Novel and potent 3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-4-(benzyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole P2X7 antagonists

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were conducted around early tetrazole-based leads 3 and 4. Replacements for the tetrazole core were investigated and the pendant benzyl substitution was reoptimized with a triazole isostere. Triazole-based P2X(7) antagonists were identified with similar potency to the lead compound 4 but with improved physiochemical properties. Compound 12 was active in a rat model of neuropathic pain.     

Synthesis and in vitro activity of N-benzyl-1-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-amine P2X(7) antagonists

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel class of substituted N-benzyl-1-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-amine derivatives resulted in the identification of potent P2X₇ antagonists. These compounds were assayed for activity at both the human and rat P2X₇ receptors. On the benzyl moiety, a variety of functional groups were tolerated, including both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents. Ortho-substitution on the benzyl group provided the greatest potency. The ortho-substituted analogs showed approximately 2.5-fold greater potency at human compared to rat P2X₇ receptors. Compounds 12 and 38 displayed hP2X₇pIC₅₀s >7.8 with less than 2-fold difference in potency at the rP2X₇.     

Synthesis and in vitro activity of N'-cyano-4-(2-phenylacetyl)-N-o-tolylpiperazine-1-carboximidamide P2X7 antagonists

A novel series of cyanoguanidine-piperazine P2X(7) antagonists was designed based upon the structure of A-740003. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies focused on the piperazine moiety and the right hand side substitution. Compounds were assayed for activity at human and rat P2X(7) receptors and compound 29 was found to possess potent activity (IC(50)=30-60 nM) at both species.     

8-Hydroxy-2-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-1,4-naphtoquinone derivatives inhibited P2X7 Receptor-Induced dye uptake into murine Macrophages

Extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) triggers the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) ionic channel to stimulate the release of the interleukin-IL-1β cytokine into macrophages. The current study explored the reaction of six structurally diverse triazole derivatives on P2X7-mediated dye uptake into murine peritoneal macrophages. P2X7R activity determined by ATP-evoked fluorescent dye uptake. Triazole derivatives toxicity measured using dextran rhodamine exclusion based colorimetric assay. A740004 and BBG, both P2X7R antagonist, inhibited ATP-induced dye uptake. In contrast, the derivatives 5a, 5b, 5e, and 5f did not diminish P2X7R activity in concentrations until 100?µM. 5c and 5d analogs caused a potent inhibitory activity on P2X7-induced dye uptake. Dextran Rhodamine exclusion measurements after 24?h of continuous treatment with triazole derivatives indicated a moderated toxicity for all molecules. In conclusion, this study showed that a series of new hybrid 1,2,3-triazolic naphthoquinones reduces P2X7R-induced dye uptake into murine macrophages. In silico analysis indicates a good pharmacokinetic profile and molecular docking results of these analogs indicate the potential to bind into an allosteric site located into the P2X7R pore and juxtaposed with the ATP binding pocket. In this manner, the compounds 5c and 5d may be used as a scaffold for new P2X7R inhibitors with reduced toxicity, and good anti-inflammatory activity.     

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 and Fungicidal Activity of 5-Aryl-1-(aryloxyacetyl)-3-(tert-butyl or phenyl)-4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,5-Dihydropyrazole

A series of novel 5-aryl-1-(aryloxyacetyl)-3-(tert-butyl or phenyl)-4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4,5-dihydropyrazole 3a-3n were synthesized by the annulation of 2-aryloxyacetohydrazides with 3-aryl-1-t-butyl(or phenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-ones(1)in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetic acid.Compounds 2 were obtained by the Knoevenagel reactions of 1-t-butyl(or phenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethanone(2)with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of piperidine.Their structures were confirmed by IR,1H-NMR,ESIMS,and elemental analyses.The preliminary bioassay indicated that some compounds displayed moderate to excellent fungicidal activity.For example,compounds 31,3m,and 3n possessed100%inhibition against Cercospora arachidicola Hori at the concentration of 50 mg/L.     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of 1-(N-benzylamino)-2-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols as antifungal agents

A series of 1-(N-benzylamino)-2-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols 6a-c, 7a-c, 8a, and 9a were prepared in five steps and evaluated for their antifungal activity. The most active compound 7b was docked into a home-made 3D model of the targeted enzyme confirming the importance of Tyr118, His377, and Ser378 residues in its binding mode.     

