title: Synthesis of rubrolide analogues as new inhibitors of the photosynthetic electron transport chain.
abstract: Many natural products have been used as a model for the development of new drugs and agrochemicals. Following this strategy 11 rubrolide analogues, bearing electron-withdrawing and -donating groups at both benzene rings, were prepared starting from commercially available mucobromic acid. The ability of all compounds to inhibit the photosynthetic electron transport chain in the chloroplast was investigated. The rubrolide analogues were effective in interfering with the light-driven ferricyanide reduction by isolated chloroplasts. The IC(50) values of the most active derivatives are in fact only 1 order of magnitude higher than those of commercial herbicides sharing the same mode of action, such as Diuron (0.27 μM). QSAR studies indicate that the most efficient compounds are those having higher ability to accept electrons, either by a reduction process or by an electrophilic reaction mechanism. The results obtained suggest that the rubrolide analogues represent promising candidates for the development of new active principles targeting photosynthesis to be used as herbicides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa, Avenida P. H. Rolfs, CEP 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil. lcab@ufv.br
authors.forename: Luiz C A
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Célia R A
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Maltha
authors.forename: Mateus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lage
authors.forename: Rosimeire C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Barcelos
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donà
authors.forename: José W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forlani
mesh_terms: D004579:Electron Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D005663:Furans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D005663:Furans