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1-Azahomocubane has been prepared 56 years after the parent hydrocarbon. Introduction of a nitrogen atom into this constrained polycyclic environment resulted in minimal changes to the framework geometry, with s-character of the nitrogen lone pair increasing due to strain.

Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing both AIDS and malaria. In recent years, two bicyclic nitroimidazole drugs, delamanid and pretomanid have been approved to treat this airborne infection. This has spurred a renewed interest in developing new and improved nitroimidazole analogs. We have previously identified a new bicyclic heteroaromatic subclass, the nitroimidazopyrazinones, with substituted analogs showing promising activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis under both aerobic and hypoxic environments. A second generation of nitroimidazopyrazinones with extended biaryl side chain also possessed good antiparasitic activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, suggesting the utility of this new scaffold for development into potential candidates against both tuberculosis and the kinetoplastid parasites which cause neglected tropical diseases. In this study, we further evaluated the properties of nitroimidazopyrazinone derivatives by assessing their selectivity against different mycobacterial species, measuring their reduction potential, and determining the kinetic parameters as substrates of the deazaflavin-dependent nitroreductase (Ddn), which is the activating enzyme of delamanid and pretomanid in M. tuberculosis. We also conducted an in vivo evaluation of a lead compound, MCC8967 that demonstrated a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, with good oral bioavailability and efficacy in an acute M. tuberculosis infection model. Two other promising compounds MCC9481 and MCC9482, with good in vitro activity (IC50 = 0.016 and 0.10 µM, respectively) against T. cruzi, the causative agent for Chagas diseases, were similarly tested for in vivo activity. These compounds also exhibited good oral bioavailability, and transiently reduced the acute-stage parasite burden by >98‒99% at doses of 50 mg/kg once or twice daily, similar to benznidazole at 100 mg/kg once daily. Overall, we have demonstrated that active nitroimidazopyrazinones have potential to be developed as clinical candidates against both tuberculosis and Chagas disease.Author SummaryTuberculosis and parasitic infections continue to impose a significant threat to public health and economic growth worldwide. Most of the efforts to control these diseases still rely on drug treatments with limited effectiveness and significant side effects. There is now an urgent need to develop new treatments to combat these infections. Here, we report the in vitro and in vivo profile of a new bicyclic nitroimidazole subclass, namely nitroimidazopyrazinones, against mycobacteria and Trypanosoma cruzi. We found that derivatives with monocyclic side chains are selective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, but not active against other nontuberculosis mycobacteria. In an acute mouse model, they were able to reduce the bacterial load in lungs via oral administration. From a biochemistry perspective, we demonstrated that deazaflavin-dependent nitroreductase (Ddn) could act effectively on nitroimidazopyrazinones, indicating the potential of Ddn as an activating enzyme for these new compounds in M. tuberculosis. We also showed that derivatives with extended biaryl side chain were effective in suppressing infection in an acute T. cruzi infected murine model, with satisfactory oral bioavailability. These findings improve the understanding of the biological profile of nitroimidazopyrazinones for further development as potential antitubercular and antiparasitic agents.

Synthesis of the 6-aza[1.0]triblattane skeleton and the unexpected construction of the 7-azatetracyclo[4.2.1.0

Enzyme-catalyzed reaction cascades play an increasingly important role for the sustainable manufacture of diverse chemicals from renewable feedstocks. For instance, dehydratases from the ilvD/EDD superfamily have been embedded into a cascade to convert glucose via pyruvate to isobutanol, a platform chemical for the production of aviation fuels and other valuable materials. These dehydratases depend on the presence of both a Fe-S cluster and a divalent metal ion for their function. However, they also represent the rate-limiting step in the cascade. Here, catalytic parameters and the crystal structure of the dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus (PuDHT, both in presence of Mg2+ and Mn2+) were investigated. Rate measurements demonstrate that the presence of stoichiometric concentrations Mn2+ promotes higher activity than Mg2+, but at high concentrations the former inhibits the activity of PuDHT. Molecular dynamics simulations identify the position of a second binding site for the divalent metal ion. Only binding of Mn2+ (not Mg2+) to this site affects the ligand environment of the catalytically essential divalent metal binding site, thus providing insight into an inhibitory mechanism of Mn2+ at higher concentrations. Furthermore, in silico docking identified residues that play a role in determining substrate binding and selectivity. The combined data inform engineering approaches to design an optimal dehydratase for the cascade.

