Orally active cephalosporins. Part 2: synthesis, structure-activity relationships and oral absorption of cephalosporins having a C-3 pyridyl side chain

A series of 7beta-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-hydroxyiminoacetamid o]cephalosporins having a pyridine ring connected through various spacer moieties at the C-3 position was designed and synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity and oral absorption in rats. All compounds showed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria was markedly influenced by the spacer moiety between the pyridine and cephem nucleus. Oral absorption was influenced by the position of the pyridine nitrogen as well as by the spacer moiety. Among these compounds, FR86830 (14), having a 4-pyridylmethylthio moiety at the C-3 position, showed the most well balanced activity and moderate oral absorption.     

Orally active cephalosporins. Part 4: synthesis, structure--activity relationships and oral absorption of novel 3-(4-pyrazolylmethylthio)cephalosporins with various C-7 side chains

A series of 3-(4-pyrazolylmethylthio)cephalosporins with various C-7 side chains was designed, synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity and oral absorption in rats. Antibacterial activity against Haemophilus influenzae was markedly increased by the C-7 oxime moiety. Deamination at the 2 position of, or introduction of a substituent such as halogen or methyl to, the 5 position of the (Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(hydroxyimino) moiety improved oral absorption. Among these compounds, FR192752 having a (Z)-2-(2-amino-5-chlorothiazol-4-yl)-2-hydroxyiminoacetamido moiety, showed potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including H.influenzae and penicillin G-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP). Further, it showed higher oral absorption than CFDN and FK041.     

Orally active cephalosporins: synthesis, structure-activity relationships and oral absorption of 3-[(E) and (Z)-2-substituted vinyl]-cephalosporins

A series of 7beta-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-hydroxyiminoacetamid o]-3-[(E)- and (Z)-2-substituted vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acids was designed and synthesized using palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of a 3-methanesulfonyloxy-3-cephem and an E substituted vinyl stannane or Wittig reaction of a 3-triphenylphosphoniummethyl cephem and an aldehyde as a key step. These compounds were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity and oral absorption in rats. A number of them exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including Haemophilus influenzae. Among them, FR86524 (2j). having a (Z)-2-(3-pyridyl)vinyl moiety at the C-3 position, had the most well balanced activity. Although FR86254 exhibited low oral absorption, the pivaloyloxymethyl ester (23) of FR86524 showed improved oral absorption.     

Design and synthesis of orally active benzamide derivatives as potent serotonin 4 receptor agonist

A series of 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-(piperidin-4-ylmethyl)benzamide derivatives bearing an aralkylamino, alkylamino, benzoyl or phenylsulfonyl group at its side chain part at the 1-position on the piperidine ring was synthesized. They were evaluated for serotonin 4 (5-HT(4)) receptor agonist activity by testing their ability to contract the isolated guinea-pig ascending colon. 4-Amino-5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-[1-[5-(1-methylindol-3-ylcarbonylamino)pentyl]piperidin-4-ylmethyl]benzamide (1a, Y-34959) and its related compounds possessed favorable pharmacological profiles for gastrointestinal motility. Unfortunately, the compound 1a showed low bioavailability when given orally presumably due to its poor intestinal absorption rate. Replacement of the 1-methylindol-3-yl carbonylamino moiety of 1a with an aralkylamino (or alkylamino) group did not improve the intestinal absorption rate. Replacement of the 1-methylindol-3-ylcarbonylamino moiety with a benzoyl or phenylsulfonyl group increased the intestinal absorption rate compared with 1a. These compounds revealed good pharmacological profiles for gastrointestinal motility and were superior to 1a in oral bioavailability.     

