Synthesis and anti-histaminic evaluation of N-phenyl-(alkyl)-5-(dialkylamino)methyl-2-amino-2-oxazolines

New N-phenyl(alkyl)-5-(dialkylamino)methyl-2-amino-2-oxazolines, 5a-e, have been synthesized from the corresponding 3-phenyl(alkyl)carbamoyl-2-iminooxazolidines 2. A two-stage hydrolysis reaction led finally to the corresponding ring-opened N-phenyl(alkyl)-N'-[1-(3-(dialkylamino)-propan-2-ol)]ureas 4. The oxazoline ring was regenerated through an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution involving an halogen atom introduced by the reaction of thionyl chloride on 4. Pharmacological properties of 5a-e were evaluated on histaminic and adrenergic receptors in guinea-pig trachea and rat aorta. Compounds 5b and 5e showed a selective anti-histaminic effect on guinea-pig airways, but a significant response was obtained for a concentration >10(-6) M. No pharmacological activity was obtained with oxazoline 5c whereas oxazolines 5a and 5d seemed to present a non-selective effect on the contractile mechanism of the smooth muscle cell.     

Utilization of intrachain 4'-C-azidomethylthymidine for preparation of oligodeoxyribonucleotide conjugates by click chemistry in solution and on a solid support

4'-C-Azidomethylthymidine 3'-(H-phosphonate) monomer (10) was synthesized in high yield and three such monomers were incorporated by the H-phosphonate coupling into a 15-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The unmodified 2'-deoxynucleosides could be coupled by either the H-phosphonate or phosphoramidite chemistry, indicating that the Staudinger reaction between the azido group and the phosphoramidite reagent severely hampered the coupling only when it took place intramolecularly. After chain assembly, three alkynyl group bearing ligands, viz., propargyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (2), N-{4-[N-(trifluoroacetyl)aminomethyl]benzyl}-4-pentynamide (3) and N (1), N (3), N (2')-tris(trifluoroacetyl)-N (6')-(4-pentynoyl)neamine (4), were conjugated to the azido groups of the oligonucleotide by click chemistry both on a solid support and in solution. The products were deprotected by conventional ammonolysis and purified by HPLC chromatography. Melting temperature studies revealed that the mannose conjugated oligonucleotides formed more stable duplexes with 2'-O-methyl RNA than with DNA strand. With 2'-O-methyl RNA, a slight destabilization compared to an unmodified sequence was observed at low ionic strength, while at high salt content, the manno-conjugation was stabilizing.     

Microbial metabolism of amino alcohols. Aminoacetone metabolism via 1-aminopropan-2-ol in Pseudomonas sp. N.C.I.B. 8858

1. Pseudomonas sp. N.C.I.B. 8858 grew well on d- and l-1-aminopropan-2-ol and on aminoacetone. 2. Cell-free extracts possessed high activities of inducibly formed l-1-aminopropan-2-ol-NAD(+) oxidoreductase, amino alcohol-ATP phosphotransferase, dl-1-aminopropan-2-ol O-phosphate phospho-lyase and aldehyde-NAD(+) oxidoreductase, but no 1-aminopropan-2-ol racemase or d-1-aminopropan-2-ol-NAD(+) oxidoreductase. 3. The amino alcohol kinase (activated by ADP) was non-stereospecific towards 1-aminopropan-2-ol and was one-third as active with ethanolamine. The phospho-lyase was active with l- and d-1-aminopropan-2-ol O-phosphate, but ethanolamine O-phosphate was only one-tenth as active as its higher homologues. The purified aldehyde dehydrogenase was active with propionaldehyde, acetaldehyde and also with methylglyoxal. The previously observed 2-oxo aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was considered to be due to the broadly specific aldehyde dehydrogenase. 4. Mutants of Pseudomonas sp. N.C.I.B. 8858 deficient in 1-aminopropan-2-ol kinase, 1-aminopropan-2-ol O-phosphate phospho-lyase, aldehyde dehydrogenase or an enzyme involved in propionate metabolism were incapable of growth on aminoacetone or 1-aminopropan-2-ol as carbon source, although all except the kinase- or phospho-lyasedeficient mutants could use these compounds and ethanolamine as nitrogen sources. The aldehyde dehydrogenase-deficient mutants produced copious amounts of propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde during growth on the corresponding amino alcohols. 5. The path of aminoacetone metabolism in Pseudomonas sp. N.C.I.B. 8858 was concluded to involve l-1-aminopropan-2-ol, the O-phosphate ester of this compound, propionaldehyde and propionate as obligatory intermediates. d-1-Aminopropan-2-ol was metabolized by the same route as the l-isomer, gratuitously inducing formation of the stereospecific l-1-aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenase. 6. Extracts of the pseudomonad grown with ethanolamine as the nitrogen source were devoid of 1-aminopropan-2-ol dehydrogenase, the kinase and the phospho-lyase, but exhibited cobamide coenzyme-dependent deaminase activity. Mutants deficient in kinase or phospho-lyase (deaminating) grew well on ethanolamine as the nitrogen source. Ethanolamine deaminase was inactive with, but inhibited by, 1-aminopropan-2-ol.     

