Modulations of the amide function of the preferential dopamine D3 agonist (R,R)-S32504: Improvements of affinity and selectivity for D3 versus D2 receptors

Starting with the preferential dopamine (DA) D₃ agonist S32504, we prepared two series of derivatives of the general formula I-A and I-B, in an effort to improve both potency and selectivity. For the first set of derivatives, where the primary amide function of S32504 was replaced by either secondary and tertiary amide or ester, acid, nitrile and ketone, no improvement was obtained. Conversely, when the primary amide function was integrated in a lactam ring, an enhancement of affinity and selectivity was attained for the five-membered ring lactam but also for its five-membered ring lactone analogue.     

Semisynthesis,cytotoxicity, antimalarial evaluation and structure-activity relationship of two series of triterpene derivatives

In this report, we describe the semisynthesis of two series of ursolic and betulinic acid derivatives through designed by modifications at the C-3 and C-28 positions and demonstrate their antimalarial activity against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum (W2 strain). Structural modifications at C-3 were more advantageous to antimalarial activity than simultaneous modifications at C-3 and C-28 positions. The ester derivative, 3β-butanoyl betulinic acid (7b), was the most active compound (IC₅₀?=?3.4?µM) and it did not exhibit cytotoxicity against VERO nor HepG2 cells (CC₅₀?>?400?µM), showing selectivity towards parasites (selectivity index?>?117.47). In combination with artemisinin, compound 7b showed an additive effect (CI?=?1.14). While docking analysis showed a possible interaction of 7b with the Plasmodium protease PfSUB1, with an optimum binding affinity of ?7.02?kcal/mol, the rather low inhibition displayed on a Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin A protease activity assay (IC₅₀?=?93?µM) and the observed accumulation of ring forms together with a delay of appearance of trophozoites in vitro suggests that the main target of 3β-butanoyl betulinic acid on Plasmodium may be related to other molecules and processes pertaining to the ring stage. Therefore, compound 7b is the most promising compound for further studies on antimalarial chemotherapy. The results obtained in this study provide suitable information about scaffolds to develop novel antimalarials from natural sources.     

Novel sulfenamides and sulfonamides based on pyridazinone and pyridazine scaffolds as CB1 receptor ligand antagonists

A series of sulfenamide and sulfonamide derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for the affinity at CB₁ and CB₂ receptors. The N-bornyl-S-(5,6-di-p-tolylpyridazin-3-yl)-sulfenamide, compound 11, displayed good affinity and high selectivity for CB₁ receptors (K_i values of 44.6?nM for CB₁ receptors and >40?μM for CB₂ receptors, respectively). The N-isopinocampheyl-sulfenamide 12 and its sulfonamide analogue 22 showed similar selectivity for CB₁ receptors with K_i values of 75.5 and 73.2?nM, respectively. These novel compounds behave as antagonists/inverse agonists at CB₁ receptor in the [³⁵S]-GTPγS binding assays, and none showed adequate predictive blood–brain barrier permeation, exhibiting low estimated LD₅₀. However, testing compound 12 in a supraspinal analgesic test (hot-plate) revealed that it was as effective as the classic CB₁ receptor antagonist rimonabant, in reversing the analgesic effect of a cannabinoid agonist.     

β-Diketiminato 3d-metal compounds: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior towards ethylene

The lithium β-diketiminate (1c, [Li{N(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)C(Ph)CHC(^tBu)NH}]₂ represented as (LiL)₂) reacted with 3d-metal (II) chlorides to afford the corresponding compounds (2-7). All metal compounds were fully characterized by elemental, spectroscopic analyses and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometries around the metals are shown to be tetrahedral within the trinuclear Co₂Li compound (2), planar in ML₂ (M = Co, 3), pseudo-tetrahedral conformation in the ML₂ with M as Mn (4), Fe (5) or Zn (6), and square planar in the dinickel compound (7). Indicated by the trimetallic Co₂Li compound 2, a six-membered ring is constructed of three metal atoms and three bridged chlorides as a twisted conformation. An inversion center is present in the centroid of the Ni₂Cl₂ four-membered ring within compound 7. The plausible mechanism of forming ML₂ was proposed through the chloro-bridged multinuclear compounds on the basis of isolated intermediates of trinuclear (2) and dinuclearic (7) compounds. Upon treatment with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the nickel compound 7 possessed good activity towards ethylene oligomerization, whereas the other metal compounds showed moderate activities towards ethylene polymerization.     