Alcohol absorption inhibitors from bay leaf (Laurus nobilis): structure-requirements of sesquiterpenes for the activity

Through a bioassay-guided separation using inhibitory activity on blood ethanol elevation in oral ethanol-loaded rat, various sesquiterpenes having an alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone moiety, costunolide (1), dehydrocostus lactone (2), zaluzanin D (3), reynosin (4), santamarine (5), 3alpha-acetoxyeudesma-1,4(15),11(13)-trien-12,6alpha-+ ++olide (6) and 3-oxoeudesma-1,4,11(13)-trien-12,6alpha-olide (7), were isolated as the active principle from the leaves of Laurus nobilis (bay leaf, laurel). In order to characterize the structure requirement for the activity, several reduction products (2a-2d) and amino acid adducts (2e, 2f) of the alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone moiety were synthesized from 2 and the inhibitory activities of these sesquiterpenes, together with alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone (12) and its related compounds (13-16), were examined. These results indicated that the gamma-butyrolactone or gamma-butyrolactol moiety having alpha-methylene or alpha-methyl group was essential for the inhibitory activity on ethanol absorption. Since 1, 2 and 12 showed no significant effect on glucose absorption, these sesquiterpenes appeared to selectively inhibit ethanol absorption. In addition, the acute toxicities of 1 and 2 in a single oral administration were found to be lower than that of 12.     

Antiplatelet properties of novel N-substituted-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-acylhydrazone derivatives

This paper describes the design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new N-acylhydrazone (NAH) compounds, belonging to the N-substituted-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-acylhydrazone class (2a-p). Classical heteroaromatic ring bioisosterism strategies were applied to the previously reported N-phenylpyrazolyl-4-acylhydrazone derivative 1, elected as lead-compound due to its important anti-aggregating profile on arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation (IC(50)=24+/-0.5 micro M), from which emerge this new series 2. These new compounds 2a-p were readily synthesized, characterized and tested on platelet aggregation assays induced by collagen (5 micro g/mL), ADP (5 micro M) and arachidonic acid (100 micro M) in rabbit citrated platelet-rich plasma. Compounds 2b, 2d, and 2h were found to be the most potent, exhibiting a significant antiplatelet activity on arachidonic acid- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, these new antiplatelet agents are free of gastric ulcerogenic effect and presented discrete anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The N-para-chlorophenyltriazolyl-4-acylhydrazone compound 2h produced the highest inhibitory effect on collagen (IC(50)=21.6+/-0.4 micro M) and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation (IC(50)=2.2+/-0.06 micro M), suggesting that the nature of the substituent on the phenyl ring of the N-heteroaromatic system of NAH moiety may be an important structural requirement for the improvement of antiplatelet activity, in comparison with lead-series 1.     

Structure-activity relationships of 6-fluoroquinazolines: dual-acting compounds with inhibitory activities toward both TNF-alpha production and T cell proliferation

We synthesized various 6-fluoro-7-(1-piperazino)quinazolines based on the structure of 1 and evaluated their inhibitory activities toward both TNF-alpha production and T cell proliferation responses. Among these compounds, 7a, having the 3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl moiety at the C(4)-position of the quinazoline ring, showed both inhibitory activities. Furthermore, the oral treatment with 7a exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect in rats with adjuvant arthritis as well as an inhibitory activity toward LPS-induced TNF-alpha production.     

1,4-Dihydropyridine derivatives as calcium channel modulators: the role of 3-methoxy-flavone moiety

It was earlier recognized that calcium antagonists, and in particular 1,4-dihydropyridines, exhibited distinct cardiovascular profiles. In addition two different splice variants of the L-type calcium channel were found in vascular and cardiac tissues. In this study, novel substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines with a 3-methoxy-flavone moiety were synthesized and structural modifications of the substituents in the dihydropyridine ring of nifedipine were carried out in order to find tissue specific compounds. The negative inotropic, chronotropic and vasorelaxant effects were investigated on guinea-pig left, right atria and aortic strips, respectively. The introduction of an heteroaromatic ring in 4-position of the 1,4-dihydropyridine nucleus led to compounds selective for cardiac tissues. Moreover, different residues in the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring could modulate the chronotropic versus inotropic activity.     

