Alkylsulfanyl analogs as potent α2δ ligands

We identified novel (3R, 5S)-3-aminomethyl-5-methanesulfanyl hexanoic acid (5a: DS75091588) and (3R, 5S)-3-aminomethyl-5-ethanesulfanyl hexanoic acid (6a: DS18430756) as sulfur-containing γ-amino acid derivatives that were useful for the treatment of neuropathic pain. These two compounds exhibited a potent analgesic effect in animal models of both type I diabetes and type II diabetes, and good pharmacokinetics.     

Synthesis and antioxidant ability of 6,6′-diamino-6,6′-dideoxytrehalose

In order to study the influence of amino group on antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides, an amino disaccharide, 6,6′-diamino-6,6′-dideoxytrehalose (DAMDT) was successfully prepared in this paper, and its antioxidant activities against DPPH, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals, and reducing power were evaluated, respectively. The results indicated that DAMDT had better antioxidant activity than trehalose at any tested concentration. The influence of amino group on antioxidant activity of disaccharides is positive based on the results in this paper, and amination should be an effective method to improve the bioactivity of saccharides.     

Synthesis and reactions of cyclic acetal derivatives of 6,6′-dichloro-6,6′-dideoxysucrose

Treatment of 6,6′-dichloro-6,6′-dideoxysucrose with a combination of 2,2-dimethoxypropane, N,N-dimethylformamide, and toluene-p-sulphonic acid (reagent A), followed by acetylation, gave the 1′,2:3,4-diacetal 1 (39%) and the 1′,2-acetal 2 (37%). A similar reaction of methyl 6-chloro-6-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside with reagent A yielded the corresponding 2,3- and 3,4-acetal derivatives in yields of 29% and 9%, respectively. The structures of 1 and 2 have been confirmed by ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and by chemical transformations.     

Synthesis of fluorescent nucleoside analogs as probes for 2′-deoxyribonucleoside kinases

We are reporting on the synthesis of fluorescent nucleoside analogs with modified sugar moieties (e.g., sugars other than ribose and 2′-deoxyribose). Four novel derivatives of the fluorescent thymidine analog 6-methyl-3-(β-D-2′-deoxyribofuranosyl) furano-[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one were synthesized via Sonogashira reaction and subsequent copper-catalyzed cycloaddition. These compounds represent promising tools for studying nucleoside metabolism inside living cells, as well as for screening directed evolution libraries of 2′-deoxyribonucleoside kinases with new and improved activity for the corresponding nucleoside analogs.     

Fluorinated 2′-hydroxychalcones as garcinol analogs with enhanced antioxidant and anticancer activities

Chalcones are involved in the synthesis of flavonoids and are themselves known to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties. However, compared to other structurally similar phytochemicals like garcinol and curcumin, the therapeutic use of chalcones is limited because of their lower bioavailability and rapid metabolic clearance from biological system. In the present work, we have attempted to overcome these limitations in case of 2′-hydroxychalcones through bioisosteric substitution of fluoro groups in place of phenolic hydroxyls. The fluorinated chalcones were found to be more potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative compounds than their hydroxyl counterparts indicating the influence of metabolically stable C–F bonds towards bioavailability. The difluoro derivatives were found to be most effective against human pancreatic BxPC-3 cancer cells which possess up-regulated COX-2 expression and also showed activity against human breast cancer BT-20 cells with triple negative phenotype, suggesting that these compounds will have broader application in the future.     

4′-Substituted pyrimidine nucleosides lacking 5′-hydroxyl function as potential anti-HCV agents

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major health problems worldwide. If left untreated, it leads to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. Herein, we report synthesis and anti-HCV activity of a new class of pyrimidine nucleosides possessing a 4′-carboxymethyl (9–16, 21 and 23) or 4′-carboxamide function (17–19 and 24). Among these, 10–12 (EC₅₀ = 33.1–42.4 μM), 14 and 21 (EC₅₀ = 43.4–59.5 μM) exhibited potent activity in HCV-1a replicon cells without any toxicity to parent Huh-7 cells (CC₅₀ = >829–1055 μM). The anti-HCV activities demonstrated by this unusual class of compounds were superior to that of ribavirin (EC₅₀ = 81.9 μM). Further, the most active analog, 12, was found to interact synergistically with ribavirin to inhibit HCV RNA replication.     

4,4′-Unsymmetrically substituted 3,3′-biphenyl alpha helical proteomimetics as potential coactivator binding inhibitors

A series of unsymmetrically substituted biphenyl compounds was designed as alpha helical proteomimetics with the aim of inhibiting the binding of coactivator proteins to the nuclear hormone receptor coactivator binding domain. These compounds were synthesized in good overall yields in seven steps starting from 2-bromoanisole. The final products were evaluated using cotransfection reporter gene assays and mammalian two-hybrid competitive inhibition assays to demonstrate their effectiveness as competitive binding inhibitors. The results from this study indicate that these proteomimetics possess the ability to inhibit coactivator–receptor interactions, but via a mixed mode of inhibition.     

