Synthesis and radical scavenging activity of phenol-imidazole conjugates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.04.026

Novel hydroxylated benzylideneamino imidazole derivatives were synthesized and their radical scavenging activity was assessed against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. In the DPPH assay, most of the synthesized compounds showed an IC ₅₀ in the range

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.04.026

Accepted Manuscript
Synthesis and radical scavenging activity of phenol-imidazole conjugates
Carla Correia, Cláudia Leite, M. Fernanda Proença, M. Alice Carvalho
PII:
S0960-894X(14)00362-X
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.04.026
BMCL 21519
DOI:
Reference:
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
To appear in:
Received Date:
Revised Date:
Accepted Date:
23 December 2013
31 March 2014
1 April 2014
Please cite this article as: Correia, C., Leite, C., Fernanda Proença, M., Alice Carvalho, M., Synthesis and radical
scavenging activity of phenol-imidazole conjugates, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2014), doi: http://
dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.04.026
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Synthesis and radical scavenging activity of phenol-imidazole conjugates
Carla Correia, Cláudia Leite, M. Fernanda Proença and M. Alice Carvalho*
Centro de Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar,
4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Corresponding author: M. Alice Carvalho
*Fax: +351 (253) 604 382.
*E-mail: mac@quimica.uminho.pt.
Keywords: radical scavengers; DPPH radical; deoxyribose assay; phenol-imidazole
conjugates
Abstract
Novel hydroxylated benzylideneamino imidazole derivatives were synthesized and their
radical scavenging activity was assessed against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. In the DPPH
assay, most of the synthesized compounds showed an IC50 in the range 3.2 µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 8.4
µM, lower than the reference compound trolox (IC50 = 9.5 µM) or the parent aldehydes (5.4
µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 11.6 µM). The activity depends mainly on the phenolic subunit (number and
position of the hydroxyl groups) and the extent of conjugation with the imidazole ring. In the
deoxyribose assay, all the compounds, including parent imidazoles and aldehydes, showed
high activity against the hydroxyl radical and the ability to chelate iron ions. At 5 µM
concentration, the compounds protected the deoxyribose from degradation by hydroxyl
radical between 62-38%.

2
Synthesis and radical scavenging activity of phenol-imidazole conjugates
Carla Correia, Cláudia Leite, M. Fernanda Proença and M. Alice Carvalho*
Centro de Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar,
4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Novel hydroxylated benzylideneamino imidazole derivatives were synthesized and their
radical scavenging activity was assessed against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. In the DPPH
assay, most of the synthesized compounds showed an IC50 in the range 3.2 µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 8.4
µM, lower than the reference compound trolox (IC50 = 9.5 µM) or the parent aldehydes (5.4
µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 11.6 µM). The activity depends mainly on the phenolic subunit (number and
position of the hydroxyl groups) and the extent of conjugation with the imidazole ring. In the
deoxyribose assay, all the compounds, including parent imidazoles and aldehydes, showed
high activity against the hydroxyl radical and the ability to chelate iron ions. At 5 µM
concentration, the compounds protected the deoxyribose from degradation by hydroxyl
radical between 62-38%.
Oxidative stress (OS) has been associated with a wide range of diseases such as
atherosclerosis,1 cancer,2,3 diabetes,4 acute lung injury,5,6 as well as neurodegenerative
disorders7 including Alzheimer’s8 and Parkinson’s disease9.
OS occurs when intracellular oxidizing species, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS),
increase abnormally and is often accompanied by the simultaneous loss of antioxidant
capacity. ROS are generated in living organisms by the normal oxidative metabolism that is
essential for cell survival.10 Moreover, ROS may be generated via Fenton chemical reactions
between free ions such as copper or iron ions with oxygen and in the presence of a biological
reducing agent such as ascorbate.11,12 Therefore, compounds that are able to scavenge ROS or
prevent their formation, via chelation with free metal ions, are important in disease prevention
and therapy.
In recent years, the imidazole nucleus has attracted much attention of medicinal chemists
because of its potential to generate new chemotherapeutic agents. Imidazole-containing
compounds showed to be active as anticancer,13 antimicrobial,14,15 antibacterial,16 antifungal17

