Studies towards the large scale chemical synthesis of the precursors of ribonucleosides-3',4',5',5'-2H4 and -2',3',4',5',5'-2H5

A summary delineating the large scale synthetic studies to prepare labeled precursors of ribonucleosides-3',4',5',5'-2H4 and -2',3',4',5',5'-2H5 from D-glucose is presented. The recycling of deuterium-labeled by-products has been devised to give a high overall yield of the intermediates and an expedient protocol has been elaborated for the conversion of 3-O-benzyl-alpha,beta-D-allofuranose-3,4-d2 6 to 1-O-methyl-3-O-benzyl-2-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-alpha,beta-D-ribofuranose-3,4,5,5'-d4 16 (precursor of ribonucleosides-3',4',5',5'-2H4) or to 1-O-methyl-3,5-di-O-benzyl-alpha,beta-D-ribofuranose-3,4,5,5'-d4 18 (precursor of ribonucleosides-3',4',5',5'-2H4).     

Novel HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors derived from 4-(1',1'-dioxo-1',4'-dihydro-1'lambda(6)-benzo[1',2',4']thiadiazin-3'-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-ones. Part 5: Exploration of pyridazinones containing 6-amino-substituents

The synthesis of 4-(1',1'-dioxo-1',4'-dihydro-1'lambda(6)-benzo[1',2',4']thiadiazin-3'-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-ones bearing 6-amino substituents as potent inhibitors of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) is described. Several of these agents also display potent antiviral activity in cell culture experiments (EC(50)<0.10 microM). In vitro DMPK data (microsome t(1/2), Caco-2 P(app)) for many of the compounds are also disclosed, and a crystal structure of a representative inhibitor complexed with the NS5B protein is discussed.     

Novel HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors derived from 4-(1',1'-dioxo-1',4'-dihydro-1'lambda6-benzo[1',2',4']thiadiazin-3'-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-ones: Part 4. Optimization of DMPK properties

5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as potent inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase focusing on the optimization of their drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) profiles. This investigation led to the discovery of potent inhibitors with improved DMPK properties.     

Novel HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors derived from 4-(1',1'-dioxo-1',4'-dihydro-1'lambda(6)-benzo[1',2',4']thiadiazin-3'-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-ones. Part 2: Variation of the 2- and 6-pyridazinone substituents

5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) associated with variation of the pyridazinone 2- and 6-substituents is discussed. The synthesis and metabolic stability of this new class of compounds are also described.     

Novel HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors derived from 4-(1',1'-dioxo-1',4'-dihydro-1'lambda(6)-benzo[1',2',4']thiadiazin-3'-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-ones. Part 3: Further optimization of the 2-, 6-, and 7'-substituents and initial pharmacokinetic assessments

5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. Lead optimization led to the discovery of compound 3a, which displayed potent inhibitory activities in biochemical and replicon assays [IC(50) (1b)<10nM; IC(50) (1a)=22 nM; EC(50) (1b)=5nM], good stability toward human liver microsomes (HLM t(1/2)>60 min), and high ratios of liver to plasma concentrations 12h after a single oral administration to rats.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity assay of novel (E)-3',5'-diamino-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2',3',5'-trideoxyuridine

(E)-3',5'-diamino-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2',3',5'-trideoxyuridine (5), the diamino analogue of BVDU (1), was synthesized from BVDU. In contrast with BVDU, compound 5 did not show activity against herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus.     

Photooxidation of d(TpG) by riboflavin and methylene blue. Isolation and characterization of thymidylyl-(3',5')-2-amino-5-[(2-deoxy-beta-D- erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-4H-imidazol-4-one and its primary decomposition product thymidylyl-(3',5')-2,2-diamino-4-[(2-deoxy-beta-D- erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-5(2H)-oxazolone.

The major initial product of riboflavin- and methylene blue-mediated photosensitization of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) in oxygen-saturated aqueous solution has previously been identified as 2-amino-5-[(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino] 4H-imidazol-4-one (dlz). At room temperature in aqueous solution dlz decomposes quantitatively to 2,2-diamino-4-[(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro- pentofuranosyl)amino]-5(2H)-oxazolone (dZ). The data presented here show that the same guanine photooxidation products are generated following riboflavin- and methylene blue-mediated photosensitization of thymidylyl-(3',5')-2'-deoxyguanosine [d(TpG)]. As observed for the monomers, the initial product, thymidylyl-(3',5')-2-amino-5-[(2-deoxy- beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-4H-imidazol-4-one [d(Tplz)], decomposes in aqueous solution at room temperature to thymidylyl-(3',5')-2,2-diamino-4- [(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-5(2H)-oxazolone [d(TpZ)]. Both modified dinucleoside monophosphates have been isolated by HPLC and characterized by proton NMR spectrometry, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, chemical analyses and enzymatic digestions. Among the chemical and enzymatic properties of these modified dinucleoside monophosphates are: (i) d(Tplz) and d(TpZ) are alkali-labile; (ii) d(Tplz) reacts with methoxyamine, while d(TpZ) is unreactive; (iii) d(Tplz) is digested by snake venom phosphodiesterase, while d(TpZ) is unaffected; (iv) relative to d(TpG), d(TpZ) and d(Tplz) are slowly digested by spleen phosphodiesterase; (v) d(Tplz) and d(TpZ) can be 5'-phosphorylated by T4 polynucleotide kinase. The first observation suggests that dlz and dZ may be responsible for some of the strand breaks detected following hot piperidine treatment of DNA exposed to photosensitizers.     