The identification of novel 5′-amino gemcitabine analogs as potent RRM1 inhibitors

The ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) enzyme is a heteromer of RRM1 and RRM2 subunits. The active enzyme catalyzes de novo reduction of ribonucleotides to generate deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs), which are required for DNA replication and DNA repair processes. Complexity in the generation of physiologically relevant, active RRM1/RRM2 heterodimers was perceived as limiting to the identification of selective RRM1 inhibitors by high-throughput screening of compound libraries and led us to seek alternative methods to identify lead series. In short, we found that gemcitabine, as its diphosphate metabolite, represents one of the few described active site inhibitors of RRM1. We herein describe the identification of novel 5′-amino gemcitabine analogs as potent RRM1 inhibitors through in-cell phenotypic screening.     

Synthesis of 1′,2′-methano-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides as potential antivirals

The synthesis of constrained nucleosides has become an important tool to understand the SAR in the interaction between biological and synthetic nucleotides in the context of antisense oligonucleotide therapy. The incorporation of a cyclopropane into a furanose ring of a nucleoside induces some degree of constrain without affecting significantly the steric environment of a nucleoside. Here, we report a new, short and stereocontrolled synthesis of two constrained nucleosides analogues, 1′,2′- methano-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine 9, and the corresponding cytidine analog 12. X-ray crystallography revealed that the furanose ring in the constrained uridine and cytidine analogues was flattened with virtual loss of pseudorotation. The phosphoramidate esters of the novel constrained uridine and cytidine nucleosides, intended as prodrugs, were tested in cell-based assays for viral replication across the herpes virus family and HIV inhibition courtesy of Merck laboratories, Rahway. They were also tested in antiproliferative assays against colorectal and melanoma cell lines. Unfortunately, none of the compounds showed activity in these assays.     

Evaluation of nicotine and cotinine analogs as potential neuroprotective agents for Alzheimer’s disease

The currently available therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related forms of dementia are limited by modest efficacy, adverse side effects, and the fact that they do not prevent the relentless progression of the illness. The purpose of the studies described here was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the nicotine metabolite cotinine as well as a small series of cotinine and nicotine analogs (including stereoisomers) and to compare their effects to the four clinically prescribed AD therapies.     

Sulfonamides with the N-alkyl-N′-dialkylguanidine moiety as 5-HT7 receptor ligands

A series of arylsulfonamides containing guanidine incorporated in the structure of secondary amines (piperidine, piperazine) was synthesized on SynPhase Lanterns and evaluated for 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT₇ receptors. The results demonstrated that N-alkyl-N′-dialkylguanidines displayed good 5-HT₇/5-HT_1A selectivity and may be regarded as promising structural core for development of 5-HT₇ ligands.     

Complexes of platinum(II) containing 2,2′-bithiazoline and 2,2′-bipyrimidine as binucleating ligands

Dimethyl and diphenyl platinum(II) complexes containing binucleating α-diimine ligands BN (BN = 2,2′-bithiazoline and 2,2′-bipyrimidine) have been isolated and characterized. Electrophilic attack of mercuric chloride on the mononuclear compounds leads to binuclear systems of C_2v symmetry, with the two chelating moieties of the ligands occupied by platinum and mercury, respectively. ¹H NMR spectroscopy suggests a large transmission of electronic effects between the metals through the ligands.     

Design and synthesis of 6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline analogs as multi-targeted ligands for α1- and AII-receptors antagonism

Multiple-targeted ligands can have certain advantages for the management of hypertension which has multiple controls. Molecules with dual bioactivities are available in literature for treating metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. After scrutinizing the SAR of prazosin-type α₁-blockers and AII-antagonists it was planned to develop dual α₁- and AII-antagonists. Five series of quinazoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as dual α₁- and AII-antagonists on rat aortic strips for the blockade of known α₁- and AII-agonist mediated contractions. Many compounds showed balanced activity on both the receptors but compound (22) was found to be the most active derivative having higher antagonistic activity on both the receptors. In the in vivo experiments the chosen compound (22) was slightly less active than prazosin but was found to be equipotent to losartan. These findings shed a new light on the structural requirements for both α₁- as well as AII-receptor antagonists.     

