Synthesis and in vitro anti-HIV activities of didanosine prodrugs

A series of prodrugs of didanosine were synthesized in an effort to enhance the anti-HIV activity. The 5'-OH function of didanosine was esterified with different aryl piperazine acetic acid derivatives and evaluated for anti-HIV-1 activity in MT-4 cell line using the MTT assay method. Among the synthesized compounds, (tetrahydro-5-(1,6-dihydro-6-oxopurin-9-yl)furan-2-yl)methyl 2-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl)acetate (4b) was found to be the most potent compound with EC50 of 0.64 microM and was not toxic to the MT-4 cells up to 1000 microM with a selectivity index of > 1562. Compound 4b was found to be seven times more potent than the parent drug didanosine (EC50 of 4.8 microM) in vitro. In vitro hydrolysis of the various esters in human plasma indicated that these agents were relatively stable toward plasma esterases with t1/2 ranging from 20-60 min.     

Design and synthesis of novel bis(L-amino acid) ester prodrugs of 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine (PMEA) with improved anti-HBV activity

A series of novel bis(L-amino acid) ester prodrugs of 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl] adenine (PMEA) was synthesized and their anti-HBV activity was evaluated in HepG 2 2.2.15 cells. Compounds 11, 12, 21, 22, 26, and 27 demonstrated more potent anti-HBV activity and higher selective index (SI) than adefovir dipivoxil, which was used as a positive control. Compound 11, which was found to be the most potent one, was five times more potent than adefovir dipivoxil with EC50 value of 0.095 microM and CC50 value of 6636 microM. The SI value (>69,000) of compound 11 was 60 times and 24 times higher than those of adefovir dipivoxil and lamivudine, respectively. In vitro stability studies showed that compound 11 was relatively more stable than adefovir dipivoxil with t1/2 of 270 min. These findings suggested that compound 11 could be considered as a promising candidate for further in vivo studies.     

Enantiomers of cis-constrained and flexible 2-substituted GABA analogues exert opposite effects at recombinant GABA(C) receptors

The effects of the enantiomers of a number of flexible and cis-constrained GABA analogues were tested on GABA(C) receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes using two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology. (1S,2R)-cis-2-Aminomethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid ((+)-CAMP), a potent and full agonist at the rho1 (EC(50) approximately 40 microM, I(max) approximately 100%) and rho 2 (EC(50) approximately 17 microM, I(max) approximately 100%) receptor subtypes, was found to be a potent partial agonist at rho3 (EC(50) approximately 28 microM, I(max) approximately 70%). (1R,2S)-cis-2-Aminomethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid ((-)-CAMP), a weak antagonist at human rho1 (IC(50) approximately 890 microM) and rho2 (IC(50) approximately 400 microM) receptor subtypes, was also found to be a moderately potent antagonist at rat rho3 (IC(50) approximately 180 microM). Similarly, (1R,4S)-4-aminocyclopent-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid ((+)-ACPECA) was a full agonist at rho1 (EC(50) approximately 135 microM, I(max) approximately 100%) and rho2 (EC(50) approximately 60 microM, I(max) approximately 100%), but only a partial agonist at rho3 (EC(50) approximately 112 microM, I(max) approximately 37%), while (1S,4R)-4-aminocyclopent-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid ((-)-ACPECA) was a weak antagonist at all three receptor subtypes (IC(50)>300 microM). 4-Amino-(S)-2-methylbutanoic acid ((S)-2MeGABA) and 4-amino-(R)-2-methylbutanoic acid ((R)-2MeGABA) followed the same trend, with (S)-2MeGABA acting as a full agonist at the rho1 (EC(50) approximately 65 microM, I(max) approximately 100%), and rho2 (EC(50) approximately 20 microM, I(max) approximately 100%) receptor subtypes, and a partial agonist at rho3 (EC(50) approximately 25 microM, I(max) approximately 90%). (R)-2MeGABA, however, was a moderately potent antagonist at all three receptor subtypes (IC(50) approximately 16 microM at rho1, 125 microM at rho2 and 35 microM at rho3). On the basis of these expanded biological activity data and the solution-phase molecular structures obtained at the MP2/6-31+G* level of ab initio theory, a rationale is proposed for the genesis of this stereoselectivity effect.     