Tandem oxidative-dehydrogenation of primary alcohols to give α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in one pot are rare transformations in organic synthesis, with only two methods currently available. Reported herein is a novel method using the bench-stable salt methyltriphenylphosphonium perruthenate (MTP3), and a new co-oxidant NEMO·PF6 (NEMO = N-ethyl-N-hydroxymorpholinium) which provides unsaturated aldehydes in low to moderate yields. The Ley-Griffith oxidation of (hetero)arylated primary alcohols with N-oxide co-oxidants NMO (NMO = N-methylmorpholine N-oxide)/NEMO, is expanded by addition of the N-oxide salt NEMO·PF6 to convert the intermediate saturated aldehyde into its unsaturated counterpart. The discovery, method development, reaction scope, and associated challenges of this method are highlighted. The conceptual value of late-stage dehydrogenation in natural product synthesis is demonstrated via the synthesis of a polyene scaffold related to auxarconjugatin B.

The evidence for the existence of metal complexes containing HO as a ligand in the solid state is examined. Each of the 68 examples in the Cambridge Structural Database in which HO is bound to a transition metal, lanthanoid, actinoid, or main group metal ion is detailed and critically appraised. It is concluded that none of the reported examples of complexes containing coordinated HO have been unequivocally characterized and that they result from either curation errors or misinterpretations of the crystallographic data. These conclusions are supported by computational techniques, which show that three purported HO complexes based on the 1,4,7,10,13,16,21,24-octa-azabicyclo(8.8.8)hexacosane azacryptand skeleton are better described as aqua complexes, with protonation occurring at the amine ligand.

A pair of novel fluorinated-benzimidazoisoquinoline regioisomers was synthesised and isolated. Initial structural characterisation and identification employed 1D proton, 1D carbon, correlated spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. However, the fluorinated regioisomers could not be differentiated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) alone. Density functional theory calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments were used to completely characterise and identify the compounds.

The rare organocopper(II) complex [Cu(Metren)(CHCN)] (Metren = tris(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine) has emerged as an important model of potential byproducts in copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization. This complex has been generated by controlled potential electrolysis of [Cu(Metren)(NCMe)] in the presence of BrCHCN. Time-resolved UV-vis and continuous wave and pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra identified [Cu(Metren)Br] as an intermediate. Hyperfine sublevel correlation and electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy of samples at different timepoints reveal signals that are assigned to a C-bound cyanomethylate ligand, with distinct N and H hyperfine coupling constants in comparison with the corresponding N-bound acetonitrile and bromido complexes. The experimental EPR data are supported by density functional theory calculations to understand how the geometries of the species involved produce distinct spectroscopic signatures, and a clear picture of how this unusual organocopper(II) complex is formed has emerged.

Tyrosinase (TYR) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of melanin in plants, microorganisms and mammalian cells. Kojic acid (KA) is a well-known TYR inhibitor widely used as a popular cosmetic skin-lightening ingredient. However, KA is reported to have poor inhibitory activity against pigmentation within intact melanocytes or in clinical assays. In this study, a series of dihydropyrano[3,2-b] chromenedione (DHPC) (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a) and 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthene (DOHX) (1b, 2b, 3b and 4b) derivatives were evaluated using a DPPH radical-scavenging assay. These results showed that 7a exhibited the most potent radical-scavenging activity. Compound 7a was characterised by X-ray crystallographic studies. Molecular docking was carried out to shed light on the mode of action and types of interaction between the compounds and the target. A metal-binding study suggested that these synthetic heterocyclic compounds may behave as competitive inhibitors for the L-DOPA binding site of the TYR. Finally, molecular modeling provided important insight into the mechanism of binding interactions with the TYR copper active site.

We report on the chemical analysis of a mud dauber wasp nest-associated fungus, Penicillium sp. CMB-MD22, leading to the discovery and structure elucidation of three known (1-3) and two new (4 and 5) anthrones, and a family of new and known bianthrones, neobulgarones 6-23. Detection and structure elucidation of 1-23 was supported by detailed spectroscopic analysis, as well as chemical (thermal) transformations, and global natural products social (GNPS) molecular networking. An empirical approach using HPLC retention times was effective at differentiating anti from syn bianthrone isomers, while a facile thermal equilibration was shown to favor anti over syn isomers. The neobulgarones 6-23 are natural products, and a crude extract rich in 6-23 exhibits selective antifungal activity against a co-isolated mud dauber wasp nest-associated fungus, suggestive of a possible ecological role as an antifungal chemical defense.

