New R/S-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-6-halo-4-(phenylaminothiocarbonylamino)-2H-1-benzopyrans structurally related to (+/-)-cromakalim as tissue-selective pancreatic beta-cell K(ATP) channel openers

The present work was aimed at exploring a series of R/S-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-6-halo-4-(phenylaminothiocarbonylamino)-2H-1-benzopyrans structurally related to (+/-)-cromakalim and differently substituted at the 4- and 6-positions. The biological effects of these putative activators of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) were characterized in vitro on the pancreatic endocrine tissue (inhibition of insulin release) and on the vascular smooth muscle tissue (relaxation of aorta rings). The biological activity of these new dimethylchroman derivatives was further compared to that of (+/-)-cromakalim, (+/-)-pinacidil, diazoxide and BPDZ 73. Structure-activity relationships indicated that an improved potency for the pancreatic tissue was obtained by introducing a meta- or a para-electron-withdrawing group such as a chlorine atom on the C-4 phenyl ring, independently of the nature of the halogen atom at the 6-position of the benzopyran nucleus. Most original dimethylchroman thioureas were more potent than their 'urea' homologues and even more potent than diazoxide at inhibiting insulin release. Moreover, and unlike (+/-)-cromakalim or (+/-)-pinacidil, such compounds appeared to be highly selective towards the pancreatic tissue. Radioisotopic and fluorimetric investigations indicated that the new drugs activated pancreatic K(ATP) channels. Lastly, conformational studies suggested that the urea/thiourea dimethylchromans can be regarded as hybrid compounds between cromakalim and pinacidil.     

Substituted 3-amino and/or 3-aminomethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyrans: synthesis and biological activity

A series of new 3-amino, 3-aminomethyl-5-alkoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran and 5'-alkoxy-3',4'-dihydrospiro-[piperazine-2.3'(2'H)-benzopyran] derivatives was prepared and evaluated for affinity at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and D2 receptors. Two of the compounds (1f and 2b) can be considered as potent and selective 5-HT2A ligands. One compound (1g) demonstrated high affinity for 5-HT1A and D2 receptor binding sites and one compound (1d) proved to be a mixed 5-HT1A/5-HT2A ligand.     

1,3-Dihydro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-2,2-diones and 3,4-dihydro-1H-2,1,3-benzothidiazin-2,2-diones as ligands for the NOP receptor

A series of 1,3-dihydro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-2,2-diones (I) and 3,4-dihydro-1H-2,1,3-benzothidiazin-2,2-diones (II) were prepared. While the five-member ring series (I) did not show good affinity for opioid receptors, the six-member ring series (II) exhibited extremely high affinity and selectivity for the NOP receptor and showed full agonist activity, as determined by stimulation of GTPgamma[35S] binding.     

Sickle-cell membrane-bound (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase: activation by 3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-butyric acid, a novel antisickling agent

The effects of 3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-butyric acid (DBA), an antisickling agent, on the rates of Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis by the human red cell (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, have been studied in membranes (normal and sickle-cell) stripped of endogenous calmodulin. The activity of the enzyme is increased by DBA in a manner which is dependent on both the concentrations of DBA and Ca2+. At 37 degrees C, the normal red cell (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity is stimulated maximally by 133% in the presence of 1 mM DBA and 0.2 mM CaCl2, while the sickle-cell enzyme is stimulated maximally by 81% in the presence of 0.5 mM DBA and 0.2 mM CaCl2. The stimulation of the enzyme in both systems is antagonized by increasing the CaCl2 concentration in the medium to 0.5 mM, in contrast to the well established mode of activation by the modulator protein, calmodulin. This suggests that the two effectors, DBA and calmodulin, probably act by different mechanisms. From our present observations, we suggest that the antisickling effect of DBA may be connected with the mobilization of calcium within red cells.     

Identification of (-)-cis-6-acetyl-4S-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-benzoylamino)- 3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-benzo[b]pyran-3S-ol as a potential antimigraine agent

Optimisation of novel cis- and trans-4-(substituted-amido)benzopyran-3-ol derivatives has led to the identification of SB-220453 20 with an in vivo pre-clinical CNS profile predictive of potential antimigraine activity.     

4-(3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2yl)-pyridines and 4-(3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-quinolines as potent NR1/2B subtype selective NMDA receptor antagonists

A series of 4-(3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2yl)-pyridines and analogous quinolines was prepared and evaluated as NR1/2B subtype selective NMDA receptor antagonists. 2-Hydroxyalkylamino substitution combines high affinity with selectivity (vs alpha1 and M1 receptors) and activity in vivo.     

