The purpose of this research was to develop a single sludge multi-environment anoxic/aerobic biological treatment scheme that could achieve oxime degradation and nitrification in the same treatment process. Aerobic and anoxic batch experiments were initially performed to determine degrees of nitrification inhibition caused by three oximes, acetaldehyde oxime (AAO), aldicarb oxime (ADO), and methyl ethyl ketoxime (MEKO), and to investigate the fate of these oximes under anoxic, denitrifying conditions. Results from aerobic batch studies showed that MEKO was the only oxime which caused significant nitrification inhibition at concentrations expected in the industrial client's waste streams. Nitrification rates were reduced by 31% at MEKO concentrations as low as 2 mg/L and were almost completely inhibited above 9 mg/L. Results from anoxic batch studies demonstrated that MEKO was biologically degraded under nitrate limiting conditions, although the microorganism( s) responsible were not explicitly identified. Similar degradation trends were seen for AAO, but at significantly lower rates. ADO, however, appeared to be stable under all anoxic conditions examined. Results from batch studies were utilized to determine operational conditions for a single sludge multi-environment anoxic/anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor supplied with a synthetic organic wastewater containing up to 40 mgIL MEKO and 56 mgIL AAO. The system was able to achieve complete oxime degradation and nitrification when operated on a one day cycle with a twelve hour anoxic/anaerobic reaction phase and a nitrate:carbon ratio below 0.15 mg N0₃-N/mg TOC. / Master of Science

The enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are inhibited by nerve agents such as sarin and tabun. In general, the inhibited enzymes are reactivated by bisquaternary ammonium compounds (oximes). The binding free energies of the oximes; 2-PAM, MMB-4, HI-6, and obidoxime bound to human AChE (hAChE) and human BChE (hBChE) inhibited by sarin and tabun and also to the uninhibited enzymes were calculated using various computational methods. Using thermodynamic integration, the binding free energies of all the inhibited and uninhibited systems of MMB-4 and obidoxime were evaluated. The standard binding free energies (dA) were more negative than the experimental values due to limitations of the ff99 forcefield. The RMS error of dA for the inhibited systems of MMB-4 was 2.1 kcal/mol, and for obidoxime systems it was 4.8 kcal/mol with respect to the experimental free energies. The binding enthalpies calculated using MM-GBSA and MM-PBSA methods for 2-PAM, MMB-4, HI-6, and obidoxime systems were negative, except for hBChE-sarin-MMB-4 and hBChE-sarin-obidoxime. For all the systems the TdS values calculated using normal mode analysis were equal to or lower in magnitude than their corresponding binding enthalpies. As a result, the estimated free energies were positive for most of the systems. Clearly, the present algorithms cannot effectively estimate the binding entropies for a protein-ligand system. Met81 has commonly shown favorable interactions, and lysine or arginine exhibited unfavorable interactions with the reactivator in all the systems. Second, the interactions between chloropyrifos-oxon (Cpo) and experimentally tested neutral and monopyridinium oximes bound to the Q192 or R192 polymorphs of human paraoxonase1 (hPON1) were studied. The equilibrated Q192 and R192 hPON1 were structurally different than the crystal structure of recombinant PON1. The neutral oximes have shown more favorable interactions with Cpo in Q192 hPON1 + Cpo system compared to R192 hPON1 + Cpo. Whereas the monopyridinium oximes interacted more affectively with Cpo in R192 hPON1 than Q192 hPON1. The relative deprotonation energy of the monopyridinium oxime was lower than the neutral oxime. Hence, the monopyridinium oxime can hydrolyze an organophosphate at a higher rate than a neutral oxime.

