Synthesis and insecticidal activity of fluorinated 2-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazoles

A number of fluorinated 1-aryl-tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazoles were synthesized and their insecticidal activity was evaluated. Some of the fluorinated compounds had significant insecticidal properties.     

Structural modification of indomethacin toward selective inhibition of COX-2 with a significant increase in van der Waals contributions

We have synthesized a fluorinated analogue of indomethacin bearing a 3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl group at its 2-position and evaluated its inhibitory activity towards the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes in vitro. The results revealed that this fluorinated analogue exhibited much greater inhibitory activity and selectivity towards COX-2 than indomethacin. The increased affinity between the fluorinated analogue and COX-2 was attributed to a significant increase in van der Waals contacts (i.e. van der Waals contributions in ΔG were ?13.80?kcal/mol for COX-1 and ?18.46?kcal/mol for COX-2), explaining an effect of the fluorine substituent in enzyme selectivity. This newly synthesized fluorinated analogue therefore represents a potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor.     

Fluoro-modified chemotactic peptides: fMLF analogues.

A small library of peptide analogues of the chemotactic tripeptide For-Met-Leu-Phe-NH2 modified by substitution of Leu at position 2 by three different fluorinated amino acids varying in content of fluorine, length of the fluorinated side chain, and alkylation degree at the alpha-carbon atom was synthesized. The influence of the fluorine substitution on the biological activity was investigated by measuring the oxidative activity of neutrophils using a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay.     

Novel fluorinated lipopeptides from Bacillus sp. CS93 via precursor-directed biosynthesis

While attempting to improve production of fluoro-iturin A in Bacillus sp. CS93 new mono- and di-fluorinated fengycins were detected in culture supernatants by ¹⁹F NMR and tandem mass spectrometry, after incubation of the bacterium with 3-fluoro-l-tyrosine. The fluorinated amino acid was presumably incorporated in place of one or both of the tyrosyl residues in fengycin. Investigations to generate additional new fluorinated derivatives were undertaken using commercially available fluorinated phenylalanines and 2-fluoro- and 2,3-difluoro-tyrosine that were synthesised by Negishi cross-coupling of iodoalanine and fluorinated bromo-phenols. The anti-fungal activity of the fluorinated lipopeptides was assayed against Trichophyton rubrum and found to be similar to that of the non-fluorinated metabolites.     

Transfection with fluorinated lipoplexes based on new fluorinated cationic lipids and in the presence of a bile salt surfactant

The synthesis of two fluorinated cationic lipids, which are analogues of frequently used synthetic gene carrier agents (including the cationic 2,3-dioleoyloxy-N-[2-(spermine-carboxamido)ethyl]-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanaminium (DOSPA) component of the commercially available liposomal Lipofectamine), and the disintegration and DNA accessibility (evaluated by the ethidium bromide (BET) intercalation assay) as well as the in vitro transfection efficacy of cationic lipoplexes formulated with these new lipids in conjunction with conventional or fluorinated helper lipids, in the absence or presence of sodium taurocholate (STC), a powerful anionic bile salt detergent, is reported. A higher stability, with respect to the STC lytic activity and DNA accessibility, of the fluorinated cationic lipoplexes as compared with their respective lipofectamine-based ones was demonstrated. Indeed, while the Lipofectamine lipoplexes were fully disintegrated at a [STC]/[lipid] molar ratio of 2000, only 40-60% of the DNA intercalation sites of the lipoplexes based on the fluorinated analogue of DOSPA were accessible to ethidium bromide. A higher transfection potential in the presence of STC was further found for the lipoplexes formulated with the fluorinated analogue of DOSPA as compared with the Lipofectamine preparation. For a STC concentration of 7.5 mM, lipofection mediated with these fluorinated lipoplexes was significantly higher (nearly 30- to 50-fold, p < 0.05) than with the Lipofectamine ones. These results confirm the remarkable transfection potential of fluorinated lipoplexes.     

Assessing the ability of a short fluorinated antifreeze glycopeptide and a fluorinated carbohydrate derivative to inhibit ice recrystallization

A short fluorinated antifreeze glycopeptide (2) was synthesized and evaluated for ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. The activity of 2 was compared to native biological antifreeze AFGP 8 and a rationally designed C-linked AFGP analogue (OGG-Gal, 1). In addition, a simple fluorinated galactose derivative was prepared and its IRI activity was compared to non-fluorinated compounds. The results from this study suggest that the stereochemistry at the anomeric position in the carbohydrate plays a role in imparting ice recrystallization inhibition activity and that incorporation of hydrophobic groups such as fluorine atoms cause a decrease in IRI activity. These observations are consistent with the theory that fluorine atoms increase ordering of bulk water resulting in a decrease of IRI activity, supporting our previously proposed mechanism of ice recrystallization inhibition.     

