Synthesis and antiinflammatory, analgesic activity of 3,3'-(1,2-ethanediyl)-bis[2-aryl-4-thiazolidinone] chiral compounds. Part 10

In this note, the synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a new series of 2R,2'R/2S,2'S and 2R,2'S-meso 3,3'-(1,2-ethanediyl)-bis[2-aryl-4-thiazolidinones] are described. Antiinflammatory activity was investigated by the carrageenin-induced paw edema test and analgesic activity by acetic acid writhing and hot plate tests in rats. All compounds displayed ulcerogenic effects and acute toxicity much lower than indomethacin and phenylbutazone. Meso isomers (b) showed better pharmacological profiles than corresponding racemates (a). Methoxy substitution patterns of the aryls on stereogenic carbons are generally the most favorable on the pharmacological profile.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6 (1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine analogues as antiproliferative agents

Two series of forty five novel 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl) imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine analogues (IPA 1–22, IPS 1–22 and IP-NH) have been designed, synthesized and structures confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectrometry. Furthermore, single crystal was developed for IPS-13. All the final derived conjugates were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against a panel of diverse cancer cell lines viz., A549 (lung cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), B16F10 (melanoma) and found to show potent anticancer activity on the tested cell lines. Many of them showed the IC₅₀ values in the range 2.0–20.0 µM. The most active compounds (IPA 5,6,8,9,12,16,17,19 and IPS 7,8,9,22) from IPA and IPS series were screened to determine their cytotoxicity on HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) normal cell line and were found to be nontoxic to normal human cells. The molecular interactions of the derivatised conjugates were also supported by molecular docking simulations. These derivatives may serve as lead structures for development of novel potential anticancer drug candidates.     

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of 4-[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-1,2-benzenediol, a metabolite of Sphaerophysa salsula

4-[2-(3,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-1,2-benzenediol (7), a stilbene isolated from Sphaerophysa salsula, was synthesized from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (1) in five steps in an overall yield of 33%. The spectral data for synthetic 7 are in good agreement with those of the natural product. Hydroxystilbene 7 showed potent antioxidative activity.     

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of 2-amino-4-N-piperazinyl-6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-pteridines as dual immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents

Screening of a pteridine-based compound library led to the identification of compounds exhibiting immunosuppressive as well as anti-inflammatory activity. Optimization afforded a series of 2-amino-4-N-piperazinyl-6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)pteridine analogues. The most potent congeners in this series displayed low nM IC₅₀ values in the Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) assay. In addition, these compounds also have potent anti-inflammatory activity as measured in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) assay.     

Synthesis of 3-[4'-(p-chlorophenyl)-thiazol-2'-yl]-2-[(substituted azetidinone/thiazolidinone)-aminomethyl]-6-bromoquinazolin-4-ones as anti-inflammatory agent

N-Chloroacetyl-5-bromoanthranilic acid (1), 3-[4'-(p-chlorophenyl)-thiazol-2'-yl]-2-chloromethyl-6-bromoquinazolin-4-one (2), 3-[4'-(p-chlorophenyl)-thiazol-2'-yl]-2-hydrazinomethyl-6-bromoquinazolin-4-one (3), 3-[4'-(p-chlorophenyl)-thiazol-2'-yl]-2-substitutedbenzylidene aminomethyl-6-bromoquinazolin-4-ones (4-11), 2-[(4'-oxo-3'-chloro-2'-phenylazetidin-1'-yl)aminomethyl]-3-[4'-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2'-yl]-6-bromoquinazolin-4-ones (12-19) and 2-(4'-oxo-2'-phenyl-thiazolidin-3'-yl-aminomethyl)- 3-[4'-(p-chlorophenyl)-thiazol-2'-yl]-6-bromoquinazolin-4-ones (20-27) have been synthesized. All the compounds have been screened for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at the dose of 50mg/kg po. Compound 21 showed maximum anti-inflammatory (38.35%) and analgesic (37.36%) activities. Compound 21 was also tested for ulcerogenic activity and the UD(50) value was found to be 195.6mg/kg po. The structure of all compounds has been evaluated by elemental analysis (C, H, N) and spectral analysis (IR, (1)H NMR and mass spectrometry).     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-(2-[18F]fluoroethoxy)benzothiazole ([18F]FEDBT) for PET imaging of breast cancer

Given the ever-present demand for improved PET radiotracer in oncology imaging, we have synthesized 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethoxy)benzothiazole ([¹⁸F]FEDBT), a fluorine-18-containing fluoroethylated benzothiazole to explore its utility as a PET imaging tracer. [¹⁸F]FEDBT was prepared via kryptofix-mediated nucleophilic substitution of the tosyl group precursor. Fractionated ethanol-based solid-phase (SPE cartridge-based) purification afforded [¹⁸F]FEDBT in 60% radiochemical yield (EOB), with radiochemical purity in excess of 98% and the specific activity was 35 GBq/μmol. The radiotracer displayed clearly higher cellular uptake ratio in various breast cancer cell lines MCF7, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231. However, both biodistribution and microPET studies have showed an higher abdominal accumulation of [¹⁸F]FEDMBT and the tumor/muscle ratio of 1.8 was observed in the MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors mice model. Further the lipophilic improvement is needed for the reducement of hepatobilliary accumulation and to promote the tumor uptake for PET imaging of breast cancer.     

