Publications

Abstract Steady-state and time-resolved emission techniques were used to study the protolytic processes in the excited state of dehydroluciferin, a nonbioluminescent product of the firefly enzyme luciferase. We found that the ESPT rate coefficient is only 1.1 X 10(10) s(-1), whereas those of D-luciferin and oxyluciferin are 3.7 x 10(10) and 2.1 x 10(10) s(-1), respectively. We measured the ESPT rate in water methanol mixtures, and we found that the rate decreases nonlinearly as the methanol content in the mixture increases. The deprotonated form of dehydroluciferin has a bimodal decay with short- and long-time decay components, as was previously found for both D-luciferin and oxyluciferin. In weakly acidic aqueous solutions, the deprotonated form's emission is efficiently quenched. We attribute this observation to the ground-state protonation of the thiazole nitrogen, whose pK(a) value is similar to 3.

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by a progressive neurodegeneration of the dopaminergic neurons. The available pharmacological therapy for PD aims to stop the progress of symptoms, reduce disability, slowing the neurodegenerative process and/or preventing long-term complications along the therapy. The main strategic developments that have led to progress in the medical management of PD have focused on improvements in dopaminergic therapies. Despite all the recent research, there are only a few classes of drugs approved for the treatment of motor related symptoms of PD which primarily act on the dopaminergic neurons system: L-dopa, dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors. Anticholinergic drugs and glutamate antagonists are also available but are not commonly used in routine practice. As no effective therapeutic strategy has yet been attended, other solutions must be investigated. Privileged structures, such as indoles, arylpiperazines, biphenyls and benzopyranes are currently ascribed as helpful approaches. Different families of nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles, such as pyrazoles, hydrazinylthiazoles, xanthones, coumarins or chromones have also been extensively used as scaffolds in medicinal chemistry programs for searching novel MAO-B inhibitors. Nitrogen derivatives play a key role in this subject with several studies pointing out hydrazines, thiazoles or indoles as important scaffolds for the development of novel MAO-B inhibitors. This review comprises an overview of the state of the art on the actual pharmacological therapy for PD followed by a specific focus on the discovery and development of nitrogen-based heterocyclic compounds analogues as promising MAO-B inhibitors.

Abstract A selected series of chromone carboxamides synthesized in our laboratory were evaluated by radioligand binding studies towards adenosine receptors. All the chromone-3-carboxamides (compounds 8-12) exhibit A(2B) receptor displacement percentage superior to 50%. The best results were obtained with phenolic substituents (compounds 9 and 12) in the position 3 of pyrone ring with a K-i value of 2890 and 1350 nM. In addition, the predicted ADME properties for the chromone carboxamides under study are in accordance with the general requirements for the drug discovery and development process and in turn they have potential to emerge as a drug candidate. In summary, N-phenylchromone-3-carboxamide may be proposed as a promising scaffold that can undergo optimization as a selective A(2B)AR antagonist given its lower affinity for A(1)AR and A(2A)AR. Accordingly, one can propose this new chromone class as a promising scaffold for tackling adenosine receptors, namely of A(2B) subtype.

Abstract A project focused on the discovery of new chemical entities (NCEs) as AR ligands that incorporate a benzo-gamma-pyrone [(4H)-1-benzopyran-4-one] substructure has been developed. Accordingly, two series of novel chromone carboxamides placed at positions C2 (compounds 2-13) and C3 (compounds 15-26) of the gamma-pyrone ring were synthesized using chromone carboxylic acids (compounds 1 or 14) as starting materials. From this study and on the basis of the obtained structure-activity relationships it was concluded that the chromone carboxamide scaffold represent a novel class of AR ligands. The most remarkable chromones were compounds 21 and 26 that present a better affinity for A(3)AR (K-i = 3680 nM and K-i = 3750 nM, respectively). Receptor-driven molecular modeling studies provide information on the binding/selectivity data of the chromone. The data so far acquired are instrumental for future optimization of chromone carboxamide as a selective A(3)AR antagonist.