Design and synthesis of novel imidazoline derivatives with potent antihyperglycemic activity in a rat model of type 2 diabetes

Imidazoline derivatives have been reported to show antihyperglycemic activity in vivo. In the present study, we first showed that there was no correlation between the in vivo antidiabetic activity and the in vitro affinities for the I1/I2 binding sites for several substituted aryl imidazolines. Among these compounds, 2-(alpha-cyclohexyl-benzyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole 2 exhibited potent antihyperglycemic properties. It was then chosen as lead compound. Thirty-six new derivatives were synthesized by replacing the cyclohexyl/benzyl group by various cyclic systems or the imidazoline ring by isosteric heterocycles. These compounds were evaluated in vivo for their antihyperglycemic activity using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in a rat model of type-2 diabetes obtained by giving a single intravenous (iv) injection of a low dose of streptozotocin to rats (STZ rats) and in normal rats. Nine compounds with an imidazoline moiety, possibly substituted by a methyl group, had a potent effect on the glucose tolerance in normal or STZ-diabetic rats, after an oral (po) administration of the test compound at a dose of 30 or 10 mg kg(-1), without any hypoglycemia. Replacement of the imidazoline ring by isosteric heterocycles resulted in a total loss of activity.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel 4-pyrrolidinylthio carbapenems. Part III: Novel 2-alkyl substituents containing cationic heteroaromatics linked via a C-N bond.

The synthesis and biological activity of a novel series of 2-alkyl-4-pyrrolidinylthio-beta-methylcarbapenems containing a variety of cationic heteroaromatic substituents is described. As a result of these studies, we uncovered a relationship between in vitro antibacterial activity and the length of the alkyl spacer part, and discovered FR20950 (1c), containing a two methylene spacer moiety and an imidazolio group, which possesses a balanced spectrum of antibacterial activity, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, FR20950 exhibited excellent urinary recovery, and comparable stability against renal dehydropeptidase-I (DHP-I) to Biapenem. DHP-I stability could be improved by introduction of a substituent on to the imidazole ring.     

Structural requirements of flavonoids for inhibition of antigen-Induced degranulation,TNF-alpha and IL-4 production from RBL-2H3 cells

To clarify the structure-activity relationships of flavonoids for antiallergic activity, the inhibitory effects of various flavonoids on the release of beta-hexosaminidase, as a marker of degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells, were examined. Among them, luteolin (IC(50)=3.0 microM), diosmetin (2.1 microM), and fisetin (3.0 microM) were found to show potent inhibitory activity, and the results suggested the following structural requirements of flavonoids: (1) the 2-3 double bond of flavones and flavonols is essential for the activity; (2) the 3- or 7-glycoside moiety reduced the activity; (3) as the hydroxyl groups at the 3'-, 4'-, 5-, 6-, and 7-positions increased in number, the inhibitory activities become stronger; (4) the flavonols with a pyrogallol type moiety (the 3',4',5'-trihydroxyl groups) at the B ring exhibited less activity than those with a phenol type moiety (the 4'-hydroxyl group) or catechol type moiety (the 3',4'-dihydroxyl groups) at the B ring; (5) the activities of flavones were stronger than those of flavonols; and (6) methylation of flavonols at the 3-position reduced the activity. However, (7) several flavones and flavonols with the 4'- and/or 7-methoxyl groups did not obey rules (3), (4), and (5). In addition, several flavonoids, that is apigenin, luteolin, diosmetin, fisetin, and quercetin, inhibited the antigen-IgE-mediated TNF-alpha and IL-4 production from RBL-2H3 cells, both of which participate in the late phase of type I allergic reactions.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of novel N-oxydihydropyrrole derivatives with a substituted spirocyclohexyl group

A series of 5-spirocyclohexyl-3-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one derivatives (3) with various substituents on the spirocyclohexyl ring was synthesized and evaluated for its insecticidal activity against the aphid, Myzus persicae. Substituents at the 1- and 4-positions of the dihydropyrrole ring were also varied to optimize the activity. An investigation of the structure-activity relationship revealed that methoxy, alkoxyalkoxy, ethylenedioxy and methoxyimino groups were favorable as substituents at the 4-position of the spirocyclohexyl ring. The activity was optimized by the respective substitution of a methoxy or methoxymethoxy moiety and cyclopropylcarbonyloxy group at the 1- and 4-positions of the dihydropyrrole ring.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of oxazolidinones containing pyridine substituted with heteroaromatic ring

