Synthesis and characterisation of two novel proton transfer compounds and their inhibition studies on carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes

Two novel proton transfer compounds were prepared between 2,4-dichloro-5-sulphamoylbenzoic acid (lasamide) (Hsba) and ethylenediamine (en), namely ethane-1,2-diaminium 2,4-dichloro-5-sulphamoylbenzoate (1), and also between Hsba and 2-amino-3-methylpyridine (2-amino-3-picoline) (amp), namely 2-amino-3-methylpyridinium 2,4-dichloro-5-sulphamoylbenzoate (2). All these were characterised by elemental, spectral (IR and UV-vis), thermal analyses, and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallised in the P-1 and P21/c space groups, respectively. Intermolecular non-covalent interactions, such as ion pairing, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking were observed for these ionic compounds. The free ligands Hsba, en and amp, the products 1 and 2, and acetazolamide (AAZ) as the control compound, were also evaluated for their in vitro inhibitor effects on the human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II) purified from erythrocyte cells by affinity chromatography for their hydratase and esterase activities. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values for products 1 and 2 with respect to hydratase activity are 0.15 and 0.32 µM for hCA I and 0.06 and 0.15 µM for hCA II, respectively. The IC₅₀ values of the same inhibitors for esterase activity are 0.13 and 0.8 µM for hCA I and 0.14 and 0.1 µM for hCA II, respectively. In relation to esterase activities, the inhibition equilibrium constants (Ki) were also determined and found to be 0.137 and 0.99 µM on hCA I and 0.157 and 0.075 µM on hCA II for 1 and 2, respectively. The comparison of the inhibition studies of the newly synthesised compounds 1 and 2 to the parent compounds Hsba and amp and also to AAZ indicated that 1 and 2 have an effective inhibitory activity on hCA I and II, and might be used as potential inhibitors.     

Facile synthesis and characterization of novel pyrazole-sulfonamides and their inhibition effects on human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes

In the current study, a series of pyrazole-sulfonamide derivatives (2–14) were synthesized, characterized, and the inhibition effects of the derivatives on human carbonic anhydrases (hCA I and hCA II) were investigated as in vitro. Structures of these sulfonamides were confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and LC–MS analysis. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR revealed the tautomeric structures. hCA I and hCA II isozymes were purified from human erythrocytes and inhibitory effects of newly synthesized sulfonamides on esterase activities of these isoenzymes have been studied. The K_i values of compounds were 0.062–1.278 μM for hCA I and 0.012–0.379 μM for hCA II. The inhibition effects of 7 for hCA I and 4 for hCA II isozymes were almost in nanomolar concentration range.     

The synthesis of novel pyrazole-3,4-dicarboxamides bearing 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamide moiety with effective inhibitory activity against the isoforms of human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase I and II

A series of 1-(3-substituted-phenyl)-5-phenyl-N³,N⁴-bis(5-sulfamoyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-3,4-dicarboxamides (4–15) were synthesized. The structures of these pyrazole-sulfonamides were confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis methods. Human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes (hCA I and II) were purified from erythrocyte cells by affinity chromatography. The inhibitory effects of newly synthesized derivatives (4–15) were investigated in vitro on esterase activities of these isozymes. The K_i values were determined as 0.119–3.999 μM for hCA I and 0.084–0.878 μM for hCA II. The results showed that the compound 6 for hCA I and the compound 11 for hCA II had the highest inhibitory effect. Beside that, the compound 8 had the lowest inhibition effect on both isozymes.     

NO-releasing esters show carbonic anhydrase inhibitory action against human isoforms I and II

Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors (CAIs) are a class of pharmaceuticals used as antiglaucoma agents, diuretics, antiepileptics, in the management of mountain sickness, gastric and duodenal ulcers, neurological disorders, or osteoporosis. We report here the inhibitory capacities of some organic nitrates against two human (hCA) isozymes, hCA I and hCA II. The IC₅₀ values of compounds 1–12 against hCA I ranged between 7.13 mM and 124 mM, and against hCA II between 65.1 μM and 0.79 mM. Nitrate esters are thus interesting hCA I and II inhibitors, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors eventually targeting other isoforms which have not been assayed yet for their interactions with such agents.     