Synthesis and antitumoral activity of novel 3-(2-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-yl) and 3-(5-substituted-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) beta-carboline derivatives

Several novel 1-substituted-phenyl beta-carbolines bearing the 2-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-yl and 5-substituted-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl groups at C-3 were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity. The assay results pointed thirteen compounds with growth inhibition effect (GI(50)<100 microM) for all eight different types of human cancer cell lines tested. The beta-carbolines 7a and 7h, bearing the 3-(2-metylthio-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-yl) group, displayed high selectivity and potent anticancer activity against ovarian cell line with GI(50) values lying in the nanomolar concentration range (GI(50)=10 nM for both compounds). The 1-(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-(5-thioxo-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) beta-carboline (8g) was the most active compound, showing particular effectiveness on lung (GI(50)=0.06 microM), ovarian and renal cell lines. The potent anticancer activity presented for synthesized compounds 7a, 7h, and 8g, together with their easiness of synthesis, makes these compounds promising anticancer agents.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-benzyl-N-(2-(phenylamino)pyridin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamides as antimitotic agents

A library of 1-benzyl-N-(2-(phenylamino)pyridin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamides (7a–al) have been designed, synthesized and screened for their anti-proliferative activity against some selected human cancer cell lines namely DU-145, A-549, MCF-7 and HeLa. Most of them have shown promising cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell line (A549), amongst them 7f was found to be the most potent anti-proliferative congener. Furthermore, 7f exhibited comparable tubulin polymerization inhibition (IC₅₀ value 2.04 µM) to the standard E7010 (IC₅₀ value 2.15 µM). Moreover, flow cytometric analysis revealed that this compound induced apoptosis via cell cycle arrest at G₂/M phase in A549 cells. Induction of apoptosis was further observed by examining the mitochondrial membrane potential and was also confirmed by Hoechst staining as well as Annexin V-FITC assays. Furthermore, molecular docking studies indicated that compound 7f binds to the colchicine binding site of the β-tubulin. Thus, 7f exhibits anti-proliferative properties by inhibiting the tubulin polymerization through the binding at the colchicine active site and by induction of apoptosis.     

Design of new antifungal agents: synthesis and evaluation of 1-[(1H-indol-5-ylmethyl)amino]-2-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols

We previously reported on the design and synthesis of 1-[((hetero)aryl- or piperidinylmethyl)amino]-2-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols showing various degrees of antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus strains. Now we have identified a series of 1-[(1H-indol-5-ylmethyl)amino] derivatives which exhibited potent MICs (<65 ng mL^?1) against C. albicans strain. The synthesis and SAR behind the indole scaffold will be discussed.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 3-(benzylthio)-5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-4-amines as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents

A series of substituted 3-(benzylthio)-5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amines has been synthesised and tested in vitro as potential pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-inhibitory anticancer agents. Synthesis of the target compounds was readily accomplished in good yields through a cyclisation reaction between indole-3-carboxylic acid hydrazide and carbon disulfide under basic conditions, followed by S-benzylation. Active compounds, such as the nitrobenzyl analogue 6c, were found to exhibit sub-micromolar IC₅₀ values in Bcl-2 expressing human cancer cell lines. Molecular modelling and ELISA studies further implicated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 as a candidate molecular target underpinning anticancer activity.     

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism studies on (3-tert-butyl-7-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-(1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylmethoxy) pyrazolo[1,5-d][1,2,4]triazine, a functionally selective GABA(A) alpha5 inverse agonist for cognitive dysfunction

(3-tert-Butyl-7-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)-2-(1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylmethoxy)pyrazolo[1,5-d][1,2,4]triazine (1) was recently identified as a functionally selective, inverse agonist at the benzodiazepine site of GABA(A) alpha5 receptors and enhances performance in animal models of cognition. The routes of metabolism of this compound in vivo in rat have been well characterised, the identities of the major metabolites are confirmed by synthesis and their biological profiles were evaluated. An unusual oxidation of the pyrazolo[1,5-d][1,2,4]triazine core to the corresponding pyrazolo[1,5-d][1,2,4]triazin-4(5H)-one scaffold by aldehyde oxidase has been observed.     