Using a molecular networking guided strategy, chemical analysis of the Australian mullet fish gastrointestinal tract-derived fungus Amauroascus sp. CMB-F713 yielded a family of polyketide pyrones, amaurones A-I (1-9), featuring an unprecedented carbon skeleton. Structures were assigned to 1-9 by detailed spectroscopic analysis (including X-ray analysis of 1), biosynthetic considerations, and chemical interconversions. For example, the orthoacetate 5 was unstable when stored dry at room temperature, transforming to the monoacetates 2 and 3, while mild heating (40 °C) prompted quantitative conversion of 3 to 2, via an intramolecular trans-acetylation. Likewise, during handling, the monoacetate 1 was prone to intramolecular trans-acetylation, leading to an equilibrium mixture with the isomeric monoacetate amaurone J (10), confirmed when partial hydrolysis of the diacetate 2 yielded the monoacetates 1 and 10 and the triol amaurone K (11).

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of heme monooxygenase enzymes commonly catalyzes enantioselective hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions. Epoxidation reactions have been hypothesized to proceed via multiple mechanisms involving different reactive intermediates. Here, we use activity, spectroscopic, structural, and molecular dynamics data to investigate the activity and stereoselectivity of 4-vinylbenzoic acid epoxidation by the bacterial enzyme CYP199A4 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris HaA2. The epoxidation of 4-vinylbenzoic acid by CYP199A4 proceeded with high enantioselectivity, giving the (S)-epoxide in 99% ee at an activity of 220 nmol nmol-CYP–1 min–1. Optical and EPR spectroscopy, redox potential measurements, and the crystal structure of 4-vinylbenzoic acid-bound CYP199A4 indicated the partial retention of an aqua ligand at the heme center in the presence of the substrate, providing a justification of the lower activity (∼20%) compared to the oxidative demethylation of 4-methoxybenzoic acid. Mutagenesis at the conserved acid–alcohol pair (D251/T252), which perturbs the generation of the reactive oxygen intermediates, was employed to investigate their role in epoxidation reactions. The T252A mutant increased the rate of turnover of the catalytic cycle, but an elevation in hydrogen peroxide generation via uncoupling resulted in a similar rate of epoxide formation. The activity of epoxidation significantly reduced with the D251N mutant. The chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity of the epoxidation reaction were maintained in the turnovers by these mutants. Overall, there was little evidence that other intermediates, aside from the archetypal reactive ferryl porphyrin cation radical, Compound I, contributed significantly to the epoxidation reaction. The observation of the high selectivity for the (S)-enantiomer was rationalized by molecular dynamics simulations. When the arrangement of the alkene and the active intermediate approached an ideal transition state structure for epoxidation, one face of the alkene was more often exposed to the iron oxo unit.

Organocopper(ii) complexes are a rarity while organocopper(i) complexes are commonplace in chemical synthesis. In the course of building a strategy to generate organocopper(ii) species utilizing electrochemistry, a method to form compounds with Cu

There is an urgent global need for the development of novel therapeutics to combat the rise of various antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Enzymes of the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) biosynthesis pathway are an attractive target for novel anti-microbial drug development. Dihydroxy-acid dehydratase (DHAD) is the third enzyme in the BCAA biosynthesis pathway. It relies on an Fe-S cluster for catalytic activity and has recently also gained attention as a catalyst in cell-free enzyme cascades. Two types of Fe-S clusters have been identified in DHADs, i.e. [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S], with the latter being more prone to degradation in the presence of oxygen. Here, we characterise two DHADs from bacterial human pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter jejuni (SaDHAD and CjDHAD). Purified SaDHAD and CjDHAD are virtually inactive, but activity could be reversibly reconstituted in vitro (up to ∼19,000-fold increase with k

The tetradentate N2S2 Schiff base ligands derived from condensing S-methyl or S-benzyl dithiocarbazate with acetylacetone have been found to be versatile chelators for copper and able to stabilise unusually high oxidation states. Herein we report their Ni coordination chemistry and a variety of products ensue depending on the reaction conditions. Unusual examples of linkage isomerism have been observed upon complexation with nickel acetate and these asymmetrically and symmetrically coordinated NiIIN2S2 complexes have been characterised both crystallographically and in solution by NMR. These compounds react rapidly with dioxygen and the ligands are particularly susceptible to oxidation which lead to various products including dinuclear NiII complexes derived from radical homocoupling reactions. These dinuclear NiII complexes are also redox active and spectroelectrochemistry has revealed new electronic transitions from their formally NiIII/NiII mixed valent state.