3
and antioxidant18 agents. On the other hand, phenolic compounds have become a topic of
interest mainly due to their application in the food industry and medicine, as antioxidants.
They have been under very close scrutiny as potential therapeutic agents against a wide range
of ailments including neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular
dysfunctions and inflammatory diseases.19-22 Some synthetic phenolic compounds reported in
the literature,23,24 revealed high scavenging activity when they incorporate at least, a phenolic
unit with two hydroxyl groups. It is well known that the excellent scavenging properties of
polyphenols are attributed to the hydroxyl groups present.25
As part of a research program aiming to obtain new radical scavengers we combined an
imidazole ring with electron withdrawing or electron donating substituents in N1, with
phenolic subunits having one, two or three hydroxyl groups in different positions of the ring.
As far as we know the combination of these moieties through an imine linker was never
reported in literature. An imine was used as linker in order to extend resonance through the
molecule, allowing an efficient electron transfer between imidazole and the phenolic ring.
This was expected to improve the stability of the transient radicals and the ability of
compounds to chelate active ions. The radical scavenging activity of the starting imidazoles,
aldehydes and the new compounds was accessed using the DPPH and the 2-deoxy-D-ribose
methods.
The phenol-imidazole conjugates 6a-p were synthesized according to scheme 1.
Diaminomaleonitrile 1 was refluxed with triethyl ortoformate, in dioxane, to generate
compound 2.26 This compound was combined with one equivalent of amine, in ethanol,
followed by treatment with an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide to generate
compounds of structure 4.27 The target compounds 6 were obtained by reacting compounds 4
with phenolic aldehydes in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid.28 The structure of compounds
6 was confirmed by IR, NMR and elemental analysis.
In vitro radical scavenging activities were assayed against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH)29 and hydroxyl30 radicals, according to the literature with a minor modification. A
freshly prepared DPPH radical solution exhibits a deep purple colour with an absorption
maximum at 517 nm. In the presence of an antioxidant, the DPPH free radical is quenched,
generating colourless products. The reduction of absorbance at 517 nm is a measure of the
free DPPH radical scavenged by the antioxidant. For each compound, in concentrations
varying from 100 µM and 1 µM, the percentage of remaining DPPH was determined after 60
min. The IC50 values, the effective concentration at which 50% of the DPPH radicals were
scavenged, were obtained for compounds having higher scavenging activities (Table 1).

4
Trolox was used as a reference compound together with the parent imidazoles 4 and
aldehydes 5.
The deoxyribose degradation assay introduced by Gutteridge31-33 uses the Fenton reaction to
generate hydroxyl radicals that degrade the 2-deoxy-D-ribose to malonyldialdehyde (MDA).
In the presence of 2-thiobarbituric acid, MDA gives a pink pigment that absorbs at 532 nm. If
a compound added to the reaction mixture reduces the absorption at 532 nm this means that
the compound behaves as a hydroxyl radical scavenger. The method also allows assessing the
ability of the tested compounds to chelate iron ions. Compounds with ligand properties
compete with the 2-deoxy-D-ribose molecules for the iron ions, decreasing 2-deoxy-D-ribose
degradation that is caused by iron-catalyzed hydroxyl radical attack.
According to the results shown in Table 1, most of the conjugates 6 have radical scavenging
activity against DPPH radical higher than that of trolox, the reference compound, and that of
parent aldehydes 5a-e. The parent imidazoles are very weak radical scavengers. The
substituent R has only marginal influence in the radical scavenging activity of compounds 6
against DPPH radical. Compounds having different groups R and the same group R1 have
similar IC50. For example the IC50 of 6a, 6e, 6i and 6n varies between 3.2 µM and 4.4 µM.
However the substituent R1 has a remarkable influence on the radical scavenging ability of the
compounds. The higher activity is observed for compounds having R1 = 3,4-(HO)2C6H3 (3.2
µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 4.4 µM) or R1 = 3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2 (4.0 µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 5.8 µM). Compounds with
R1= 2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2 have radical scavenging activity similar to the reference compound,
trolox, (7.0 µM ≤ IC50 ≤ 8.4 µM) and compounds with R1 = 2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2 or R1= 4-HO-3-
MeOC6H3 are very weak DPPH radical scavengers. The percentage of remaining DPPH
radical in reaction mixtures using 100 µM solutions of compounds 6d, 6h and 6l (R1 = 2,4,6-
(HO)3C6H2) was about 50% and for 6m was about 90%. These results show that the radical
scavenging activity of the compounds increases when at least two vicinal hydroxyl groups are
present in the molecule. In the literature, similar results have been reported in studies of the
antioxidant activity of flavonoids35 and phenolic oximes36. The literature also reports that the
antioxidant activity of poliphenolic compounds increases when the bond dissociation enthalpy
(BDE) of the H-O bond decreases and the BDE is lower when the number of vicinal hydroxyl
groups increases.37,38 Furthermore, the BDE of O-H bond in phenols can be modulated by
substituents present around the ring. Electron-donating substituents in the para position
relative to the most reactive OH function usually decrease BDE. Considering that compounds
6b, 6c, 6f, 6g, 6j, 6k, 6o and 6p only differ in the relative position of the

