Synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives and their antiproliferative activity against melanoma cell line

Synthesis of a new series of diarylureas and amides having pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine scaffold is described. Their in vitro antiproliferative activities against A375 human melanoma cell line and HS 27 fibroblast cell line were tested and the effect of substituents on pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine was investigated. The newly synthesized compounds, except N-acetyl derivatives (Id, Ie, and Im), generally showed superior or similar activity against A375 to Sorafenib. Among all of these derivatives, compounds Iq and Ir having imidazole and morpholine moieties, respectively, showed the most potent antiproliferative activity against A375.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of thieno[2,3-b]quinoline-2-carboxamide and cycloalkyl[b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives

Seventy nine derivatives of thieno[2,3-b]quinolines, tetrahydrothieno[2,3-b]quinoline, dihydrocyclopenta[b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridine, cyclohepta[b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridine and hexahydrocycloocta[b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridine were either synthesized or obtained commercially and tested for their antiproliferative activity against HCT116, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 human cancer cell lines. The most potent eight compounds were active against all cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the 80–250 nM range. In general hexahydrocycloocta[b]thieno[3,2-e]pyridines were most active with increasing activity observed as larger cycloalkyl rings were fused to the pyridine ring.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of highly functionalized pyranochromenes and pyranopyrans

A series of fluorinated tetrahydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes and dihydropyrano[3,2-b]pyran derivatives have been synthesized and their in vitro cytotoxic activities have been determined in cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) and human alveolar adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). Compounds 4g, 4k, 4p showed a very potent activity against MDA-MB-231, and 4c, 4p showed promising activity against MCF-7, while compounds 4c, 4g, 4p showed moderate activity against HeLa.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of 5,6-heteroaromatically annulated pyridine-2,4-diamines

A series of 5,6-heteroaromatically annulated pyridine-2,4-diamines have been synthesized and their in vitro cytotoxic activities evaluated against six human cancer cell lines. Benzo[g] annulated pyrido[2,3-b]indolediamines 7a–b and 8 showed relatively high cytotoxic activity as well as most of the diamines with pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine 17, thieno[2,3-b]pyridine and furo[2,3-b]pyridine 26–28, 1,8-naphthyridine 32 and 34 and benzo[h]quinoline 37 skeletons. Surprisingly, pyrido[2,3-b]indolediamines 13 and 14 without benzo[g] annulation were inactive. None of the new compounds were as potent as ellipticine, the reference compound.     

New imidazoquinoxaline derivatives: Synthesis,biological evaluation on melanoma,effect on tubulin polymerization and structure–activity relationships

Microtubules are considered as important targets of anticancer therapy. EAPB0503 and its structural imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives are major microtubule-interfering agents with potent anticancer activity. In this study, the synthesis of several new derivatives of EAPB0503 is described, and the anticancer efficacy of 13 novel derivatives on A375 human melanoma cell line is reported. All new compounds show significant antiproliferative activity with IC₅₀ in the range of 0.077–122 μM against human melanoma cell line (A375). Direct inhibition of tubulin polymerization assay in vitro is also assessed. Results show that compounds 6b, 6e, 6g, and EAPB0503 highly inhibit tubulin polymerization with percentages of inhibition of 99%, 98%, 90%, and 84% respectively. Structure–activity relationship studies within the series are also discussed in line with molecular docking studies into the colchicine-binding site of tubulin.     

N-Phenyl-N′-[4-(5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl]ureas as novel inhibitors of VEGFR and FGFR kinases

We have recently reported the discovery of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives 1a and 1b as potent triple inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and Tie-2 kinases. To identify compounds having strong inhibitory activity against fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) kinase, further modification was conducted using the co-crystal structure analysis of VEGFR2 and 1b. Among the compounds synthesized, urea derivative 11l having a piperazine moiety on the terminal benzene ring showed strong inhibitory activity against FGFR1 kinase as well as VEGFR2 kinase. A binding model of 11l complexed with VEGFR2 suggested that the piperazine moiety forms additional interactions with Ile1025 and His1026.     

