Biomedical subjects

Egidio Giorgio

Publications and source records attributed to Egidio Giorgio.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Enantioselective nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors identified through a multidisciplinary medicinal chemistry approach.

To identify enantioselective nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors, a multidisciplinary medicinal chemistry approach was pursued. First, our earlier CoMFA model [Bioorg. Med. Chem. 1998,6, 377-388] was extended taking purposely into account previously discovered enantioselective aromatase inhibitors. The 3D QSAR model was then exploited to design chiral ligands, whose configurational assignment was obtained, after HPLC separation, by means of a combination of circular dichroism measurements and time dependent density functional calculations. Finally, the new enantiomeric inhibitors were separately tested to ascertain both their potency against the cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19; EC 1.14.14.1), and their selectivity relative to another enzyme of the P450 family. A satisfactory agreement between experimental and predicted data allowed us to assert that a properly built "enantioselective CoMFA model" might constitute a useful tool for addressing enantioselective ligands design.

Aromatase↗

PubMed2005

Theoretical simulation of the electronic circular dichroism spectrum of calicheamicin.

The aglycon, or so-called 'warhead' portion, of several potent 10-membered ring enediyne antitumor antibiotics contain dienonecarbamate and enediyne chromophores in an unusual bicyclic ring structure in which these two subunits are essentially orthogonal to each other. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the calicheamicin, esperamicin, and shisijimicin A families, all of which contain this bicyclic ring system, exhibit a characteristic negative exciton coupled CD at about 310 and 270 nm. This signature CD feature suggested the absolute stereochemical relationship between these chromophores as originally assigned and which was later confirmed by stereospecific total synthesis. Because of the unique nature of this chromophoric interaction and the importance of using this CD spectral feature in the assignment of the absolute stereochemistry of other related enediynes, we report here simulations of the CD spectra of the calicheamicin aglycon A, and of two other truncated models, B and C, by using density functional theory (DFT) and the DeVoe coupled oscillator approach. The DFT calculations provide a strong theoretical basis that the planar enediyne chromophore alone gives a negligible CD contribution, while that coming from the twisted dienonecarbamate is much more substantial. However, the shape and the largest part of the intensity of experimental CD spectrum can only be reproduced when the two unsaturated moieties are simultaneously present. Thus, the exciton coupling between the two chromophores provides the most important contribution to the experimental CD spectrum of calicheamicin. This conclusion is in full agreement with the results from the DeVoe calculation.

Aminoglycosides↗

PubMed2005

Determination of the absolute configuration of flexible molecules by ab initio ORD calculations: a case study with cytoxazones and isocytoxazones.

Ab initio calculations of the optical rotatory power of the natural cytokine modulator cytoxazone 1 and its trans-diastereomer 2, as well as the structural isomers cis-3 and trans-4 isocytoxazones, have been performed at four different wavelengths (589, 546, 435, and 405 nm) by Density Functional Theory. The calculation of ORD curves provides a reliable method for the assignment of absolute configuration of these conformationally flexible molecules. The absolute configurations of isocytoxazones has been established as (+)-(4R,5S)-cis-3 and (+)-(4S,5S)-trans-4.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗

PubMed2005

Atropisomeric (R,R)-2,2'-Bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)quinolinophane) and (R,R)-1,1'-Bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)isoquinolinophane): synthesis, structural analysis, and chiroptical properties.

Atropisomeric (R,R)-2,2'-bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)quinolinophane) [(R,R)-1] and (R,R)-1,1'-bi([2]paracyclo[2](5,8)isoquinolinophane) [(R,R)-2] have been prepared in moderate overall yield (17 and 9%, respectively) by a four-step sequence starting from (R)-(-)-4-amino[2.2]paracyclophane and (R)-(-)-4-carboxy[2.2]paracyclophane, respectively. The structures have been determined on the basis of NOE (1)H NMR analysis and molecular mechanics (MM) calculations performed with a Spartan02 program, using the MMF94s force field. A preliminary, qualitative analysis of the chiroptical properties of these two compounds has also been attempted. The main spectral data can be interpreted in terms of an almost planar 2,2'-bisquinoline chromophore inserted in a paracyclophane structure in the case of (R,R)-1, while in the case of (R,R)-2, the main role is played by a distorted 1,1'-bisisoquinoline chromophore. On the basis of the above structural results, a hypothesis about the enantioselection capability of these two molecules has also been formulated.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Assignment of the absolute configuration of (+)-diplopyrone, the main phytotoxin produced by Diplodia mutila, the pathogen of the cork oak decline, by a nonempirical analysis of its chiroptical properties.

The nonempirical assignment of the absolute configuration of (+)-diplopyrone, the main phytotoxin of Diplodia mutila, i.e., an endophytic fungus, widespread in Sardinian oak forests, and considered one of the main causes of cork oak decline, has been approached by two different methods: (a) the exciton analysis of the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and (b) the ab initio calculation of the optical rotatory power. Both methods indicate that (+)-diplopyrone is 6-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2,4a(S),6(R),8a(S)-tetrahydropyrano[3,2-b]pyran-2-one, so the stereostructure of this important biomolecule is safely determined for the first time. A comparison of advantages and limitations of the two methods of analysis is also presented.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMed2004

Non-empirical assignment of the absolute configuration of (-)-naringenin, by coupling the exciton analysis of the circular dichroism spectrum and the ab initio calculation of the optical rotatory power.