Les polymères de coordination poreux appelés Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) sont envisagés pour des développements et applications prometteuses dans la catalyse par exemple. La compréhension des mécanismes de synthèse et leurs croissances cristallines restent cependant un défi. Actuellement, seules quelques études in-situ ont été réalisées pour rationnaliser la synthèse des MOFs, comme des suivis par résonance magnétique nucléaire, par spectroscopie de masse ou par diffraction des rayons X en dispersion d'énergie. Nous proposons, l'analyse thermodifférentielle qui est une technique plus aisée à mettre en oeuvre et permet un suivi calorimétrique en continu pour identifier les phénomènes thermiques régissant la synthèse tels que la réaction de formation et la cristallisation. Grâce à ces analyses thermiques, le domaine réactionnel est déterminé et l'importance des différents paramètres influençant la synthèse sont étudiés, comme la température et les vitesses de chauffage et de refroidissement ainsi que la concentration des réactifs. Ce suivi calorimétrique a été appliqué à la synthèse de nouveaux composés de coordination poreux à base d'un dérivé tetra acide carboxylique de la porphyrine pour en comprendre les étapes réactionnelles importantes. La détermination des structures cristallines montre que certains appartiennent à la classe des Porphyrin Paddle-Wheel Frameworks. De nouvelles approches pour la synthèse de MOFs sont également proposées, en utilisant des ligands organiques acides, imines, oximes et bases de Schiff / Porous coordination polymers so called Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are considered for promising development and applications such as in catalyst. However, the understanding of the synthesis mechanisms and crystal growth is a challenge. Currently, only a few in-situ studies have been done to rationalize the synthesis of MOFs, such as monitoring by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. In this manuscript the differential scanning calorimetry is proposed as an easier technique to implement that allows a continuous calorimeter tracking to identify the phenomena which govern the synthesis such as the formation reaction and crystallization temperatures. With such thermal analyses, the temperature range of the reaction was determined and the importance of various parameters influencing the synthesis was studied, such as heating temperatures and cooling speeds or reactant concentration. This was applied to the synthesis of new porous coordination compounds based on porphyrin acid derivative in order to understand the important reaction steps. Crystal structure determinations show that some are Porphyrin Paddle-Wheel Frameworks. New approaches to the MOFs synthesis are also proposed using organic ligands like acids, imines, oximes and Schiff bases

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Cannabis and its derivatives have been used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. The study of this plant led to the discovery of over 60 cannabinoids, found exclusively in cannabis, that contribute to the behavioral effects of cannabis use, the most common is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabinoid receptors function to increase activity in the mesolimbic dopamine reward system. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in addition and its regulation plays a crucial role in mental and physical well-being. There is evidence that CB1 receptors are important to the reinforcing effects and the development of physical dependence on opiate drugs. Studies have shown that increased levels of dopamine are consistent with addiction while reduced levels lead to a decline in recreational use. The goal of this research is to design, synthesize and develop potential CB1 receptors that exhibit a neutral cannabinoid antagonist pharmacological profile.

The thesis entitled “Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies in Oxime and Amide Chemistry” consists of two chapters. Chapter 1 contains 3 parts, dealing with the Beckmann rearrangement under solvent free conditions, Mitsunobu conditions, and with catalytic succinic anhydride-ZnCl2. Chapter 2 deals with bond length and reactivity studies with several oxime esters. CHAPTER 1 Part 1: This describes studies aimed at the development of the Beckmann rearrangement in the solid state using phenylboronic acid. The adsorption of ketoximes on a mixture of phenylboronic acid and neutral alumina followed by heating >120 °C, afforded the expected amides, although with competing hydrolysis to corresponding ketones. It appeared that phenylboronic acid was being converted under the reaction conditions to triphenyl boroxine, which was presumably the active species effecting the Beckmann rearrangement. This was experimentally confirmed when the amide products were obtained in good yields when the reaction was performed with triphenyl boroxine. Part 2: This describes the Beckmann