Induction of 5-aminolaevulinate synthase by two- to five-carbon alcohols in cultured chick-embryo hepatocytes. Relationship to induction of cytochrome P-450.

The induction of 5-aminolaevulinate synthase and of cytochrome P-450 by short-chain aliphatic alcohols was compared in primary cultures of chicken-embryo hepatocytes. Isopropyl alcohol, isobutanol, pentan-1-ol and isopentanol alone caused up to a 4-fold increase in 5-aminolaevulinate synthase, whereas ethanol and propan-1-ol did not. Induction of the synthase by isopentanol was maximal at 8 h, and reached a plateau thereafter, whereas the activity induced by 2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide continued to increase for 20 h. In the presence of 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, an inhibitor of haem synthesis at the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase step, synergistic induction of 5-aminolaevulinate synthase was observed with all the alcohols except ethanol. Ethanol, but not isopentanol, decreased the extent of induction of 5-aminolaevulinate synthase by 2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (50% decrease at 112 mM-ethanol). Total protein synthesis was not inhibited by ethanol in these cells. The composition of porphyrins was determined after treatment of cells with ethanol, isopentanol or 2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide. Untreated cells, when incubated with 5-aminolaevulinate for 6 h, accumulated mainly protoporphyrin. However, when cells were pretreated with ethanol, isopentanol or 2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide for 20 h, and 5-aminolaevulinate was added, 8- and 7-carboxyporphyrins increased, whereas protoporphyrin decreased. The dose responses for induction of either 5-aminolaevulinate synthase or cytochrome P-450 after a 20 h exposure to 3- to 5-carbon alcohols were identical. The results indicate that: simple alcohols can induce both enzymes; hydrophobicity increases their effectiveness; and induction of both enzymes are probably mediated by a common mechanism.     

7-substituted 8-aza-7-deazapurines and 2,8-diaza-7-deaza-purines: synthesis of nucleosides and oligonucleotides

7-Substituted 8-aza- 7-deazaadenosines 1a-e were synthesized by Sonogashira cross coupling from the corresponding 7-iodo nucleoside in 36-79% yields. Starting from 7-bromo (or 7-iodo)-8-aza-7-deazaadenine, 2a,b were obtained by acid-catalyzed glycosylation followed by deprotection in 53 and 35% yields, repectively. Compounds 2b was applied to cross coupling reaction to give 2c-d in 34-95% yield. Compounds 2a and 4b were further transformed to the phosphoramidites 5 and 6b in 9 and 49% overall yields, which were incorporated into oligonucleotides.     

Protective group-free syntheses of (±)-frontalin, (±)-endo-brevicomin, (±)-exo-brevicomin, and (±)-3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin: racemic pheromones with a 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring

Protective group-free syntheses of four racemic pheromones with a 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring were achieved in five or six steps from commercially available (±)-3-butyn-2-ol (6) and 2-alkenyl halides or 2-alken-1-ol by employing Lewis acid-catalyzed acetalization of δ, ε-epoxy ketones as the key reaction. (±)-Frontalin (1) was prepared in a 25% overall yield in five steps from methallyl chloride (5a), (±)-endo-brevicomin (2) was prepared in a 23% overall yield in five steps from (E)-2-pentenyl bromide (5b), and (±)-exo-brevicomin (3) and (±)-3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (4) were both prepared in a 4% overall yield in six steps based on (Z)-2-penten-1-ol (12).     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 2(1H)-pyridones and their glucosides as cell proliferation inhibitors

A new series of substituted 2(1H)-pyridones (4a-i) and their glucosides (5, 6a-e) were prepared as potential agents against leukemia (HL-60) cells. Glucosides (5,6a-e) were synthesized using three independent methods. Microwave protocol as an ecologically new method was used to synthesize the target compounds. Structures of the new products were confirmed using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. In vitro exposure of pyridones substituted at position 4 with a 2-thienyl or 2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl were found to exhibit high antiproliferation activities; in particular, 3-cyano-4-(thien-2'-yl)-6-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2(1H)-pyridone (4c) and its glucoside analogue (6c) had the highest activity.     

