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Pannexins are an interesting new target in medicinal chemistry, as they are involved in many pathologies such as epilepsy, ischemic stroke, cancer and Parkinson’s disease, as well as in neuropathic pain. They are a family of membrane channel proteins consisting of three members, Panx-1, Panx-2 and Panx-3, and are expressed in vertebrates. In the present study, as a continuation of our research in this field, we report the design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new quinoline-based Panx-1 blockers. The most relevant compounds 6f and 6g show an IC50 = 3 and 1.5 µM, respectively, and are selective Panx-1 blockers. Finally, chemical stability, molecular modelling and X-ray crystallography studies have been performed providing useful information for the realization of the project.

As a continuation of our study in the GABA

The channel protein Panx-1 is involved in some pathologies, such as epilepsy, ischemic stroke, cancer and Parkinson’s disease, as well as in neuropathic pain. These observations make Panx-1 an interesting biological target. We previously published some potent indole derivatives as Panx-1 blockers, and as continuation of the research in this field we report here the studies on additional chemical scaffolds, naphthalene and pyrazole, appropriately substituted with those functions that gave the best results as in our indole series (sulphonamide functions and one/two carboxylic groups) and in Panx-1 blockers reported in the literature (sulphonic acid). Compounds 4 and 13, the latter being an analogue of the drug Probenecid, are the most potent Panx-1 blockers obtained in this study, with I = 97% and I = 93.7% at 50 µM, respectively. Both compounds, tested in a mouse model of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain, showed a similar anti-hypersensitivity profile and are able to significantly increase the mouse pain threshold 45 min after the injection of the doses of 1 nmol and 3 nmol. Finally, the molecular dynamic studies and the PCA analysis have made it possible to identify a discriminating factor able to separate active compounds from inactive ones.

A reliable and robust tool for supporting the panel test in virgin olive oil classification is still required. We propose four chemometric approaches based on t test, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), applied for combining sensorial data, and chemical measurements. The former was from the panel test, and the latter was from headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry quantitation of 73 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of 1223 typical commercial virgin olive oils, with most of them recognized as difficult to classify with accuracy by the panel test. The approaches were developed and validated, and the best results, with 83.5% correct classification, were using the PCA-LDA approach. Among the other methods, developed for proposing simplified procedures based on a smaller number of VOCs, the best method gave 80.1% correct classification only using 10 VOCs. All of the approaches suggested that octane, heptanal, pent-1-en-3-ol, Z-3-hexenal, nonanal, and 4-ethylphenol should be considered as a basis of volatiles for classification of olive oil samples.

As a continuation of our study in the GABAA receptor modulators field, we report the design and synthesis of new 8-chloropyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline derivatives. Molecular docking studies and the evaluation of the ‘Proximity Frequencies’ (exploiting our reported model) were performed on all the final compounds (3, 4, 6a–c, 7a,b, 8, 9, 12a–c, 13a,b, 14–19) to predict their profile on the α1β2γ2-GABAAR subtype. Furthermore, to verify whether the information coming from this virtual model was valid and, at the same time, to complete the study on this series, we evaluated the effects of compounds (1–100 µM) on the modulation of GABAA receptor function through electrophysiological techniques on recombinant α1β2γ2L-GABAA receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The matching between the virtual prediction and the electrophysiological tests makes our model a useful tool for the study of GABAA receptor modulators.

We reported the synthesis of new 8-methoxypyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolines bearing an amide fragment at the 3-position. The final compounds, as aromatic (2a-i) and 4,5-dihydro derivatives (3a-i), have been evaluated in vitrofor their ability to modulate the chlorine current on recombinant GABA

Herein we describe the influence of olive oil refining processes on the lignan profile. The detection of new isobaric lignans is suggested to reveal frauds in commercial extra-Virgin Olive Oils. We analyzed five commercial olive oils by HPLC-DAD-TOF/MS to evaluate their lignan content and detected, for the first time, some isobaric forms of natural (+)-pinoresinol and (+)-1-acetoxypinoresinol. Then we analyzed partially and fully-refined oils from Italy, Tunisia and Spain. The isobaric forms occur only during the bleaching step of the refining process and remain unaltered after the final deodorizing step. Molecular dynamic simulation helped to identify the most probable chemical structures corresponding to these new isobars with data in agreement with the chromatographic findings. The total lignan amounts in commercial olive oils was close to 2mg/L. Detection of these new lignans can be used as marker of undeclared refining procedures in commercial extra-virgin and/or Virgin Olive Oils.

