Synthesis, anti-tuberculosis activity, and 3D-QSAR study of ring-substituted-2/4-quinolinecarbaldehyde derivatives

We have previously identified ring-substituted quinolines as a new structural class of anti-tuberculosis agents. In our ongoing efforts at structural optimization of this class, four series of ring-substituted-2/4-quinolinecarbaldehyde derivatives were synthesized. All twenty-four compounds were synthesized using short and convenient one to two high yielding steps. The newly synthesized compounds were tested in vitro against drug-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Hv strain. Several derivatives were found to be promising inhibitors of M. tuberculosis. For example, derivatives 4a-c (Series 2), 7a-d (Series 3), and 8a-b (Series 4) displayed >90% inhibition at 6.25 microg/mL in the primary assay. The most active compounds, N-(2-fluorophenyl)-N'-quinolin-2-ylmethylene-hydrazine (4a), N-(2-adamantan-1-yl-quinolin-4-ylmethylene)-N'-(4-fluorophenyl)hydrazine (7c), and N-(2-cyclohexyl-quinolin-4-ylmethylene)-N'-(2-fluorophenyl)hydrazine (8a), exhibited 99% inhibition at the lowest tested concentration of 3.125 microg/mL against drug-sensitive M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. The similarity index based on steric and electrostatic features of the molecules was used, in conjunction with principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, successively to classify the molecules based on their activity into two classes. This classification method gives us confidence in predicting the activity class of any new unsynthesized molecule belonging to these series.     

Ring-substituted quinolines as potential anti-tuberculosis agents

We report in vitro antimycobacterial properties of ring-substituted quinolines (series 1-4) constituting 56 analogues against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis H37Rv strains. The most effective compounds 2h (R1 = R2 = c-C6H11, R3 = NO2, series 1) and 13g (R1 = OC7H15, R2 = NO2, series 4) have exhibited an MIC value of 1 microg/mL against drug-sensitive M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain that is comparable to first line anti-tuberculosis drug, isoniazid. Selected analogues (2d, 2g, 2h, 4e, 6b, 13b, 13g, and 14e, MIC: < or = 6.25 microg/mL) upon further evaluation against single-drug-resistant (SDR) strains of M. tuberculosis H37Rv have produced potent efficacy in the range between 6.25 and 50 microg/mL.     

Synthesis, antitubercular evaluation and 3D-QSAR study of N-phenyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-substituted pyrazole derivatives

As a part of our ongoing research to develop novel antitubercular agents, a series of N-phenyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-substituted pyrazoles have been synthesized and tested for antimycobacterial activity in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain using the BACTEC 460 radiometric system. A 3D-QSAR study based on CoMFA and CoMSIA was performed on these pyrazole derivatives to correlate their chemical structures with the observed activity against M. tuberculosis. The CoMFA model provided a significant correlation of steric and electrostatic fields with the biological activity while the CoMSIA model could additionally shed light on the role of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic features. The important features identified in the 3D-QSAR models have been used to propose new molecules whose activities are predicted higher than the existing systems. This study provides valuable directions to our ongoing endeavor of rationally designing more potent antitubercular agents.     

Antimycobacterial activity of 9-sulfonylated/sulfenylated-6-mercaptopurine derivatives.

A series of 9-sulfonylated/sulfenylated-6-mercaptopurines has been prepared by reaction of 6-mercaptopurine with sulfonyl/sulfenyl halides. These compounds constitute a new class of potent antimycobacterial agents, possessing MIC values against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in the range of 0.39-3.39 microg/mL, as well as appreciable activity against Mycobacterium avium. Furthermore, a compound of this small series exhibited good activity (MIC under 1 microg/mL) against several drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.     

Design,synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of 3,5-dinitrobenzamide derivatives containing fused ring moieties

We report herein the design, synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of 3,5-dinitrobenzamide derivatives containing fused ring moieties. Results reveal that many of the target compounds have considerable in vitro antitubercular activity. Especially, N-((2-(4-fluorophenyl)/N-((2-(3-fluorobenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquilin-6-yl)methyl)-3,5-dinitrobenzamides 18a and 20e exhibit potent MIC values of 0.056–0.078?μg/mL against both drug-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv strain and two clinically isolated multidrug-resistant MTB (MDR-MTB) strains, opening a new direction for further SAR studies.     