Synthesis, QSAR and anti-HIV activity of new 5-benzylthio-1,3,4-oxadiazoles derived from α-amino acids

2-(1-[(4-Chloro/methylphenylsulfonylamino)alkyl]-5-thioxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a-e) were synthesized, in four steps, via the sulfonyl derivatives of l-amino acids (l-alanine, l-methionine and l-phenylalanine) 1a-e, the esters 2a-e, the hydrazides 3a-e and finally the cyclization to 4a-e. Alkylation of 4a-e with 1.0 mole eq. of substituted benzyl halides furnished S-benzyl derivatives 5a-t, while 1.1 mole eq. yielded major 5a-t and minor amount of 6a-d. Alternatively, treatment of 4a-e with 2.0 mole eq. of substituted benzyl halides furnished 6a-d only. The structures of 5b and 5l were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Compounds 5a-t and 6a-d showed no selective inhibition against HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication in MT-4 cells. However, 5f and 5j-5q exhibited some inhibitory activity against both types with EC(50) values (>11.50 - >13.00 μg/mL). These results suggest that the structural modifications of these compounds might lead to the development of new antiviral agents. The quantum structure-activity relationship of these novel structural congeners is discussed.     

Evaluation of 2'-hydroxyl protection in RNA-synthesis using the H-phosphonate approach.

A number of different protecting groups were compared with respect to their usefulness for protection of 2'-hydroxyl functions during synthesis of oligoribonucleotides using the H-phosphonate approach. The comparison was between the t-butyldimethylsilyl (t-BDMSi), the o-chlorobenzoyl (o-CIBz), the tetrahydropyranyl (THP), the 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxypiperidin-4-yl (Fpmp), the 1-(2-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-4-methoxypiperidin-4-yl (Ctmp), and the 1-(2-chloroethoxy)ethyl (Cee) protecting groups. All these groups were tested in synthesis of dodecamers, (Up)11U and (Up)11A, using 5'-O-(4-monomethoxytrityl) or (4,4'-dimethoxytrityl) uridine H-phosphonate building blocks carrying the respective 2'-protection. The performance of the t-BDMSi and o-CIBz derivatives were also compared in synthesis of (Up)19U. The most successful syntheses were clearly those where the t-butyldimethylsilyl group was used. The o-chlorobenzoyl group also gave satisfactory results but seems somewhat limited with respect to synthesis of longer oligomers. The results with all tested acetal derivatives (Fpmp, Ctmp, Cee, THP) were much less successful due to some accompanying cleavage of internucleotidic H-phosphonate functions during removal of 5'-O-protection (DMT).     

Microbial hydroxylation of unsaturated, cyclic carboxylic acids protected as benzoxazoles

Microbial hydroxylation of 2-(cyclopent-1-enyl)benzoxazole (1) and 2-(cyclohex-1-enyl)benzoxazole (2) by Cunninghamella blakesleeana DSM 1906 and Bacillus megaterium DSM 32, respectively, gave chiral allylic alcohols 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-ol (3) and 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-ol (4) along with achiral ketones 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclopent-2-en-1-one (5) and 3-(benz-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (6). Both allylic alcohols were produced in enantiomeric excesses higher than 99%. The determination of their absolute configurations (S in both cases) is described.     

Synthesis of 2-thiohydantoins and their S-glucosylated derivatives as potential antiviral and antitumor agents

A series of 3-alkyl-5-((Z))-arylidene-2-thiohydantoins 4a-1 were synthesized from the direct condensation of the aromatic aldehydes with 3-alkyl-2-thiohydantoins 3a-c, which in turn were prepared from the reaction of glycine (1) and alkyl isothiocyanates 2a-c. The alkylation of 4a-1 with methylthioethyl chloride gave 5-((Z))-arylidene-3-alkyl-S-(2-methylthioethyl)-2-thiohydantoins 5a-e. S-Glucosylation took place on the reaction of 4a-1 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide under anhydrous alkaline conditions. These structures have been confirmed from a model study of the coupling of 4a with methylthioethyl chloride and alpha-D-glucose pentaacetate, respectively under Lewis acid conditions.     