Replacing the pyrophosphate group of HMB-PP by a diphosphonate function abrogates Its potential to activate human gammadelta T cells but does not lead to competitive antagonism

The immunological characterization of (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMB-PP), and its methylenediphosphonate analogue, HMB-PCP, is described. With an EC(50) of 0.1-0.2 nM, HMB-PP is significantly more potent in stimulating human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells than any other compound described so far. However, replacing the pyrophosphate by a P-CH(2)-P function abrogates the bioactivity drastically, with HMB-PCP having a EC(50) of only 5.3 microM.     

Resolution, configurational assignment, and enantiopharmacology of 2-amino-3-[3-hydroxy-5-(2-methyl-2H- tetrazol-5-yl)isoxazol-4-yl]propionic acid, a potent GluR3- and GluR4-preferring AMPA receptor agonist

We have previously shown that (RS)-2-amino-3-[3-hydroxy-5-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)isoxazol -4-yl] propionic acid (2-Me-Tet-AMPA) is a selective agonist at (RS)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionic acid (AMPA) receptors, markedly more potent than AMPA itself, whereas the isomeric compound 1-Me-Tet-AMPA is essentially inactive. We here report the enantiopharmacology of 2-Me-Tet-AMPA in radioligand binding and cortical wedge electrophysiological assay systems, and using cloned AMPA (GluR1-4) and kainic acid (KA) (GluR5, 6, and KA2) receptor subtypes expressed in Xenopus oocytes. 2-Me-Tet-AMPA was resolved using preparative chiral HPLC. Zwitterion (-)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA was assigned the (R)-configuration based on an X-ray crystallographic analysis supported by the elution order of (-)- and (+)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA using four different chiral HPLC columns and by circular dichroism spectra. None of the compounds tested showed detectable affinity for N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor sites, and (R)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA was essentially inactive in all of the test systems used. Whereas (S)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA showed low affinity (IC(50) = 11 microM) in the [(3)H]KA binding assay, it was significantly more potent (IC(50) = 0.009 microM) than AMPA (IC(50) = 0.039 microM) in the [(3)H]AMPA binding assay, and in agreement with these findings, (S)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA (EC(50) = 0.11 microM) was markedly more potent than AMPA (EC(50) = 3.5 microM) in the electrophysiological cortical wedge model. In contrast to AMPA, which showed comparable potencies (EC(50) = 1.3-3.5 microM) at receptors formed by the AMPA receptor subunits (GluR1-4) in Xenopus oocytes, more potent effects and a substantially higher degree of subunit selectivity were observed for (S)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA: GluR1o (EC(50) = 0.16 microM), GluR1o/GluR2i (EC(50) = 0.12 microM), GluR3o (EC(50) = 0.014 microM) and GluR4o (EC(50) = 0.009 microM). At the KA-preferring receptors GluR5 and GluR6/KA2, (S)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA showed much weaker agonist effects (EC(50) = 8.7 and 15.3 microM, respectively). It is concluded that (S)-2-Me-Tet-AMPA is a subunit-selective and highly potent AMPA receptor agonist and a potentially useful tool for studies of physiological AMPA receptor subtypes.     

N-[2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethyl]-N'-[2-(5-bromopyridyl)]-thiourea and N'-[2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethyl]-N'-[2-(5-chloropyridyl)]-thiourea as potent inhibitors of multidrug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus-1.

