Antioxidant activity and low toxicity of (E)-1-(1-(methylthio)-1-(selenopheny) hept-1-en-2-yl) pyrrolidin-2-one

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential pharmacological and toxicological properties of (E)-1-(1-(methylthio)-1-(selenopheny) hept-1-en-2-yl) pyrrolidin-2-one (compound 1), an organoselenium compound. In vitro experiments showed that compound 1 presented a reduction in the lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2? in thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) production, and in the generation of reactive species caused by Fe2?/malonate in DCFH-DA oxidation. The high dose (500 mg/kg) induced an increase on ALT but not on AST activity. Hepatic, but not cerebral, δ-ALA-D activity from mice treated with 500 mg/kg presented a significant inhibition. Brain catalase activity was significantly inhibited by 100 mg/kg whereas hepatic catalase activity showed a significant increase at all doses. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was diminished only at lowest dose (100 mg/kg) whereas for brain tissue, all doses induced a significant reduction in TBARS levels. Brain and liver ascorbic acid contents were increased only at highest dose of compound 1. Urea and creatinine levels were not significantly altered by treatments. This is a promising compound with antioxidant activity and low toxicity, suggesting the potential beneficial activity of compound 1 against oxidative damage in many parameters studied in rats and mice.     

2(S)-(Cycloalk-1-enecarbonyl)-1-(4-phenyl-butanoyl)pyrrolidines and 2(S)-(aroyl)-1-(4-phenylbutanoyl)pyrrolidines as prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors

In order to replace the P2-P1 amide group, different 1-cycloalkenyls and 2-aryls were studied in the place of the P1 pyrrolidine group of a 4-phenylbutanoyl-L-Pro-pyrrolidine structure, which is a well-known prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitor SUAM-1221. The 1-cyclopentenyl and the 2-thienyl groups gave novel compounds, which were equipotent with the corresponding pyrrolidine-analog SUAM-1221. It was shown that the P2-P1 amide group of POP inhibitors can be replaced by an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group or the aryl conjugated carbonyl group.     

Solution conformation of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides: alpha(1-2)-, alpha(1-3)-, beta(1-2)-, and beta(1-4)-linked units

The solution conformation is presented for representatives of each of the major classes of asparaginyl oligosaccharides. In this report the conformation of alpha(1-3)-, alpha(1-2)-, beta(1-2)-, and beta(1-4)-linked units is described. The conformational properties of these glycopeptides were determined by high-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance in conjunction with potential energy calculations. The NMR parameters that were used in this analysis were chemical shifts and nuclear Overhauser enhancements. Potential energy calculations were used to evaluate the preferred conformers available for the different linkages in glycopeptides and to draw conclusions about the behavior in solution of these molecules. It was found that the linkage conformation of the Man alpha 1-3 residues was not affected by substitution either at the 2-position by alpha Man or beta GlcNAc or at the 4-position by beta GlcNAc or by the presence of a bisecting GlcNAc on the adjacent beta Man residue.     

Salicylate poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrode based on (2-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenyl) hydrazono]-1-phenyl-2-(2-quinolyl)-1-ethanone) Cu(II)

A new salicylate-selective electrode based on the complex of (2-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)hydrazono]-1-phenyl-2-(2-quinolyl)-1-ethanone) Cu(II) as the membrane carrier was developed. The electrode exhibited a good Nernstian slope of -59.6+/-1.0 mV/decade and a linear range of 1.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0M for salicylate. The limit of detection was 5.0 x 10(-7) M. The electrode had a fast response time of 10 s and can be used for more than 3 months. The selective coefficients were determined by the fixed interference method and could be used in the pH range of 4.0 to 10.5. The electrode was employed as an indicator electrode for direct determination of salicylate in pharmaceutical and biological samples.     

1-(4-Phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanones as novel CCR1 antagonists

A novel series of CCR1 antagonists based on the 1-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone scaffold was identified by screening a compound library utilizing CCR1-expressing human THP-1 cells. SAR studies led to the discovery of the highly potent and selective CCR1 antagonist 14 (CCR1 binding IC₅₀ = 4 nM using [¹²⁵I]-CCL3 as the chemokine ligand). Compound 14 displayed promising pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles in preclinical species.     