rearrangement under Mitsunobu conditions. Triphenyl phosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate can react with various oximes to produce corresponding amides. Part 3: This describes the Beckmann rearrangement of oximes to amides by a combination of succinic anhydride and zinc chloride as catalyst. Zinc chloride can activate succinic anhydride, the activated succinic anhydride then reacting with the oximes. This forms the oxime ester of succinic acid, which undergoes the Beckmann rearrangement as shown. CHAPTER 2: This describes bond length and reactivity studies with several oxime esters. It was of interest to obtain a correlation between bond length and reactivity in ketoxime derivatives which are known to undergo the Beckmann rearrangement. Towards this end the crystal structures of a variety of oxime esters have been determined. The results indicate that the alkyl group anti to the oxime hydroxyl group is pre-disposed towards migration onto the nitrogen center. (pl refer the thesis for structural formula)

El estudio de los azúcares libres, sea cual sea el método a utilizar, genera principalmente un problema que es la coexistencia en solución de más de una estructura (formas abiertas, cíclicas..) para la misma sustancia. Nuestra idea se basa en utilizar un único tipo de derivados versátiles, de los que sea factible extraer información por aplicación de todas las técnicas posibles. El presente estudio se ha realizado sobre los aldononitrilos peracetilados (PAAN), y las cetoxinas peracetiladas (PAKO) producidas simultáneamente en el mismo sistema de reacción y que conservan la total identidad de las aldosas y las cetonas de partida. Sobre estos derivados se ha llevado a cabo un estudio analítico por cromatografía de fases y cromatografía líquida de alta resolución, así como se ha desarrollado un método de identificación estructural de azúcares, específicamente de aldosas. En resumen, los resultados más relevantes obtenidos son:1. Los aldononitrilos peracetilados (PAAN) y cetoxinas peracetiladas (PAKO) son derivados de los monosacáridos que desde todos los puntos de vista de su comportamiento cromatográfico, cromatografía de gases o cromatografía líquida, estabilidad, purificación, comportamiento en espectrometría de masas y resonancia magnética nuclear y estudio conformacional teórico por aplicación de la Mecánica Molecular, han demostrado ser adecuados para el fin propuesto, es decir, disponer de un método de asignación estructural de azúcares. 2. Se ha completado lo descrito para la cromatográfia de gases-espectrometría de masas de los aldononitrilos peracetilados con su extensión a todos los derivados de monosacáridos de tres a seis átomos de carbono, y a la utilización de columnas capilares. Las cetoxinas peracetiladas se han estudiado en menor extensión debido a la no disponibilidad comercial de numerosas cetosas. Se han determinado condiciones cromatográficas que permiten la separación total de todos los compuestos estudiados. 3. El principal problema que presenta la cromatografía líquida de alta resolución en su aplicación a los derivados elegidos radica en las columnas disponibles en el mercado. Ninguna de ellas, de polaridad ordinaria, fase reversa, polaridades intermedias, aquirales o quirales, ha permitido una resolución aceptable para la totalidad de los productos estudiados. Sí se han logrado condiciones, en especial en columnas del tipo C-18, para separar de modo razonable mezclas de hasta siete compuestos distintos, lo que mejora la mayoría de los trabajos descritos hasta la fecha. 4. Los azúcares sin previa derivación presentan grandes problemas a la hora de su estudio cromatográfico por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución, hasta el punto de que, entre las columnas ensayadas por nosotros, incluso la más específica teóricamente diseñada para este tipo de análisis (columna de intercambio catiónico), es incapaz de resolver mezclas sencillas de monosacáridos. 5. Se ha preparado una nueva fase estacionaria quiral por anclaje del aminoácido L-treonina a una aminosílice, aplicando los métodos propios de la síntesis de péptidos en fase sólida. Esta preparación ha presentado dificultades suplementarias debido a la restricción del rango de pH que plantea el soporte sólido utilizado. La fase estacionaria así preparada ha presentado un comportamiento cromatográfico análogo a los aminosílices convencionales, sin mejorar la resolución de la separación de los aldonomitrilos y cetoxinas peracetiladas, ni ha resultado útil en la resolución de las mezclas racémicas ensayadas. 6. Se han registrado, interpretado y determinado las constantes de acoplamiento de diecinueve diferentes aldonomitrilos y cetoxinas peracetiladas.7. Se ha ampliado el campo de aplicación del programa de Mecánica Molecular (MM2) por parametrización de las constantes necesarias relativas a la presencia de un grupo ciano con un grupo acetoxi. Para esta parametrización se han empleado los datos estructurales y conformacionales de ventiuna moléculas, así como se han calculado por MNDO datos análogos para otras once moléculas cuyos valores no se encontraban en la literatura. 