5
methyleneaminoimidazole unit, the difference observed in the IC50 of these compounds can
only be attributed to this substituent. The kinetics of the reaction between compounds 6 and
the DPPH radical was followed for 60 minutes using a 10 µM solution of each compound. For
the less active compounds, a 100 µM solution was used. Figure 1 shows a selection of
examples (6e, 6f, 6g and 6h) that typically illustrate the behaviour of all the compounds
studied. Compounds with two or three vicinal hydroxyl groups show high efficiency as DPPH
radical scavengers as the percentage of the remaining DPPH, after 5 minutes, is lower than
50%. The most efficient compounds have R1=3,4-(HO)2C6H3 or 3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2 and show a
percentage of remaining DPPH lower than 50% after only 2 minutes of reaction. Compounds
having only one hydroxyl group (R1 = 4-HO-3-MeOC6H3) or compounds having multiple
non-vicinal hydroxyl groups (R1 = 2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2) behave as very slow DPPH radical
scavengers.
The results of radical scavenger activity of the tested compounds against hydroxyl radical are
also shown in table 1. Considering that the IC50 for the DPPH radical scavenger activity of the
tested compounds varies between 3,2 µM and 8,4 µM, the 2-deoxy-D-ribose assays were
performed using DMSO solutions in the range of the DPPH IC50 in order to compare the
antioxidant activity of the compounds at the same concentration.
All the compounds protect the 2-deoxy-D-ribose from degradation by hydroxyl radical at a
concentration of 5 µM (Table 1, method A). The higher protection (57 ≤ % protection ≤ 62)
was observed for derivatives 6e, 6i, 6k, 6l and 6n that showed superior activity than the
reference compound, trolox (53% protection), the parent aldehydes 5a-e (37 ≤ % protection ≤
51) and the imidazoles 4a-d (46 ≤ % protection ≤ 54). The lower protection of 2-deoxy-D-
ribose degradation was observed for derivatives 6f, 6g and 6m with percentages of protection
of 49, 38 and 47%, respectively. It should be stressed that compounds 6d, 6h and 6l having R1
= 2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2, 6m (R1=4-HO-3-MeOC6H3) aldehydes 5d,e and imidazoles 4a-d showed
a low DPPH radical scavenging activity, however in the 2-deoxy-D-ribose assay these
compounds present enhanced activity.
In the absence of EDTA (Table 1, method B) all the compounds protect 2-deoxy-D-ribose
from degradation by the hydroxyl radical. The parent imidazoles 4a-d show considerable
protection of deoxyribose degradation by complexation with iron, that depends on the
substituent R. The higher protection (57%) was observed for compound 4b (R=4-HOC6H4).
The parent aldehydes 5a-e show similar ability to coordinate with iron having a percentage of
protection of deoxyribose degradation between 30-38%. The conjugates 6a-p, resulting from