The long-standing perception of Protein Kinase C (PKC) as a family of oncoproteins has increasingly been challenged by evidence that some PKC isoforms may act as tumor suppressors. To explore the hypothesis that activation, rather than inhibition, of these isoforms is critical for anticancer activity, we isolated and characterized a family of 16 novel phorboids closely-related to tigilanol tiglate (EBC-46), a PKC-activating epoxytigliane showing promising clinical safety and efficacy for intratumoral treatment of cancers. While alkyl branching features of the C12-ester influenced potency, the 6,7-epoxide structural motif and position was critical to PKC activation in vitro. A subset of the 6,7-epoxytiglianes were efficacious against established tumors in mice; which generally correlated with in vitro activation of PKC. Importantly, epoxytiglianes without evidence of PKC activation showed limited antitumor efficacy. Taken together, these findings provide a strong rationale to reassess the role of PKC isoforms in cancer, and suggest in some situations their activation can be a promising strategy for anticancer drug discovery.

Short syntheses to high Fsp 3 index natural-product analogues such as iminosugars are of paramount importance in the investigation of their biological activities and reducing the use of protecting groups is an advantageous synthetic strategy. An isopropylidene group was employed towards the synthesis of seven-membered ring iminosugars and the title compound, C9H15N3O5, was crystallized as an intermediate, in which the THF ring is twisted and the dioxolane ring adopts an envelope conformation: the dihedral angle between the rings is 67.50 (13)°. In the crystal, the hydroxyl groups participate in O—H...(O,O) and O—H...N hydrogen-bonding interactions, which generate chains of molecules propagating parallel to the a-axis direction. There is a notable non-classical C—H...O hydrogen bond, which cross-links the [100] chains into (001) sheets.

Mediator‐based extracellular electron transfer (EET) pathways can balance the redox metabolism of microbes. However, such electro‐biosynthesis processes are constrained by the unknown underlying EET mechanisms. In this paper, Pseudomonas putida was studied to systematically investigate its EET pathway to transition metal complexes (i. e., [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− and [Co(bpy)3]3+/2+; bpy=2,2′‐bipyridyl) under anaerobic conditions. Comparative proteomics showed the aerobic respiratory components were upregulated in a bioelectrochemical system without oxygen, suggesting their potential contribution to EET. Further tests found inhibiting cytochrome c oxidase activity by NaN3 and NADH dehydrogenase by rotenone did not significantly change the current output. However, the EET pathway was completely blocked, while cytochrome c reductase activity was inhibited by antimycin A. Although it cannot be excluded that cytochrome c and the periplasmic subunit of cytochrome c oxidase donate electrons to the transition metal complexes, these results strongly demonstrate that cytochrome c reductase is a key complex for the EET pathway., Liquid wires for biohybrid systems: The electron transfer pathway between redox metal‐complexes and biological respiratory proteins is systematically investigated and revealed. Such a pathway can be readily applied to many non‐electrogenic microorganisms and thus expand the application of microbial electrochemical technology in many fields such as industrial biotechnology and biosensors.

Dysphania is a genus of plants endemic to the Australian continent, occurring primarily in arid and temperate zones. Despite their prevalence, very little in the way of phytochemical and/or bioacti...

A GNPS molecular networking approach mapped a library of 960 southern Australian marine sponges and prioritized Dysidea sp. (CMB-01171) for chemical investigation. Although the published natural pr...