Novel sulfamides as potential carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes inhibitors

Sulfamides represent an important class of biologically active compounds. A series of novel sulfamides were synthesized from 1-aminoindanes, 1-aminotetralin, 2-aminoindanes and 2-aminotetralin via the reactions of free amines, benzyl alcohol and chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (CSI) followed by hydrogenolysis of the obtained sulfamoylcarbamates. Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitory effects of the new sulfamides have been investigated. The human (h) isozymes hCA I and hCA II have been investigated in this study by using an esterase assay with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate. The new sulfamides showed inhibition constants in the micro–submicromolar range, with one compound (N-(indane-1-yl)sulfamide) showing a K_i of 0.45 μM against hCA I and of 1.07 μM against hCA II.     

Synthesis of 1,4-bis(indolin-1-ylmethyl)benzene derivatives and their structure–activity relationships for the interaction of human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I and II

Several 1,4-bis(indolin-1-ylmethyl)benzene-based compounds containing substituents such as five, six and seven cyclic derivatives on indeno part (9a–c) were prepared and tested against two members of the pH regulatory enzyme family, carbonic anhydrase (CA). The inhibitory potencies of the compounds at the human isoforms hCA I and hCA II targets were analyzed and K_I values were calculated. K_I values of compounds for hCA I and hCA II human isozymes were measured in the range of 39.3–42.6 μM and 0.17–0.29 μM, respectively. The structurally related compound indole was also tested in order to understand the structure–activity relationship. Most of the compounds showed good CA inhibitory efficacy. In silico docking studies of these derivatives within hCA I and II were also carried out and results are supported the kinetic assays.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of the human cytosolic isoforms I and II and transmembrane,tumor-associated isoforms IX and XII with boronic acids

A series of aromatic, arylalkenyl- and arylalkyl boronic acids were assayed as inhibitors of four physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, the cytosolic human (h) hCA I and II, and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. The best hCA I and II inhibitor was biphenyl boronic acid with, a K_I of 3.7–4.5 μM, whereas the remaining derivatives showed inhibition constants in the range of 6.0–1560 μM for hCA I and of 6.0–1050 μM for hCA II, respectively. hCA IX and XII were effectively inhibited by most of the aromatic boronic acids (K_Is of 7.6–12.3 μM) whereas the arylalkenyl and aryl–alkyl derivatives generally showed weaker inhibitory properties (K_Is of 34–531 μM). The nature of the moiety substituting the boronic acid group strongly influenced the CA inhibitory activity, with inhibitors possessing low micromolar to millimolar activity being detected in this small series of investigated compounds. This study proves that the B(OH)₂ moiety represents a new zinc-binding group for the generation of effective CA inhibitors targeting isoforms with medicinal chemistry applications. The boronic acids probably bind to the Zn(II) ion within the CA active site leading to a tetrahedral geometry of the metal ion and of the B(III) derivative.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of human erythrocyte isozymes I and II with a series of antioxidant phenols

The inhibition of two human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes I and II, with a series of phenol derivatives was investigated by using the esterase assay, with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate. 2,6-Dimethylphenol, 2,6-diisopropylphenol (propofol), 2,6-di-t-butylphenol, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, vanillin, guaiacol, di(2,6-dimethylphenol), di(2,6-diisopropylphenol), di(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), and acetazolamide showed K_I values in the range of 37.5–274.5 μM for hCA I and of 0.29–113.5 μM against hCA II, respectively. All these phenols were non-competitive inhibitors with 4-nitrophenylacetate as substrate. Some antioxidant phenol derivatives investigated here showed effective hCA II inhibitory effects, in the same range as the clinically used sulfonamide acetazolamide, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors possibly targeting other CA isoforms which have not been yet assayed for their interactions with such agents.     