6
the combination of imidazoles 4a-d with aldehydes 5a-e, show remarkable changes in the
capacity to coordinate iron. The protection seems to depend mainly on the phenolic subunit.
Best protection was obtained from compounds 6b, 6f and 6j that have R1 = 3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2.
High protection was also observed for compounds 6a and 6e having R1 = 3,4-(HO)2C6H3 and
for compounds 6c, 6g, 6k and 6p (R1 = 2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2). Compound 6m (R1 = 4-HO-3-
MeOC6H3) and compounds 6d, 6h and 6l, with R1 = 2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2 show low protection of
2-deoxy-D-ribose from degradation by the hydroxyl radical. The parent aldehyde 5d (R1 =
2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2) show higher ability to chelate iron (% protection of deoxyribose
degradation = 36%) than that of the corresponding conjugates 6d, 6h, 6l (16 % ≤ % protection
of deoxyribose degradation ≤ 18 %). In the literature there are some examples of complexes
formed between metal ions and imidazole analogues of structure 639 that supported our
prediction on the importance of the imine linker for coordination. However in the new
derivatives reported in this work, the group R present in N1 of the imidazole subunit is close
to the imine function hindering the coordination as a result of steric interference between
ligands in the complex formation.
In conclusion, a series of new phenolic imidazole derivatives were synthesized and their
antiradical activity was assessed against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. The antiradical activity
of the parent imidazoles and phenolic aldehydes was also assessed. In the DPPH assay, the
parent imidazoles showed a marginal ability to scavenge DPPH radical however most of the
conjugates have an IC50 lower than that of the parent aldehydes and trolox, used as reference.
These results indicate that our synthetic molecules exhibit enhanced DPPH radical scavenger
activity. The radical scavenging activity against DPPH radical depends strongly on the
phenolic subunit and of conjugation with the imidazole ring, supporting the relevance of the
linker. In the 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation assay most of the compounds are comparable or
better hydroxyl radical scavengers than the parent imidazoles, aldehydes or the reference
compound. All the compounds are also able to chelate iron ions and the chelation ability is
mainly dependent on the phenolic subunit. The novel imidazole derivatives are new potent
antioxidants acting as radical scavengers or/and preventing radical formation. Studies are in
progress in order to further understand the antioxidant behaviour of the compounds.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support to Universidade do Minho, Centro
de Química and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (project nºF-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-
022716 (ref. FCT PEst-/QUI/UI0686/2011) FEDER-COMPETE, FCT-Portugal, a PhD grant

7
awarded to C. Correia (SFRH/BD/22270/2005) and support to the NMR spectrometer (Bruker
400 Avance III) that is part of the National NMR Network.
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28. General procedure for preparation of compounds 6: Compounds 2-4 were synthesized
according previously reported procedures, compound 2 is described in26, compounds 3
and 4 are described in27 . TFA (1 equiv) was added to a mixture of compound 4 (0.40 g,
1 equiv) and aldehyde 5 (1.1 equiv) in ethanol (5 mL), at room temperature under
stirring. When TLC showed the absence of the reagent, the solid was filtered and
washed with ethanol and was identified as 5. Compound 6a: Yield 70%; mp: 236-238
1
oC; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3299, 2229, 1586, 1519. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400
MHz): δΗ (ppm) 10.01 (s, 1H, OH), 9.49 (s, 1H, OH), 8.71 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.78 (s, 1H,
H-2), 7.44 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.26 (dd, J = 8.3/1.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.88 (d, J =
8.4 Hz, 1H, ArH), 3.59 (s, 3H, Me). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm)
164(Cimin), 151, 148(C-5), 146, 138(C-2), 127, 124, 117, 116(CN), 114, 97(C-4), 31.