Honey is a food known for its medical properties. In this work, we have studied the impact of different types of honey on insulin signalling pathway. We found that honey extracts inhibit the enzyme PTP1B, one of the main negative regulators of insulin receptor signalling. HPLC-MS analysis allowed us to confirm the presence of several natural PTP1B inhibitors in the honey extracts analysed. Statistical analysis methods show a correlation between specific 1H-NMR resonance frequencies/HPLC peaks and the inhibitory power of the samples. This finding will allow the prediction of the biological properties of honey samples applying relative simple analytical methods. Finally, we demonstrated that the treatment of HepG2 cells with honey extracts enhances the expression of insulin receptor, and stimulates glucose uptake. For the first time, our results demonstrate that bioactive components of honey could improve glycaemic control by both inhibiting PTP1B and stimulating the expression of insulin receptor in liver cells.

We reported the synthesis of new 8-methoxypyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolines bearing an amide fragment at the 3-position. The final compounds, as aromatic (2a-i) and 4,5-dihydro derivatives (3a-i), have been evaluated in vitro for their ability to modulate the chlorine current on recombinant GABAA receptors of the α1β2γ2L type (expressed in frog oocytes of the Xenopus laevis species). From electrophysiological test two groups of compounds emerged: positive modulators agonist (2e, h, i and 3e, h) and null modulators antagonist (2a, b, d, f, g and 3a-d, f, g) of GABAA subtype receptor. Using a set of compounds (new derivatives, known products and GABAA subtype receptor ligands from our library) we identify the amino acids at the α+/γ− interface, which could be involved in the agonist or antagonist profile, using the ‘Proximity Frequencies’, namely the frequencies with which a ligand intercepts two or more binding-site amino acids during the molecular dynamic simulation. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) evidences that the combination of amino acids αVAL203- γTHR142 and αTYR 160- γTYR 58 allowed to collocate 70.6% of agonists and 72.7% of antagonists in their respective class.

Authentication of geographical origin of virgin olive oils is necessary to protect consumer and producers from frauds. A method able to classify virgin olive oils from the main worldwide producing countries is still missing. In this work, we developed 3 chemometric approaches for classification of virgin olive oils from Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Tunisia and other countries all over the world. The approaches were developed starting from a data-set containing fatty acid composition and the amount of 72 volatile compounds, evaluated by a never applied HS-SPME-GC-MS quantitation method, of 1217 oil samples from three different olive oil campaign. The approach that gave the best predictive results is based on Linear Discriminant Analysis run on quantitative data from only 25 volatile compounds selected by one-way ANOVA as the most capable in discriminating between the diverse origins. The method was built and internally validated using a training-set of 1000 samples and externally validated with a test-set of 217 independent samples. The method was able to classify the geographical origin of 94.5% samples, with a percentage of correct classification even higher than 97% for some origins. Preliminary studies also suggested the proposed approach is able to correctly classify the geographical origin of binary mixtures of oils from different origins. The approach proposed in this manuscript is easily applicable in testing laboratories and represents a very useful tool for the olive oil field, helping in protecting consumers and producers from frauds.

A series of 2-phenyl- or 3-phenyl piperazines, structurally related to DM235 and DM232, two potent nootropic agents, have been prepared and tested in the mouse passive-avoidance test, to assess their ability to revert scopolamine-induced amnesia. Although the newly synthesized molecules were less potent than the parent compounds, some useful information has been obtained from structure–activity relationships. A small but significant enantioselectivity has been found for the most potent compound 5a .