A series of oxazolidinone derivatives, which morpholino group of linezolid was replaced with heteroaromatic ring substituted pyridine moiety, were newly synthesized, and their substituted effects on in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities were evaluated against four problematic gram-positive strains including drug resistant strains and two gram-negative strains. Most compounds exhibited the enhanced in vitro activities with 4-16-fold and three compounds exerted more than 2-fold increased in vivo efficacies than linezolid.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: inhibition of the human transmembrane isozyme XIV with a library of aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides

The first inhibition study of the transmembrane carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes hCA XIV with a library of aromatic and heteroaromatic sulfonamides synthesized earlier is reported. Most of the inhibitors were sulfanilamide, homosulfanilamide and 4-aminoethyl-benzenesulfonamide derivatives, to which tails that would induce diverse physicochemical properties have been attached at the amino moiety. Several of these compounds were metanilamide, benzene-1,3-disulfonamide or the 1,3,4-thiadiazole/thiadiazoline-2-sulfonamide derivatives. The tails incorporated in these molecules were of the alkyl/aryl-carboxamido/ sulfonamido-, ureido- or thioureido-types. The sulfanilamides acylated at the 4-amino group with short aliphatic/aromatic moieties incorporating 2-6 carbon atoms showed modest hCA XIV inhibitory activity (K(I)-s in the range of 1.25-4.2 microM) which were anyhow better than that of sulfanilamide (K(I) of 5.4 microM). Better activity showed the homosulfanilamide and 4-aminoethyl-benzenesulfonamide derivatives bearing arylsulfonamido/ureido and thioureido moieties, with K(I)'s in the range of 203-935 nM. The best activity was observed for the heteroaromatic compounds incorporating 1,3,4-thiadiazole/thiadiazoline-2-sulfonamide and 5-arylcarboxamido/sulfonamido moieties, with K(I)'s in the range of 10-85 nM. All these compounds were generally also much better inhibitors of the other two transmembrane CA isozyme, hCA IX and XII. Thus, highly potent hCA XIV inhibitors were detected, but isozyme-specific inhibitors were not discovered for the moment.     

In Vitro antifungal activity of 2-(4-substituted phenyl)-3(2H)-isothiazolones

The in vitro antifungal activity of several N2-phenyl-3(2H)-isothiazolones substituted at C4 of the phenyl moiety with heterocyclic nucleus or groups of different physico-chemical properties against four human pathogenic fungi was determined by broth macrodilution method; results were compared with those obtained with itraconazole and ketoconazole. These isothiazolones showed moderate to high activity against some or all tested strains and in comparison with the reference drugs, 5-chloro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3-one (1g), 5-chloro-2-phenylisothiazol-3-one (1c), 4-[4-(5-chloro-3-oxo-3H-isothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]-1,4-dihydrotriazol-5-one (1s) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3-one (2g) against Aspergillus niger, 5-chloro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3-one (1g) and 4-[4-(5-chloro-3-oxo-3H-isothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]piperazine-1-carboxamide (1q) against Trichophyton mentagrophytes had comparable activity, compounds 1g and 2g showing higher activity against Microsporum canis. Antifungal activity was favored by the presence of chlorine at C5 of the isothiazolone and/or the presence of nitro group or heterocyclic nucleus at C4 of the phenyl ring and proper hydrophilicity of the molecule.     

A novel series of parenteral cephalosporins exhibiting potent activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram-negative pathogens: synthesis and structure-activity relationships

A series of 7beta-[2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(Z)-(carboxymethoxyimino)acetamido]cephalosporins bearing a 1-(substituted)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridinium group at C-3' position was synthesized and their in vitro antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram-negative pathogens were evaluated. Among the cephalosporins prepared, 7beta-[2-(2-amino-5-chlorothiazol-4yl)-2(Z)-((S)-1-carboxyethoxyimino)acetamido]cephalosporins (42d) showed potent antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa and other Gram-negative pathogens including the strains which produce class C beta-lactamase and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). These results imply that both the Cl atom on the C-7 aminothiazole moiety and the alpha-substituent at the iminoether moiety are essential for the stability against beta-lactamase and the potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria including P. aeruginosa.     

