Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Cancer Research
Demasio TImmons - Morehouse College
Co-Author(s): Idris Wazeerud-Din, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA
Midazopyridines are an important class of heterocyclic compounds that have been widely explored in medicinal chemistry. They have exhibited very promising antiproliferative properties against castration-resistant prostate cancer cells. The synthetic approach previously developed in our lab involves the reaction of pyridine ketone with aldehydes under thermal condition. The reaction usually requires more than 10 hours. Our goal in this research is to explore new synthetic approach that can shorten reaction time and enhance the reaction efficiency. Microwave accelerated synthesis is a relatively new scientific methodology. This technique involves using microwave radiation, converting it into heat at a high efficiency rate, and allows superheating of a particular vessel to be achieved at a constant pressure. This type of synthesis causes remarkable accelerations in reaction time, as compared to traditional synthesis techniques. We speculated that using a microwave condition will increase the reaction rate of the synthesis of imidazopyridines. It is found that the reaction is indeed completed in less than 40 minutes, a remarkable acceleration compared to the reaction without using microwave condition. The good to excellent yields are also obtained. The microwave reaction is applicable to a variety of aldehyde substrates, therefore, allowing the preparation of imidazopyridines in a wide scope. Several ammonia sources are examined as well. The optimal condition has been obtained including the source of ammonia and ratio of substrates. This enhanced synthesis provides the new approach to prepare the imidazopyridines that can be used in antiproliferative property study.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation GA-AL LSAMP
Faculty Advisor: Idris Wazeerud-Din, idris.wazeerud_din@students.cau.edu
Role: I did each segment of the experiment except for the NMR portion of the experiment. That was done by my mentor.