The first synthesis of 4-phenylbutenone derivative bromophenols including natural products and their inhibition profiles for carbonic anhydrase,acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes

The first synthesis of (E)-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (1), (E)-4-(2-bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (2), and (E)-4-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (3) was realized as natural bromophenols. Derivatives with mono OMe of 2 and 3 were obtained from the reactions of their derivatives with di OMe with AlCl₃. These novel 4-phenylbutenone derivatives were effective inhibitors of the cytosolic carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I and II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with K_i values in the range of 158.07–404.16 pM for hCA I, 107.63–237.40 pM for hCA II, 14.81–33.99 pM for AChE and 5.64–19.30 pM for BChE. The inhibitory effects of the synthesized novel 4-phenylbutenone derivatives were compared to acetazolamide as a clinical hCA I and II isoenzymes inhibitor and tacrine as a clinical AChE and BChE enzymes inhibitor.     

Oxidation of cyanobenzocycloheptatrienes: Synthesis,photooxygenation reaction and carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes inhibition properties of some new benzotropone derivatives

The oxidation of some cyanocycloheptatrienes with CrO₃ and pyridine was investigated and a few new nitrile functionalised benzotropone derivatives were obtained. Photooxygenation reaction of these products was also studied. The structures of the formed products were determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopy and the formation mechanism of unusual products was discussed. Human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I, and II (hCA I and hCA II) inhibition properties of nitrile functionalized new benzotropone derivatives were also studied. Both CA isozymes were inhibited in the low micromolar range by these nitrile functionalized benzotropone analogues. The newly synthesized benzotropone derivatives showed inhibition constants in the sub-micromolar range (2.51–4.06 μM). The best hCA I inhibition was observed in 5H-benzocycloheptene-7-carbonitrile (K_i: 2.88 ± 0.86 μM). On the other hand, 5-oxo-5H-benzocycloheptatriene-7-carbonitrile showed the powerful inhibitory effect against hCA II (K_i: 2.51 ± 0.34 μM).     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of human cytosolic isoforms I and II with (reduced) Schiff’s bases incorporating sulfonamide,carboxylate and carboxymethyl moieties

A library of Schiff bases was synthesized by condensation of aromatic amines incorporating sulfonamide, carboxylic acid or carboxymethyl functionalities as Zn²⁺-binding groups, with aromatic aldehydes incorporating tert-butyl, hydroxy and/or methoxy groups. The corresponding amines were thereafter obtained by reduction of the imines. These compounds were assayed for the inhibition of two cytosolic human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoenzymes, hCA I and II. The K_i values of the Schiff bases were in the range of 7.0–21,400 nM against hCA II and of 52–8600 nM against hCA I, respectively. The corresponding amines showed K_i values in the range of 8.6 nM–5.3 μM against hCA II, and of 18.7–251 nM against hCA I, respectively. Unlike the imines, the reduced Schiff bases are stable to hydrolysis and several low-nanomolar inhibitors were detected, most of them incorporating sulfonamide groups. Some carboxylates also showed interesting CA inhibitory properties. Such hydrosoluble derivatives may show pharmacologic applications.     

Synthesis and PGE2 production inhibition of s-triazine derivatives as a novel scaffold in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

We present the synthesis and biological evaluation of a collection of s-triazine derivatives as a novel scaffold of compounds with the capability to inhibit the PGE₂ production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. A total of 12 derivatives were synthesized and assayed for PGE₂ reduction at 10 μM concentration. Two compounds (7b and 7i) exhibiting >90% inhibition of PGE₂ production were found to have IC₅₀ values of 5.76 and 5.52 μM, respectively. They were counter screened for inhibition on COX-2 activity in a cell free assay. Specifically, compound 7i (R¹ = 4-Bn-Ph, R² = Cl, R³ = Ph, R⁵ = CO₂Me) was highly active in cells while maintaining little COX-2 inhibition (∼0% at 10 μM). Molecular docking study provides the possibility that compound 7i could inhibit PGE₂ production by blocking the PGH₂ binding site of mPGES-1 instead of COX-2 enzyme. Based on this result, our synthetic efforts will focus on intensive structure–activity relationship (SAR) study of s-triazine scaffold to discovery a potential PGE₂ synthesis inhibitor.     