Synthesis of novel hetero ring fused pyridine derivatives; Their anticancer activity,CoMFA and CoMSIA studies

A series of novel furo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamide 4a–h/pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-d] pyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives 5a–p were prepared from pyridin 2(1H) one 1 via selective O-alkylation with α-bromoethylester followed by cyclization, then reaction with different aliphatic primary amines to obtain 4 and further reaction with triethyl orthoacetate/triethyl orthoformate. Also prepared novel furo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carbohydrazide Schiff’s bases 7a–h and pyrido [3′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives 8a–h starting from furo[2,3-b]pyridine carboxylate derivatives 3 by reaction with hydrazine hydrate to form 6 and reaction with diverse substituted aldehydes and cyclization. Products 4a–h, 5a–p, 7a–h and 8a–h were screened against four human cancer cell lines (HeLa, COLO205, Hep G2 and MCF 7) and one normal cell line (HEK 293). Compounds 4e, 4f, 4g, 5h, 7c, 7d, 7e and 7f showed significant anticancer activity against all the cell lines at micro molar concentration and found to be non-toxic to normal cell line. Studies for HeLa, COLO205 and MCF-7 using CoMFA and CoMSIA. Models from 3D-QSAR provided a strong basis for future rational design of more active and selective HeLa, COLO205 and MCF-7 cell line inhibitors.     

1,4-Dihydropyrazolo[4,3-d]imidazole phenyl derivatives: A novel type II Raf kinase inhibitors

The synthesis of a novel series of 1,4-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-d]imidazole phenyl derivatives 1a–b, 2a–v and their antiproliferative activities against A375P and WM3629 human melanoma cell line were described. Most compounds showed competitive antiproliferative activities to sorafenib, the reference standard. Among them, pyrazoloimidazole phenyl urea compounds 2a, 2d, 2g, 2i, 2t exhibited potent activities on WM3629 cell lines (IC₅₀ = 0.56–0.86 μM). Especially, 2t was found to be a potent and selective C-Raf inhibitor, showing a possibility as melanoma therapeutics.     

Design,synthesis and dopamine D4 receptor binding activities of new N-heteroaromatic 5/6-ring Mannich bases

A series of phenylpiperazine-methyl-substituted 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine, imidazo[1,2-c]-, pyrrolo[2,3-d]- and pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines were prepared as selective dopamine D4-ligands. The pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 12d (K_i = 1,9 nM) and 34d (K_i = 2,4 nM) as well as the pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine Mannich base 49f (K_i = 2,8 nM) showed high dopamine D4 receptor activity superior to the atypical antipsychotic agent clozapine.     

Identification of anticancer agents based on the thieno[2,3-b]pyridine and 1H-pyrazole molecular scaffolds

Structural similarity search of commercially available analogues of thieno[2,3-b]pyridine and 1H-pyrazole derivatives, known anticancer agents, resulted in 717 hits. These were docked into the phosphoinositide specific-phospholipase C (PLC) binding pocket, the putative target of the compounds, to further focus the selection. Thirteen derivatives of the thieno[2,3-b]pyridines were identified and tested against the NCI60 panel of human tumour cell lines. The most active derivative 1 was most potent against the MDA-MB-435 melanoma cell line with GI₅₀ at 30 nM. Also, it was found that a piperidine moiety is tolerated on the thieno[2,3-b]pyridine scaffold with GI₅₀ = 296 nM (MDA-MB-435) for derivative 10 considerably expanding the structure activity relationship for the series. For the 1H-pyrazoles four derivatives were identified using the in silico approach and additionally ten were synthesised with various substituents on the phenyl moiety to extend the structural activity relationship but only modest anticancer activity was found.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives having a benzamide unit as novel VEGFR2 kinase inhibitors

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway has been implicated in tumor angiogenesis, and inhibition of the VEGF pathway is considered an efficacious method for treating cancer. Herein, we describe synthetic studies of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) kinase inhibitors. The imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine scaffold was designed and synthesized as a hinge binder according to the previously reported crystal structure of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine 1 with VEGFR2. Structure–activity relationship studies revealed that meta-substituted 6-phenoxy-imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives had potent affinity for VEGFR2. In particular, N-[3-(imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazin-6-yloxy)phenyl]-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (6b) exhibited strong inhibitory activity against VEGFR2 with an IC₅₀ value of 7.1 nM, and it inhibited platelet-derived growth factor receptor β kinase with an IC₅₀ value of 15 nM.     