We have replaced the pyridyl ring of trovirdine with an alicyclic cyclohexenyl, adamantyl or cis-myrtanyl ring. Only the cyclohexenyl-containing thiourea compound N-[2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethyl]-N'-[2-(5-bromopyridyl)]- thiourea (HI-346) (as well as its chlorine-substituted derivative N-[2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethyl]-N'-[2-(5-chloropyridyl)]- thiourea/HI-445) showed RT inhibitory activity. HI-346 and HI-445 effectively inhibited recombinant RT with better IC50 values than other anti-HIV agents tested. The ranking order of efficacy in cell-free RT inhibition assays was: HI-346 (IC50 = 0.4 microM) > HI-445 (IC50 = 0.5 microM) > trovirdine (IC50 = 0.8 microM) > MKC-442 (IC5 = 0.8 microM) = delavirdine (IC50 = 1.5 microM) > nevirapine (IC50 = 23 microM). In accord with this data, both compounds inhibited the replication of the drug-sensitive HIV-1 strain HTLV(IIIB) with better IC50 values than other anti-HIV agents tested. The ranking order of efficacy in cellular HIV-1 inhibition assays was: HI-445 = HI-346 (IC50 = 3 nM) > MKC-442 (IC50 = 4 nM) = AZT (IC50 = 4 nM) > trovirdine (IC50 = 7 nM) > delavirdine (IC50 = 9 nM) > nevirapine (IC50 = 34 nM). Surprisingly, the lead compounds HI-346 and HI-445 were 3-times more effective against the multidrug resistant HIV-1 strain RT-MDR with a V106A mutation (as well as additional mutations involving the RT residues 74V,41L, and 215Y) than they were against HTLV(IIIB) with wild-type RT. HI-346 and HI-445 were 20-times more potent than trovirdine, 200-times more potent than AZT, 300-times more potent than MKC-442, 400-times more potent than delavirdine, and 5000-times more potent than nevirapine against the multidrug resistant HIV-1 strain RT-MDR. HI-445 was also tested against the RT Y181C mutant A17 strain of HIV-1 and found to be >7-fold more effective than trovirdine and >1,400-fold more effective than nevirapine or delavirdine. Similarly, both HI-346 and HI-445 were more effective than trovirdine, nevirapine, and delavirdine against the problematic NNI-resistant HIV-1 strain A17-variant with both Y181C and K103N mutations in RT, although their activity was markedly reduced against this strain. Neither compound exhibited significant cytotoxicity at effective concentrations (CC50 >100 microM). These findings establish the lead compounds HI-346 and HI-445 as potent inhibitors of drug-sensitive as well as multidrug-resistant stains of HIV-1.     

Discovery of 5-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl)-7-phenyl-(E)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1,4-thiazepines as a new series of apoptosis inducers using a cell- and caspase-based HTS assay

We report the discovery of 5-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl)-7-(4-methylphenyl)-(E)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1,4-thiazepine (2a) as an inducer of apoptosis using our proprietary cell- and caspase-based HTS assay. Through structure activity relationship (SAR) studies, 5-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-yl)-7-(2-methoxy-4-(methylthio)phenyl)-(E)-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1,4-thiazepine (5d) was identified as a potent apoptosis inducer with an EC(50) value of 0.08 microM in T47D cells, which was >15-fold more potent than screening hit 2a. Compound 5d also was found to be highly active in a growth inhibition assay with a GI(50) value of 0.05 microM in T47D cells and to function as an inhibitor of tubulin polymerization.     

Synthesis of novel 3'-C-methyl-apionucleosides: an asymmetric construction of a quaternary carbon by Claisen rearrangement

The synthesis of 2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-3-C-methyl-D-glycero-tetrofuranosyl++ + nucleosides was accomplished in high enatiomeric purity (98.5% ee) via [3,3]-sigmatropic Claisen rearrangement of (E)(S)-5-benzyloxy-1-tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy-4-methyl-pent-3- en-2-ol prepared from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-glyceraldehyde. The synthesized nucleosides were assayed against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus in human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) and 2.2.15 cells, respectively. 6-Amino-9-[2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-3-C-methyl-beta-D-glycero- tetrofuranosyl]-2-fluoropurine shows moderate antiviral activity (EC50 = 2.55 microM) against HIV-1 strains and 6-amino-9-[3-deoxy-3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methyl-alpha-D-glycero-tetro furanosyl]-2-fluoropurine exhibits potent anti-HIV activity (EC50 = 0.073 microM) with significant cytotoxicity (IC50 = 1.0 microM).     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 6-substituted 5-alkyl-2-(arylcarbonylmethylthio)pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones as potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors

A novel series of 2-arylcarbonylmethylthio-6-arylmethylpyrimidin-4(3H)-ones have been synthesized and evaluated for in vitro anti-HIV activities in MT-4 cells. Most of these new compounds showed moderate to potent activities against wild-type HIV-1 with an EC(50) range from 8.97 microM to 0.010 microM. Among them, the 6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl) analogue 5p was identified as the most promising compound (EC(50)=0.010 microM, SI>31,800) associated with moderate activity against the HIV-1 double mutant RT strain K103N+Y181C. The structure-activity relationships of these new congeners were further discussed.     