9
Anal. Calcd for C12H10N4O2: C, 59.50; H, 4.13; N, 23.14%. Found: C, 59.55; H, 4.34;
o
N, 22.98%. Compound 6b: Yield 80%; mp: 242-244 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1):
1
3555, 3270, 2215, 1586, 1533, 1515. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 9.39
(br. s, 2H, OH), 9.19 (br. s, 1H, OH), 8.63 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.78 (s, 1H, H-2), 6.95 (s,
2H, ArH), 3.59 (s, 3H, Me). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin),
148(C-5), 146, 139, 138(C-2), 125, 117(CN), 109, 97(C-4), 31. Anal. Calcd for
C12H10N4O3.0.9H2O: C, 52.65; H, 4.43; N, 20.72%. Found: C, 52.52; H, 4.30; N,
o
20.42%. Compound 6c: Yield 70%; mp: > 275 (dec.) C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1):
1
3453, 3120, 2227, 1636, 1601, 1525. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 11.25
(s, 1H, OH), 10.18 (s, 1H, OH), 8.71 (br. s, 1H, OH), 8.98 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.79 (s, 1H,
H-2), 7.14 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.48 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 3.60 (s, 3H, Me).
13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 164(Cimin), 152, 150, 147(C-5), 138(C-2),
133, 123, 116(CN), 113, 109, 98(C-4), 31. Anal. Calcd for C12H10N4O3: C, 55.81; H,
3.87; N, 21.70%. Found: C, 55.74; H, 4.05; N, 21.58%. Compound 6d: Yield 68%; mp:
o
> 260 (dec.) C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3364, 3108, 2227, 1648, 1609, 1577,
1
1564. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 11.62 (s, 2H, OH), 10.51 (s, 1H,
OH), 9.24 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.76 (s, 1H, H-2), 5.87 (s, 2H, ArH), 3.56 (s, 3H, Me). 13C
NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 166(Cimin), 163, 161, 147(C-5), 138(C-2),
117(CN), 102, 98(C-4), 95, 31. Anal. Calcd for C12H10N4O3.0.1H2O: C, 55.43; H, 3.93;
N, 21.56%. Found: C, 55.47; H, 4.26; N, 21.18%. Compound 6e: Yield 55%; mp: 285-
o
1
287 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3433, 3127, 2231, 1611, 1591, 1521. H NMR
(DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 9.97 (s, 1H, OH), 9.90 (s, 1H, OH), 9.47 (s, 1H, OH),
8.72 (s, 1H, N=CH), 8.01 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.30 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.27 (d, J = 2.1
Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.17 (dd, J = 8.4/2.1 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.88 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.85
(d, J = 8.4 Hz, 1H, ArH). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 158,
151, 148(C-5), 146, 137(C-2), 127, 126.6, 126, 124, 117(CN), 116, 114, 115.7, 98(C-
4). Anal. Calcd for C17H12N4O3.0.4H2O: C, 62.52; H, 3.89; N, 17.16%. Found: C,
62.39; H, 3.96; N, 16.92%. Compound 6f: Yield 81%; mp: 285-287 oC; IR (Nujol mull)
(νmax/cm-1): 3309, 2238, 1605, 1586, 1519. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm)
δ 9.91 (s, 1H, OH), 9.37 (br s, 2H, OH), 9.16 (br s, 1H, OH), 8.64 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.99
(s, 1H, H-2), 7.29 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.88 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.82 (s, 2H,
ArH). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 158, 149(C-5), 146, 139,
137(C-2), 127, 126, 125, 117(CN), 116, 109, 98(C-4). Anal. Calcd for C17H12N4O4: C,

10
60.71; H, 3.57; N, 16.67%. Found: C, 60.55; H, 3.71; N, 16.69%. Compound 6g: Yield
o
98%; mp: 289-291 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3355, 3126, 2218, 1633, 1606,
1
1524, 1501. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 11.24 (s, 1H, OH), 10,15 (s,
1H, OH), 8.99 (s, 1H, N=CH),9.97 (s, 1H, OH), 8.68 (s, 1H, OH), 8.01 (s, 1H, H-2),
7.32 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.01 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.89 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H,
ArH), 6.45 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H, ArH). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm)
165(Cimin), 158, 152, 150, 147(C-5), 138(C-2), 132, 127, 125, 124, 117(CN), 116, 112,
109, 99(C-4). Anal. Calcd for C17H12N4O4.1.8H2O: C, 55.37; H, 4.23; N, 15.20%.
Found: C, 55.10; H, 4.34; N, 15.08%. Compound 6h: Yield 86%; mp: 300 oC (dec.); IR
1
(Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3368, 3302, 3141, 2227, 1652, 1609, 1582, 1568, 1522. H
NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 11.43 (s, 2H, OH), 10.48 (s, 1H, OH), 9.96 (s,
1H, OH), 9.31 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.96 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.29 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.88
(d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 5.79 (s, 2H, ArH). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC
(ppm) 166(Cimin), 163, 161, 158, 147(C-5), 137(C-2), 127, 125, 117(CN), 116, 102,
98(C-4), 95. Anal. Calcd for C17H12N4O4.0.6H2O: C, 58.82; H, 3.81; N, 16.15%.
o
Found: C, 58.74; H, 3.91; N, 16.15%. Compound 6i: Yield 42%; mp: 253-255 C; IR
1
(Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3475, 3133, 2223, 1608, 1584. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400
MHz): δΗ (ppm) 9.70 (br s, 2H, OH), 8.73 (s, 1H, N=CH), 8.05 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.44 (d, J
= 6.9 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.26 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.17 (dd, J = 8.1/1.8 Hz, 1H, ArH),
7.08 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.84 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H, ArH), 3.81 (s, 3H, Me). 13C
NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 159, 151, 149(C-5), 146, 138(C-2),
127, 126.7, 126.5, 124, 116(CN), 115.7, 115, 114, 98(C-4), 56. Anal. Calcd for
C18H14N4O3: C, 64.67; H, 4.19; N, 16.77%. Found: C, 64.52; H, 4.18; N, 16.90%.
o
Compound 6j: Yield 91%; mp: 265-267 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3306, 2238,
1
1606, 1584, 1538, 1519. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 9.00 (br s, 3H,
OH), 8.66 (s, 1H, N=CH), 8.04 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.43 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.08 (d, J =
9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.82 (s, 2H, ArH), 3.81 (s, 3H, Me). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100
MHz): δC (ppm) 166(Cimin), 159, 149(C-5), 146, 139, 137(C-2), 127, 126.7, 125,
116(CN), 114, 109, 98(C-4), 56. Anal. Calcd for C18H14N4O4: C, 61.71; H, 4.00; N,
16.00%. Found: C, 61.70; H, 4.25; N, 16.15%. Compound 6k: Yield 80%; mp: > 232
oC (dec.); IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3310, 3125, 2112, 2221, 1633, 1602, 1585,
1
1531, 1519. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 10.80 (br s, 3H, OH), 8.99 (s,
1H, N=CH), 8.04 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.46 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.09 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H,