Discovery and preclinical studies of 5-isopropyl-6-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-N-(2-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amine (BMS-645737), an in vivo active potent VEGFR-2 inhibitor

We report herein a series of substituted N-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amines as inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase. Through structure–activity relationship studies, biochemical potency, pharmacokinetics, and kinase selectivity were optimized to afford BMS-645737 (13), a compound with good preclinical in vivo activity against human tumor xenograft models.     

Bleaching activity of 4-phenyl-3-(substituted benzylthio)-4H-1,2,4-triazoles

A variety of 4-aryl- and 4-alkyl-3-(substituted benzylthio)-4H-1,2,4-triazoles were prepared and evaluated for their bleaching activity by the lettuce seedling test. Among the series of tested compounds, 4-(3-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-trifluoromethylbenzylthio)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (39) exhibited the highest bleaching activity, causing complete bleaching symptoms at 10 microM. In the dark condition, compound 39 inhibited the formation of such carotenoids as beta-carotene, violaxanthin, neoxanthin and lutein, resulting in the formation of zeta-carotene, phytoene, phytofluene and beta-zeacarotene, which were not detected in the untreated control. Treatment by compound 39 at 50 microM resulted in the amount of accumulated zeta-carotene being seven-fold higher than that of phytoene, phytofluene and beta-zeacarotene. These results suggest that compound 39 might have interfered with desaturation, especially zeta-carotene desaturation, during carotenoid biosynthesis.     

Discovery and optimization of 5-(2-((1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-7-yl)oxy)pyridin-4-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles as novel gpr119 agonists

We describe the discovery and optimization of 5-(2-((1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-7-yl)oxy)pyridin-4-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles as novel agonists of GPR119. Previously described aniline 2 had suboptimal efficacy in signaling assays using cynomolgus monkey (cyno) GPR119 making evaluation of the target in preclinical models difficult. Replacement of the aniline ring with a tetrahydroquinoline ring constrained the rotation of the aniline C–N bond and gave compounds with increased efficacy on human and cyno receptors. Additional optimization led to the discovery of 10, which possesses higher free fraction in plasma and improved pharmacokinetic properties in rat and cyno compared to 2.     

Impact of tautomery of 3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)-N-phenylpropanamide on the COX-1 inhibitory mechanism

Earlier, we have reported the synthesis and anti-inflammatory evaluation of different 3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)-N-substituted propanamide. In this article, we are reporting the various tautomeric forms of the most active anti-inflammatory compound, 3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)-N-phenylpropanamide (6a) and their virtual screening by molecular docking using six principle tautomeric forms. Docking analysis suggested that compound 3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)-N-phenylpropanamide (6a) bound with COX-1 selectively and drug receptor complex was stabilized by tautomerism. Noticeably, hydroxy group formed by tautomerism appreciably improve the drug receptor interactions. It was also supervised that the compound 3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)-N-phenylpropanamide (6a) docked near the gate of COX-1 active site and might block the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin (PG) H2 in the active site of COXs. Moreover, we have carried out receptor based electrostatic analysis to clarify the electronic, steric and hydrophobic field requirement of 3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)-N-phenylpropanamide (6a) to interact with COX -1 receptor.     

Experimental and DFT computational studies on 5-benzyl-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-2H-1,2,4-triazol-3(4H)-one

The triazole compound, 5-benzyl-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)-2H-1,2,4-triazol-3(4H)-one, has been synthesized and characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR, and X-ray single-crystal determination. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁ with a?=?11.8844(3) Å, b?=?17.5087(4) Å, c?=?17.3648(6) Å, β?=?99.990(2)? and Z?=?8. In addition to the molecular geometry from X-ray experiment, the molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies and gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR chemical shift values of the title compound in the ground state have been calculated using the density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The calculated results show that the optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structure and the theoretical vibrational frequencies and chemical shift values show good agreement with experimental ones. Besides, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), natural bond orbital (NBO), and frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis of the title compound were performed by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method.     