Synthesis and stability studies of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-2-amino(-N6-cyclopentyl)-1-deazaadenosines

In this article, we report on the synthesis of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-2-amino-1-deazaadenosine and of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-2-amino-N(6)-cyclopentyl-1-deazaadenosine, which are very versatile intermediates for the preparation of 2-substituted 1-deazaadenosine derivatives. The two synthesized compounds showed to be quite unstable, with the N(6)-substituted derivatives being less stable than the N(6)-unsubstituted counterpart, according to the calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Stability studies were performed through HPLC-MS analysis.     

An experimental and theoretical approach to 5alpha-cholestan-6-spiro-1',2',4'-triazolidine-3'-one

The 5alpha-cholestan-6-one semicarbazone (1) on reaction with hydrogen peroxide at 0 degrees C affords selectively 5alpha-cholestan-6-spiro-1',2',4'-triazolidine-3'-one. (2) The structural assignment of the product was confirmed on the basis of its elemental, analytical and spectral analysis. The Hartree-Fock method using 6-31G* basis set was employed in order to explore the reaction mechanism. The results of the computational study show that the reaction proceeds through two radical intermediates formation. The different characteristics involved during the reaction were explained, firstly, the lower energy conformation of each molecule using total energy, hardness and dipole moment, and secondly, the explanation of the free radical mechanism, using frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory, encoded electrostatic potential, spin electronic density and atomic charges. The localization of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) or alpha-HOMO, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) or alpha-LUMO and the flow of atomic charges are in good agreement to support the present mechanism of the reaction. Stability and feasibility of all the optimized structures were supported by their respective fundamental frequencies and energy minima.     

(2')3',5'-Bisphosphate nucleotidase

(2')3',5'-Bisphosphate nucleotidase has been prepared in electrophoretically homogeneous form from guinea pig liver. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of the 2'- or 3'-phosphate from the appropriate nucleoside 2',5'- and 3',5'-bisphosphates and is active with 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate and with coenzyme A but not with ATP. The 40,000-dalton protein is a monomer that requires Mg2+ for activity.     

Oligoribonucleotides containing 2',5'-phosphodiester linkages exhibit binding selectivity for 3',5'-RNA over 3',5'-ssDNA.

Oligoribonucleotides containing 2',5'-phosphodiester linkages have been synthesized on a solid support by the 'silyl-phosphoramidite' method. The stability of complexes formed between these oligonucleotides and complementary 3',5'-RNA strands have been studied using oligoadenylates and a variety of oligonucleotides of mixed base sequences including phosphorothioate backbones. In many cases, particularly for 2',5'-linked adenylates, the UV melting profiles are quite sharp and exhibit large hyperchromic changes. Substituting a few 3',5'-linkages with the 2',5'-linkage within an oligomer lowers the Tm of the complex and the degree of destabilization depends on the neighboring residues and neighboring linkages. The 2',5'-linked oligoribonucleotides prepared in this study exhibited remarkable selectivity for complementary single stranded RNA over DNA. For example, in 0.01 M phosphate buffer--0.10 M NaCl (pH 7.0), no association was observed between 2',5'-r(CCC UCU CCC UUC U) and its Watson-Crick DNA complement 3',5'-d(AGAAGGGAGAGGG). However, 2',5'-r(CCC UCU CCC UUC U) with its RNA complement 3',5'-r(AGAAGGGAGAGGG) forms a duplex which melts at 40 degrees C. The decamer 2',5'-r(Ap)9A forms a complex with both poly dT and poly rU but the complex [2',5'-r(Ap)9A]:[poly dT] is unstable (Tm, -1 degree C) and is seen only at high salt concentrations. In view of their unnatural character and remarkable selectivity for single stranded RNA, 2',5'-oligo-RNAs and their derivatives may find use as selective inhibitors of viral mRNA translation, and as affinity ligands for the purification of cellular RNA.     

