RSC Medicinal Chemistry Blog

A recent publication in MedChemComm from Doaa A. E. Issa et al.reports the synthesis and biological properties of a series of compounds containing the quinoxaline pharmacophore. Their choice of the quinoxaline motif was inspired by the antineoplastic and antimicrobial activity of other compounds containing this group.

Issa et al. synthesised a total of 15 compounds via a key hydrazino intermediate and evaluated 10 candidates at a single high dose for antitumour activity in the National Cancer Institute-60 cell screen. Compounds showing activity were further evaluated in a multi-dose assay. The team went on to assess the in vitro antibacterial activity and antifungal properties.

They found that several compounds in the series display antibacterial activity and one compound possesses both broad spectrum anticancer activity and antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 1,2,4-triazolo and 1,2,4-triazino[4,3-a]quinoxalines as potential anticancer and antimicrobial agents
Doaa A. E. Issa, Nargues S. Habib and Abeer E. Abdel Wahab
Med. Chem. Commun., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/C4MD00257A

Can you explain the importance of chemistry to human health in just 1 minute? If you’re an early-career researcher who is up to the challenge, making a 1 minute video could win you £500.

The chemical sciences will be fundamental in helping us meet the healthcare challenges of the future, and we are committed to ensuring that they contribute to their full potential. As part of our work in this area, we are inviting undergraduate and PhD students, post-docs and those starting out their career in industry to produce an original video that demonstrates the importance of chemistry in health.

We are looking for imaginative ways of showcasing how chemistry helps us address healthcare challenges. Your video should be no longer than 1 minute, and you can use any approach you like.

The winner will receive a £500 cash prize, with a £250 prize for second place and £150 prize for third place up for grabs too.

Stuck for inspiration? Last year’s winning video is a good place to start. John Gleeson’s video was selected based on the effective use of language, dynamic style, creativity and its accurate content.

The closing date for entries to be submitted is 30 January 2015. Our judging panel will select the top five videos. We will then publish the shortlisted videos online and open the judging to the public to determine the winner and the runners up.

For more details on how to enter the competition and who is eligible, join us at the Take 1… page.

Good luck!