Chunlong Yang

Bio: Chunlong Yang is an academic researcher from Nanjing Agricultural University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Moiety & Phenylhydrazine. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 34 publications receiving 207 citations.

Expedient Discovery for Novel Antifungal Leads Targeting Succinate Dehydrogenase: Pyrazole-4-formylhydrazide Derivatives Bearing a Diphenyl Ether Fragment.

Abstract: The pyrazole-4-carboxamide scaffold containing a flexible amide chain has emerged as the molecular skeleton of highly efficient agricultural fungicides targeting succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Based on the above vital structural features of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI), three types of novel pyrazole-4-formylhydrazine derivatives bearing a diphenyl ether moiety were rationally conceived under the guidance of a virtual docking comparison between bioactive molecules and SDH. Consistent with the virtual verification results of a molecular docking comparison, the in vitro antifungal bioassays indicated that the skeleton structure of title compounds should be optimized as an N'-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbohydrazide scaffold. Strikingly, N'-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbohydrazide derivatives 11o against Rhizoctonia solani, 11m against Fusarium graminearum, and 11g against Botrytis cinerea exhibited excellent antifungal effects, with corresponding EC50 values of 0.14, 0.27, and 0.52 μg/mL, which were obviously better than carbendazim against R. solani (0.34 μg/mL) and F. graminearum (0.57 μg/mL) as well as penthiopyrad against B. cinerea (0.83 μg/mL). The relative studies on an in vivo bioassay against R. solani, bioactive evaluation against SDH, and molecular docking were further explored to ascertain the practical value of compound 11o as a potential fungicide targeting SDH. The present work provided a non-negligible complement for the structural optimization of antifungal leads targeting SDH.

Novel Pyrazole-4-acetohydrazide Derivatives Potentially Targeting Fungal Succinate Dehydrogenase: Design, Synthesis, Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, and Molecular Docking.

Abstract: Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) have emerged in fungicide markets as one of the fastest-growing categories that are widely applied in agricultural production for crop protection. Currently, the structural modification focusing on the flexible amide link of SDHI molecules is being gradually identified as one of the innovative strategies for developing novel highly efficient and broad-spectrum fungicides. Based on the above structural features, a series of pyrazole-4-acetohydrazide derivatives potentially targeting fungal SDH were constructed and evaluated for their antifungal effects against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium graminearum, and Botrytis cinerea. Strikingly, the in vitro EC50 values of constructed pyrazole-4-acetohydrazides 6w against R. solani, 6c against F. graminearum, and 6f against B. cinerea were, respectively, determined as 0.27, 1.94, and 1.93 μg/mL, which were obviously superior to that of boscalid against R. solani (0.94 μg/mL), fluopyram against F. graminearum (9.37 μg/mL), and B. cinerea (1.94 μg/mL). Concurrently, the effects of the substituent steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen-bond fields on structure-activity relationships were elaborated by the reliable comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity index analysis models. Subsequently, the practical value of pyrazole-4-acetohydrazide derivative 6w as a potential SDHI was ascertained by the relative surveys on the in vivo anti-R. solani preventative efficacy, inhibitory effects against fungal SDH, and molecular docking studies. The present results provide an indispensable complement for the structural optimization of antifungal leads potentially targeting SDH.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antifungal Activity of Novel Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazine Derivatives.

Abstract: A series of novel fused heterocyclic compounds bearing benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazine 4a–4w were designed and conveniently synthesized via the intermediates 2-(halogenated alkyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles 2a, 2b, and 2-((1-(substituted phenyl)hydrazinyl)alkyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles 3a–3g. The structures of all target compounds were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and EI-MS, of which, the structure of compound 4n was further determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of 4n was crystallized in the triclinic crystal system, space group P 1 ¯ with a = 9.033 (6) A, b = 10.136 (7) A, c = 10.396 (7) A, α = 118.323 (7)°, β = 91.750 (8)°, γ = 104.198 (7)°, Z = 2, V = 800.2 (9) A3; total R indices: R1 = 0.0475, wR2 = 0.1284. The antifungal activity of title compounds 4a–4w in vitro against the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea), Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) and Colletotrichum capsici (C. capsici) were evaluated, the bioassay results demonstrated that most of the title compounds exhibited obvious fungicidal activities at 50 μg/mL. This work indicated that benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazine derivatives could be considered as a new leading structure in searching for novel agricultural fungicides.

Design and synthesis of novel 2-(6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl)-N'-phenylacethydrazide derivatives as potential fungicides.