Antiproliferative activities of halogenated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines

The in vitro evaluation of thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines identified halogenated compounds 1 and 2 with antiproliferative activity against three different cancer cell lines. A structure activity relationship study indicated the necessity of the chlorine at the C4-position for biological activity. The two most active compounds 1 and 2 were found to induce apoptosis in the leukemia L1210 cell line. Additionally, the compounds were screened against a variety of other microbial targets and as a result, selective activity against several fungi was also observed. The synthesis and preliminary biological results are reported herein.     

Design and synthesis of novel pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives targeting V600EBRAF

Several pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-based B-RAF inhibitors are well known and some of them are currently FDA approved as anticancer agents. Based on the structure of these FDA approved ^V600EB-RAF inhibitors, two series of pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine scaffold were designed and synthesized in attempt to develop new potent ^V600EB-RAF inhibitors. The 38 synthesized compounds were biologically evaluated for their ^V600EB-RAF inhibitory effect at single dose (10 μM). Compounds with high percent inhibition were tested to determine their IC₅₀ over ^V600EB-RAF. Compounds 34e and 35 showed the highest inhibitory effect with IC₅₀ values of 0.085 µM and 0.080 µM, respectively. Headed for excessive biological evaluation, the synthesized derivatives were tested over sixty diverse human cancer cell lines. Only compound 35 emerged as a potent cytotoxic agent against different panel of human cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis of new chromeno-annulated cis-fused pyrano[4,3-c]isoxazole derivatives via intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition and their cytotoxicity evaluation

New cis-fused chromeno pyrano[4,3-c]isoxazole derivatives have been synthesized by intramolecular [1,3]-cycloaddition of the nitrones generated in situ from hydroxylamine derivatives and 7-O-prenyl derivatives of 8-formyl-2,3-disubstituted chromenones using PEG-400 as a reaction medium under catalyst-free conditions good to excellent yields. The structures were established by spectroscopic data and further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results showed that compounds 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and 4k exhibit very potent antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Compounds 4a, 4c, 4e, 4i and 4k displayed potent inhibitory activity against human MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Compounds 4h and 4i exhibited significant anti-proliferative activity against human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa. While 4b, 4d and 4j were active against human lung cancer cell line, A549. In addition, Compound 4j was found to be the most promising against A549 (Lung cancer) with IC₅₀ value of 0.194 μM.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of novel VEGFR2 kinase inhibitors: Discovery of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives with slow dissociation kinetics

For the purpose of discovering novel type-II inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) kinase, we designed and synthesized 5,6-fused heterocyclic compounds bearing a anilide group. A co-crystal structure analysis of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivative 2 with VEGFR2 revealed that the N1-nitrogen of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine core interacts with the backbone NH group of Cys919. To retain this essential interaction, we designed a series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine, thiazolo[5,4-b]pyridine, and 1,3-benzothiazole derivatives maintaining a ring nitrogen as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) at the corresponding position. All compounds thus designed displayed strong inhibitory activity against VEGFR2 kinase, and the [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine 13d displayed favorable physicochemical properties. Furthermore, 13d inhibited VEGFR2 kinase with slow dissociation kinetics and also inhibited platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) kinases. Oral administration of 13d showed potent anti-tumor efficacy in DU145 and A549 xenograft models in nude mice.     