Design and synthesis of methyl 2-methyl-7,7-dihalo-5-phenyl-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene-4-carboxylates with calcium channel antagonist activity

A group of methyl 2-methyl-7,7-dihalo-5-(substituted-phenyl)-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene-4-carboxylates were prepared by reaction of dihalocarbenes (:CX2, X = Br, Cl) with methyl 1-methyl-4-(substituted-phenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylates. In vitro calcium channel antagonist activities were determined using a guinea pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle assay. The title compounds exhibited weaker CC antagonist activity (10(-5)-10(-6)M range) than the reference drug nifedipine (1.4 x 10(-8)M). Structure-activity relationship studies showed that the position of a nitro substituent on the C-5 phenyl ring where the relative potency order was ortho > meta > para, and the size and/or electronegativity of the C-7 geminal-dihalo substituents (Br > Cl), were determinants of calcium channel antagonist activity. This class of compounds did not exhibit any inotropic effect on guinea pig left atria. A dihalocyclopropyl moiety is a potential bioisostere for the 2-methyl-3-methoxycarbonylvinyl moiety present in the calcium channel antagonist nifedipine.     

Classical and three-dimensional QSAR for the inhibition of [3H]ponasterone A binding by diacylhydrazine-type ecdysone agonists to insect Sf-9 cells

The activity of 52 diacylhydrazine congeners was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of the incorporation of [3H]ponasterone A into intact Sf-9 cells. Eleven compounds were newly synthesized in this study. Results showed that the substitution of the 2-CH3 or 3-OCH3 moiety of methoxyfenozide with other groups or the removal of either group was unfavorable to the activity. The activity was quantitatively analyzed using both classical QSAR (Hansch-Fujita) and three-dimensional QSAR methods (comparative molecular field analysis, CoMFA). Sterically favorable fields were observed at the 3- and 4-positions of the benzene ring opposite from the t-butyl group (B-ring), and a sterically unfavorable field was evidenced at the 2-position. Another sterically unfavorable field developed surrounding the favorable field observed at the 4-position of the B-ring. Electrostatically negative fields were observed near the CO moiety, above the benzene ring, and at the 4-position of the B-ring. The optimum hydrophobicity of compounds in terms of their logP values was calculated to be approximately 4.1. Results of the three dimensional structure-activity relationship analyses were consistent with those obtained from the previously reported classical QSAR for 2-chlorobenzoyl analogs containing various para-substituents. The high activity of potent insecticides such as tebufenozide and chromafenozide were rationalized by CoMFA. Thus, this CoMFA result will be useful in the design of new compounds and in understanding the molecular mechanism of the ligand-receptor interactions.     

Novel 4-azasteroidal N-glycoside analogues bearing sugar-like D ring: synthesis and anticancer activities

A series of novel N-glycoside analogues with 4-azasteroid moiety bearing sugar-like D ring were conveniently synthesized by constructing the core dihydropyran ring embedded in 4-azasteroidal skeleton which was prepared from 4-aza-5α-androst-3,17-dione 1 in four steps. The structure of 6b were unambiguously proved by the appropriate X-ray structural analysis. Anticancer activity was found for all of the analogues with purinyl moiety against breast cancer (MCF-7), human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH), cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and prostatic cancer (PC-3), while the analogue 7 containing 1,2,4-triazole heterocycle as the nucleobase was inactive against all of the tested cancer cell lines. The biology results showed the purinyl moiety attached to the pyran ring of 6a-d, substituent at 6'-position of purine base and introduction of a halogen atom at 2'-position of 6'-chloropurine had obviously effect on the evaluated anticancer activity.     

Effect of the azetidine and azocine rings of okaramine B on insecticidal activity

Four degraded okaramine B (2) products, 4',5'-dihydrookaramine B (3), two azetidine ring-opened compounds (4 and 5) and 1',2',4',5'-tetrahydrookaramine B (6), were prepared and their insecticidal activity was examined. Neither compounds 4 nor 5 showed such activity against silkworms, indicating that the azetidine ring moiety played an important role in the insecticidal activity. Moreover, both compounds 3 and 6 exhibited lower activity than 2, which means that the azocine ring moiety was indispensable to form the active conformation.