The preparation of a series of alkali-metal inclusion complexes of the molecular cube [{CoIII(Me3-tacn)}4{FeII(CN)6}4]4– (Me3-tacn = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane), a mixed-valent Prussian Blue analogue bearing bridging cyanido ligands, has been achieved by following a redox-triggered self-assembly process. The molecular cubes are extremely robust and soluble in aqueous media ranging from 5 M [H+] to 2 M [OH–]. All the complexes have been characterized by the standard mass spectometry, UV–vis, inductively coupled plasma, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction analysis of the sodium and lithium salts has also been achieved, and the inclusion of moieties of the form {M–OH2}+ (M = Li, Na) is confirmed. These inclusion complexes in aqueous solution are rather inert to cation exchange and are characterized by a significant decrease in acidity of the confined water molecule due to hydrogen bonding inside the cubic cage. Exchange of the encapsulated cationic {M–OH2}+ or M+ units by other alkali metals has also been studied from a kineticomechanistic perspective at different concentrations, temperatures, ionic strengths, and pressures. In all cases, the thermal and pressure activation parameters obtained agree with a process that is dominated by differences in hydration of the cations entering and exiting the cage, although the size of the portal enabling the exchange also plays a determinant role, thus not allowing the large Cs+ cation to enter. All the exchange substitutions studied follow a thermodynamic sequence that relates with the size and polarizing capability of the different alkali cations; even so, the process can be reversed, allowing the entry of {Li–OH2}+ units upon adsorption of the cube on an anion exchange resin and subsequent washing with a Li+ solution., A series of alkali-metal inclusion complexes of the molecular cube [{CoIII(Me3-tacn)}4{FeII(CN)6}4]}]4− have been achieved by following a redox-triggered self-assembly process. The alkali metals are encapsulated in an inert fashion as cationic {M−OH2}+ or M+ units, which can be exchanged in a process that has been studied kineticomechanistically.

Iron (Fe)-induced oxidative stress leads to reactive oxygen species that damage biomembranes, with this mechanism being involved in the activity of some anti-cancer chemotherapeutics.Herein, we compared the effect of the ligand, di-2-pyridylketone 4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Dp44mT), or the potential ligand, Emodin, on Fe-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in cell membrane models (micelles and bicelles). These studies were performed in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (HIn the absence of ascorbate, Fe(II)/Emodin mixtures incubated with HAscorbate-driven redox cycling of Dp44mT and Emodin promotes their anti-proliferative activity.

Chemical investigations into solid phase cultivations of an Australian sheep station pasture plant-derived Streptomyces sp. CMB-PB042, yielded the rare enamine naphthopyranoquinones BE-54238A (1) and BE-54238B (2), together with four new analogues, glenthenamines B–D (4–6) and F (8), and two handling artifacts, glenthenamines A (3) and E (7). Single crystal X-ray analyses of 1–2 resolved configurational ambiguities in the scientific literature, while detailed spectroscopic analysis and biosynthetic considerations assigned structures inclusive of absolute configuration to 3–8. We propose a plausible sequence of biosynthetic transformations linking structural and configurational features of 1–8, and apply a novel Schiff base "fishing" approach to detect a key deoxyaminosugar precursor. These enamine naphthopyranoquinone disclose a new P-gp inhibitory pharmacophore capable of reversing doxorubicin resistance in P-gp overexpressing colon carcinoma cells.

The Mo-dependent enzyme YiiM enzyme from Escherichia coli is a member of the sulfite oxidase family and shares many similarities with the well-studied human mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC). We have investigated YiiM catalysis using electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. EPR monitored redox potentiometry found the active site redox potentials to be Mo

The evidence for the existence of metal complexes containing H

Chemical investigation on a Streptomyces sp. strain MS180069 isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea, yielded the new benzo[f]isoindole-dione alkaloid, bhimamycin J (1). The structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRMS, 1D, 2D NMR, and X-ray diffraction techniques. A molecular docking study revealed 1 as a new molecular motif that binds with human angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2), recently described as the cell surface receptor responsible for uptake of 2019-CoV-2. Using enzyme assays we confirm that 1 inhibits human ACE2 79.7 % at 25 µg/mL.

Chemical analysis of the fungus Chrysosporium sp. CMB-F294 isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a market-purchased specimen of Mugil mullet yielded eight new alkaloids, belonging to a rare class of phenylpropanoid piperazines. Chrysosporazines F–M (1–8) occur as an equilibrium mixture of acetamide rotamers and feature unprecedented carbocyclic and heterocyclic scaffolds. Structures inclusive of absolute configuration were assigned by detailed spectroscopic analysis, supported by biosynthetic considerations. Structure–activity relationship studies determined that selected chrysosporazines were promising noncytotoxic inhibitors of the multidrug resistance efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp), capable of reversing doxorubicin resistance in P-gp-overexpressing human colon carcinoma cells (SW620 Ad300). Chrysosporazine F (1) was particularly noteworthy, with a 2.5 μM cotreatment inducing a doxorubicin gain in sensitivity (GS 14) > 2-fold that of the positive control verapamil (GS 6.1).