Vialinin A, a novel 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenger from an edible mushroom in China

While screening for bioactive compounds from edible mushrooms, a new potent antioxidant, vialinin A (1), together with a known compound, ganbajunin B (2), and a mixture of ganbajunins D (3) and E (4), were isolated from the dry fruiting bodies of Thelephora vialis. The structure of 1, 5',6'-bis(phenylacetoxy)-1,1':4',1'-terphenyl-2',3',4,4'-tetraol, was elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. This compound had strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging activity with an EC(50) value of 14.0 microM, nearly equal to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT; EC(50) = 10.0 microM). A radical scavenging experiment using 1 and DPPH radicals indicated that 1 donated two hydrogen atoms to two molecules of the DPPH radical under hydrophobic conditions.     

Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives containing a benzenesulfonamide moiety as potent, selective human beta3 adrenergic receptor agonists

Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives containing a 4-(hexylureido)benzenesulfonamide were examined as human beta3 adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists. Notably, 4,4-biphenyl derivative 9 was a 6 nM full agonist of the beta3 AR. Naphthyloxy compound 18 (beta3 EC50 = 78 nM) did not activate the beta1 and beta2 ARs at 10 microM, and showed >1000-fold selectivity over binding to the beta1 and beta2 ARs.     

4-Biphenyl and 2-naphthyl substituted 6,7-dimethoxytetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as potent P-gp modulators

Starting from lead compound 1 (EC(50)=1.64 microM), its non-basic nucleus has been conformationally restricted by 4-biphenyl and 2-naphthyl moieties. In each series we investigated if the presence of H-bond donor or acceptor substituents, the basicity and the lipophilicity (clogP) were correlated with the P-gp inhibiting activity of tested compounds. In the biphenyl series, derivative 4d displayed the best results (EC(50)=0.05 microM). The corresponding amide 3d was found less active (EC(50)=3.5 microM) ascertaining the importance of basicity in this series whilst the presence of hydroxy or methoxy substituents seems to be negligible. In the naphthyl series, both the basicity and the presence of H-bond donor or acceptor groups seem to be negligible. Moreover, the lipophilicity did not influence the P-gp inhibition activity of each series. Specific biological assays have been carried out to establish the P-gp interacting mechanism of tested compounds discriminating between substrates and inhibitors. Moreover, compound 4d displayed a potent P-gp inhibition activity with good selectivity towards BCRP pump.     

Anti-AIDS agents. Part 62: anti-HIV activity of 2'-substituted 4-methyl-3',4'-di-O-(-)-camphanoyl-(+)-cis-khellactone (4-methyl DCK) analogs

Four 4-methyl-3',4'-di-O-(-)-camphanoyl-(+)-cis-khellactone (4-methyl DCK) analogs (7a-d) with different alkyl substituents at the 2'-position were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of HIV-1 replication in H9 lymphocytes. 2'-Methyl-2'-ethyl-4-methyl DCK (7b) was more potent (EC(50)=0.22 microM, TI>175) than the other three compounds (7a, 7c, and 7d), but significantly less potent than 4-methyl DCK (2, EC(50)=0.0059 microM, TI>6600). The bioassay results indicated that the 2'-substituents had a strong effect on the anti-HIV activity, and gem-dimethyl substitution at the 2'-position was greatly preferable to larger alkyl substituents or hydrogen atoms.     

Design and synthesis of lignostilbene-alpha,beta-dioxygenase inhibitors

Lignostilbene-alpha,beta-dioxygenase cleaves the olefinic double bond of phenolic stilbenes by a mechanism similar to that of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, a key enzyme in abscisic acid biosynthesis. Several analogues of stilbene were designed and synthesized, and their efficacy as inhibitors of lignostilbene-alpha,beta-dioxygenase was examined. The compound (Z)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-fluoro-2-phenylethene (2) was found to be a potent inhibitor of this enzyme with an IC(50) of 3 microM.     