An integrated approach involving CE experiments, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and two-dimensional NOE spectroscopy (2D-NOESY) experiments was employed to elucidate the intermolecular interactions and the separation mechanisms involved in a solvent-modified MEKC method for the simultaneous determination of diclofenac sodium and its impurities. The CE findings indicated that the addition of n-butanol (nBuOH) to the SDS micellar solution played a primary role for controlling the partitioning into the mixed micelles and the migration of the analytes and that the presence of nBuOH as cosurfactant was compulsory for achieving the complete separation of the compounds. The different capacity factors of the analytes were calculated and a change in solute association with the mixed micelle when changing the SDS/nBuOH molar ratio was highlighted. The optimal SDS/nBuOH molar ratio for the electrophoretic separation was 1:8. On the other hand, both MD simulations and NMR experiments indicated that the most favorable molar ratio for the formation of mixed SDS/nBuOH micelles was 1:2. These results suggested that probably there is an excess of nBuOH in the background electrolyte, both as free molecules and in form of aggregates, which is able to interact with the analytes, and thus may compete with mixed micelles for the considered compounds. The calculated values of gain in potential energy of the analytes when included in mixed micelles were in agreement with the observed migration order of the compounds. The role of methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCyD) in the background electrolyte was also investigated, since the addition of this CyD to the solvent-modified MEKC system was found to be useful to reduce the analysis time. MD simulations and 2D-NOESY spectra highlighted the formation of inclusion complexes with MβCyD not only with the analytes, but also with SDS. MβCyD may lower the availability of both SDS and nBuOH for forming micelles and mostly may compete with the mixed micelle as a second pseudostationary phase.

The enantioselective complexation of sulpiride by a number of cyclodextrins (CDs) was deeply investigated by different techniques with the aim of evaluating the role of the used chiral selectors involved in the enantioseparation of the eutomer levosulpiride (S-SUL) and its dextro-isomer by capillary electrophoresis (CE). A CE method was previously developed with the aim of determining the optical purity of S-SUL and was based on the use of a dual cyclodextrin system, made by sulfated-β-cyclodextrin (SβCD) and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD). In this paper, a molecular modeling study made it possible to explain the different affinity of sulpiride enantiomers for several CDs, which had been tested during the early phase of CE method development. The potential and the gain energy of the inclusion complexes between the enantiomers and neutral and charged CDs were calculated on the minimized conformations. The calculated docking energies indicated that the most stable complexes were effectively obtained with SβCD and MβCD. A correlation between CE migration time of the last migrating enantiomer S-SUL and the stability of analyte-neutral CDs complexes was postulated. Furthermore, two-dimensional rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy NMR (2-D ROESY) experiments were carried out, which clearly indicated the formation of complexes and suggested the inclusion of the benzene sulfonamide moiety of S-SUL inside the hydrophobic cavity of the CDs.

A comprehensive investigation on the CE separation mechanisms and on the inclusion complexation with CyDs of the chiral drug S-ambrisentan (S-AMB), its R-enantiomer and other impurities was performed by different techniques. A CE method was previously set up allowing the simultaneous determination of the enantiomeric purity and of impurities of S-AMB, based on the addition of SDS micelles and γ-cyclodextrin (γCyD) to borate buffer. In this study, the electrophoretic behavior of the analytes in terms of selectivity and mobility with respect to the addition of different CyDs was first investigated, evidencing the presence of interactions for all the CyDs, but the unique ability of γCyD for obtaining the separation of all the compounds. By molecular modeling, aggregates between SDS micelles and analytes, and inclusion complexes between CyDs, SDS and/or analytes of different stoichiometries were simulated. The potential and the gain energy of complexes were calculated on the minimized conformations, showing the great tendency of γCyD of forming mixed complexes with one or two SDS molecules and with the analyte, even if with different affinities among the analytes. For 1:1:1 mixed complexes with different CyDs, the highest difference of potential energy between the enantiomers' complexes was observed for γCyD. Two-dimensional NOE spectroscopy experiments were performed for S-AMB and I1 and pointed out the interactions of the aromatic moiety of the analytes and of SDS aliphatic chain with γCyD protons, confirming the existence of γCyD mixed complexes. The high affinity of SDS for the γCyD cavity was suggested to justify the fundamental role of SDS in modulating and achieving the CE separation, due to its influence both on the stability and on the type of complexes between γCyD and the analytes.