Discovery of simplified N2-substituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel adenosine receptor antagonists: Efficient synthetic approaches,biological evaluations and molecular docking studies

In the present study, a molecular simplification approach was employed to design novel bicyclic pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP) derivatives from tricyclic pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo-[1,5-c]pyrimidines (PTP) as promising human A₃ adenosine receptor (hA₃AR) antagonists. All the target compounds were synthesized using novel and efficient synthetic schemes and the structure–activity relationship studies of these PPs were explored through the synthesis of a series of PTP analogues with various substituents. Substituents with different lipophilicity and steric hindrance (e.g., alkyl and aryl–alkyl) functions were introduced at N² position of the pyrazole ring, while acyl groups with different electronic properties were introduced at C⁶ position of the bicyclic nucleus to probe both electronic and positional effects. Most of the synthesized derivatives of the PP series presented good affinity at the hA₃AR, as indicated by the low micromolar range of K_i values and among them, compound 63 with N² neopentyl substituents showed most potent hA₃AR affinity with K_i value of 0.9 μM and high selectivity (hA₁AR/hA₃AR = >111 & hA_2AAR/hA₃AR = >111) towards other adenosine receptor subtypes. Interestingly, small isopropyl groups at N² position displayed high affinity at another receptor subtype (hA_2AAR, e.g., compound 55, with K_i hA_2AAR = 0.8 μM), while they were less favorable at the hA₃AR. Molecular docking analysis was also performed to predict the possible binding mode of target compounds inside the hA₃AR and hA_2AAR. Overall, PP derivatives represent promising starting points for new AR antagonists.     

5-Substituted 2-benzylidene-1-tetralone analogues as A1 and/or A2A antagonists for the potential treatment of neurological conditions

Adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptors are attracting great interest as drug targets for their role in cognitive and motor deficits, respectively. Antagonism of both these adenosine receptors may offer therapeutic benefits in complex neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this study was to explore the affinity and selectivity of 2-benzylidene-1-tetralone derivatives as adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptor antagonists. Several 5-hydroxy substituted 2-benzylidene-1-tetralone analogues with substituents on ring B were synthesized and assessed as antagonists of the adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptors via radioligand binding assays. The results indicated that hydroxy substitution in the meta and para position of phenyl ring B, displayed the highest selectivity and affinity for the adenosine A₁ receptor with K_i values in the low micromolar range. Replacement of ring B with a 2-amino-pyrimidine moiety led to compound 12 with an increase of affinity and selectivity for the adenosine A_2A receptor. These substitution patterns led to enhanced adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptor binding affinity. The para-substituted 5-hydroxy analogue 3 behaved as an adenosine A₁ receptor antagonists in a GTP shift assay performed with rat whole brain membranes expressing adenosine A₁ receptors. In conclusion, compounds 3 and 12, showed the best adenosine A₁ and A_2A receptor affinity respectively, and therefore represent novel adenosine receptor antagonists that may have potential with further structural modifications as drug candidates for neurological disorders.     

Discovery of highly potent and selective D4 ligands by interactive SAR study

A series of thienylmethylphenylpiperazins was synthesized and tested for affinity towards the five subtypes of dopaminergic receptors. Compound 5f showed more than 1000 folds selectivity to D4 receptors; analogue 5e showed the highest affinity to D4 receptors with K_i 3.9 nM. An interactive SAR approach was adopted and lead to compound 14a with K_i (D4) as low as 0.03 nM. Molecular docking studies showed a potential, first to report arene cation interaction between the D4 unique residue Arg-186 and the ligands’ arene moiety, explaining the importance of having a strong negative electrostatic potential at this area of the compound structure.     

Novel potent inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease with cyclic sulfonyl P3 cappings

Extensive SAR studies of the P3 capping group led to the discovery of a series of potent inhibitors with sultam and cyclic sulfonyl urea moieties as the P3 capping. The bicyclic thiophene-sultam or phenyl-sultam cappings were selected for further SAR development. Modification at the P3 side chain determined that the tert-butyl group was the best choice at that position. Optimization of P1 residue significantly improved potency and selectivity. The combination of optimal moieties at all positions led to the discovery of compound 33. This compound had the best overall profile in potency and PK profile: excellent K_i¹ of 5.3 nM and activity in replicon (EC₉₀) of 80 nM, extremely high selectivity of 6100, and a good rat PO AUC of 1.43 μM h.     

