The synthesis and SAR of a novel 3-benzazepine series of 5-HT2C agonists is described. Compound 7d (lorcaserin, APD356) was identified as one of the more potent and selective compounds in vitro (pEC50 values in functional assays measuring [(3)H]phosphoinositol turnover: 5-HT2C = 8.1; 5-HT2A = 6.8; 5-HT2B = 6.1) and was potent in an acute in vivo rat food intake model upon oral administration (ED50 at 6 h = 18 mg/kg). Lorcaserin was further characterized in a single-dose pharmacokinetic study in rat (t1/2 = 3.7 h; F = 86%) and a 28-day model of weight gain in growing Sprague-Dawley rat (8.5% decrease in weight gain observed at 36 mg/kg b.i.d.). Lorcaserin was selected for further evaluation in clinical trials for the treatment of obesity.

APD334 was discovered as part of our internal effort to identify potent, centrally available, functional antagonists of the S1P 1 receptor for use as next generation therapeutics for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. APD334 is a potent functional antagonist of S1P 1 and has a favorable PK/PD profile, producing robust lymphocyte lowering at relatively low plasma concentrations in several preclinical species. This new agent was efficacious in a mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS and a rat collagen induced arthritis (CIA) model and was found to have appreciable central exposure.

An optically active total synthesis of calphostin D (la) through dimerization of the chiral o-naphthoquinone 6 has been accomplished. The mechanism of the dimerization has been shown to be an acid-catalyzed process.

Besides potential surface activity and some beneficial physical properties, biosurfactants express antibacterial activity. Bacterial cell membrane disrupting ability of rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa C2 and a lipopeptide type biosurfactant, BS15 produced by Bacillus stratosphericus A15 was examined against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli K8813. Broth dilution technique was followed to examine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both the biosurfactants. The combined effect of rhamnolipid and BS15 against S. aureus and E. coli showed synergistic activity by expressing fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of 0.43 and 0.5. Survival curve of both the bacteria showed bactericidal activity after treating with biosurfactants at their MIC obtained from FIC index study as it killed >90% of initial population. The lesser value of MIC than minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the biosurfactants also supported their bactericidal activity against both the bacteria. Membrane permeability against both the bacteria was supported by amplifying protein release, increasing of cell surface hydrophobicity, withholding capacity of crystal violet dye and leakage of intracellular materials. Finally cell membrane disruption was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All these experiments expressed synergism and effective bactericidal activity of the combination of rhamnolipid and BS15 by enhancing the bacterial cell membrane permeability. Such effect of the combination of rhamnolipid and BS15 could make them promising alternatives to traditional antibiotic in near future.

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Two distinct and scalable enantioselective approaches to the tricyclic indole (R)-2-(7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-1-yl)acetate, an important synthon for a preclinical S1P(1) receptor agonist, are reported. Route 1 employs a modified version of Smith's modular 2-substituted indole synthesis as the key transformation. Route 2 involves a highly enantioselective CuH-catalyzed 1,4-hydrosilylation as the stereodefining step. Both routes can be performed without chromatography to provide multigram quantities of the tricycle in ≥98% ee.

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Bacterial extracellular polymeric substances, which are basically bacterial metabolites, have currently become a subject of great concern of modern day microbiologists and biotechnologists. Among these metabolites, bacterial exopolysaccharides or EPS, in particular, have gained a significant importance. EPS are formed by the bacteria in their late exponential or stationary phase of growth under special situations for specific purposes. They take part in the formation of bacterial biofilms. There is a great diversity in the types of EPS. Strikingly enough, a same species of bacterium can produce different types of EPS under different situations. The importance of EPS is largely because of their different applications in various industries. Now that the bacterial EPS has got the potentiality to become an upcoming tool in various futuristic applications of human benefit, the focus currently develops towards how better they can be produced in the laboratory by promoting the favorable factors for their production. While studying with different EPS forming bacteria, both the intrinsic factors like genetic configuration of the bacteria and the extrinsic factors like culture conditions under the influence of different physico-chemical parameters in order to maximize the EPS production have been taken into consideration. Both the factors have proved their worth. Hence, towards a better outcome for EPS production, it is indicated that a genetic manipulation of the bacteria should be synchronized with a proper selection of its culture condition by controlling different physico-chemical parameters.