8. Los datos de las constantes anteriormente citadas se han empleado, junto con las ya incluidas en el programa MM2, para la determinación de las poblaciones conformacionales relativas de treinta aldononitrilos peracetilados, que abarcan desde los derivados de las aldotetrosas a los de la aldoheptosas, inclusive. Los datos obtenidos han servido, además, para el análisis conformacional de estos compuestos. 9. A partir de los datos conformacionales anteriores se ha aplicado la ecuación de Altona para predecir las constantes de acoplamiento vecinales de estos sistemas. Dado que la concordancia hallada era limitada, se ha reparametrizado dicha ecuación por aplicación del programa KEONE, obteniéndose a partir de estos nuevos parámetros una concordancia del 100% entre los valores teóricos y los experimentales de acuerdo con el criterio de desviación estándar "r.m.s".10. Por último, como resultado del presente trabajo se dispone de un método de determinación estructural de aldosas, tal que por formación de sus aldononitrilos peracetilados, estudio cromatográfico por cromatografía de gases y cromatografía líquida de alta resolución, espectrometría de masas, determinación de las constantes de acoplamiento vecinales y correlación de estas constantes con las calculadas teóricamente por aplicación de la Mecánica Molecular y la ecuación de Altona reparametizada, se está en condiciones de reconocer la aldosa de partida. Este método se ha puesto a punto con las aldosas de cuatro a seis átomos de carbono y es de aplicación práctica para aldosas de mayor tamaño. / In the present dissertation, the paracetylated hetooxines and aidononitriles are proposed as adequate derivatives to analyse sugar mixtures. They are stable and easy made derivatives that conserve all the structural features of the parent sugar. There are two main parts in the dissertation. The first one is referred to the analysis of sugar mixtures by using chromatographic methods as gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Good resolutions are obtained using capillary columns (SE-54) for gas chromatography. This technique has been employed coupled with mass spectrometry, which gives quickly information about the nature of the sugar (aldose or ketose) and the length of the hydrocarbon chain. Several columns have been studied as stationary phases for the separation of this kind of compounds by HPLC. Better resolutions are obtained with reverse phases. A new chiral stationary phase for HPLC has been syntetized anchoring the aminoacid threonine to an aminophase. This synthesis has been done following the methodology of synthesis of peptides in solid phase. The second part is related with the structural study of these compounds creating a correlation between experimental coupling constants between vicinal hydrogens, calculated ones and configuration. Firstly, coupling constants of peracetylated aldononitriles of four, five, six carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain, as well those of the D-glycero-D-gulo-hetpononitrile, have been determinated. Secondly, theoretical coupling constants have been calculated applying the Altona' equiation to the different confirmations estimated for each compound. Previously, a conformational analysis has been done using the Molecular Mechanics approach (MM2). It was necessary to parametrize this program previously to its use. Now the force field of MM2 has been enlarged, being possible to calculate structures and conformational energy differences of cyano compunds with ester groups in positions. Finally, the comparison of the experimental data, H,H vicinal coupling constants, with the calculated one has proved this is a good method for total identification of aldoses.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The oxidation of low density lipoprotein is now an established hypothesis of atherogenesis and suggests that accumulation of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the vessel wall is an early event in disease progression. OxLDL represents a variety of modification of both lipid and apolipoprotein B (apoB) components by peroxidation. This promotes atherosclerosis through inflammatory and immunologic mechanisms that lead to the formation of macrophage foam cells. There are studies showing that different antioxidants inhibit both ex vivo LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis in experimental animals. In view of this, we have evaluated the antioxidant properties of the new oximes butane-2,3-dionethiosemicarbazone and 3-(phenylhydrazono)butan-2-one against Cu2+-induced LDL and serum oxidation. Conjugated dienes formation, loss of tryptophan fluorescence, and TBARS formation were assassed as oxidation parameters. The results obtained in this study showed that both oximes are able to prevent Cu2+-induced LDL and serum oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, both oximes caused a significant increase in lag phase of conjugated dienes formation and a significant decrease in TBARS production. Indeed, oximes protected the early stage of LDL oxidation as destruction of tryptophan residues of ApoB and the subsequent propagation phase. Oxime butane-2,3-dionethiosemicarbazone showed to be more effective than 3-(phenylhydrazono) butan-2-one in all parameters analyzed. In conclusion, both oximes exhibited a protective role in LDL and serum oxidation. This protection may contribute to prevent LDL oxidation in vivo and thus the atherogenesis. However, further stydies are needed to clarify the oximes antioxidant properties angainst other models of free radical generators and the molecular mechanism in which oximes prevent LDL oxidation. / A oxidação da LDL é uma hipótese da aterogênese e sugere que o acúmulo de lipoproteína de baixa densidade oxidada (oxLDL) na parede do vaso é um evento precoce na progressão da doença. A oxLDL é uma molécula oriunda das modificações oxidativas que ocorrem nos componentes lipídicos e na apolipoproteína B (apoB) da LDL. A oxLDL ajuda a promover a aterosclerose através de mecanismos imunológicos e inflamatórios que levam à formação de células espumosas (foam cells). Existem estudos mostrando que diferentes antioxidantes inibem tanto a oxidação da LDL ex vivo quanto o desenvolvimento de aterosclerose em modelos de animais experimentais. Em vista disto, neste trabalho foi avaliado o efeito das propriedades antioxidantes das oximas butano-2,3-dionethiosemicarbazone e 3- (phenylhidrazono)butano-2-ona contra a oxidação da LDL isolada e do soro induzida por Cu2+. A formação de dienos conjugados, a perda da fluorescência do triptofano e a formação de TBARS foram avaliadas como parâmetros de oxidação. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo mostraram que ambas as oximas foram capazes de prevenir a oxidação da LDL e do soro induzidas por Cu2+ de maneira dependente da concentração. Ambas as oximas causaram um aumento significativo na fase lag da formação de dienos conjugados e uma diminuição significativa na produção de TBARS. Além disso, as oximas se mostraram efetivas em proteger a fase inicial da oxidação da LDL, indicada pela destruição de resíduos de triptofano da apoB e a subsequente fase de propagação. A oxima butano-2,3-dionethiosemicarbazone mostrou-se mais eficaz do que a 3-(phenylhydrazono) butano-2-one em todos os parâmetros analisados. Em conclusão, ambas as oximas foram efetivas em proteger a LDL da oxidação. Esta proteção pode contribuir para evitar a oxidação de LDL in vivo e possivelmente a aterogênese. No entanto, estudos adicionais são necessários para esclarecer as propriedades antioxidantes das oximas contra outros geradores de radicais livres e o mecanismo molecular pelo qual as mesmas reduzem a oxidação da LDL.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The enzyme acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7, AChE) is responsible to terminate acetylcholine activity in the terminal nervous junctions with its effector organs or post-synaptic sites. The activity of this enzyme could be inhibited by organophosphorus (OP) compounds, and this inactivation leads to an accumulation of acetylcholine in the cholinergic receptors, leading to a cholinergic crisis that may result in death. In this way, the OP compound methamidophos has been related to its broad use in various agriculture cultures in Brazil, with high intoxication rate. Actually, the only compounds able to revert the AChE inhibition by OP, are the oxime, such compounds may reactive the enzyme activity due its high nuclephilic power, attacking the phosphoryl group of the inhibited enzyme and displacing it. However, such compounds show toxic effects, and its use is limited by the high specificity, with each oxime acting only in the reactivation of AChE induced by specific OP coumponds. These limitations raise the need of development of new compounds with AChE reactivator potency, with minor side effects. In this way, have been utilized a series of computational tools (in silico models), with the aim of understand the interaction occurring at a molecular level and, so, rationalize the new compounds development. Thus, the aim of this thesis is to evaluate the activity of three new compounds in reactivate the AChE inhibited by methamidophos, in comparison with two others oximes used in clinical (obidoxime and pralidoxime), both in in silico and in vitro models. Our work demonstrate that the newly synthesized compounds are able to reactivate human erythrocyte AChE, however less efficiently than pralidoxime and obidoxime, and reactivate human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), where the classical oximes failed. We also show that pralidoxime, which obtained the best reactivation constant among all tested compounds, attack the phosphorus-oxygen moiety (formed between the methamidophos and the AChE catalytic triad residue