SYA 013 analogs as moderately selective sigma-2 (σ2) ligands: Structure-affinity relationship studies

Several lines of evidence suggest that selective sigma-2 (σ₂) ligands might be useful for the treatment of solid tumors. However, very few selective σ₂ ligands have been identified. This study was aimed at identifying new selective σ₂ receptor ligands using a previously identified agent, SYA 013 as a lead. Four groups, homopiperazine, piperazine, tropane and selected oxime analogs of the homopiperazines were identified, synthesized and subsequently screened at the σ₁ and σ₂ receptors. The results demonstrate that these scaffolds can be modified to obtain selective σ₂ receptor ligands. 1-(5-Chloropyridin-2-yl)-4-(3-((4-fluorophenyl)thio)propyl)-1,4-diazepane, 7 and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-(3-((2-fluorophenyl)thio)propyl)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol, 21 were identified as the highest binding affinity ligands (σ₂Ki = 2.2 nM) and (4-(4-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-butan-1-one oxime, 22 as a high affinity and the most selective ligand for the σ₂ receptor (σ₁Ki/σ₂Ki = 41.8).     

N-substituted 8-aminopentacyclo[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecanes as σ receptor ligands with potential neuroprotective effects

Several libraries of similarly N-substituted 8-aminopentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecanes (9), N-methyl-8-aminopentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecanes (14), and N-methyl-11-aminopentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecan-8-ones (13) were synthesised and screened against a panel of CNS targets in order to develop structure–affinity relationships for cage-modified trishomocubane σ receptor ligands based on the N-substituted 4-azahexacyclo[5.4.1.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9.0^8,11]dodecan-3-ol (8) scaffold. In general, compared to the corresponding 4-azahexacyclo[5.4.1.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9.0^8,11]dodecan-3-ols, compounds of type 9 were potent σ receptor ligands with low levels of subtype selectivity, while the corresponding N-methyl-8-aminopentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecanes showed reduced affinity but greater selectivity for σ₂ receptors. The N-methyl-11-aminopentacyclo[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecan-8-ones demonstrated the poorest σ receptor affinities, suggesting that 4-azahexacyclo[5.4.1.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9.0^8,11]dodecan-3-ols interact with σ receptors in the bridged hemiaminal form rather than as the non-transannular, aminoketone tautomers. Several compounds of type 8, 9, and 14 were assessed for their ability to inhibit nitric oxide release in vitro, and demonstrated comparable or greater efficacy than 4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)piperidine (PPBP), an established neuroprotective σ ligand with NOS inhibitory activity.     

Structure–activity relationship analysis of carbobicyclo and oxabicyclo succinimide analogs as potential androgen receptor antagonists

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a frequently diagnosed male cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in many countries. Due to various amino acid mutations that occurred in the ligand binding domain of androgen receptor (AR), the patients were observed insensitive, even resistant to the marketed antiandrogens such as bicalutamide and enzalutamide, which emphasizes the urgent need for novel antiandrogens to solve drug resistance problem. Recently a series of carbobicyclo and oxabicyclo succinimide analogs were reported to effectively antagonize AR. In this study, to explore the structural requirements for these AR antagonists, we performed quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis on carbobicyclo and oxabicyclo succinimide analogs by using two-dimensional multiple linear regressions (MLR) method and three-dimension comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) methods. The obtained models show satisfactory results with proper reliabilities and powerful external predictability. Moreover, the CoMFA and CoMSIA contour maps can intuitively represent key features associated with bioactivities. These models may offer guidance for the rational design and modification of new lead compounds for antiandrogens.     

5,5′- and 6,6′-Dialkyl-5,6-dihydro-1H-pyridin-2-ones as potent inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase

The discovery of 5,5′- and 6,6′-dialkyl-5,6-dihydro-1H-pyridin-2-ones 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 (EC₅₀ <0.10 μM). In vitro DMPK data for selected compounds as well as crystal structures of representative inhibitors complexed with the NS5B protein are also disclosed.     

Solid-phase synthesis of 5′-triphosphate 2′-5′-oligoadenylates analogs with 3′-O-biolabile groups and their evaluation as RNase L activators and antiviral drugs

5′-Triphosphate 2′-5′-oligoadenylate (2–5A) is the central player in the 2–5A system that is an innate immunity pathway in response to the presence of infectious agents. Intracellular endoribonuclease RNase L activated by 2–5A cleaves viral and cellular RNA resulting in apoptosis. The major limitations of 2–5A for therapeutic applications is the short biological half-life and poor cellular uptake. Modification of 2–5A with biolabile and lipophilic groups that facilitate its uptake, increase its in vivo stability and release the parent 2–5A drug in an intact form offer an alternative approach to therapeutic use of 2–5A. Here we have synthesized the trimeric and tetrameric 2–5A species bearing hydrophobic and enzymolabile pivaloyloxymethyl groups at 3′-positions and a triphosphate at the 5′-end. Both analogs were able to activate RNase L and the production of the trimer 2–5A (the most active) was scaled up to the milligram scale for antiviral evaluation in cells infected by influenza virus or respiratory syncytial virus. The trimer analog demonstrated some significant antiviral activity.