Synthesis and duplex stability of oligonucleotides containing cytosine-thymine analogues.

The synthesis of the deoxynucleoside derived from the base P, 6H,8H-3,4-dihydro-pyrimido[4,5-c] [4,5-c] [1,2]oxazin-7-one, 2, and its introduction by established phosphoramidite and H-phosphonate chemistry into oligonucleotides is described. The melting transition temperatures (Tm) of a range of heptadecamer duplexes containing P/A and P/G base-pairs are compared with corresponding ones having N4-methoxycytosine (M) 1 and mismatched normal bases. P/A and P/G pairs allow closely similar duplex stabilities and have the potential to reduce the multiplicity of probes and primers based on amino acid sequences by removing the T/C degeneracy.     

Comparative studies of bile salts. Bile salts of sturgeons (Acipenseridae) and of the paddlefish Polyodon spathula: a new partial synthesis of 5β-cyprinol

1. Bile salts of the sturgeons Acipenser guldenstaedti Brandt, Acipenser stellatus Pall and Huso huso L. and of the paddlefish Polyodon spathula Walbaum are shown to be closely similar, consisting mainly of taurocholate with minor amounts of tauroallocholate and the monosulphates of bile alcohols. The bile alcohols, comprising less than 10% of the bile salts, are mixtures with high proportions of substances resembling C(27) tetrols and of C(27) pentols, including 5beta-cyprinol and (probably) 5alpha-cyprinol. 2. 5beta-Cyprinol (3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,26,27-pentahydroxy-5beta-cholestane) was made from cholic acid via 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-triacetoxy-5beta-cholan-24-ol in an overall yield of about 0.8%. 3. The chemical nature of chondrostean bile salts agrees with the systematic position of the fishes and suggests further correspondence between evolution at the morphological and molecular levels.     

Diastereoselectivity in scalemic tartrate/titanium epoxidations

Nonlinearity in the diastereoselectivity of epoxidation of allylic alcohols with mixtures of titanium isopropoxide, tertbutyl hydroperoxide, and diethyl tartrate was observed. Racemic and enantiomerically pure alcohols E-2-methyl-4-hexen-3-ol and E-1-methoxy-5-(O-tertbutyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-penten-4-ol were prepared. Epoxidation reactions were carried out with Ti(OPri)4 and ButOOH accompanied by diethyl tartrate of varying enantiomeric purity. The simplest explanation of these results is that a dimeric epoxidation reagent is involved, with significantly different reactivity for the homochiral and racemic forms.     

2-Deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid analogues structurally modified at the C-4 position: synthesis and biological evaluation as inhibitors of human parainfluenza virus type 1

To explore the influence of binding to human parainfluenza virus type 1 (hPIV-1), a series of 4-O-substituted Neu5Ac2en derivatives 6a-e was synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit hPIV-1 sialidase. Among compounds 6a-e, the 4-O-ethyl-Neu5Ac2en derivative 6b showed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50 6.3 microM) against hPIV-1 sialidase.     

Comparison of the bile salts of frogs with those of their tadpoles. Bile-salt changes during the metamorphosis of Rana Catesbeiana Shaw.

1. The bile salts of three frog species of the genus Ptychadena and of Rana catesbeiana have been compared with those of their tadpoles. For R. catesbeiana comparison was made of the bile salts in at least ten of the recognized stages of tadpole metamorphosis. 2. In all cases, adult bile salts were more complex than those of the tadpoles. 3. In R. catesbeiana after stage 18, 26-deoxy-5 alpha-ranol was hydroxylated to form 5 alpha-ranol (27-nor-5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24 xi, 26-pentol) and at least two other bile alcohols appeared in solvolysed bile salts. 4. Tadpole bile salts were not found to be biochemically more primitive than those of fully metamorphosed frogs; in some, but not all, cases tadpole bile alcohols could be regarded as biochemical precursors of those in the adult frogs. 5. Detailed evidence for the structure of the bile salts from mass-spectral fragmentation patterns has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50097 (2 pages) at the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1978) 169, 5.     