Synthesis,thymidine phosphorylase,angiogenic inhibition and molecular docking study of isoquinoline derivatives

Isoquinoline analogues (KA-1 to 16) have been synthesized and evaluated for their E. coli thymidine phosphorylase inhibitory activity. Except compound 11, all other analogs showed outstanding thymidine inhibitory potential ranging in between 4.40 ± 0.20 to 69.30 ± 1.80 µM when compared with standard drug 7-Deazaxanthine (IC₅₀ = 38.68 ± 4.42 µM). Structure Activity Relationships has been established for all compounds, mainly based on substitution pattern on phenyl ring. All analogs were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and EI-MS. The binding interactions of isoquinoline analogues with the active site of TP enzyme, the molecular docking studies were performed. Furthermore, the angiogenic inhibitory potentials of isoquinoline analogues (KA-1-9, 14, 12 and 16) were determined in the presence of standard drug Dexamethasone based on percentage inhibitions at various concentrations. Herein this work analogue KA-12, 14 and 16 emerged with most potent angiogenic inhibitory potentials among the synthesized analogues.     

Synthesis of hybrid analogues of caffeine and eudistomin D and its affinity for adenosine receptors

Four bis-N-n-propyl analogues (3–6) in the uracil ring of two hybrid molecules (1 and 2) of caffeine and eudistomin D, a β-carboline alkaloid from a marine tunicate, were synthesized, and their affinity and selectivity for adenosine receptors A₁, A_2A, and A₃ were examined. All the compounds (3–6) showed better potency as adenosine receptor ligands than caffeine. Bis-N-n-propylation (3 and 4, respectively) of the uracil ring in 1 and 2 resulted in higher affinity for A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptors. Furthermore, it was found that a compound (5) possessing a n-propyloxy group at C-7 in compound 3 with a nitrogen at the β-position of the pyridine ring (β-N type) enhanced remarkably affinity for adenosine receptor A₃ subtype, while n-propyloxy substitution (compound 6) at C-5 in compound 4 with a nitrogen at the δ-position of the pyridine ring (δ-N type) reduced affinity for all the adenosine receptor, A₁, A_2A, and A₃. Among all the compounds (1–6) examined, compound 5 showed the most potent affinity for adenosine receptor A₃ subtype (K_i value, 0.00382 μM).     

Novel [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives as potent antitubulin agents: Design,multicomponent synthesis and antiproliferative activities

As restricted CA-4 analogues, a novel series of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines possessing 3,4,5-trimethoxylphenyl groups has been achieved successfully via an efficient one-pot three-component reaction of 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aldehydes. Initial biological evaluation demonstrated some of target compounds displayed potent antitumor activity in vitro against three cancer cell lines. Among them, the most highly active analogue 26 inhibited the growth of HeLa, and A549 cell lines with IC₅₀ values at 0.75, and 1.02 μM, respectively, indicating excellent selectivity over non-tumoural cell line HEK-293 (IC₅₀ = 29.94 μM) which suggested that the target compounds might possess a high safety index. Moreover, cell cycle analysis illustrated that the analogue 26 significantly induced HeLa cells arrest in G2/M phase, meanwhile the compound could dramatically affect cell morphology and microtubule networks. In addition, compound 28 exhibited potent anti-tubulin activity with IC₅₀ values of 9.90 μM, and molecular docking studies revealed the analogue occupied the colchicine-binding site of tubulin. These observations suggest that [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines represent a new class of tubulin polymerization inhibitors and well worth further investigation aiming to generate potential anticancer agents.     

The identification and pharmacological evaluation of potent,selective and orally available ACC1 inhibitor

In our effort to explore the potential of ACC1-selective inhibitor as in vivo probe molecule, a series of 1,3-benzoxazole derivatives was synthesized. Previously, we reported a series of novel bicyclic and monocyclic ACC1-selective inhibitors. Among them, compound 1a exhibited highly potent cellular activity (acetate uptake IC₅₀ = 0.76 nM) as well as promising in vivo PD efficacy. However, compound 1a caused severe body weight reduction in repeated dose administration in the mouse model. Since 1a showed potent inhibitory activity against mouse ACC1 as well as strong inhibition of mouse ACC2, we further examined a series of 1a analogues in order to reduce undesirable body weight change. The replacement of acetamide moiety with ureido moiety dramatically improved selectivity of mouse ACC1 against ACC2. In addition, analogue 1b displayed favorable bioavailability in mouse cassette dosing PK study, hence in vivo PD studies were also carried out. Oral administration of 1b significantly reduced the concentration of malonyl-CoA in HCT-116 xenograft tumors at doses of more than 30 mg/kg. Furthermore, compound 1b showed significant antitumor efficacy in 786-O xenograft mice at an oral dose of 30 mg/kg (T/C = 0.5%). Accordingly, our novel potent ACC1-selective inhibitor represents a set of useful orally-available research tools, as well as potential therapeutic agents particularly in terms of new cancer therapies.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of doubly and triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds containing di-2-pyridylamine as a ligand