The non-empirical assignment of the absolute configuration of (-)-naringenin, the aglycone of (-)-naringin, a flavanone glycoside abundant in the albedo of immature grapefruits and showing several interesting biological properties, has been approached by two different methods: (a) the exciton analysis of the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and (b) the ab initio calculation of the optical rotatory power. Both the methods indicate the configurational correlation (-)/(S), as empirically suggested by Gaffield. A comparison of advantages and limitations of the two methods of analysis is also presented.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMed2004

Ab initio calculation of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) curves: a simple and reliable approach to the assignment of the molecular absolute configuration.

In this paper, both Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods have been used to make ab initio calculations of the optical rotatory power of selected molecules at several wavelengths; that is, part of the optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) curve has been predicted. This approach constitutes a new, simple, and reliable method to assign the molecular absolute configuration, at least for rigid molecules such as those studied in the present work. In fact, in this way, it is possible to overcome the difficulties connected to some relevant cases, in particular that of (-)-beta-pinene, for which even a very high-level (DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p)) calculation affords the wrong sign of the optical rotation at 633 nm. On the contrary, the predicted ORD curve, even using small basis sets, reproduces (below 400 nm) the experimental trend well, allowing for the correct configurational assignment. This result clearly shows that to have a reliable configurational assignment the comparison between experimental and predicted rotation values must be carried out at different wavelengths and not at a single frequency. The reason for this is that working at wavelengths approaching the absorption maximum the [alpha](lambda) values become larger and their prediction becomes more reliable. Coupling the use of an inexpensive instrument (a polarimeter working at a few wavelengths) with the use of a DFT-calculation package can also allow the experimental organic chemist to arrive, quickly and reliably, at the assignment of the molecular absolute configuration.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Structural determinations by circular dichroism spectra analysis using coupled oscillator methods: an update of the applications of the DeVoe polarizability model.

The exciton (coupled oscillator) model for optical activity is a very useful and powerful method which allows to analyze a circular dichroism (CD) spectrum in a nonempirical way, arriving at a safe assignment of the absolute configuration of organic and inorganic compounds. Usually in this model only the exciton coupling of two electrically allowed transitions (oscillators) is taken into account. This approach has the important advantage of an easy application but, sometimes, it may lead to wrong results. Thus, in this review article a more general treatment, which allows considering the simultaneous coupling of several oscillators, i.e., the DeVoe model, is presented and critically analyzed, discussing in detail the latest applications reported in the literature. In the authors opinion, since the DeVoe model joins generality and reliability requiring an almost negligible computational effort, it represents the method of choice for stereochemical assignments, even by nonspecialists.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Circular dichroism spectra and absolute configuration of some aryl methyl sulfoxides.

The absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of three aryl sulfoxides, i.e. (-)-(S)-1-naphthyl methyl sulfoxide, (S)-1, (-)-(S)-1-(2-methyl)naphthyl methyl sulfoxide, (S)-2 and (-)-(S)-9-phenanthryl methyl sulfoxide, (S)-3, have been interpreted by means of the coupled oscillator model formulated by DeVoe. Theoretical spectra have been calculated starting from input geometries provided by molecular mechanics (MMX) calculations and by employing standard spectroscopic parameters to describe the allowed transitions of the aromatic and the sulfoxide chromophores. The satisfactory agreement between the predicted and experimental spectra allows us to confirm the configurational assignment of these compounds as (-)/(S). The analysis of CD spectra, affording the right assignment of the absolute configuration (AC) of the alkyl aryl sulfoxides, then offers a practical alternative to the more complex vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy and ab initio optical rotation calculation techniques that have been used very recently to assign the AC of (-)-2 and (-)-3.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Assignment of the molecular absolute configuration through the ab initio Hartree-Fock calculation of the optical rotation: can the circular dichroism data help in reducing basis set requirements?

In this paper the calculation of the optical rotation (OR) of some rigid organic molecules, using the Hartree-Fock method with small (6-31G, DZP) basis sets, has been studied thoroughly to carefully evaluate the scope and limitations of this method, previously introduced by other authors. Calculations on test molecules (compounds 1-13) together with a careful analysis of their CD spectra allow a simple criterion for the reliability of this approach to be formulated: for unsaturated and/or aromatic (i.e., absorbing in the near-UV region) molecules, if the [alpha](D) is quantitatively determined by the lowest energy Cotton effect (at wavelengths >220 nm), then the HF/6-31G result is reliable. The usefulness of this method for the experimental organic chemist has been further demonstrated because the OR (sign and order of magnitude) of compounds 14-19 (i.e., large molecules having considerable interest in organic chemistry), which fulfill the above criterion and for which an extended basis set treatment is not feasible owing to their size, is correctly predicted.

Journal Article↗