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory evaluation of 2-(furan-2-yl)-4-(phenoxy)quinoline derivatives. Part 4

A number of 2-(furan-2-yl)-4-phenoxyquinoline derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for anti-inflammatory evaluation. 4-[(2-Furan-2-yl)quinolin-4-yloxy]benzaldehyde (8), with an IC(50) value of 5.0 microM against beta-glucuronidase release, was more potent than its tricyclic furo[2,3-b]quinoline isomer 3a (>30 microM), its 4'-COMe counterpart 7 (7.5 microM), and its oxime derivative 13a (11.4 microM) and methyloxime derivative 13b (>30 microM). For the inhibition of lysozyme release, however, oxime derivative 12a (8.9 microM) and methyloxime derivative 12b (10.4 microM) are more potent than their ketone precursor 7 and their respective tricyclic furo[2,3-b]quinoline counterparts 4a and 4b. Among them, 4-[4-[(2-furan-2-yl)-quinolin-4-yloxy]phenyl]but-3-en-2-one (10) is the most active against lysozyme release with an IC(50) value of 4.6 microM, while 8 is the most active against beta-glucuronidase release with an IC(50) value of 5.0 microM. (E)-1-[3-[(2-Furan-2-yl)quinolin-4-yloxy]phenyl] ethanone oxime (11a) is capable of inhibiting both lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase release with IC(50) values of 7.1 and 9.5 microM, respectively. For the inhibition of TNF-alpha formation, 1-[3-[(2-furan-2-yl)quinolin-4-yloxy]phenyl]ethanone (6) is the most potent with an IC(50) value of 2.3 microM which is more potent than genistein (9.1 microM). For the inhibitory activity of fMLP-induced superoxide anion generation, 11a (2.7 microM), 11b (2.8 microM), and 13b (2.2 microM) are three of the most active. None of above compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity.     

Discovery of 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-benzonitriles and 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-pyridine-2'-carbonitriles as potent checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitors

An extensive structure-activity relationship study of the 3-position of a series of tricyclic pyrazole-based Chk1 inhibitors is described. As a result, 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-benzonitriles (4) and 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-pyridine-2'-carbonitriles (29) emerged as new lead series. Compared with the original lead compound 2, these new leads fully retain the biological activity in both enzymatic inhibition and cell-based assays. More importantly, the new leads 4 and 29 exhibit favorable physicochemical properties such as lower molecular weight, lower Clog P, and the absence of a hydroxyl group. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship studies were performed at the 6- and 7-positions of 4, which led to the identification of ideal Chk1 inhibitors 49, 50, 51, and 55. These compounds not only potently inhibit Chk1 in an enzymatic assay but also significantly potentiate the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging agents in cell-based assays while they show little single agent activity. A cell cycle analysis by FACS confirmed that these Chk1 inhibitors efficiently abrogate the G2/M and S checkpoints induced by DNA-damaging agent. The current work paved the way to the identification of several potent Chk1 inhibitors with good pharmacokinetics that are suitable for in vivo study with oral dosing.     

Design, synthesis, and biological activity of novel 4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-methylthiazole-5-carboxylic acid derivatives

Novel 4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-methylthiazole-5-carboxylic acid derivatives (11-23) were synthesized from 3,4-dimethoxyacetophenone (5) in six-step procedure. Their biological activities were evaluated in the greenhouse. Some of the compounds had shown fungicidal and insecticidal activities at 375 g ai/ha and 600 g ai/ha, respectively.     