11
ArH), 7.02 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.45 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H, ArH), 3.81 (s, 3H, Me).
13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 159, 152, 150, 147(C-5), 138(C-
2), 133, 128, 127, 124, 116(CN), 115, 112, 109, 99(C-4), 56. Anal. Calcd for
C18H14N4O4: C, 61.71; H, 4.00; N, 16.00%. Found: C, 61.51; H, 4.11; N, 15.97%.
o
Compound 6l: Yield 98%; mp: 269-270 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3331, 3125,
1
3112, 2225, 1633, 1602, 1585, 1531, 1519. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm)
11.42 (s, 2H, OH), 10.49 (s, 1H, OH), 9.31 (s, 1H, N=CH), 7.99 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.44 (d, J
= 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.09 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 5.79 (s, 2H, ArH), 3.81 (s, 3H, Me).
13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 166(Cimin), 163, 161, 160, 147(C-5), 137(C-
2) 127, 126, 116(CN), 115, 102, 98(C-4), 95, 56. Anal. Calcd for C18H14N4O4.H2O: C,
58.69; H, 4.35; N, 15.21%. Found: C, 58.63; H, 4.41; N, 15.06%. Compound 6m: Yield
o
98%; mp: 234-236 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3491, 3120, 2219, 1614, 1586,
1
1514. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 10.22 (s, 1H, OH), 8.80 (s, 1H,
N=CH), 8.08 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.47 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.40 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H,
ArH), 7.34 (dd, J = 8.3/2.1 Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.08 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.89 (d, J =
13
8.3 Hz, 1H, ArH), 3.80 (s, 3H, MeO), 3.78 (s, 3H, MeO),. C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100
MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 159, 152, 149(C-5), 148, 137(C-2), 127, 126.6, 126.5, 125,
116(CN), 115.7, 114, 111, 98(C-4), 56, 55.6. Anal. Calcd for C19H16N4O3: C, 65.52; H,
4.60; N, 16.09%. Found: C, 65.54; H, 4.52; N, 16.17%. Compound 6n: Yield 80%; mp:
o
271-273 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1): 3549, 3132, 2222, 1605, 1586, 1515, 1529,
1
1519. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm) 9.48 (br s, 2H, OH), 8.76 (s, 1H,
N=CH), 8.12 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.60 (dd, J = 8.0/4.8 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.41 (t, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H,
ArH), 7.28 (d, J = 2.1 Hz, 1H, ArH), 7.19 (dd, J = 8.3/1.8 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.86 (d, J =
8.3 Hz, 1H, ArH). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 162, 151,
149(C-5), 146, 137(C-2), 131, 128, 127, 125, 117(CN), 116, 115.7, 114, 98(C-4). Anal.
Calcd for C17H11N4O2F.0.3H2O: C, 62.31; H, 3.54; N, 17.10%. Found: C, 62.34; H,
o
3.41; N, 17.17%. Compound 6o: Yield 93%; mp: 260-262 C; IR (Nujol mull)
1
(νmax/cm-1): 3525, 3225, 2224, 1605, 1582, 1512. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ
(ppm) 9.38 (br s, 2H, OH), 9.21 (s, 1H, OH), 8.68 (s, 1H, N=CH), 8.11 (s, 1H, H-2),
7.60 (dd, J = 9.0/4.8 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.41 (t, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 6.83 (s, 2H, ArH).
13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz): δC (ppm) 166(Cimin), 162, 149(C-5), 146, 140, 137(C-
2), 131, 128, 125, 117(CN), 116, 108.8, 98(C-4). Anal. Calcd for
C17H11N4O3F.1.7H2O: C, 55.34; H, 3.91; N, 15.19%. Found: C, 55.35; H, 4.39; N,