Green chemoselective synthesis of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridine derivatives and evaluation of their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

The green chemoselective synthesis of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridine derivatives was achieved in water via microwave-assisted three-component reactions of malononitrile, aromatic aldehydes and 2-mercaptoacetic acid with molar ratios of 2:1:1.5 and 2:2.2:1, respectively. These compounds were subject to the experiments of antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity to carcinoma HCT-116 cells and mice lymphocytes. Nearly all of the tested compounds possessed potent capacities for scavenging free radicals. In addition, most of these compounds showed cytotoxicity to HCT-116 cells and mice lymphocytes with no selectivity. Of these, only thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridine derivative 5d suggested selective cytotoxicity to tumor cell line HCT-116 cells.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of tetracyclic fluoroquinolones as antibacterial and anticancer agents

A simple and efficient synthesis of 6-fluoro-4-oxopyrido[2,3-a]carbazole-3-carboxylic acids (13a–e) and a structurally related 6-fluoro-4-oxothieno[2′,3′:4,5]pyrrolo[3,2-h]quinoline (13f) was achieved via Stille arylation of 7-chloro-6-fluoro-8-nitro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxylate and a subsequent microwave-assisted phosphite-mediated Cadogan reaction. The new compounds were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity. The ability of 13a–f to inhibit the activity of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV was also investigated. The thieno isostere (13f) emerged as the most active antibacterial, while the 9-fluoro derivative (13e) was the most potent against multidrug-resistant staphylococci. Compounds 13a, 13c–f displayed growth inhibition against MCF-7 breast tumor and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells coupled with an absence of cytotoxicity toward normal human-derm fibroblasts (HuDe). Compound 13e was the most active anticancer against MCF-7 cells, with greater potency than ellipticine (IC₅₀ 0.8 and 1.6 μM, respectively). The most active compounds in this series show promise as dual acting anticancer and antibacterial chemotherapeutics.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and structure–activity relationships of neuroactive pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridine derivatives

We described herein the optimization of the synthetic methodology exploited to obtain the pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridine sedative prototype 1a and novel analogues designed by successive molecular simplifications. By applying microwave irradiation during the hetero Diels-Alder key-step to obtain the heterotricyclic scaffold, under solvent-free conditions, we were able to obtain the desired compounds in drastically shorter times and better yields. Additionally, in vivo evaluation of the sedative effects of these heterocyclic derivatives showed that 1a and the novel structurally-related analogue 1e were the most efficient compounds to impair the locomotor activity in mice at the dose of 10 μmol/kg.     

Design,synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of new benzofuro[3,2-b]pyridin-7-ols as DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors

Human DNA topoisomerases have become attractive targets for developing more effective anticancer drugs. In this study, a series of new benzofuro[3,2-b]pyridin-7-ols were designed and synthesized for the first time and screened for their topoisomerase I and II inhibitory and antiproliferative activity. Structure-activity relationships revealed the position of ortho- and para-hydroxyl group at 2-phenyl ring, and meta-hydroxyl group at 4-phenyl ring of benzofuro[3,2-b]pyridin-7-ol are important for potent and selective topo II inhibitory activity. Compound 11 showed the most selective and potent topo II inhibition (100% inhibition at 100?µM) and strongest antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀?=?0.86?µM) than all the positive controls in HeLa cell line.     

Synthesis,cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of novel pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine and pyrimidine functionalized 1,2,3-triazole derivatives

A series of novel pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine and pyrimidine functionalized 1,2,3-triazole derivatives 8a–g and 9a–g were prepared starting from 6-trifluoromethylpyridine-2(1H)one 2 via selective O-alkylation, followed by cyclisation using hydrazine hydrate to obtain 6-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-amine 4. Compound 4 was diazotized followed by reaction with sodium azide, resulted in 3-azido-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine 5. Compound 5 was further cyclized with N-/O-propargylated pyrimidine derivatives under Sharpless conditions and obtained compounds 6 and 7, respectively. Each set of compounds 6 and 7 were alkylated with different alkyl halides and obtained respective products 8 and 9. All the products were screened for cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines such as A549-Lung (CCL-185), MCF7-Breast (HTB-22), DU145-Prostate (HTB-81) and HeLa-Cervical (CCL-2), compounds 9d, 9e and 9f which showed promising activity have been identified. The products were also screened for antimicrobial, anti bio-film and MBC activities. Promising compounds in each case have been identified.