This work investigates by biochemical, biophysical and MD techniques the opposite anti-amyloid properties of resveratrol and rosmarinic acid on the aggregation of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). Differences in association energy and contact maps were found that explain the different behaviours., The formation of amyloid aggregates is the hallmark of systemic and neurodegenerative disorders, also known as amyloidoses. Many proteins have been found to aggregate into amyloid-like fibrils and this process is recognized as a general tendency of polypeptides. Lysozyme, an antibacterial protein, is a well-studied model since it is associated in human with systemic amyloidosis and that is widely available from chicken eggs (HEWL, hen egg white lysozyme). In the present study we investigated the mechanism of interaction of aggregating HEWL with rosmarinic acid and resveratrol, that we verified to be effective and ineffective, respectively, in inhibiting aggregate formation. We used a multidisciplinary strategy to characterize such effects, combining biochemical and biophysical methods with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the HEWL peptide 49–64 to gain insights into the mechanisms and energy variations associated to amyloid formation and inhibition. MD revealed that neither resveratrol nor rosmarinic acid were able to compete with the initial formation of the β-sheet structure. We then tested the association of two β-sheets, representing the model of an amyloid core structure. MD showed that rosmarinic acid displayed an interaction energy and a contact map comparable to that of sheet pairings. On the contrary, resveratrol association energy was found to be much lower and its contact map largely different than that of sheet pairings. The overall characterization elucidated a possible mechanism explaining why, in this model, resveratrol is inactive in blocking fibril formation, whereas rosmarinic acid is instead a powerful inhibitor.

The pharmacophoric model using ADLR procedure, based on pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]benzotriazine system, studied in our laboratory, allowed us to identify the essential interaction points (HBp-1, HBp-2, and Lp-1) and the important areas for affinity modulation (HBp-3 and Lp-2) for binding recognition at benzodiazepine (Bzs) site of GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)-Rs). In this work ADLR method is used to rationalize the affinity data of 23 new compounds and to improve the knowledge on HBp-3 area, hydrogen bond area. Among these new compounds emerge the pyrrolo derivatives (18, 25, 28, 34, and 37) for their good affinity value (14.9>K(i)(nM)>63.0). In the orientations proposed by ADLR, the NH moiety of the pyrrole ring, independently of the position in the pyrazolobenzotriazine core, fits in HBp-3 area and points out the acceptor feature of this hydrogen bond area, already known as donor area. Unexpectedly, the oxygen atom of the furane ring does not form efficient hydrogen bond with the same area, probably for an imperfect distance. The size of substituent at position 8 is important but not necessary for the receptor recognition, in fact the interdependence between the features of the 3- and 8-substituent's is again verified, (i.e., compound 20 vs 32).

A novel method, which simultaneously exploits experimental (NMR) and theoretically calculated data obtained by a molecular modelling technique, was proposed, to obtain deeper insight into inclusion geometry and possible stereoselective binding of bupivacaine hydrochloride with selected cyclodextrin derivatives. Sulphobuthylether-β-cyclodextrin and water soluble polymeric β-cyclodextrin demonstrated to be the best complexing agents for the drug, resulting in formation of the most stable inclusion complexes with the highest increase in aqueous drug solubility. The drug-carrier binding modes with these cyclodextrins and phenomena which may be directly related to the higher stability and better aqueous solubility of complexes formed were discussed in details.

A new series of pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]benzotriazine 5-oxide 8-alkyloxy-/aryloxy-/arylalkyloxy and 8-aryl-/arylalkylderivatives variously substituted at the 3-position were synthesized and binding studies at the benzodiazepine site on GABA(A) receptor were carried out. The pharmacological profile was identified for compounds 10, 11, 16(+), 16(-), and 17 by considering six potential benzodiazepine actions: motor coordination, anticonvulsant action, spontaneous motility and explorative activity, potential anxiolytic-like effects, mouse learning and memory modulation, and finally, ethanol-potentiating action. Compound 17 stands out as the compound that improves mouse memory processes selectively, safely, and in a statistically significant manner. From a ligand-based pharmacophoric model, we identified a hydrogen bond interaction area HBp-3 near the lipophilic area. This new pharmacophoric model allowed us to identify four structural compound typologies and thus to rationalize the affinity data of all compounds.

The synthesis of the new tricyclic system 5H-1,2,3-triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine, diaza-analogue of 5H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine, which is the common feature of some antitumor antibiotics, is reported. The structure of the new tricyclic system and of some of its key intermediates is assigned by means of a 13C nmr study.