12
o
15.12%. Compound 6p: Yield 97%; mp: 266-268 C; IR (Nujol mull) (νmax/cm-1):
1
3377, 3145, 2219, 1633, 1605, 1583, 1528. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz): δΗ (ppm)
11.04 (s, 1H, OH), 10.19 (s, 1H, OH), 9.02 (s, 1H, N=CH), 8.68 (s, 1H, OH), 8.11 (s,
1H, H-2), 7.64 (dd, J = 9.0/4.8 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.43 (t, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, ArH), 7.04 (d, J
= 9.0 Hz, 1H, ArH), 6.46 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H, ArH). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, 100 MHz):
δC (ppm) 165(Cimin), 162, 153, 150, 147(C-5), 138(C-2), 133, 130, 128, 124, 117,
116(CN), 113, 109, 99(C-4). Anal. Calcd for C17H11N4O3F.0.05H2O: C, 60.19; H, 3.27;
N, 16.52%. Found: C, 60.19; H, 3.54; N, 16.72%.
29. (a) Silva J. P., Areias F. M., Proença M. F., Coutinho O. P. Life Sci 2006, 78, 1256.; (b)
General procedure for evaluation of DPPH radical activity: A volume of 20 µL of
different concentrations (1 µM – 100 µM) of the compound in ethanol was placed in a
96-well plate and combined with 180 µL of a 0.002% (w/v) ethanolic DPPH solution.
The absorbance was read at 517 nm after 60 minutes, in a Spectra Max 340PC
microplate reader, versus a control containing ethanol instead of the compound in study.
All measurements were performed in triplicate and mean were centered. The inhibition
of discoloration was expressed as a percentage, towards the control, and the IC50 were
then obtained from the inhibition curve.
30. (a) Halliwell, B.; Aeschbach, R.; Loliger, J.; Aruoma, O. I. Food Chem. Toxicol. 1995,
33, 601; (b) Method A: A reaction mixture (1 mL) was prepared by adding 780 µL of
KH2PO4-KOH buffer 10 mM, pH 7.4, 100 µL of deoxyribose 2.8 mM (prepared in
buffer solution), 50 µL of FeCl3 20 µM (prepared in 2 mM Na2EDTA), 50 µL of H2O2
1.42 mM (prepared in buffer solution), 10 µL of ascorbic acid 50 µM (prepared in
buffer solution), and 10 µL of a dimethylsulfoxide solution of the tested compound 5
µM (a concentration approximate to that registered as IC50 in DPPH method). After 1 h
incubation at 370C, the reaction was stopped by adding 1 mL of 1% thiobarbituric acid
in 50 mM NaOH and 1 mL of 2.8% trichloroacetic acid. The reaction mixture was then
heated at 100 0C for 15 min. After cooling, absorbance values were determined at 535
nm in a microplate reader (SpectraMax 340PC). Assays were performed in triplicate.
Reaction mixtures lacking the test compound served as positive control (100% MDA).
The blank contained the full reaction mixture except 2-deoxy-D-ribose (negative