Anti-resorptive activity and pharmacokinetic study of N(1),N(1)-diisopropyl-N(2)-(diphenylphosphoryl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)acetamidine

In vitro anti-resorptive activity, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo anti-resorptive activity of N¹,N¹-diisopropyl-N²-(diphenylphosphoryl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)acetamidine (1) were evaluated.     

NMR structural characterization of cecropin A(1-8) - magainin 2(1-12) and cecropin A (1-8) - melittin (1-12) hybrid peptides.

In order to elucidate the structure-antibiotic activity relationships of the peptides, the three-dimensional structures of two hybrid peptides, CA(1-8) - MA(1-12) and CA(1-8) - ME(1-12) in trifluoroethanol-containing aqueous solution were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Both CA(1-8) - MA(1-12) and CA(1-8) - ME(1-12) have strong antibacterial activity but only CA(1-8) - ME(1-12) has hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. CA(1-8) - MA(1-12) has a hydrophobic 310-helix of only two turns combined with one short helix in the N-terminus with a flexible hinge section in between. CA(1-8) - MA(1-12) has a severely bent structure in the middle of the peptide. These structural features as well as the low hydrophobicity of CA(1-8) - MA(1-12) seem to be crucial for the selective lysis against the membrane of prokaryotic cells. CA(1-8) - ME(1-12) has an alpha-helical structure of about three turns in the melittin domain and a flexible structure with one turn in the cecropin domain connected with a flexible hinge section in between, and these might be the structural features required for membrane disruption against prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The central hinge region (Gly9-Ile10-Gly11) in an amphipathic antibacterial peptide is considered to play an important role in providing the conformational flexibility required for ion channel formation of the C-terminal hydrophobic alpha-helix on cell membrane.     

Synthesis and evaluation of N-[(1S,2S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(3-cyanophenyl)-1-methylpropyl]-2-methyl-2-aminopropanamide as human cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonists

Obesity is a chronic medical condition that is affecting large population throughout the world. CB1 as a target for treatment of obesity has been under intensive studies. Taranabant was discovered and then developed by Merck as the 1st generation CB1R inverse agonist. Reported here is part of our effort on the 2nd generation of CB1R inverse agonist from the acyclic amide scaffold. We replaced the oxygen linker in taranabant with nitrogen and prepared a series of amino heterocyclic analogs through a divergent synthesis. Although in general, the amine linker gave reduced binding affinity, potent and selective CB1R inverse agonist was identified from the amino heterocycle series. Molecular modeling was applied to study the binding of the amino heterocycle series at CB1 binding site. The in vitro metabolism of representative members was studied and only trace glucuronidation was found. Thus, it suggests that the right hand side of the molecule may not be the appropriate site for glucuronidation.     

1-(2-Aminoethyl)-3-(arylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolopyridines are 5-HT6 receptor ligands

1-(2-Aminoethyl)-3-(arylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrolopyridines were prepared. Binding assays indicated they are 5-HT₆ receptor ligands, among which 6f and 6g showed high affinity for 5-HT₆ receptors with K_i = 3.9 and 1.7 nM, respectively.     

(E)-2-(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hydrazono)-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione: Tautomery and coordination to copper(II)

(E)-2-(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hydrazono)-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione (H₂L) was synthesized by azocoupling of diazonium salt of 2-hydroxyaniline with 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione and characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction analysis. In solution, H₂L exists as a mixture of the enol-azo and hydrazone tautomeric forms and a decrease of temperature and of solvent polarity shifts the tautomeric balance to the hydrazone form. In the solid state, H₂L crystallizes from ethanol-water in the monohydrate hydrazone form, as shown by X-ray analysis. The dissociation constants of H₂L (pK₁ = 5.98 ± 0.04, pK₂ = 9.72 ± 0.03) and the stability constants of its copper(II) complex (log β₁ = 11.01 ± 0.07, log β₂ = 20.19 ± 0.08) were determined by the potentiometric method in aqueous-ethanol solution. The copper(II) complex [Cu₂(μ-L)₂]_n was isolated in the solid state and found by X-rays to be a coordination polymer of a binuclear core with a distorted square pyramidal metal coordination geometry.     

Discovery of a novel sub-class of ROMK channel inhibitors typified by 5-(2-(4-(2-(4-(1H-Tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl)acetyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one

A sub-class of distinct small molecule ROMK inhibitors were developed from the original lead 1. Medicinal chemistry endeavors led to novel ROMK inhibitors with good ROMK functional potency and improved hERG selectivity. Two of the described ROMK inhibitors were characterized for the first in vivo proof-of-concept biology studies, and results from an acute rat diuresis model confirmed the hypothesis that ROMK inhibitors represent new mechanism diuretic and natriuretic agents.     