A method that correlates the docking energy of inclusion complexes between cyclodextrins and guest molecules was developed and tested. The docking energies of the host–guest inclusion complexes were optimised through a new parameterisation of the consistent force field (CFF91). The developed model gave a good relationship between the experimental stability constant values and the corresponding calculated docking energies (R2=0.860). The model showed a good predictive power (Rrg2=0.755). Analysis of the modifications to the force field parameters, compared with the standard values of the original CFF91, suggested interesting information about the most favourable guest properties for obtaining stable inclusion complexes.

Carrying on a study where the combination of alpha-cyclodextrin and malic acid was found to be the most effective in improving the solubility of econazole, an antifungal drug very poorly water soluble, in the present work 1H-NMR and nuclear overhauser effect (NOE) experiments and molecular modelling studies were performed to gain insight into the interactions in solution between such three components and the structure of the supposed multicomponent complex. Findings demonstrated that two different complexes can be simultaneously present in solution involving, respectively, the inclusion of econazole monochloro-phenyl group within the host cavity from the primary hydroxyl side of the cyclodextrin cavity, or that of the other phenyl group through the opposite side of the cavity. It was shown that also malic acid is strictly involved in the molecular assembly of the complex, particularly through interactions with primary hydroxyl groups of the cyclodextrin molecule. Molecular modelling studies allowed to elaborate possible geometric models of the multicomponent complex and to select the more energetically favourable conformations which complied better with experimental data. Results suggested the possible formation in solution of stable oligomeric aggregates constituted by the repeated concatenation of the three components.

Purpose. To study the effect of mechanical grinding on crystallinity changes of naproxen (NAP) in mixtures with α-cyclodextrin (αCd), amorphous αCd, and maltohexaose (M6); and the possible formation of a pseudo-inclusion complex between NAP and M6 in aqueous solution.

Establishment of molecular modelling able to simulate the behaviour of the β CyD-complexes in aqueous solution was studied by applying the fundamentals of classic mechanics. The existence of stable complexes was experimentally determined by the findings of 1 H NMR NOE (Nuclear Overhauser Effect) experiments in aqueous solution. A `training set' of molecules was chosen to test the ability of the mathematic models to describe the behaviour of β CyD-complexes. A `test set' group of molecules was defined to better confirm the validity of the proposed models. Based on the results, molecular modelling seems to be a useful tool for forecasting the behaviour of β CyD-complexes in water solution since the results of the mathematic models are close to the experimental findings obtained from NOE experiments.

In this study the structural conformations of the complexes between β-cyclodextrin and the geometrical isomers, thymol and carvacrol, were investigated using 1 H-NMR and molecular modelling techniques. The NOE experiments were performed in aqueous solutions and showed the presence of only one complex with a well-defined orientation either for thymol or for carvacrol. Molecular modelling investigations were useful to clarify the structural conformation of the supramolecular edifice. To develop graphic simulations closer to the experimental conditions, the studies were performed in dynamic at 300 K with and without evaluating the dielectric constant, D. The best agreement of 1 H-NMR NOE findings with the theoretical data was obtained after the evaluation of the dielectric constant parameter and these results confirmed the inclusion of thymol and carvacrol inside the βCD hydrophobic cavity.

The crystallinity of naproxen in solid combinations with amorphous maltoheptaose, the non-cyclic analog of β-cyclodextrin, was assessed using differential scanning calorimetry supported by X-ray powder diffractometry. Cogrinding induced a decrease in drug crystalinity to an extent which depended on the grinding time, and was most pronounced for the combination of equimolecular composition. Thermal analysis showed that the mechanism behind the conversion of crystalline naproxen into the amorphous state by cogrinding with maltoheptaose differed from that with randomly substituted, amorphous β-cyclodextrins. Interactions of naproxen with maltoheptaose in aqueous solution were studied by means of fluorescence spectroscopy, phase-solubility analysis, and computeraided molecular modelling. Maltoheptaose can wrap up naproxen, taking on a cyclic conformation and forming a ‘pseudo’ inclusion complex (apparent binding constant K1: 1 = 1.0 × 103 (−20%) L mol−1 at 25 °C) which is about as stable as the true inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin in the lowest temperature range (0-100 K). A better complexing ability for naproxen in terms of binding constant values, however, was displayed by both native and derivatized β-cyclodextrins, the ‘hosts’ with covalently-bound cyclic structures.