13
control); (c) Method B: As described in method A, but the FeCl3 20 µM solution was
prepared in the buffer solution.
31. Aruoma, O. I.; Grootveld, M.; Halliwell, B. J. Inorg. Biochem. 1987, 29, 289.
32. Gutteridge, J. M. C. Biochem. J. 1984, 224, 761.
33. Halliwell, B.; Gutteridge, J. M. C.; Aruoma, O. I. Anal. Biochem. 1987, 165, 215.
34. Buettner, G. R. J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 1988, 16, 27.
35. Rice-Evans, C. A.; Miller, N. J.; Paganga, G. Free Rad. Biol. Med., 1996, 20, 933.
36. Ley, J. P.; Bertram, H-J. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 2002, 104, 319.
37. Thavasi, V.; Leong, L. P.; Bettens, R. P. A. J. Phys. Chem. A 2006, 110, 4918.
38. Amorati, R.; Valgimigli, L. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 4147.
39. a) Kuzniarska-Biernacka, I.; Carvalho, M. A.; Rasmussen, S. B.; Bañares, M. A.;
Biernacki, K.; Magalhães, A. L.; Rolo, A.; Fonseca, A. M.; Neves, I. C. Eur. J. Inorg
Chem., 2013, 5408. b) Kuźniarska-Biernacka, I.; Rodrigues, O.; Carvalho, M. A.;
Neves, I. C.; Fonseca, A. M. Appl. Organometal. Chem. 2012, 26, 44.

14
Captions to Scheme 1 and Figure 1
Scheme 1. Synthetic approach to phenol-imidazole conjugates.
Figure 1. Percentage of remaining DPPH in the reactions between compounds 6 or trolox
with DPPH radical during 60 minutes, using a 10 µM solution of compounds 6e-g and a 100
µM solution of compound 6h.
Scheme 1 and Figure 1:
Scheme 1.

15
Figure 1.

16
Table 1. Radical scavenging activity of imidazoles 4, aldehydes 5 and phenol-imidazole conjugates 6
expressed as IC50, in the DPPH assay, or expressed as percentage of protection of 2-deoxy-D-ribose
degradation, in the 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation assay.
Compound
R
R1
IC50 µM
(DPPH)
% protection
Method Ab)
% protection
Method Bc)
CH3
3,4-(HO)2C6H3
3,8 0,2
52
3
27
2
6a
3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2
2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2
2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2
3,4-(HO)2C6H3
4,7 0,4
7,0 0,3
54
54
5
7
8
5
4
4
9
4
2
6
2
1
2
6
3
44
37
18
38
51
28
17
17
42
25
16
12
11
30
34
35
38
34
36
30
23
57
29
19
31
7
5
5
1
2
7
7
8
3
7
2
2
2
5
7
3
1
1
8
7
5
1
8
1
8
6b
6c
49,9% 1,5ª) 54
6d
6e
4-HOC6H4
3,2 0,6
4,8 0,1
7,2 0,2
45,9% 0,8ª) 55
60
49
38
3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2
2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2
2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2
3,4-(HO)2C6H3
6f
6g
6h
6i
4-MeOC6H4
4,1 0,1
4,0 0,4
7,3 0,2
48,3% 3,4ª) 62
61
51
57
3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2
2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2
2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2
4-HO-3-MeOC6H3 88,6% 2ª)
6j
6k
6l
47
58
54
53
6m
6n
6o
6p
5a
5b
5c
4-FC6H4
3,4-(HO)2C6H3
3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2
2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2
3,4-(HO)2C6H3
3,4,5-(HO)3C6H2
2,3,4-(HO)3C6H2
2,4,6-(HO)3C6H2
4,4 0,1
5,8 0,7
8,4 0,7
5,4 0,1
6,0 0,4
11,6 0,2
91,2 2,0ª)
----
----
51 7
50
46
42
37
54
47
46
50
53
6
----
----
6
7
7
6
4
8
6
2
5d
5e
----
CH3
4-HO-3-MeOC6H3 97,6 0,3ª)
94,2 1,8ª)
4a
4b
4c
4-HOC6H4
4-MeOC6H4
4-FC6H4
94,8 1,5ª)
94,2 3,4ª)
94,1 1,3ª)
9,5 0,4
4d
Trolox
Values are expressed as mean standard deviation, where 2 ≤ n ≤ 9.
a) % of remaining DPPH using a 100 µM solution of antioxidant.
b) 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation assay.30b
c) 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation assay.30c

Graphical abstract