Positional effects of monofluorinated phenylalanines on histone acetyltransferase stability and activity

To explore the impact of global incorporation of fluorinated aromatic amino acids on protein function, we investigated the effects of three monofluorinated phenylalanine analogs para-fluorophenylalanine (pFF), meta-fluorophenylalanine (mFF), and ortho-fluorophenylalanine (oFF) on the stability and enzymatic activity of the histone acetyltransferase (HAT), tGCN5. We selected this set of fluorinated amino acids because they bear the same size and overall polarity but alter in side chain shape and dipole direction. Our experiments showed that among three fluorinated amino acids, the global incorporation of pFF affords the smallest perturbation to the structure and function of tGCN5.     

XVI Insecticidal Activity of Some New Acridines Containing Fluorine

Forty-five new fluorinated acridines have been screened for their insecticidal activity against adult cockroaches (Periplanata americana), and six of them displayed significant activity.     

19-F NMR studies of the binding of a fluorine-labeled phosphonate ion to E. coli alkaline phosphatase.

The interaction of a fluorinated phosphonate with Zn-2+-and Mn-2+-alkaline phosphatase as studied by 19-F NMR revealed a stoichiometry of 1:1 for the binding of the phosphonate anion to the enzyme. In the presence of two metal ions, one fluorinated phosphonate ion was found to interact strongly with the enzyme, while a different interaction was observed when the number of metal ions per enzyme exceeded two. Phosphate replaced enzyme bound phosphonate, as is shown by the 19-F NMR spectra. No direct interaction between the fluorinated phosphonate and the metal ion responsible for enzyme activity was indicated by the 19-F NMR data. This observation supports the idea of a considerable distance between metal ion and substrate binding site in Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase.     

Antiproliferative, low-calcemic, fluorinated sulfone analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: chemical synthesis and biological evaluation

Novel fluorinated sulfone analogs of the hormone 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) have been designed and synthesized in order to study the biological effects of fluorine incorporation at the terminus of the C,D-ring side chain. Although biologically active 26,27-hexafluorinated 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) analogs have been synthesized previously, this investigation reports the first successful fluorinated series in which trifluoromethyl sulfone analogs present a favorable biological profile. This study shows that two new analogs featuring incorporation of a synthetically simple single trifluoromethyl sulfone group have significantly increased antiproliferative activity while causing desirably low in vivo calciuria relative to that of calcitriol. Incorporation of additional fluorines, as in a perfluorobutyl analog, results in a loss of antiproliferative activity.     

Syntheses and activities as trehalase inhibitors of N-arylglycosylamines derived from fluorinated anilines.

Twelve N-arylglycosylamines were prepared in a one-pot reaction by treatment of D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose or D-xylose with fluorinated anilines in the presence of small amount of hydrochloric acid. The inhibitory activity against porcine trehalase and the fungicidal activity of the title compounds toward Rhizoctonia solani have been tested.     

Fluorinated chloramphenicol acetyltransferase thermostability and activity profile: improved thermostability by a single-isoleucine mutant

A lysate-based thermostability and activity profile is described for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expressed in trifluoroleucine, T (CAT T). CAT and 13 single-isoleucine CAT mutants were expressed in medium supplemented with T and assayed for thermostability on cell lysates. Although fluorinated mutants, L82I T and L208I T, showed losses in thermostability, the L158I T fluorinated mutant demonstrated an enhanced thermostability relative to CAT T. Further characterization of L158I T suggested that T at position 158 contributed to a portion of the observed loss in thermostability upon global fluorination.     

Effects of a 6-fluoro substituent on the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol to bay-region diol epoxides by rat liver enzymes

Metabolism of trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-6-fluorobenzo(a)pyrene by liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats and by a highly purified monooxygenase system, reconstituted with cytochrome P-450c, has been examined. Although both the fluorinated and unfluorinated 7,8-dihydrodiol formed from benzo(a)pyrene by liver microsomes share (R,R)-absolute configuration, the fluorinated dihydrodiol prefers the conformation in which the hydroxyl groups are pseudodiaxial due to the proximate fluorine. The fluorinated 4,5- and 9,10-dihydrodiols are also greater than 97% the (R,R)-enantiomers. For benzo(a)pyrene, metabolism of the (7R,8R)-dihydrodiol to a bay-region 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide in which the benzylic hydroxyl group and epoxide oxygen are trans constitutes the only known pathway to an ultimate carcinogen. With the microsomal and the purified monooxygenase system, this pathway accounts for 76-82% of the total metabolites from the 7,8-dihydrodiol. In contrast, only 32-49% of the corresponding diol epoxide is obtained from the fluorinated dihydrodiol and this fluorinated diol epoxide has altered conformation in that its hydroxyl groups prefer to be pseudodiaxial. Much smaller amounts of the diastereomeric 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxides in which the benzylic hydroxyl groups and the epoxide oxygen are cis are formed from both dihydrodiols. As the fluorinated diol epoxides are weaker mutagens toward bacteria and mammalian cells relative to the unfluorinated diol epoxides, conformation appears to be an important determinant in modulating the biological activity of diol epoxides. One of the more interesting metabolites of 6-fluorinated 7,8-dihydrodiol was a relatively stable arene oxide, probably the 4,5-oxide, which is resistant to the action of epoxide hydrolase.     