Ring-substituted quinolines. Part 2: Synthesis and antimycobacterial activities of ring-substituted quinolinecarbohydrazide and ring-substituted quinolinecarboxamide analogues

Additional structural modifications of the new chemical entity, 2,8-dicyclopentyl-4-methylquinoline (DCMQ; MIC = 6.25 μg/mL, M. tuberculosis H37Rv) resulted in the synthesis of four new series of the ring-substituted quinolinecarbohydrazides (series 1–4) constituting 22 analogues. All new derivatives were evaluated for in vitro antimycobacterial activities against drug-sensitive M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Certain ring-substituted-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide analogues described herein showed good inhibitory activity. In particular, analogues 4-(1-adamantyl)-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2d), 4,5-dicyclopentyl-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2e), 4,8-dicyclopentyl-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2f), and 4,5-dicyclohexyl-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2g) have exhibited the MIC value of 6.25 μg/mL. Further investigation of the most suitable lead prototype, 4-(1-adamantyl)-2-quinolinecarbohydrazide (2d, series 1) led to the synthesis of N2-alkyl/N2,N2-dialkyl/N2-aryl-4-(1-adamantyl)-2-quinolinecarboxamides (series 5) consisting of 13 analogues. Some of the synthesized carboxamides 7a, 7h, and 7m reported herein have exhibited excellent antimycobacterial activities in the range of 6.25–3.125 μg/mL against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis H37Rv strains.     

Synthesis and antimycobacterial activities of ring-substituted quinolinecarboxylic acid/ester analogues. Part 1

Structural optimization of recently discovered new chemical entity, 2,8-dicyclopentyl-4-methylquinoline (DCMQ; MIC= 6.25 microg/mL, M. tuberculosis H37Rv) resulted in the synthesis of four new series of ring-substituted quinolinecarboxylic acids/esters constituting 45 analogues. All new derivatives were evaluated for in vitro antimycobacterial activities against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Certain ring-substituted-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid ester and ring-substituted-2-quinoline acetic acid ester analogues described herein showed moderate to good inhibitory activity. In particular, three analogues methyl 4,5-dicyclopentyl-2-quinolinecarboxylate (3b), methyl 4,8-dicyclopentyl-2-quinolinecarboxylate (3c) and ethyl 2-(2,8-dicyclopentyl-4-quinolyl)acetate (14g) exhibited excellent MIC values of 1.00, 2.00 and 4.00microg/mL, respectively. Results obtained indicate that substitution of the quinoline ring with dicyclopentyl substituent presumably enhances the antimycobacterial activities in the quinoline analogues described herein.     

Discovery of novel 5-(ethyl or hydroxymethyl) analogs of 2'-'up' fluoro (or hydroxyl) pyrimidine nucleosides as a new class of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium inhibitors

Discovery of novel antimycobacterial compounds that work on distinctive targets and by diverse mechanisms of action is urgently required for the treatment of mycobacterial infections due to the emerging global health threat of tuberculosis. We have identified a new class of 5-ethyl or hydroxy (or methoxy) methyl-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides as potent inhibitors of Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Ra, H37Rv) and Mycobacterium avium. A series of 2'-'up' fluoro (or hydroxy) nucleosides (1, 2, 4-6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24) was synthesized and evaluated for antimycobacterial activity. Among 2'-fluorinated compounds, 1-(3-bromo-2,3-dideoxy-2-fluoro-β-d-arabinofuranosyl)-5-ethyluracil (13) exhibited promising activity against M. bovis and Mtb alone, and showed synergism when combined with isoniazid. The most active compound emerging from these studies, 1-(β-d-arabinofuranosyl)-4-thio-5-hydroxymethyluracil (21) inhibited Mtb (H37Ra) (MIC(50)=0.5 μg/mL) and M. bovis (MIC(50)=0.5 μg/mL) at low concentrations, and was ten times more potent against Mtb (H37Ra) than cycloserine (MIC(50)=5.0 μg/mL), a second line drug. It also showed an additive effect when combined with isoniazid. Compound 21 retained sensitivity against a rifampicin-resistant (H37Rv) strain of Mtb (MIC(50)=1 μg/mL) at concentrations similar to that for a rifampicin-sensitive (H37Rv) strain, suggesting that it has no cross-resistance to a first-line anti-TB drug. In addition, the replication of M. avium was also inhibited by 21 (MIC(50)=10 μg/mL). No cellular toxicity of 13 or 21 was observed up to the highest concentration tested (CC(50)>100 μg/mL). These observations offer promise for a new drug treatment regimen to augment and complement the current chemotherapy of TB.     