The structure of 2-methoxy-5-(2',3',4'-trimethoxyphenyl)tropone, an effective analog of colchicine

-Methoxy-5-(2',3',4'-trimethoxyphenyl) tropone is an active analog of colchicine, a mitotic spindle inhibitor, which is missing the middle "B" ring. This compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with Z = 2; a = 10.135(2), b = 10.166 (4), and c = 7.863(2) A; alpha = 82.15(3), beta = 103.49(3), and gamma = 107.16(2); degrees and V = 750.7(4) A. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to a final R = 0.063, using 2503 observed reflections and 271 parameters. Despite the absence of the middle ring, the conformation of the molecule is similar to that of colchicine, isocolchicine , and their derivatives. The troponoid ring is dissimilar to the phenyl ring in that it is not aromatic and does have alternating short and long bond lengths. The dihedral angle between the least-squares planes of the two rings is -57.4 degrees. Van der Waals surface representations of the analog and colchicine are presented to demonstrate the similarity and differences of these two molecules . The structural information of the analog is consistent with the interpretation of thermodynamic parameters which govern the interactions between brain tubulin and the analog.     

Synthesis of (1R,2S)-1-(3'-chloro-4' -methoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol (trametol) and (1R,2S)-1-(3',5'-dichloro-4'-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol,chlorinated fungal metabolites in the natural environment

(1R,2S)-1-(3'-Chloro-4'-methoxyphenyl)-1,2propanediol (Trametol, 3), a metabolite of the fungus Trametes sp. IVP-F640 and Bjerkandera sp. BOS55, was synthesized by employing Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step. Similarly, the (1R,2S)-isomer of 1-(3',5'-dichloro-4'-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol (4), another metabolite of Bjerkandera sp. BOS55, was synthesized by asymmetric dihydroxylation.     

Synthesis of 5'-C-methyl-1',3'-dioxolan-4'-yl nucleosides

Novel racemic 5'-C-methyl-1',3'-dioxolan-4'-yl nucleosides were synthesized from the key intermediate, 2-benzoyloxymethyl-4-oxo-5-C-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, which was prepared from racemic lactic acid.     

Functional analysis of 2-5A-dependent RNase and 2-5a using 2',5'-oligoadenylate-cellulose

2-5A is an intracellular effector that has been implicated in interferon action, hormonal regulation, and cell growth control. 2-5A action is mediated through its activation of 2-5A-dependent RNase (RNase L, RNase F). Affinity resins [2-5A-cellulose and core (2-5A)-cellulose] were chemically synthesized for purification and immobilization of 2-5A-dependent RNase from mouse L cells and rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The breakdown of poly(U)-[3'-32P]Cp to acid-soluble fragments was demonstrated using the 2-5A-dependent RNase:2-5A -cellulose complex; this activity was enhanced by adding (free) 2-5A. In contrast, RNase activity was measured from the 2-5A-dependent RNase:core (2-5A)-cellulose complex only after the addition of free 2-5A. The rabbit reticulocyte 2-5A-dependent RNase is activated only by tetramer or higher oligomers of 2-5A; therefore there was breakdown of poly(U)-[3'-32P]Cp using core (2-5A)-cellulose-bound reticulocyte 2-5A-dependent RNase after addition of tetramer 2-5A but there was no poly(U) degradation in the presence of trimer 2-5A. The absence of significant general nuclease in the assays was demonstrated by the resistance to breakdown of poly(C)-[3'-32P]Cp (not susceptible to 2-5A-dependent RNase). Moreover, core (2-5A)-cellulose was used to develop a sensitive (subnanomolar) assay for the detection of authentic 2-5A. 2-5A, or the material to be tested, was added to mouse L-cell 2-5A-dependent RNase:core (2-5A)-cellulose complex in the presence of poly(U)-[3'-32P]Cp. The concentration of 2-5A in the sample could be measured from the amount of poly(U) degradation. Several closely related analogs of 2-5A were tested and found to be completely inactive. The technology described herein may be applied to the study of the regulation of 2-5A-dependent RNase, the detection of 2-5A from cells and tissues, and other aspects of the 2-5A system.     

2'-Deoxy-3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)- and 3'(2')-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-diphosphate, fluorescent photoaffinity analogues of adenosine 5'-diphosphate. Synthesis, characterization, and interaction with myosin subfragment 1