Design and synthesis of (Z)-1,2-diphenyl-1-(4-methanesulfonamidophenyl)alk-1-enes and (Z)-1-(4-azidophenyl)-1,2-diphenylalk-1-enes: novel inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity

A group of novel (Z)-1,2-diphenyl-1-(4-methanesulfonamidophenyl)alk-1-enes was designed for evaluation as selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. In vitro COX-1/COX-2 enzyme inhibition studies identified (Z)-1,2-diphenyl-1-(4-methanesulfonamidophenyl)oct-1-ene (8d) as a highly potent (IC50=0.03 microM), and an extremely selective [COX-2 SI (selectivity index)>3,333], COX-2 inhibitor that showed good anti-inflammatory (AI) activity (ID50=2.8 mg/kg). A molecular modeling (docking) study showed that the p-MeSO2NH group present in (Z)-8d inserts deep inside the 2 degrees-pocket of the COX-2 binding site, it undergoes a hydrophobic interaction with Ala516 and Gly519, and one of the O-atoms of the MeSO2 group participates in a weak hydrogen bonding interaction with the NH2 of Arg513 (distance= 3.85 angstroms). Similar in vitro COX-1/COX-2 enzyme inhibition studies showed that the azido compound 1-(4-azidophenyl)-1,2-diphenyloct-1-ene (9c) is also a potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor (COX-2 IC50=0.11 microM: SI>909) that exhibits good AI activity (ID50=5.0 mg/kg). A docking experiment to determine the orientation of (Z)-9c within the COX-2 binding site showed that the linear p-N3 group inserts into the COX-2 2 degrees-pocket, where it undergoes an ion-ion (electrostatic) interaction with Arg513. Structure-activity data acquired indicate that an olefin having either a C-1 p-MeSO2NH-phenyl, or a p-N3-phenyl, substituent, that is, cis to a C-2 unsubstituted phenyl substituent, in conjunction with C-1 unsubstituted phenyl and C-2 alkyl substituents, provides a novel template to design acyclic olefinic COX-2 inhibitors.     

N-(3,4-Dimethylisoxazol-5-yl)piperazine-4-[4-(2-fluoro-4-[11C]methylphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]-1-carboxamide: A promising positron emission tomography ligand for fatty acid amide hydrolase

To visualize fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in brain in vivo, we developed a novel positron emission tomography (PET) ligand N-(3,4-dimethylisoxazol-5-yl)piperazine-4-[4-(2-fluoro-4-[¹¹C]methylphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]-1-carboxamide ([¹¹C]DFMC, [¹¹C]1). DFMC (1) was shown to have high binding affinity (IC₅₀: 6.1 nM) for FAAH. [¹¹C]1 was synthesized by C–¹¹C coupling reaction of arylboronic ester 2 with [¹¹C]methyl iodide in the presence of Pd catalyst. At the end of synthesis, [¹¹C]1 was obtained with a radiochemical yield of 20 ± 10% (based on [¹¹C]CO₂, decay-corrected, n = 5) and specific activity of 48–166 GBq/μmol. After the injection of [¹¹C]1 in mice, high uptake of radioactivity (>2% ID/g) was distributed in the lung, liver, kidney, and brain, organs with high FAAH expression. PET images of rat brains for [¹¹C]1 revealed high uptakes in the cerebellar nucleus (SUV = 2.4) and frontal cortex (SUV = 2.0), two known brain regions with high FAAH expression. Pretreatment with the FAAH-selective inhibitor URB597 reduced the brain uptake. Higher than 90% of the total radioactivity in the rat brain was irreversible at 30 min after the radioligand injection. The present results indicate that [¹¹C]1 is a promising PET ligand for imaging of FAAH in living brain.     

Synthesis and biological activity of N(alpha)-[4-[N-[(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-6-quinazolinyl)methyl]-N-propargylamino]phenylacetyl]-L-glutamic acid

2-Deamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI 198583) is a potent inhibitor of thymidylate synthase. Its analogue, N(alpha)-[4-[N-[(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-6-quinazolinyl)methyl]-N-propargylamino]phenylacetyl]-L-glutamic acid, containing p-aminophenylacetic acid residue substituting p-aminobenzoic acid residue, was synthesized. The new analogue exhibited a moderately potent thymidylate synthase inhibition, of linear mixed type vs. the cofactor, N(5,10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate. The Ki value of 0.34 microM, determined with a purified recombinant rat hepatoma enzyme, was about 30-fold higher than that reported for inhibition of thymidylate synthase from mouse leukemia L1210 cells by ICI 198583 (Hughes et al., 1990, J. Med. Chem. 33, 3060). Growth of mouse leukemia L5178Y cells was inhibited by the analogue (IC50 = 1.26 mM) 180-fold weaker than by ICI 198583 (IC50 = 6.9 microM).     