The complexation between naproxen and some chemically modified β-cyclodextrins (hydroxyethyl β-cyclodextrin with average substitution degree per anhydroglucose unit 0.6, 1.0 and 1.6; hydroxyproyl β-cyclodextrin with average substitution degree per anhydroglucose unit 0.6 and 0.9) was studied using phase-solubility analysis and molecular modelling. The amorphous carriers exhibit similar solubilizing effects and complexing abilities, which are reflected by a comparable increase in drug dissolution rate to about the same extent from equimolar blends with each chemically modified β-cyclodextrin. X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry data indicate a role of the degree of substitution of the carrier in the decrease in crystallinity of naproxen in equimolar blends with chemically modified β-cyclodextrins.

Solid combinations of naproxen with amorphous hydroxypropyl derivatives of α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrin with an average substitution degree per anhydroglucose unit of 0.6 were investigated for thermal behaviour (differential scanning calorimetry), drug crystallinity (X-ray diffractometry), and dissolution rate (dispersed amount and rotating disc methods). Phase-solubility analysis and computer-aided molecular modelling were carried out to study the inclusion complexation of naproxen with hydroxypropyl cyclodextrins. The cavity size of the host is a selective factor for the solubilizing effect, complexing ability, and dissolution rate enhancement on naproxen, hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin being markedly the most effective derivative. No relationship was found between the decrease in crystallinity of the drug dispersed in the amorphous carrier matrix and the geometrical features of the cyclodextrin macrocycle.

This study examined for the first time the effect of low-energy ultrasound (US), used alone or in combination with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), on viniferin production in cell cultures of Vitis vinifera L. cv Alphonse Lavallée. Cell suspensions were exposed for 2 min to US (power 30, 60, and 90 mW cm(-3)). The highest viniferin production was obtained at 30 mW cm(-3). When sonication was performed twice, the effect on viniferin production was negligible, whereas triple sonication slightly increased production. US treatment at 30 mW cm(-3) for 5 min decreased viniferin production and induced cellular death. The combined use of MeJA and US (2 min) increased the production of δ-viniferin, the dominant stilbene, more than each elicitor used alone. These results suggest that low-energy US, alone and in combination with MeJA, can act as a physical elicitor to stimulate viniferin production in V. vinifera cell cultures.

The synthesis, BZR binding activity, and GABA ratio of some 1,2,4-tria- zolo[1,5-a]quinoxalines and imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalines are reported. Both series of compounds displayed similar affinities while their effi- cacies were different. The structure-activity relationships have pro- vided the opportunity to localize on the BZR accessory areas which are able to enhance the affinity and evaluate the importance of the presence or absence of a proton acceptor atom to determine different trends of efficacy

Electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) allows the separation of closely related substances by the detection of fine effects in analyte-separation system interactions. With the goal of understanding the fine effects involved in separation using a dual cyclodextrin-microemulsion EKC system, an integrated study of NMR and molecular modeling was carried out. The above dual cyclodextrin-microemulsion system was previously used in the separation of clemastine and its related substances and was prepared by the addition of methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DMβCD) to an oil-in-water microemulsion. The use of DMβCD was shown to be essential in the separation of clemastine from one of its related substance (I(B) ). A molecular modeling study allowed the different affinities of clemastine and I(B) for the two cyclodextrins to be explained. Furthermore, rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy NMR experiments clearly indicated that besides the primary pseudostationary phase, namely the ionic microemulsion, cyclodextrins acted as a secondary pseudostationary phase. In addition, it was shown that inclusion complexation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) monomers into the cyclodextrins cavity occurs; differently, the oil (n-heptane) used in the preparation of microemulsion system resulted to be not included into the macrocycle cavity. These experimental results were supported by molecular modeling, which highlighted the preferential inclusion of SDS into DMβCD. On the basis of these results, it was confirmed that, besides its primary role as the ionic carrier in EKC, SDS is involved in inclusion equilibria toward CDs, which can be effective in increasing the system selectivity.

