good yields, high enantiomer excess, short reaction times, easy workup, and simple procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 82 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several control experiments were designed to optimize the reaction of 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol with R3Al (R = Me, Et or i Bu) and to probe for the nature of aluminium-bound alkyl groups that influence the reactivity and selectivity. The reported studies revealed that the Et3Al mediated reaction leads to the C-2 product in contrast to the well-known C-3 substitution promoted by Me3Al. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Formylation of ansa[4]-ferrocene, obtained through the ruthenium-catalysed olefin metathesis, yields two separable, planar chiral 1,3- and 1,2-ansa-ferrocene aldehydes. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis reveals that both regioisomers crystallize with spontaneous resolution of the racemate in the chiral P212121 space group with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The major 1,3-isomer was further transformed into a conjugate with 1,2,3-triazole and uracil using "click" chemistry as the key synthetic step. This inorganic-organic hybrid displays anticancer activity (MCF-7, A549, MDA-MB-231 cell lines) with EC50 values comparable to those for cisplatin.

Since candidiasis is so difficult to eradicate with an antifungal treatment and the existing antimycotics display many limitations, hopefully new sulfone derivatives may overcome these deficiencies. It is pertinent to study new strategies such as sulfone derivatives targeting the virulence attributes of C. albicans that differentiate them from the host. During infections, the pathogenic potential of C. albicans relies on the virulence factors as follows: hydrolytic enzymes, transcriptional factors, adhesion, and development of biofilms. In the article we explored how the above-presented C. albicans fitness and virulence attributes provided a robust response to the environmental stress exerted by sulfones upon C. albicans; C. albicans fitness and virulence attributes are fungal properties whose inactivation attenuates virulence. Our understanding of how these mechanisms and factors are inhibited by sulfones has increased over the last years. As lack of toxicity is a prerequisite for medical approaches, sulfones (non-toxic as assessed in vitro and in vivo) may prove to be useful for reducing C. albicans pathogenesis in humans. The antifungal activity of sulfones dealing with these multiple virulence factors and fitness attributes is discussed., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