Vasorelaxant activity of 2-substituted 6-nitro-2H-1-benzopyran-4-carbothioamide K channel openers

Synthesis and vasorelaxant activity of 2-substituted 6-nitro-2H-1-benzopyran-4-carbothioamides 5 are described. Potent smooth muscle relaxant activity was displayed by 5c, 5h, and 5i.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of some N-arylsulfonyl-N-methyl-N'-(2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-4-yl)ureas structurally related to cromakalim

Some N-arylsulfonyl-N-methyl-N'-(2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-4-yl)ureas were prepared and evaluated as putative potassium channel openers on the vascular and uterine smooth muscle tissue (myorelaxant effect), as well as on insulin-secreting pancreatic islets (inhibition of insulin release). The pharmacological results indicated that these compounds exhibited a marked biological activity on these three tissues.     

Enantiomers of 2-methyl- and 2,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-2-carboxylic acid: Preparation by resolution,determination of absolute configuration,and Curtius rearrangement

Both enantiomers of 2-methyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-2-carboxylic acid 2 and 2,4-dimethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-2-carboxylic acid 3 were prepared via resolution of the corresponding racemic carboxylic acids with (R)- and (S)-1-phenylethylamine, respectively. Absolute configuration of (−)-(R)-2-methyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-2-carboxylic acid was determined by X-ray crystallography. Curtius rearrangement of acyl azides prepared from enantiomers of these heterocyclic carboxylic acids carried out in benzyl alcohol afforded enantiomers of the corresponding benzyl carbamates, which upon hydrogenolysis gave racemic 2-amino-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one 4 and 2-amino-2,4-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4h-benzoxazin-3-one 5. Chirality 10:791–799, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationship study of ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers: derivatives of 3-alkylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide

The inhibitory activity of glucose-induced insulin secretion on isolated rat pancreatic islets and the contractile activity of KCl-depolarized rat aorta rings of the derivatives of 3-alkylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide are quantitatively analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The study has helped to ascertain the role of different substituents in explaining these observed inhibitory activities. From a derived most significant correlation equation, it was concluded that a less hydrophobic 3-substituent and a less bulky 7-substituent in addition to a 3-aminoisopropyl and a 6-chloro substituent are advantageous to enhance the inhibitory action of a compound towards rat pancreatic islets. On the other hand, the more hydrophobic 6- and 7-substituents augment the contractile activity. The analysis, in this way, provided the grounds for rationalizing the substituent selection in designing the improved potency compounds in the series.     

Design and synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-1H-[1]-benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran and 3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrano[3,4-b]benzofuran derivatives as non-nucleoside inhibitors of HCV NS5B RNA dependent RNA polymerase

A novel class of HCV NS5B RNA dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors containing 3,4-dihydro-1H-[1]-benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran and 3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrano[3,4-b]benzofuran scaffolds were designed and synthesized. Optimization of the alkyl substituent in the pyran ring showed preference for an n-propyl group, while 5,8-disubstitution pattern is preferred for the aromatic region. Analog 19 displayed potent activity with an IC(50) of 50 nM against HCV NS5B enzyme and was selective over a panel of polymerases.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of novel 5,6-dimethoxy-1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-2-indenyl-3,4-substituted phenyl methanone analogues

In present investigation, a series of substituted phenyl-5,6-dimethoxy-1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-2-indenylmethanone analogues were synthesized and were tested for their potential for treating AD disease. All the newly synthesized compounds were showing moderate to high AChE inhibitory activities, with compound 5,6-dimethoxy-1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-2-indenyl-3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylmethanone (5f) produced significant activities with 2.7 ± 0.01 μmol/L.     

Structure-activity relationships of 3,4-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-2-one derivatives as potential CDK5 inhibitors

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a critical role in the early development of the nervous system. Deregulation of CDK5 is believed to contribute to the abnormal phosphorylation of various cellular substrates associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and ischemic stroke. Acyclic urea 3 was identified as a potent CDK5 inhibitor and co-crystallographic data of urea 3/CDK2 enzyme were used to design a novel series of 3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2(1H)-ones as CDK5 inhibitors. In this investigation we present our synthetic studies toward this series of compounds and discuss their biological relevance as CDK5 inhibitors.     