The dihydroxo-bridged dinuclear copper(II) compound [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-OH)₂]I₂ (1) and the triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds with a formato bridge [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-O₂CH)(μ-OH)(μ-OMe)](ClO₄) (2) and [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-O₂CH)(μ-OH)(μ-Cl)](ClO₄) · 0.5H₂O (3) (in which dpyam=di-2-pyridylamine) have been synthesized and their crystal structures determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. All three compounds are either centrosymmetric, or have a symmetry plane in the molecule. Compound 1 contains the [Cu₂(dpyam)₂(μ-OH)₂]⁺ unit and iodide anions. Each copper(II) ion is in a slightly tetrahedrally distorted square planar coordination with the square plane consisting of two nitrogen atoms of the dpyam ligand and two bridging hydroxo groups. The Cu-I distances of 3.321 Å are quite long and only involve a weak semi-coordination. Compound 2 contains a triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) species, the coordination environment around each copper(II) ion involves a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal CuN₂O₃ chromophore. In the dinuclear unit of compound 3, the triply bridged copper(II) ions show a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the CuN₂O₂Cl chromophore. The Cu-Cu distances are 2.933(2), 3.023(1) and 3.036(1) Å for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.The magnetic susceptibility measurements, measured from 5 to 280 K, revealed a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) atoms for compound 1 with a singlet-triplet energy gap (J) of −15.3 cm⁻¹, whereas compounds 2 and 3 are ferromagnetic with J=62.5 and 79.1 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Preparation,structure and spectroscopic studies of the palladium mercaptides Pd8(S-nPr)16 and Pd6(S-nPr)12

Various palladium salts react with n-propane thiol to form a mixture of the cyclic mercaptides Pd₈(S-nPr)₁₆ (I) and the known Pd₆(S-nPr)₁₂ (II). I is described as an octagonal toroid, containing a planar ring of palladium atoms, each being bridged by four mercapto groups in approximately square planar geometry. The pendant n-propyl groups radiate outward in approximately axial and equatorial orientations with respect to the ring, which was also observed in solution by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Crystal data: space group C2/c, a=22.251(15), b=27.623(6), c=14.621(17) Å, β=116.35°(4), V=8053(4) ų. Least-squares refinement based on 3103 observed reflections led to an R value of 0.078. I and II failed to complex any appropriate guest species, as evidenced by the UV-Vis spectra. I was found to have a reversible oxidation wave at E/2= 0.77 V, and a irreversible oxidation wave of 1.09 V. II displayed two irreversible peak potentials at 0.77 and 1.09 V. In each case, the waves were one electron processes, in which the reversibility was not enhanced at low temperatures.     

Hydroxamates of para-aminobenzoic acid as selective inhibitors of HDAC8

A series of hydroxamates (4a–4l) were prepared from p-aminobenzoic acid to inhibit HDAC8. The idea is to substitute rigid aromatic ring in place of less rigid piperazine ring of hydroxamates reported earlier by our group. It is expected to increase potency retaining the selectivity. Result obtained suggested that the modifications carried out retained the selectivity towards HDAC8 isoform and increasing the potency in very few cases. Increase in potency is also associated with variation in cap aryl region. Two compounds (4f & 4l) were found to inhibit HDAC8 at concentrations (IC₅₀) less than 20 μM.     

Substituted pyrazolones require N2 hydrogen bond donating ability to protect against cytotoxicity from protein aggregation of mutant superoxide dismutase 1

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating and fatal neurodegenerative disease. Although the cause remains unknown, misfolded protein aggregates are seen in neurons of sporadic ALS patients, and familial ALS mutations, including mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), produce proteins with an increased propensity to misfold and aggregate. A structure activity relationship of a lead scaffold exhibiting neuroprotective activity in a G93A-SOD1 mouse model for ALS has been further investigated in a model PC12 cellular assay. Synthesis of biotinylated probes at the N¹ nitrogen of the pyrazolone ring gave compounds (5d–e) that retained activity within 10-fold of the proton-bearing lead compound (5a) and were equipotent with a sterically less cumbersome N¹-methyl substituted analogue (5b). However, when methyl substitution was introduced at N¹ and N² of the pyrazolone ring, the compound was inactive (5c). These data led us to investigate further the pharmacophoric nature of the pyrazolone unit. A range of N¹ substitutions were tolerated, leading to the identification of an N¹-benzyl substituted pyrazolone (5m), equipotent with 5a. Substitution at N² or excision of N², however, removed all activity. Therefore, the hydrogen bond donating ability of the N²–H of the pyrazolone ring appears to be a critical part of the structure, which will influence further analogue synthesis.     