The aim of this paper is to study the use of computer molecular modelling and 1 H-NMR NOE data for gaining insight into the mode of inclusion of the ibuproxam (IBX) molecule in the hydrophobic cavity of β-cyclodextrin (βCyD) in solution. In the IBX-βCyD complex, the guest molecule shows very favourable structural features for a spectroscopic investigation of this type. The interatomic distances relative to some atoms of the IBX-βCyD complex, were calculated with molecular graphic systems. Through the comparison between the experimental values of nuclear Overhauser enhancements and the theoretical data obtained with molecular modelling studies, it was possible to establish the real structure of the IBX-βCyD complex in solution.

Three novel 2,7-substituted acridine derivatives were designed and synthesized to investigate the effect of this functionalization on their interaction with double-stranded and G-quadruplex DNA. Detailed investigations of their ability to bind both forms of DNA were carried out by using spectrophotometric, electrophoretic, and computational approaches. The ligands in this study are characterized by an open-chain (L1) or a macrocyclic (L2, L3) framework. The aliphatic amine groups in the macrocycles are joined by ethylene (L2) or propylene chains (L3). L1 behaved similarly to the lead compound m-AMSA, efficiently intercalating into dsDNA, but stabilizing G-quadruplex structures poorly, probably due to the modest stabilization effect exerted by its protonated polyamine chains. L2 and L3, containing small polyamine macrocyclic frameworks, are known to adopt a rather bent and rigid conformation; thus they are generally expected to be sterically impeded from recognizing dsDNA according to an intercalative binding mode. This was confirmed to be true for L3. Nevertheless, we show that L2 can give rise to efficient π-π and H-bonding interactions with dsDNA. Additionally, stacking interactions allowed L2 to stabilize the G-quadruplex structure: using the human telomeric sequence, we observed the preferential induction of tetrameric G-quadruplex forms. Thus, the presence of short ethylene spacers seems to be essential for obtaining a correct match between the binding sites of L2 and the nucleobases on both DNA forms investigated. Furthermore, current modeling methodologies, including docking and MD simulations and free energy calculations, provide structural evidence of an interaction mode for L2 that is different from that of L3; this could explain the unusual stabilizing ability of the ligands (L2 > L3 > L1 ) toward G-quadruplex that was observed in this study.

The synthesis of the new tricyclic heteroaromatic system 5H-1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine, diazaanalogue of 5H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine, which is the common feature of some antitumor antibiotics, is reported. The structure of the new tricyclic system and of some of its key intermediates is assigned by means of nuclear magnetic resonance studies.

The synthesis, ability to displace [3H]flunitrazepam binding from bovine brain membranes, and GABA ratio of some [1]benzopyranopyrroles 1a-i and [1]benzopyrano-1,2,3-triazoles 2a,b are reported. The GABA ratios of some previously synthesized pyrazoloquinolines A and [1]benzopyranopyrazoles C are also presented in order to draw some structure-activity relationships among our benzodiazepine receptor ligands. 1,3-Diarylpyrrole derivatives 1a-h show similar affinity and efficacy to that of diazepam, while the 1-aryltriazoles 2a,b have no receptor affinity. Comparison of the latter results with those on previously reported compounds suggests that there are several hydrophobic regions on the benzodiazepine recognition site whose occupation gives rise to different affinity and efficacy.

The parent 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline was prepared by a few-step reaction from ethyl N 1 (2-nitrophenyl)-N 3 -ethoxalyloxamidrazonate, which afforded the key intermediate diethyl 1-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dicarboxylate in satisfactory yield. The latter was cyclized, hydrolyzed, decarboxylated, reduced and dehydrogenated to yield the title compound

A series of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4-ones was synthesized and evaluated for bovine brain adenosine A1 and A2A receptor binding affinity. Substituents at positions 5 and/or 6 were varied in order to define the structure-activity relationships in these new kinds of adenosine receptor ligands. The most selective and potent ligand among the reported compounds was the 1,4-dihydro-1-phenyl-3-methyl-6-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrano[2,3-c]pyraz ol-4-one 11 which showed a 27-fold selectivity for A1 receptor and a Ki value of 84 nM.

The synthesis of the new tricyclic heteroaromatic system 5H-1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine, diazaanalogue of 5H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine, which is the common feature of some antitumor antibiotics, is reported. The structure of the new tricyclic system and of some of its key intermediates is assigned by means of nuclear magnetic resonance studies.