2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-1-oxide: evaluation of the spin trapping properties

The 2-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-l-oxide (EMPO), an easily prepared pyrroline-N-oxide has been tested as a free radical scavenger. Spin adducts of superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and other free radicals were characterized in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and 5.6. At pH 7 in phosphate buffer, the EMPO/O(2)(-*) spin adduct was estimated to be about five times more persistent than its DMPO analogue. Furthermore, its decay does not produce the EMPO/HO&z.rad; adduct.     

Synthesis of 3-alkyl(aryl)-4-alkylidenamino-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones and 3-alkyl-4-alkylamino-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones as antitumor agents

A series of 3-alkyl-4-phenylethylidenamino- (8) and 3-alkyl-4-(3-phenylallylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones (9) was synthesized from the reaction of the corresponding 3-alkyl(aryl)-4-amino-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones (1), with phenylacetaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde. 3-Alkyl-4-(2-phenylethylamino)- (10) and 3-alkyl-4-(3-phenylpropylamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones (11) were obtained from the selective reduction of compounds (8) and (9) with NaBH₄. The in vitro antitumor activity of the novel compounds was screened and the highest inhibition of tree tumor cell lines was observed for the compounds containing phenylethylenamino and phenylethylamino groups at position 4 of 1,2,4-triazol ring.     

Synthesis of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thione derivatives as potential calcium channel blockers

Biginelli reaction which involves condensation of methyl 3-oxopentanoate, aromatic aldehydes and thiourea with a catalytic amount of HCl at reflux temperature has been used for the synthesis of 4-aryl-6-ethyl-5-(methoxycarbonyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thiones (1–16). In addition, Lewis acids such as FeCl₃·6H₂O and/or H₃BO₃ were also used as catalysts for one-pot synthesis of the products. Compared to the classical Biginelli reaction conditions, the usage of Lewis acids has the advantage of good yields and short reaction times. The calcium channel blocker activities of 1–16 were screened by the tests performed on isolated rat ileum and thoracic aorta. Although product 11, 2-nitrophenyl-derivative, has potent antispasmodic activity on BaCl₂-stimulated rat ileum, it does not have vasodilator activity on KCl-stimulated rat thoracic aorta. Product 15, 2-ethoxyphenyl-derivative, exhibited significant antispasmodic and vasodilator activities in both screening paradigms.     

Production and toxicity of 2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one by Phialophora gregata

2,3-Dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, was isolated from 3 week old rice cultures of Phialophora gregata, a soybean pathogen, grown at 25°C. This material in repeated bioassays prevented callus formation on soybean hypocotyl sections at 100 and 200 mg/ml callus culture medium. This is the first report of the production of this metabolite by a member of the Phialphora genus and of its toxicity to soybeans.     

Effects of ethanol and 3,4,-dihydron-2,2-dimethyl-2h-1-benzopyran-6-butyric acid on the solubility of sickle hemoglobin.

The effect of 3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1 benzopyran-6-butyric acid (DBA) on the solubility of deoxy-Hb S was evaluated by measuring saturation concentration, c_sat. Plots of c_sat versus DBA concentration in the presence or absence of ethanol gave two parallel lines, indicative of the additive fashion in which ethanol and DBA increase the solubility of deoxy-Hb S. At a $\text{DBA}\text{Hb}$ molar ratio of 10:1, c_sat was increased 16%. Ethanol alone increased c_sat comparably, but at a much higher molar excess (200:1). DBA had no effect on the oxygenation parameters of Hb S. Complementary solubility studies using the salting-out method showed that DBA had no effect on deoxy-Hb S, but decreased the solubility of deoxy-Hb A, oxy-Hb A and oxy-Hb S. Hence, no correlation exists between the effect of DBA on the solubility of deoxy-Hb S measured as c_sat and that measured by the salting-out technique.     

2-Arylimino-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazines as a new class of cannabinoid receptor agonists. Part 1: discovery of CB2 receptor selective compounds

2-Arylimino-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazines have been identified as a novel class of cannabinoid agonists. A lead structure with moderate activity was discovered through a high throughput screening assay. Structure-activity relationships led to the discovery of potent agonists of CB(2) receptor. The most potent compound 13 displays K(i) values of >5000 and 9 nM to CB(1) and CB(2) receptors, respectively.     

2-Arylimino-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazines as a new class of cannabinoid receptor agonists. Part 2: orally bioavailable compounds

Structure-activity relationships and efforts to optimize the pharmacokinetic profile of a class of 2-arylimino-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazines as cannabinoid receptor agonists are described. Among the compounds examined, compound 14 showed potent affinity and high selectivity for CB2, and compound 23 showed potent affinities against CB1 and CB2. These compounds displayed oral bioavailability.