We investigated the role of KEX2 , SAP4-6 , EFG1 , and CPH1 in the virulence of Candida under a novel compound 2-bromo-2-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-1-phenylethanone (Compound 4 ). We examined whether the exposure of C. albicans cells to Compound 4 , non-cytotoxic to mammalian cells, reduces their adhesion to the human epithelium. We next assessed whether the exposure of C. albicans cells to Compound 4 modulates the anti-inflammatory response (IL-10) and induces human macrophages to respond to the Candida cells. There was a marked reduction in the growth of the sap4Δsap5Δsap6Δ mutant cells when incubated with Compound 4 . Under Compound 4 (minimal fungicidal concentration MFC = 0.5-16 µg/mL): (1) wild type strain SC5314 showed a resistant phenotype with down-regulation of the KEX2 expression; (2) the following mutants of C. albicans : sap4Δ , sap5Δ , sap6Δ , and cph1Δ displayed decreased susceptibility with the paradoxical effect and up-regulation of the KEX2 expression compared to SC5314; (3) the immune recognition of C. albicans by macrophages and (4) the stimulation of IL-10 were not blocked ex vivo . The effect of deleting KEX2 in C. albicans had a minor impact on the direct activation of Compound 4 's antifungal activity . The adhesion of kex2Δ is lower than that of the wild parental strain SC5314, and tends to decrease if grown in the presence of a sub-endpoint concentration of Compound 4 . Our results provide evidence that SAP4-6 play a role as regulators of the anti- Candida resistance to Compound 4 . Compound 4 constitutes a suitable core to be further exploited for lead optimization to develop potent antimycotics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Reactions between O 2 and organometallics with non-redox-active metal centers have received continuous interest for over 150 years, although significant uncertainties concerning the character and details of the actual mechanism of these reactions persist. Harnessing dinuclear three-coordinate alkylzinc derivatives of an N,N-coupled bis(β-diketimine) proligand (LH 2 ) as a model system, we demonstrate for the first time that a slight modification of the reaction conditions might have a dramatic influence on the oxygenation reaction outcomes, leading to an unprecedented variety of products originating from a single reaction system, that is, partially and fully oxygenated zinc alkoxides, zinc alkylperoxides, and zinc hydroxide compounds. Our studies indicate that accessibility of the three-coordinate zinc center by the O 2 molecule, coupled with the lower reactivity of Zn-Me vs. Zn-Et units towards dioxygen, are key factors in the oxygenation process, providing a novel tetranuclear methyl(methoxy)zinc {[L][ZnMe][Zn(μ-OMe]} 2 and zinc ethoxide {[L][Zn(μ-OEt)] 2 } 2 . Remarkably, oxygenation of three-coordinate alkylzinc [L][ZnR] 2 complexes at ambient temperature afforded a unique hydroxide {[L][Zn(μ-OH)] 2 } 2 . Oxygenation of the [L][ZnEt] 2 complex in the presence of 4-methylpyridine (py-Me) at low temperature led to the isolation of a dinuclear zinc ethylperoxide [L][Zn(OOEt)(py-Me)] 2 , which nicely substantiates the intermediacy of an unstable zinc alkylperoxide in the formation of the subsequent zinc alkoxide and hydroxide compounds. Finally, our investigations provide compelling evidence that a non-redox-active metal center plays a crucial role in the oxygenation process through assisting in single-electron transfer from an M-C bond to an O 2 molecule. Although the oxygenation of zinc alkyls occurs by radical pathways, the reported results stand in clear contradiction to the widely accepted free-radical chain mechanism., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Aim: The effect of KEX2 mutations on C. albicans virulence and resistance to halogenated methyl sulfones was assessed., Materials & Methods: The mechanism of action of sulfones was studied using flow cytometry and microscopy. Expression of KEX2 and SAP5 was assessed using quantitative Real-Time-PCR. 2,3-Bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide and lactate dehydrogenase assays were elaborated to study, respectively, metabolism of Candida treated with sulfones and their cytotoxicity against tissues. Inflammatory response was detected by ELISA., Results: Lysosome permeabilization and dose-dependent programmed cell death under sulfones were noted. KEX2 induction depended on halogenomethylsulfonyl groups, which affected cell wall biosynthesis and adhesion., Conclusion: Sulfones treatment reduced Candida pathogenicity in Galleria mellonella. Sulfones are an alternative for antifungal therapies due to their safety profile and antibiofilm activity.

Despite the fact that extensive research has been carried out, the oxygenation of alkyl magnesium species still remains a highly unexplored research area and significant uncertainties concerning the mechanism of these reactions and the composition of the resulting products persist. This case study compares the viability of the controlled oxygenation of alkylmagnesium complexes supported by β-diketiminates. The structural tracking of the reactivity of (N,N)MgR-type complexes towards O 2 at low temperature showed that their oxygenation led exclusively to the formation of magnesium alkylperoxides (N,N)MgOOR. The results also highlight significant differences in the stability of the resulting alkylperoxides in solution and demonstrate that [(BDI)Mg(μ-η 2 :η 1 -OOBn)] 2 (in which BDI=[(ArNCMe) 2 CH] - and Ar=C 6 H 3 iPr 2 -2,6) can be easily transformed to the corresponding magnesium alkoxide [(BDI)MgOBn] 2 at ambient temperature, whilst [( F3 BDI)Mg(μ-OOtBu)] 2 (in which F3 BDI=[(ArNCMe) 2 CH] - and Ar=C 6 H 2 F 3 -2,4,6) is stable under similar conditions. The observed selective oxygenation of (N,N)MgR-type complexes to the corresponding (N,N)MgOOR alkylperoxides strongly contradicts the widely accepted radical-chain mechanism for the oxygenation of the main-group-metal alkyls. Furthermore, either the observed transformation of the alkylperoxide [(BDI)MgOOBn] 2 to the alkoxide [(BDI)MgOBn] 2 as well as the formation of an intractable mixture of products in the control reaction between the alkylperoxide [( F3 BDI)MgOOtBu] 2 and the parent alkylmagnesium [( F3 BDI)MgtBu] complex are not in line with the common wisdom that magnesium alkoxide complexes' formation results from the metathesis reaction between MgOOR and Mg-R species. In addition, a high catalytic activity of well-defined magnesium alkylperoxides, in combination with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxygen source, in the epoxidation of trans-chalcone is presented., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)