3,28-Di-O-(dimethylsuccinyl)-betulin isomers as anti-HIV agents

Four isomers of 3,28-di-O-(dimethylsuccinyl)-betulin were prepared and evaluated for anti-HIV activity against HIV-1 replication in H9 lymphocyte cells. 3-O-(3',3'-Dimethylsuccinyl)-28-O-(2", 2"-dimethvlsuccinyl)-betulin (11) was the most potent anti-HIV compound with an EC5, value of 0.00087 microM and a TI value of 42,400.     

Human beta3-adrenergic receptor agonists containing 1,2,3-triazole-substituted benzenesulfonamides

Compounds containing a 1,2,3-triazole-substituted benzenesulfonamide were prepared and found to be potent and selective human beta3-adrenergic receptor agonists. The most interesting compound, trifluoromethylbenzyl analogue 12e (beta3 EC50 = 3.1 nM with >1500-fold selectivity over binding to both beta1- and beta2 receptors), stimulates lipolysis in the rhesus monkey (ED50 = 0.36 mg/kg) and is 25% orally bioavailable in the dog.     

Discovery of substituted 4-anilino-2-(2-pyridyl)pyrimidines as a new series of apoptosis inducers using a cell- and caspase-based high throughput screening assay. Part 1: structure-activity relationships of the 4-anilino group

A series of 4-anilino-2-(2-pyridyl)pyrimidines has been discovered as a new class of potent inducers of apoptosis using a cell-based HTS assay. Compound 5a was found to arrest T47D cells in G2/M and induced apoptosis. SAR studies showed that a small and electron-donating group at the meta-position of the anilino ring is important for activity. A 20-fold increase in potency, from hit compound 4-(3-methoxyanilino)-2-(2-pyridinyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine (5a) to lead compound 4-(2,5-dimethoxyanilino)-2-(2-pyridinyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine (5l), was obtained through the SAR studies. Compound 5l is highly active with an EC50 value of 18 nM in the caspase activation assay in T47D breast cells. Interestingly, 5a and other meta-mono-substituted compounds were active against T47D cells but were not active against H1299 and HT29 cells, while 5l and other 2,5-disubstituted compounds were active against all the three cells. In a tubulin polymerization assay, compound 5l inhibited tubulin polymerization with an IC50 value of < 0.5 microM, while 5a was not active up to 50 microM.     

Heterocyclic substituted cantharidin and norcantharidin analogues--synthesis, protein phosphatase (1 and 2A) inhibition, and anti-cancer activity

Norcantharidin (3) is a potent PP1 (IC(50)=9.0+/-1.4 microM) and PP2A (IC(50)=3.0+/-0.4 microM) inhibitor with 3-fold PP2A selectivity and induces growth inhibition (GI(50) approximately 45 microM) across a range of human cancer cell lines including those of colorectal (HT29, SW480), breast (MCF-7), ovarian (A2780), lung (H460), skin (A431), prostate (DU145), neuroblastoma (BE2-C), and glioblastoma (SJ-G2) origin. Until now limited modifications to the parent compound have been tolerated. Surprisingly, simple heterocyclic half-acid norcantharidin analogues are more active than the original lead compound, with the morphilino-substituted (9) being a more potent (IC(50)=2.8+/-0.10 microM) and selective (4.6-fold) PP2A inhibitor with greater in vitro cytotoxicity (GI(50) approximately 9.6 microM) relative to norcantharidin. The analogous thiomorpholine-substituted (10) displays increased PP1 inhibition (IC(50)=3.2+/-0 microM) and reduced PP2A inhibition (IC(50)=5.1+/-0.41 microM), to norcantharidin. Synthesis of the analogous cantharidin analogue (19) with incorporation of the amine nitrogen into the heterocycle further increases PP1 (IC(50)=5.9+/-2.2 microM) and PP2A (IC(50)=0.79+/-0.1 microM) inhibition and cell cytotoxicity (GI(50) approximately 3.3 microM). These analogues represent the most potent cantharidin analogues thus reported.     

Quinolinium salt as a potent inhibitor of lymphocyte apoptosis

The synthesis of several quinolinium salts and related compounds and their ability to inhibit glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in murine thymocytes are described. Interestingly, 1-[2-methoxyimino-2-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-phenyl)ethyl]quinolinium bromide (11) showed a potent protective effect with an EC(50) of 0.013 microM, which was at least 300-fold more potent than the reference compound pifithrin-alpha.