Abstract: A series of novel 2-(6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl)-N′-phenylacethydrazide derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal activities against Fusarium graminearum (Fg), Rhizoctonia solani (Rs), Botrytis cinerea (Bc) and Colletotrichum capsici (Cc). The bioassay results in vitro showed that most of the title compounds exhibited impressive antifungal activities against the above plant fungi. Particularly, the compounds 5c, 5f, 5g, 5i, 5m and 5p displayed desirable anti-Rs activities, with the corresponding EC50 values of 0.37, 0.32, 0.49, 0.50, 0.46 and 0.45 µg/mL, respectively, which are superior to the positive control carbendazim (0.55 µg/mL). Further in vivo bioassay results showed that the anti-Rs activity of title compound 5f at 200 µg/mL reached 95.84% on detached rice leaves and 93.96% on rice plants. Featuring convenient synthesis, novel structures and desirable antifungal activity, these 2-(6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl)-N′-phenylacethydrazide derivatives could be further studied as the potential candidates of novel agricultural fungicides.

Fluorinated Pyrazoles: From Synthesis to Applications.

Abstract: Fluorinated pyrazoles play an important role in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, agrochemistry, coordination chemistry, and organometallic chemistry. Since the early 1990s, their popularity has grown exponentially. Moreover, more than 50% of all contributions on the topic have been published in the last 5 years. In this review, analysis of novel synthetic approaches to fluorinated pyrazoles that appeared in recent years is performed. A particular emphasis is devoted to a detailed consideration of reaction mechanisms. In addition, the reasons that have led to the ever-increasing popularity of fluorinated pyrazoles in various areas of science are discussed. At the end of the review, several potentially interesting but yet mostly unknown classes of fluorinated pyrazoles are outlined.

Design, Synthesis, Antiviral Bioactivity, and Defense Mechanisms of Novel Dithioacetal Derivatives Bearing a Strobilurin Moiety.

Abstract: A series of dithioacetal derivatives bearing a strobilurin moiety were designed and synthesized on the basis of our previous work. The antiviral activities of these compounds against Potato virus Y (PVY), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were systematically evaluated. Bioassay results indicated that C14 elicited excellent curative and protective activities against PVY, CMV, and TMV. The former had 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of 125.3, 108.9, and 181.7 μg/mL, respectively, and the latter had 148.4, 113.2, and 214.6 μg/mL, respectively, which were significantly superior to those of lead compound 6f (297.6, 259.6, and 582.4 μg/mL and 281.5, 244.3, and 546.3 μg/mL, respectively), Ningnanmycin (440.5, 549.1, and 373.8 μg/mL and 425.3, 513.3, and 242.7 μg/mL, respectively), Chitosan oligosaccharide (553.4, 582.8, and 513.8 μg/mL and 547.3, 570.6, and 507.9 μg/mL, respectively), and Ribavirin (677.4, 690.3, and 686.5 μg/mL and 652.7, 665.4, and 653.4 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, defensive enzyme activities and RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that the antiviral activity was associated with the changes of SOD, CAT, and POD activities in tobacco, which was proved by the related proteins of abscisic acid signaling pathway. This work provided a basis for further design, structural modification, and development of dithioacetal derivatives as new antiviral agents.

Novel chalcone derivatives containing a 1,2,4-triazine moiety: design, synthesis, antibacterial and antiviral activities

Abstract: A series of novel chalcone derivatives containing the 1,2,4-triazine moiety were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analyses. Antiviral bioassays revealed that most of the compounds exhibited good antiviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) at a concentration of 500 μg mL−1. The designated compound 4l was 50% effective in terms of curative and protective activities against TMV with 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of 10.9 and 79.4 μg mL−1, which were better than those of ningnanmycin (81.4 and 82.2 μg mL−1). Microscale thermophoresis (MST) also showed that the binding of compound 4l to coat protein (TMV-CP) yielded a Kd value of 0.275 ± 0.160 μmol L−1, which was better than that of ningnanmycin (0.523 ± 0.250 μmol L−1). At the same time, molecular docking studies for 4l with TMV-CP (PDB code:1EI7) showed that the compound was embedded well in the pocket between the two subunits of TMV-CP. Meanwhile, compound 4a demonstrated excellent antibacterial activities against Ralstonia solanacearum (R. solanacearum), with an EC50 value of 0.1 μg mL−1, which was better than that of thiodiazole-copper (36.1 μg mL−1) and bismerthiazol (49.5 μg mL−1). The compounds act by causing folding and deformation of the bacterial cell membrane as observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chalcone derivatives thus synthesized could become potential alternative templates for novel antiviral and antibacterial agents.

Phytotoxicity of the tetramic acid metabolite trichoetin

Abstract: Trichosetin, a tetramic acid-containing metabolite produced in the dual culture of Trichoderma harzianum and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don callus, was subjected to phytotoxicity assays. In seedling growth assays, trichosetin inhibited root and shoot growth of all five plant species tested by damaging the cell membrane, as evidenced by the dose-dependent increase in electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation. Vital staining of trichosetin-treated Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 cells, with rhodamine 123, showed a weaker green fluorescence compared to controls indicating damaging effects on mitochondria. FDA-PI staining, to determine cell viability, indicated that cells of the trichosetin-treated roots were mostly dead.