Two new fluorescent nucleotide photoaffinity labels, 3'(2')-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-diphosphate (Bz2 epsilon ADP) and 2'-deoxy-3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-diphosphate [3'(Bz2)2'd epsilon ADP], have been synthesized and used as probes of the ATP binding site of myosin subfragment 1 (SF1). These analogues are stably trapped by the bifunctional thiol cross-linker N,N'-p-phenylenedimaleimide (pPDM) at the active site in a manner similar to that of ATP [Wells, J.A., & Yount, R.G. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 4966-4970], and nonspecific photolabeling can be minimized by removing free probe by gel filtration prior to irradiation. Both probes covalently photoincorporate with high efficiency (40-50%) into the central 50-kDa heavy chain tryptic peptide, as found previously for the nonfluorescent parent compound 3'(2')-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)adenosine diphosphate [Mahmood, R., & Yount, R.G. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12956-12959]. The solution conformations of Bz2 epsilon ADP and 3'(Bz2)-2'd epsilon ADP were analyzed by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. These data indicated that the benzoylbenzoyl rings in both analogues were stacked over the epsilon-adenine ring. The degree of stacking was greater with the 2' isomer than with the 3' isomer. Fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes were measured for Bz2 epsilon ADP and 3'(Bz2)2'd epsilon ADP reversibly bound, stably trapped, and covalently photoincorporated at the active site of SF1. These values were compared with those for 3'(2')-O-[[(phenylhydroxymethyl)phenyl]carbonyl]-1,N6-ethenoadenos ine diphosphate (CBH epsilon ADP) and 2'-deoxy-3'-O-[[(phenylhydroxymethyl)phenyl]carbonyl]-1,N6- ethenoadenosine diphosphate [3'(CBH)2'd epsilon ADP]. These derivatives were synthesized as fluorescent analogues of the expected product of the photochemical reactions of Bz2 epsilon ADP and 3'(Bz2)2'd epsilon ADP, respectively, with the active site of SF1. The fluorescence properties of the carboxybenzhydrol derivatives trapped at the active site by pPDM were compared with those of the Bz2 nucleotide-SF1 complexes. These properties were consistent with a photoincorporation mechanism in which the carbonyl of benzophenone was converted to a tertiary alcohol attached covalently to the protein. The specific, highly efficient photoincorporation of Bz2 epsilon ADP at the active site will allow it to be used as a donor in distance measurements by fluorescence resonance energy transfer to acceptor sites on actin.     

Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanyl-(3',5')-guanosine

The protected analogue of 2-amnio-6-chloropurine arabinoside (3b) was subjected to reaction with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) and subsequently treated with NaOAc in Ac2O/AcOH to give N2, O3', O5'-triacetyl-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanosine (5a). After deacetylation of the sugar moiety and protection of 5'-OH by a 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl group, this nucleoside component was converted to 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanyl-(3',5')-guanosine (6c, GfpG).     

Microbial hydroxylation of (+/-)- and (-)-(2Z,4E)-5-(1',2'-epoxy-2',6',6'-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-methyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid into (+/-)- and (-)-xanthoxin acid by Cunninghamella echinulata

Microbial hydroxylation of (+/-)-(2Z,4E)-5-(1',2'-epoxy-2',6',6'-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-methyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid (3a) with Cercospora cruenta, a fungus producing (+)-abscisic acid, gave a four-stereoisomeric mixture consisting of (+)- and (-)-xanthoxin acid (4a), and (+)- and (-)-epi-xanthoxin acid (5a) by an HPLC analysis with a chiral column. Screening of the microorganisms capable of oxidizing (+/-)-3a showed that Cunninghamella echinulata stereoselectively oxidized (+/-)-3a to xanthoxin acid (4a) with the some degree of enantioselectivity as (-)-3a to (-)-4a.     

2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorocytidine is a selective anti-retrovirus agent

2',3'-Didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorocytidine (D4CC) is, in contrast with 2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorocytidine (ddClCyd) and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorouridine (D4CU), a potent and selective inhibitor of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1 and 2, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian AIDS related virus (SRV). D4CC is a poor inhibitor of the phosphorylation of [5-3H]2'-deoxycytidine (dCyd) by partially purified MT-4 cell dCyd kinase (Ki: 612 microM). The findings that (i) D4CC has little, if any, affinity for MT-4 cell Cyd/dCyd deaminase, (ii) D4CU is not antivirally active and (iii) the antiretroviral action of D4CC can be reversed by dCyd, but not dThd, indicate that D4CC is antivirally active as its Cyd metabolite (D4CC 5'-triphosphate) and does not need to be deaminated (to the corresponding Urd metabolite) to exert its antiretroviral action.     

Synthesis of 1-(3',4',5'-trimethoxy) phenyl naphtho[2,1b]furan as a novel anticancer agent

3',4',5'-Trimethoxy benzoyl-naphthalene 2-O-acetic acid (5) underwent base catalysed intramolecular condensation to yield exclusively 1-(3',4',5'-trimethoxy) phenyl naphtho[2,1-b]furan 8. The cyclised product 8 has been characterised by spectroscopy. The product 8 showed significant anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines COLO320DM (colon), CaCO2 (colon) and WRL68 (liver) at 0.7, 0.65 and 0.50 microg/ml concentrations, respectively, in the in vitro MTT assay.