Fluorinated matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors—Phosphonate based potential probes for positron emission tomography

Fluorine-containing inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can serve as lead structures for the development of ¹⁸F-labeled radioligands. These compounds might be useful as non-invasive imaging probes to characterize pathologies associated with increased MMP activity. Results with a series of fluorinated analogs of a known biphenyl sulfonamide inhibitor have shown that fluorine can be incorporated into two different positions of the molecular scaffold without significant loss of potency in the nanomolar range. Additionally, the potential of a hitherto unknown fluorinated tertiary sulfonamide as MMP inhibitor has been demonstrated.     

Antitumour properties of fluorinated benzothiazole-substituted hydroxycyclohexa-2,5-dienones ('quinols')

The synthesis and in vitro antitumour evaluation of a new series of fluorinated benzothiazole-substituted 4-hydroxycyclohexa-2,5-dienones ('quinols') is described. The new compounds were found to be of comparable activity compared to the non-fluorinated precursor PMX 464, in terms of antiproliferative activity in sensitive human cancer cell lines (nanomolar GI(50) values) and inhibitory activity against the thioredoxin signalling system.     

Fluorine: a new element in protein design

Fluorocarbons are quintessentially man-made molecules, fluorine being all but absent from biology. Perfluorinated molecules exhibit novel physicochemical properties that include extreme chemical inertness, thermal stability, and an unusual propensity for phase segregation. The question we and others have sought to answer is to what extent can these properties be engineered into proteins? Here, we review recent studies in which proteins have been designed that incorporate highly fluorinated analogs of hydrophobic amino acids with the aim of creating proteins with novel chemical and biological properties. Fluorination seems to be a general and effective strategy to enhance the stability of proteins, both soluble and membrane bound, against chemical and thermal denaturation, although retaining structure and biological activity. Most studies have focused on small proteins that can be produced by peptide synthesis as synthesis of large proteins containing specifically fluorinated residues remains challenging. However, the development of various biosynthetic methods for introducing noncanonical amino acids into proteins promises to expand the utility of fluorinated amino acids in protein design.     

Synthesis and biological activities of fluorinated chalcone derivatives

We have designed and synthesized new 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, fluorinated 3,4-dihydroxychalcones, and evaluated their biological activities with respect to antiperoxidation activity and in vitro antitumor activities. All fluorinated chalcones tested showed 5-lipoxygenase inhibition on rat basophilic leukemia-1 (RBL-1) cells and inhibitory action on Fe(3+)-ADP induced NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. The potencies were comparable or better to that of the lead 3,4-dihydroxychalcone. 6-Fluoro-3,4-dihydroxy-2',4'-dimethoxy chalcone (7) was the most effective compound in the in vitro assay using a human cancer cell line panel (HCC panel) consisting of 39 systems.     

Synthesis of insecticidal fluorinated anthranilic diamides

A series of highly active fluorinated anthranilic diamide insecticides have been prepared and their biological activity assessed on two aphid species in the search for systemically active compounds that control Hemiptera. In addition, we have demonstrated a new synthesis of N-aryl 3-fluoropyrazoles.     

Synthesis of gem-difluoro-avermectin derivatives: Potent anthelmintic and anticonvulsant agents

A series of gem-difluoro-avermectin derivatives was synthesized from the corresponding ketones at positions 4″, 4′, 13, and 23 using diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST). These fluorinated avermectins exhibit potent antiparasitic activity in a new Haemonchus contortus larval assay and are equipotent to ivermectin. In addition, 23-gem-difluoro-ivermectin displays useful anticonvulsant activity in mouse models.     

Transfection with fluorinated lipoplexes based on fluorinated analogues of DOTMA,DMRIE and DPPES

Fluorinated double-chain (poly)cationic lipids (one or both of these chains being ended by a highly fluorinated tail) which are close analogues of DOTMA, DMRIE or DPPES were designed as synthetic vectors for gene delivery. For N/P ratios (N=number of amine functions of the lipid; P=number of DNA phosphates) from 0.8 to 5, these fluorinated cationic lipids condensed DNA, with or without the use of DOPE, to form fluorinated lipoplexes. No specific cell toxicity was evidenced for these new fluorinated lipoplexes. The efficiency of some of the fluorinated lipoplexes to transfect lung epithelial A549 cells was comparable to that of the first generation of fluorinated lipoplexes made from fluorinated analogues of DOGS (Transfectam) [Bioconjug. Chem. 12 (2001) 114]. These results, combined with the higher in vivo transfection potential found for fluorinated lipoplexes than for conventional lipoplexes or PEI polyplexes [J. Gene Med. 3 (2001) 109], confirm that fluorinated lipoplexes are very promising gene transfer systems.