Ser203) via a region known as oxyanion-hole , composed by the residues Gly120, Gly121 and Ala204. Such found may help in the development of new compounds with better reactivatory activity on AChE inhibited by OP compounds. Furthermore, we show for the first time the individual contribution of each amino acid of AChE, in a radii of 14 Å from the ligand, to the oxime bonding to its active site, using quantum chemistry methods. Here, we demonstrate the important of a quaternary nitrogen to the stabilization of the oximes into the active site; as well as, we obtained evidences that the active form of oximes should be the unprotonated one, instead the protonated, which has been target of debate in the scientific society. Particularly important, we show the critical contribution of amino acids that lies distant from the ligand to the adopted conformation and stabilization of the compounds into the active site of AChE, which has been neglected until far. Finally, our study also evaluates the toxic effects of the compound isatin-3-N4-benzilthiosemicarbazone (IBTC) in mice, which presented low toxicity, with median lethal dose superior at 500 mg/kg. Concluding, this study contributes significantly to the development of new drugs able to restore the AChE activity with minor toxic effects. / A enzima acetilcolinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7, AChE) é responsável por terminar a ação da acetilcolina nas junções das terminações nervosas com seus órgãos efetores ou sítios pós-sinaptícos. A atividade desta enzima pode ser inibida por compostos organofosforados (OP), e sua inativação resulta em um acúmulo de acetilcolina nos receptores colinérgicos, levando a crise colinérgica que pode levar a morte. No Brasil, se destaca o uso do composto OP metamidofós, que é largamente utilizado no controle de pragas em culturas agrícolas e tem sido relacionado com altas taxas de intoxicação. Atualmente, os únicos compostos capazes de reverter a inibição da AChE por OP são as oximas, tais compostos podem reativar a enzima devido a seu alto poder nucleofílico, podendo atacar e retirar o grupamento fosforil da enzima inibida. Porém, tais compostos apresentam efeitos tóxicos, e tem seu uso limitado pela alta especificidade, com cada oxima atuando na AChE inibida por apenas alguns compostos OP. Tais limitações criam a necessidade do desenvolvimento de novos fármacos com potencial reativador da AChE com menores efeitos colaterais. Neste sentido, se tem utilizado uma série de ferramentas computacionais (modelos in silico), com o objetivo de entender as interações que ocorrem em nível molecular e, desta forma, racionalizar o desenvolvimento de novos compostos. Sendo assim, o objetivo desta tese consiste em avaliar a atividade de três novos compostos, em comparação com duas oximas já utilizadas na clínica (obidoxima e pralidoxima), sobre a atividade da AChE inibida por metamidofós, tanto em modelos in silico como in vitro. Como resultados, observamos que os três novos compostos foram capazes de reativar a AChE de eritrócitos humanos inibida por metamidofós, contudo com menor eficiência que as oximas já utilizadas na clínica. Porém, todos os novos compostos foram capazes de reativar a enzima butirilcolinesterase (BChE), uma enzima acessória à AChE no sistema colinérgico, inibida por metamidofós, enquanto nenhumas das oximas clássicas tiveram qualquer atividade reativadora nesta enzima. Nosso trabalho também demonstrou que a pralidoxima, que obteve a melhor constante de reativação entre todos os compostos testados, ataca a ligação fosforo-oxigênio (formada entre o metamidofós e o resíduo Ser203, da tríade catalítica da AChE) via uma região conhecida como oxyanion-hole , que compreende os resíduos Gly120, Gly121 e Ala204. Tal achado pode ajudar no desenvolvimento de novos compostos com melhor atividade reativatória na AChE inibida por OPs. Além disso, mostramos aqui pela primeira vez, a contribuição de cada resíduo de aminoácido da AChE, num raio de 14 Å do ligante, para a ligação das oximas no seu sítio ativo, usando métodos de química quântica. Tais achados mostraram a importância da presença de um nitrogênio quaternário para a estabilização das oximas no sítio ativo; assim como colheu evidências que a forma ativa das oximas seria a sua forma desprotonada, ao invés da forma protonada, o que tem sido alvo de algum debate no meio cientifico. Particularmente importante, foi demonstrado a contribuição fundamental de aminoácidos que se encontram distantes do ligante, para a estabilização e conformação adotada pelos compostos, e que até o momento tem sido negligenciados em estudos in silico. Por fim, nosso estudo também avaliou os efeitos tóxicos do composto isatina-3-N4-benziltiosemicarbazona (IBTC) em camundongos, o qual apresentando baixa toxicidade, com valores de dose letal mediana (LD50) superiores a 500 mg/kg. Desta forma, este estudo contribui para a desenvolvimento de novos fármacos capazes de reativar a AChE e que apresentem menos efeitos tóxicos.