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory evaluation of 9-phenoxyacridine and 4-phenoxyfuro[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives. Part 2

Mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages are important inflammatory cells that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. To explore a novel anti-inflammatory agent, we have synthesized certain 9-phenoxyacridine and 4-phenoxyfuro[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives and evaluated their anti-inflammatory activities. The title compounds were synthesized by reaction of either 9-chloroacridine or 3,4-dichlorofuro[2,3-b]quinoline with appropriate Ar-OH and their anti-inflammatory activities were studied on inhibitory effects on the activation of mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages. Four 9-(4-formylphenoxy)acridine derivatives 2b-2e were proved to be more potent than the reference inhibitor, mepacrine for the inhibition of rat peritoneal mast cell degranulation with IC(50) values of 6.1, 5.9, 13.5, and 4.7 microM, respectively. Compounds 2c, 3b, 3c, and 5a also showed potent inhibitory activity (IC(50)=4.3-18.3 microM) for the secretion of lysosomal enzyme and beta-glucuronidase from neutrophils. In addition, 2d, 3a, and 4 inhibited TNF-alpha formation from the N9 cells (the brain resident macrophages) with IC(50) vales less then 10 microM. These results indicated that acridine derivatives exhibited more potent anti-inflammatory activities than their respective furo[2,3-b]quinoline counterparts (4 vs 9; 5a vs 10a; 5b vs 10b).     

The discovery of [1-(4-dimethylamino-benzyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-[4-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-phen yl]-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-amine, an N-type Ca+2 channel blocker with oral activity for analgesia

Our drug discovery efforts for N-type calcium channel blockers in the 4-piperidinylaniline series led to the discovery of an orally active analgesic agent 26.1-[4-Dimethylamino-benzyl)-piperidin-4-yl]-[4-(3,3-dimethyl-but yl)-phenyl]-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)amine (26) showed high affinity to functionally block N-type calcium channels (IC50=0.7 microM in the IMR32 assay) and exhibited high efficacy in the anti-writhing analgesia test with mice (ED50=12 mg/kg by po and 4 mg/kg by iv). In this report, the rationale for the design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and pharmacokinetics of this series of blockers is described.     

3-p-Toluoyl-2-[4'-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)-phenyl]-benzofuran and 2-[4'-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)-phenyl]-benzofuran do not act as surfactants or micelles when inhibiting the aggregation of beta-amyloid peptide

The cmc and IC50 values of the beta-amyloid (Abeta) aggregation inhibitors, 3-p-toluoyl-2-[4'-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)-phenyl]-benzofuran 1, and 2-[4'-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)-phenyl]-benzofuran 2 have been determined. After comparison of the cmc data and biological data (IC50 values), we conclude that these active benzofurans do not act as surfactants or micelles at the concentration required to inhibit beta-amyloid-peptide aggregation.     

Synthesis and radiopharmacological evaluation of 2'-(4-fluorophenyl)-21-[18F]fluoro-20-oxo-11beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-pregn-4-eno[3,2-c]pyrazole as potential glucocorticoid receptor ligand for positron emission tomography (PET)

The radiosynthesis and the radiopharmacological evaluation of pyrazolo steroid 2'-(4-fluorophenyl)-21-[18F]fluoro-20-oxo-11beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-pregn-4-eno[3,2-c]pyrazole [18F]-2 is described. The radiolabeling was accomplished in 3-4% decay-corrected radiochemical yield within 80 min at an specific radioactivity of 0.8-1.2 Ci/micromol. Biodistribution studies in male Wistar rats showed an initial brain uptake of 0.25+/-0.03% ID/g after 5 min, which remained constant over 60 min. The radiopharmacological evaluation of compound [18F]-2 was completed with autoradiography using rat brain sections and micro-PET imaging.     

Synthesis of new 4-[2-(alkylamino) ethylthio]pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline and 5-[2-(alkylamino) ethylthio]pyrrolo[1,2-a]thieno[3,2-e]pyrazine derivatives, as potential bacterial multidrug resistance pump inhibitors

The synthesis of new 4-[2-(alkylamino)ethylthio]pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivatives la-1 is described in five or six steps starting from various substituted nitroanilines 2a-e. The bioisostere 5-[2-(alkylamino)ethylthio]pyrrolo[1,2- a]thieno[3,2-e]pyrazine 1m was also prepared. The new derivatives were evaluated as efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) in a model targeting the NorA system of Staphylococcus aureus. The antibiotic susceptibility of two strains overproducing NorA, SA-1199B and SA-1, was determined alone and in combination with the neo-synthesised compounds by the agar diffusion method and MIC determination, in comparison with reserpine and omeprazole taken as reference EPIs. A preliminary structure-activity relationship study firstly allowed to clarify the influence of the substituents at positions 7 and/or 8 of the pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline nucleus. Methoxy substituted compounds, 1b and 1g, were more potent EPIs than the unsubstituted compounds (1a and 1f), followed by chlorinated derivatives (1c-d and 1h). Moreover, the replacement of the N,N-diethylamino group (compounds 1a-e) by a bioisostere such as pyrrolidine (compounds 1f-h) enhanced the EPI activity, in contrast with the replacement by a piperidine moiety (compounds 1i-k). Finally, the pyrrolo[1,2-a]thieno[3,2-e]pyrazine compound 1m exhibited a higher EPI activity than its pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline analogue la, opening the way to further pharmacomodulation.