Gatifloxacin derivatives: synthesis, antimycobacterial activities, and inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA gyrase

Sixteen 7-substituted gatifloxacin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antimycobacterial activity in vitro and in vivo against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) and multi-drug resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and also tested for the ability to inhibit the supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase from M. tuberculosis. Among the synthesized compounds, 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-7-[[[N4-[1'-(5-isatinyl-beta-semicarbazo)]methyl]3-methyl]N1-piperazinyl]-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-3-quinoline carboxylic acid (3d) was found to be the most active compound in vitro with an MIC of 0.0125 microg/mL against MTB and MTR-TB. In the in vivo animal model 3d decreased the bacterial load in lung and spleen tissues with 3.62- and 3.76-log10 protections, respectively. Compound 3d was also found to be equally active as gatifloxacin in the inhibition of the supercoiling activity of wild-type M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase with an IC50 of 3.0 microg/mL. The results demonstrate the potential and importance of developing new quinolone derivatives against mycobacterial infections.     

Synthesis, biological activity, and SAR of antimycobacterial 2- and 8-substituted 6-(2-furyl)-9-(p-methoxybenzyl)purines

A number of 6-(2-furyl)-9-(p-methoxybenzyl)purines carrying a variety of substituents in the 2- or 8-position have been synthesized and their ability to inhibit growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro has been determined. It is demonstrated that sterical hindrance in the purine 8-position reduces activity and that C-8 should be unsubstituted. In the purine 2-position small, hydrophobic substituents are beneficial. The electronic properties of the 2-substituents appear to have only a minor influence on bioactivity. The compounds studied exhibit low toxicity toward mammalian cells (VERO cells) and are essentially inactive toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The most active and selective antimycobacterial in the series detected to date is the novel 2-methyl-6-furyl-9-(p-methoxybenzyl)purine with MIC=0.20 microg/mL against M. tuberculosis and IC(50) against VERO cells >62.5 microg/mL. Also the novel 2-fluoro analog and the previously known 2-chloro compound, both with MIC=0.39 microg/mL, are highly interesting drug candidates.     

Isoniazid-related copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with antimycobacterial in vitro activity. Part 9

Isonicotinoylhydrazones 1, obtained by the primary antituberculous agent Isoniazid, have been used as monoanionic ligands (L) to prepare copper(II) 2 and nickel(II) 3 octahedral complexes of stoichiometry [MeL2(H2O)2]. Their antimycobacterial in vitro activity was evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in comparison with the ligands. Complexes 2a, 2b, 2f, 3b, 3d and 3g displayed MIC values < or = 0.2 microg/mL.     

Some 3-thioxo/alkylthio-1,2,4-triazoles with a substituted thiourea moiety as possible antimycobacterials.

A series of novel N-alkyl/aryl-N'-[4-(4-alkyl/aryl-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-5-yl)phenyl]thioureas 1-19 and three S-alkylated representatives of the former, N-alkyl/aryl-N'-[4-(3-aralkylthio-4-alkyl/aryl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-5-yl)phenyl]thioureas 20-22, were synthesized and tested for antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv as well as Mycobacterium fortuitum ATCC 6841 which is a rapid growing opportunistic pathogen. Compounds 4 and 9-11 were found to possess the same MIC value with that of Tobramycin against M. fortuitum ATCC 6841 whereas 1-3 and 21 had positive response against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at varying degrees. Compound 21 was identified as the most potent derivative of the 1-22 series by an MIC value of 6.25 microg/mL and selectivity index of 1.6.     

Antimycobacterial in vitro activity of cobalt(II) isonicotinoylhydrazone complexes. Part 10

Octahedral cobalt(II) complexes of isonicotinoylhydrazones, which were obtained from the primary antituberculous agent isoniazid, have been synthesised and characterised. Their antimycobacterial in vitro activity has been evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv: they exhibit MIC values ranging from < 0.1 to 0.39 microg/mL, showing them to be generally more active than previously reported analogous Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes.     

Synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of 7-O-substituted-4-methyl-2H-2-chromenone derivatives vs Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A series of 7-O-alkoxy-4-methylumbelliferone derivatives were prepared using a convenient one step synthesis. Additionally the bromo- and azido derivatives 7-O-(4-bromobutoxy)-, 7-O-(6-bromohexyloxy)- and 7-O-(6-azidohexyloxy)-4-methylumbelliferone derivatives were prepared. In vitro evaluation of antimycobacterial activity determined % inhibition and MIC vs M. tuberculosis H37Rv with toxicity (IC50) assessed in VERO cells. The coumarins with longer alkyl chains (nonyl and decyl) showed the optimum inhibitory activity in this series (MIC 3.13 microg/mL) and IC50 > 10 microg/mL.     

Synthesis,evaluation and CoMFA/CoMSIA study of nitrofuranyl methyl N-heterocycles as novel antitubercular agents

A series of novel nitrofuranyl methyl N-heterocycles based on the structure of IIIM-MCD-211 were designed and synthesized. Compounds 6d, 8b and 12a show excellent activity against MTB H37Rv strain (MIC: 0.031–0.062?μg/mL) roughly comparable to INH and IIIM-MCD-211. In addition, a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) study was performed on the above mentioned chemical series employing comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) techniques. The developed CoMFA and CoMSIA models display high external predictability (r²_pred of 0.954 and 0.935, respectively) and good statistical robustness. More importantly, the newly designed compounds 16a and 16b (MIC: <0.016?μg/mL) based on the two models, as expected, were found to be more active than 12a and IIIM-MCD-21. Design and synthesis of more potent nitrofuranyl methyl N-heterocycles as anti-TB agents are currently in progress.     

In vitro synergistic activity between 8-methoxypsoralen and ethambutol, isoniazid, and rifampin when used in combination against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), a naturally occurring furocoumarin found in many plant species, has been reported to have antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv (ATCC 27294). In the present study, we further test the in vitro synergistic activity of 8-MOP and ethambutol (EMB), isoniazid (INH), or rifampin (RMP) against M. tuberculosis. This study showed that 8-MOP has antimycobacterial activity against two drug-sensitive and six drug-resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 100–200 and 200–400 μg/mL, respectively. A synergistic antimycobacterial effect between 8-MOP and EMB, INH, or RMP against six drug-resistant strains was observed, with the fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of 0.093–0.156, 0.138–0.285 and 0.093–0.262, respectively. The combination of 8-MOP/EMB, 8-MOP/INH, and 8-MOP/RMP displayed either synergistic activity or had no interaction when tested against the two clinical drug-sensitive strains and the standard strain. No antagonism was observed for any drug combination against any of the strains tested. To our knowledge, this is first report that 8-MOP has synergistic activity with first-line antimycobacterial agents.     

Baylis-Hillman reaction: convenient ascending syntheses and biological evaluation of acyclic deoxy monosaccharides as potential antimycobacterial agents

A series of acyclic deoxy carbohydrate derivatives from easily available carbohydrate enals 1, 2, 3 or 5 were prepared involving the Baylis-Hillman reaction. These newly formed carbohydrate based Baylis-Hillman adducts and their amino derivatives were evaluated for their antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)R(v). Among the compounds evaluated for their antimycobacterial activity, compound (10) showed the desired activity in the range of 3.125 microg/mL.     

Antimycobacterial activity of new 3-substituted 5-(pyridin-4-yl)-3H-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-one and 2-thione derivatives. Preliminary molecular modeling investigations

3H-1,3,4-Oxadiazole-2-thione and 3H-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-one derivatives were synthesized and tested for their in vitro antimycobacterial activity. Oxadiazolone derivatives showed an interesting antimycobacterial activity against the tested strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv, whereas the corresponding thione derivatives were devoid of activity. Molecular modeling investigations showed that the active compounds may interact at the active site of the mycobacterial cytochrome P450-dependent sterol 14alpha-demethylase in the sterol biosynthesis pathway and that their binding free energy values are in agreement with their MIC values.     

Antimycobacterial and H1-antihistaminic activity of 2-substituted piperidine derivatives

2-Substituted derivatives of the antihistaminic agents Bamipine, Diphenylpyraline and of their 1-phenyl analogues were tested for their antimycobacterial and H(1)-antagonistic activities. They are strong H1-receptor antagonists and also inhibit the growth of mycobacterials with a maximum MIC of 6.25 microg/mL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv. H1-receptor antagonistic potency was slightly decreased by substitution in ring position 2 and distinctly diminished by N-aryl substitution. The antimycobacterial potency of Diphenylpyraline was in general increased by substitution in ring position 2, whereas only a few Bamipine derivatives showed markedly improved activity. A correlation between the two activities was not detected for those compounds.