Novel (E)-1-(4-methyl-2-(alkylamino)thiazol-5-yl)-3-arylprop-2-en-1-ones as potent antimicrobial agents

New (E)-1-(4-methyl-2-(alkylamino)thiazol-5-yl)-3-arylprop-2-en-1-ones, unsubstituted or carrying fluoro, bromo, methoxy, nitro, methyl and chloro groups on the benzene ring, were synthesized and assayed in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungi. The compounds were very potent towards all tested microorganisms and in most cases their activity was better than that of reference drugs.     

Synthesis of O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-(1----3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1----4)-2- acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (N-acetyl-3'-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyllactosamine)

Methyl 2-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6) was obtained in five, good yielding steps from methyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (1). Treatment of 1 with tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of imidazole afforded a 6-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl) ether, which was converted into its 3,4-O-isopropylidene derivative (3). Benzylation of 3 with benzyl bromide-silver oxide in N,N-dimethylformamide, and subsequent cleavage of its acetal and ether groups then afforded 6. On similar benzylation, followed by the same sequence of deprotection, benzyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-4-O-[6-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-3,4 -O- isopropylidene-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside gave the 2-O-benzyl derivative (10). Compound 10 was converted into its 4,6-O-benzylidene acetal (11). Glycosylation (catalyzed by halide-ion) of 11 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl bromide afforded the fully protected trisaccharide derivative (13). Cleavage of the benzylidene and then the benzyl groups of 13 furnished the title trisaccharide (16). The structure of 16 was established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.     

Chiral derivatives of 2-(1-naphthyl)-2-phenylacetic acid

The spectral properties of diastereomeric esters and amides (1b-20b), derived from optically pure 2-(1-naphthyl)-2-phenylacetic acids (1-NPA), were systematically investigated. It was found that all compounds prepared exhibit the NMR spectral nonequivalence (Deltadelta) with regular sign distribution of particular groups according to the predicted model. Further, the analysis of data revealed that the phenyl ring is responsible for a shielding effect (upfield shift) instead of a naphthyl one. This conclusion is supported by the crystallographic analysis showing the almost ap-arrangement of the acid methine hydrogen atom and carbonyl group. In this arrangement, the phenyl ring faces toward the ester part of the molecule while the naphthyl one is orthogonal to the phenyl plane. Therefore, the mutual position of phenyl and alkyl groups with respect to the central molecule co-planarity thus determines the chemical shifts of the alcohol/amine substituents. The relative magnitude of the Deltadelta corresponds to those of Mosher's derivatives.     

1-(2-Aminoethyl)-3-(arylsulfonyl)-1H-indoles as novel 5-HT6 receptor ligands

Novel 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-(arylsulfonyl)-1H-indoles were prepared. Binding assays indicated they are 5-HT(6) receptor ligands, among which N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-[3-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indol-1-yl]ethyl)amine 8t and N-methyl-N-(2-[3-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-1H-indol-1-yl]ethyl)amine 8u showed high affinity for 5-HT(6) receptors with K(i)=3.7 and 5.7 nM, respectively.     

Discovery of 2-(4-((1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-5-tert-butyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (GCC2680) as a potent,selective and orally efficacious cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist

Structure–activity relationship studies in a series of diarylpyrazolyl thiadiazoles identified cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonists with excellent potency and selectivity. Based on its exceptional in vivo efficacy in animal models and its favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles, 2-(4-((1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-5-tert-butyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (GCC2680) was selected as a preclinical candidate for the treatment of obesity.     

[18F](R)-5-chloro-1-(1-cyclopropyl-2-methoxyethyl)-3-(4-(2-fluoroethoxy)-2,5-dimethyl phenylamino)pyrazin-2(1H)-one: Introduction of N3-phenylpyrazinones as potential CRF-R1 PET imaging agents

Based on a favorable balance between CRF-R1 affinity, lipophilicity and metabolic stability, compound 10 was evaluated for potential development as PET radioligand. Compound [¹⁸F]10 was prepared with high radiochemical purity and showed promising binding properties in rat brain imaging experiments.