N-(4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]butyl,butenyl and butynyl)arylcarboxamides as novel dopamine D(3) receptor antagonists

The dopamine D(3) receptor subtype has been targeted as a potential neurochemical modulator of the behavioral actions of psychomotor stimulants, such as cocaine. Previous synthetic studies provided structural requirements for high affinity binding to D(3) receptors which included a 2,3-dichloro-phenylpiperazine linked to an arylamido function via a butyl chain. To reduce lipophilicity of these agents and further investigate optimal conformation, a second series of 15 novel ligands was designed that included heteroaromatic substitution and unsaturated alkyl linkers. These compounds were synthesized and evaluated for binding at rat D(3) and D(2) receptors stably expressed in Sf9 cells. D(3) binding affinities ranged from K(i)=0.6-1080 nM, with a broad range of D(3)/D(2) selectivities (2-97). The discovery of potent, selective and bioavailable D(3) receptor ligands will provide essential molecular probes to elucidate the role D(3) receptors play in the psychomotor stimulant and reinforcing effects of cocaine.     

3-(3-Methoxyphenyl)-6-(3-amino-4-methoxyphenyl)-7H-[1,2,4] triazolo [3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazine,a novel tubulin inhibitor,evokes G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 and HeLa cells

Gastric cancer and cervical cancer are two major malignant tumors that threaten human health. The novel chemotherapeutic drugs are needed urgently to treat gastric cancer and cervical cancer with high anticancer activity and metabolic stability. Previously we have reported the synthesis, characterization and identification of a novel combretastatin A-4 analog, 3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-6-(3-amino-4- methoxyphenyl) -7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazine (XSD-7). In this study, we sought to investigate its anticancer mechanisms in a human gastric cancer cell line (SGC-7901 cells) and human cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa cells). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that XSD-7 induced cytotoxicity in SGC-7901 and HeLa cells with inhibitory concentration 50 values of 0.11 ± 0.03 and 0.12 ± 0.05 µM, respectively. Immunofluorescence studies proved that XSD-7 inhibited microtubule polymerization during cell division in SGC-7901 and HeLa cells. Then, these cells were arrested at G2/M cell cycle and subsequently progressed into apoptosis. In further study, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis and Western blot analysis demonstrated that XSD-7 treatment-induced SGC-7901 cell apoptosis via both the mitochondria-mediated pathway and the death receptor-mediated pathway. In contrast, XSD-7 induced apoptosis in HeLa cells mainly via the mitochondria-mediated pathway. Hence, our data indicate that XSD-7 exerted antiproliferative activity by disrupting microtubule dynamics, leading to cell cycle arrest, and eventually inducing cell apoptosis. XSD-7 with novel structure has the potential to be developed for therapeutic treatment of gastric cancer and cervical cancer.     

Design and synthesis of 1-(benzothiazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones as protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO, E.C. 1.3.3.4) is the action target for several structurally diverse herbicides. A series of novel 4-(difluoromethyl)-1-(6-halo-2-substituted-benzothiazol-5-yl)-3-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5(4H)-ones 2a–z were designed and synthesized via the ring-closure of two ortho-substituents. The in vitro bioassay results indicated that the 26 newly synthesized compounds exhibited good PPO inhibition effects with K_i values ranging from 0.06 to 17.79 μM. Compound 2e, ethyl 2-{[5-(4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-6-fluorobenzo-thiazol-2-yl]thio}acetate, was the most potent inhibitor with K_i value of 0.06 μM against mtPPO, comparable to (K_i = 0.03 μM) sulfentrazone. Further green house assays showed that compound 2f (K_i = 0.24 μM, mtPPO), ethyl 2-{[5-(4-(difluoromethyl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-6-fluorobenzothiazol-2-yl]thio}propanoate, showed the most promising post-emergence herbicidal activity with broad spectrum even at concentrations as low as 37.5 g ai/ha. Soybean exhibited tolerance to compound 2f at the dosages of 150 g ai/ha, whereas they are susceptible to sulfentrazone even at 75 g ai/ha. Thus, compound 2f might be a potential candidate as a new herbicide for soybean fields.