Oxidation of n-Tetradecane and 1-Tetradecene by Fungi

Cunninghamella blakesleeana (minus strain) and a Penicillium species were grown in a mineral-salts medium containing either n-tetradecane or 1-tetradecene as substrate, and ether extracts of the mycelial mats were analyzed for oxidation products. Extracts from Cunninghamella revealed tetradecanoic acid and 13-tetradecenoic acid from the oxidation of n-tetradecane and 1-tetradecene, respectively, thereby indicating that these hydrocarbons were subject to methyl group oxidation. In contrast to Cunninghamella, the Penicillium oxidized the two substrates by subterminal attacks on methylene rather than methyl groups. This was evidenced by tentative identifications of the following alcohols and ketones from oxidation of the hydrocarbons: tetradecan-2-ol, dodecan-1-ol, tetradecan-2-one, and tetradecan-4-one from n-tetradecane, and tetradecen-4-ol, 13-tetradecen-4-ol, tetradecen-3-ol, 13-tetradecen-4-one, and tetradecen-3-one from 1-tetradecene. A pathway for hydrocarbon oxidation is proposed for subterminal oxidation at the methylene alpha to the methyl group.     

Alkylphenol biotransformations catalyzed by 4-ethylphenol methylenehydroxylase

4-ethylphenol methylenehydroxylase from Pseudomonas putida JD1 acts by dehydrogenation of its substrate to give a quinone methide, which is then hydrated to an alcohol. It was shown to be active with a range of 4-alkylphenols as substrates. 4-n-propylphenol, 4-n-butylphenol, chavicol, and 4-hydroxydiphenylmethane were hydroxylated on the methylene group next to the benzene ring and produced the corresponding chiral alcohol as the major product. The alcohols 1-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)propanol and 1-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-ol, produced by the biotransformation of 4-n-propylphenol and chavicol, respectively, were shown to be R(+) enantiomers. 5-Indanol, 6-hydroxytetralin, 4-isopropylphenol, and cyclohexylphenol, with cyclic or branched alkyl groups, gave the corresponding vinyl compounds as their major products.     

Crosstalk between ARF6 and protein kinase Calpha in Fc(gamma)RI-mediated activation of phospholipase D1

Fc receptors play a pivotal role linking the cellular and humoral arms of the immune system [1-3]. Our previous studies have shown that the human high-affinity immunoglobulin G receptor Fc(gamma)RI couples to a novel intracellular signaling pathway requiring phospholipase D activation [4]. The mechanisms that regulate receptor coupling to phospholipase D in intact cells are poorly understood but involve small molecular weight GTPases and protein kinase C [5-7]. Here, we show that immune complex aggregation of Fc(gamma)RI stimulates the association of phospholipase D1 with ARF6 and protein kinase Calpha. Surprisingly, PKCalpha activity per se is not required. Rather, all of the Fc(gamma)RI-mediated increase in PKC activity requires phospholipase D1, as treatment of cells with butan-1-ol (0.3%) or specific downregulation of phospholipase D1 using antisense oligonucleotides inhibits Fc(gamma)RI-coupled PKC activation. Moreover, treatment of cells with butan-1-ol or phospholipase D1 antisense oligonucleotides inhibits translocation of PKCdelta, -epsilon, and -zeta but had no effect on the association of PKCalpha or ARF6 with phospholipase D1. These data indicate that association with ARF6 and PKCalpha plays a role in coupling Fc(gamma)RI to phospholipase D1 activation and that PLD1 lies upstream of all Fc(gamma)RI-mediated PKC activity.     

Synthesis of twisted intercalating nucleic acids possessing acridine derivatives. Thermal stability studies

Twisted intercalating nucleic acids (TINA) possessing acridine derivatives have been synthesized via the postsynthetic modifications of oligonucleotides possessing insertions of (R)-1-O-(4-iodobenzyl)glycerol (8) or (R)-1-O-(4-ethynylbenzyl)glycerol (9) at the 5'-end or in the middle as a bulge. In the first postsynthetic step, oligonucleotides 8 and 9 on the CPG support were treated with a Sonogashira coupling reaction mixture containing 9-chloro-2-ethynylacridine or 9-chloro-2-iodoacridine, respectively. After the postsynthetic step, treatment of the oligonucleotides with 32% aq ammonia or 50% ethanolic solution of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine led to the substitution of chloride on acridine concurrent with deprotection of the bases and cleavage of the oligonucleotides from CPG. Molecular modeling of the parallel triplex with a bulged insertion of the monomer (R)-3-O-[4-(9-aminoacridin-2-ylethynyl)benzyl]glycerol in the triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) showed that the acridine moiety was stacking between the bases of the duplex, while phenyl was placed between the bases of the TFO. Thermal denaturation studies and fluorescence properties of TINA-acridine oligonucleotide duplexes and triplexes are discussed.