Novel human adenosine receptor antagonists based on the 7-amino-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine scaffold. Structural investigations at the 2-, 5- and 7-positions to enhance affinity and tune selectivity

This paper describes the synthesis of novel 7-amino-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines bearing different substituents at positions 2, 5 and 7 of the thiazolopyrimidine scaffold. The synthesized compounds 2–27 were evaluated in radioligand binding (A₁, A_2A and A₃) and adenylyl cyclase activity (A_2B and A_2A) assays, in order to evaluate their affinity and potency at human adenosine receptor subtypes. The current study allowed us to support that affinity and selectivity of 7-amino-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives towards the adenosine receptor subtypes can be modulated by the nature of the groups attached at positions 2, 5 and 7 of the bicyclic scaffold. To rationalize the hypothetical binding mode of the newly synthesized compounds, we also performed docking calculations in human A_2A, A₁ and A₃ structures.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of a novel cyclohexanamine class of neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor antagonists

A novel series of cyclohexanamine derivatives was designed and synthesized as potent and selective human neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor antagonists. Modification of high-throughput screening hit compound 1 resulted in the identification of compound 3i, which displays potent Y1 activity and good selectivity towards hERG K⁺ channel and serotonin transporter.     

Preparation and evaluation of novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine acetamides,closely related to DPA-714, as potent ligands for imaging the TSPO 18 kDa with PET

A series of four novel analogues of DPA-714, bearing a fluoroalkynyl side chain (with a length ranging from three to six carbon atoms) in replacement of the fluoroethoxy motif, have been synthetized in six steps from commercially available methyl 4-iodobenzoate. The synthetic strategy for the preparation of these N,N-diethyl-2-(2-(4-(ω-fluoroalk-1-ynyl)phenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)acetamides (7a–d) consisted in derivatizing a key iodinated building block featuring the pyrazolopyrimidine acetamide backbone of DPA-714, by Sonogashira couplings with various alkynyl reagents. The resulting alkynols were subsequently fluorinated, yielding the expected target derivatives. All four analogues exhibited slightly higher affinity and selectivity towards the TSPO 18 kDa (K_i vs [³H]PK11195: 0.35–0.79 nM; K_i vs [³H]flunitrazepam: >1000 nM) when compared to DPA-714 (K_i vs [³H]PK11195: 0.91 nM; K_i vs [³H]flunitrazepam: >1000 nM). Lipophilicities (HPLC, log D_7.4) increased with the chain length (from 3.6 to 4.3) and were significantly higher than the one determined for DPA-714 (2.9). Preliminary in vitro metabolism evaluation using rat microsomal incubations and LC–MS analyses showed, for all four novel analogues, the absence of defluorinated metabolites. Among them, the fluoropentynyl compound, DPA-C5yne (7c), was selected, labelled in one single step with fluorine-18 from the corresponding tosylate and in vivo evaluated with PET on our in-house-developed rat model of acute local neuroinflammation.     

Synthesis,vasorelaxant activity and antihypertensive effect of benzo[d]imidazole derivatives

A series of 1H-benzo[d]imidazole analogues of Pimobendan, substituted at position 5 with either –CF₃ or –NO₂, were synthesized using a short synthetic route. All the nitro derivatives were potent, and exhibited a concentration- and partial endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects, with EC₅₀s <5 μM. 2-Methoxy-4-[5-nitro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl]phenol (compound 13) was the most potent derivative of the series, showing an EC₅₀ value of 1.81 μM and E_max of 91.7% for ex vivo relaxant response in intact aortic rings, resulting in a 2.5-fold higher activity compared to Pimobendan. The closely related 5-CF₃ analogue (compound 8), was 19 times less potent than 13. The antihypertensive activity of compound 13 was evaluated at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg kg^?1, using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), showing a statistically significant dose-dependent effect.