Abstract A novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (TPP-OH) was synthesized by attaching the natural hydrophilic antioxidant caffeic acid to an aliphatic lipophilic carbon chain containing a triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation. This compound has similar antioxidant activity to caffeic acid as demonstrated by measurement of DPPH/ABTS radical quenching and redox potentials, but is significantly more hydrophobic than its precursor as indicated by the relative partition coefficients. The antioxidant activity of both compounds was intrinsic related to the ortho-catechol system, as the methoxylation of the phenolic functions, namely in TPP-OCH3 and dimethoxycinnamic acid, gave compounds with negligible antioxidant action. The incorporation of the lipophilic TPP cation to form TTP-OH and TPP-OCH3 allowed the cinnamic derivatives to accumulate within mitochondria in a process driven by the membrane potential. However, only TPP-OH was an effective antioxidant: TPP-OH protected cells against H2O2 and linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. As mitochondrial oxidative damage is associated with a number of clinical disorders, TPP-OH may be a useful lead that could be added to the family of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants that can decrease mitochondrial oxidative damage.

Abstract Hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) are phenolic compounds present in dietary plants, which possess considerable antioxidant activity. In order to increase the lipophilicity of HCAs, with the aim of improving their cellular absorption and expansion of their use in lipophilic media, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters of caffeic acid and ferulic acid have been synthesized. All caffeate esters had a slightly lower DPPH IC50 (13.5-14.5 mu M) and higher ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values (1490-1588 mM quercetin/mole [mMQ/mole]) compared to caffeic acid (16.6 mu M and 1398 mMQ/mole, respectively) in antioxidant assays. In contrast, ferulate esters were less active in DPPH (56.3-74.7 mu M) and FRAP assays (193-262 mMQ/mole) compared to ferulic acid (44.6 mu M and 324 mMQ/mole, respectively). Redox properties of HCAs were in line with their antioxidant capacities, so that compounds with higher antioxidant activities had lower oxidation potentials. Measurement of partition coefficients disclosed the higher lipophilicity of the esters compared to parent compounds. All esters of caffeic acid significantly inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal PC12 cell death assessed by MTT assay at 5 and 25 mu M. However, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and ferulate esters were not able to protect the cells. In conclusion, these findings suggest that alkyl esterification of some HCAs augments their antioxidant properties as well as their lipophilicity and as a consequence, improves their cell protective activity against oxidative stress. These compounds could have useful applications in conditions where oxidative stress plays a pathogenic role.

Abstract The vapor pressures of imidazole, N-methylimidazole and of their dichloro and dicyano substituted compounds were measured at different temperatures, in the crystalline phase for two of them, and in crystalline and liquid phases for the other four. From these measurements, enthalpies and standard entropies of sublimation and vaporization were derived. The results allowed the determination of the triple points (p, T) coordinates of the four compounds studied in both condensed phases as well as the calculation of their enthalpy of fusion. Enthalpies and temperatures of fusion were also determined using d.s.c. The experimental results enabled the estimation of the enthalpy of the intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot N bonds in the imidazoles studied.

Abstract A static method based on capacitance gauges was used to measure the vapor pressures of the condensed phases of the methyl esters of the three aminobenzoic acids. For methyl o-aminobenzoate the vapor pressures of the liquid phase were measured in the range (285.4 to 369.5) K. For the meta and para isomers vapor pressures of both crystalline and liquid phases were measured in the ranges (308.9 to 376.6) K, and (332.9 to 428.0) K, respectively. Vapor pressures of the latter compound were also measured using the Knudsen effusion method in the temperature range (319.1 to 341.2) K. From the dependence of the vapor pressures on the temperature, the standard molar enthalpies and entropies of sublimation and of vaporization were derived. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure the temperatures and molar enthalpies of fusion of the three isomers. The results enabled the estimation of the enthalpy of the intermolecular (N-H center dot center dot center dot O) hydrogen bond in the crystalline methyl p-aminobenzoate. A correlation relating the temperature of fusion and the enthalpy and Gibbs energy of sublimation of benzene, methyl benzoates and benzoic acids was derived.