A novel library of saccharin and acesulfame derivatives as potent and selective inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase IX and XII isoforms

Small libraries of N-substituted saccharin and N-/O-substituted acesulfame derivatives were synthesized and tested as atypical and selective inhibitors of four different isoforms of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA I, II, IX and XII, EC 4.2.1.1). Most of them inhibited hCA XII in the low nanomolar range, hCA IX with K_Is ranging between 19 and 2482 nM, whereas they were poorly active against hCA II (K_Is >10 μM) and hCA I (K_Is ranging between 318 nM and 50 μM). Since hCA I and II are ubiquitous off-target isoforms, whereas the cancer-related isoforms hCA IX and XII were recently validated as drug targets, these results represent an encouraging achievement in the development of new anticancer candidates. Moreover, the lack of a classical zinc binding group in the structure of these inhibitors opens innovative, yet unexplored scenarios for different mechanisms of inhibition that could explain the high inhibitory selectivity. A computational approach has been carried out to further rationalize the biological data and to characterize the binding mode of some of these inhibitors.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, IX and XII with benzene sulfonamides incorporating 4- and 3-nitrophthalimide moieties

A series of 4 and 5 nitro-1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl benzenesulfonamide derivatives (compounds 1–8) was synthesized by reaction of benzenesulfonamide derivatives with 4 and 3-nitrophthalic anhydrides. These new sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) and more specifically against the human (h) cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. Most of the novel compounds were medium potency-weak hCA I inhibitors (K_is in the range of 295–10,000 nM), but were more effective hCA II inhibitors (K_is of 1.7–887 nM). The tumor-associated hCA IX was also inhibited, with K_is in the micromolar range, whereas against hCA XII the inhibition constants were in the range of 90–3746 nM. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) with this series of sulfonamides is straightforward, with the main features leading to good activity for each isoforms being established. The high sequence hCA alignment homology and molecular docking studies was performed in order to rationalize the activities reported and binding mode to different hCA as inhibitors.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation of novel 4,5-dihydro-2H-pyrazole 2-hydroxyphenyl derivatives as BRAF inhibitors

A series of novel 4,5-dihydropyrazole derivatives (3a–3t) containing hydroxyphenyl moiety as potential V600E mutant BRAF kinase (BRAF^V600E) inhibitors were designed and synthesized. Docking simulation was performed to insert compounds 3d (1-(5-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(p-tolyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone) and 3m (1-(3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone) into the crystal structure of BRAF^V600E to determine the probable binding model, respectively. Based on the preliminary results, compound 3d and 3m with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth may be a potential anticancer agent. Results of the bioassays against BRAF^V600E, MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and WM266.4 human melanoma cell line all showed several compounds had potent activities IC₅₀ value in low micromolar range, among them, compound 3d and compound 3m showed strong potent anticancer activity, which were proved by that 3d: IC₅₀ = 1.31 μM for MCF-7 and IC₅₀ = 0.45 μM for WM266.5, IC₅₀ = 0.22 μM for BRAF^V600E, 3m: IC₅₀ = 0.97 μM for MCF-7 and IC₅₀ = 0.72 μM for WM266.5, IC₅₀ = 0.46 μM for BRAF^V600E, which were comparable with the positive control Erlotinib.     

A novel and one-pot synthesis of new 1-tosyl pyrrol-2-one derivatives and analysis of carbonic anhydrase inhibitory potencies

Here we propose a novel one-pot synthesis of new tosyl-pyrrole derivatives. By means of the new developed method, pyrrole derivatives were synthesized at room temperature in a single step, and a useful method is proposed for the synthesis of similar compounds. Moreover, inhibitions of two human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes I and II by 1-tosyl-pyrrole and 1-tosyl-pyrrol-2-on derivatives were investigated. 1-Tosyl-pyrrole, 1-tosyl-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one, 5-hydroxy-1-tosyl-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one and 5-oxo-1-tosyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl acetate showed inhibitory action with K_i values in the range of 14.6–42.4 μM for hCA I and 0.53–37.5 μM for hCA II, respectively. All pyrrole derivatives were competitive inhibitors with 4-nitrophenylacetate as substrate. Some new synthesized pyrrole derivatives showed very effective hCA II inhibitory effects, in the same range as the clinically used sulfonamide acetazolamide, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors targeting other CA isoforms.     

New triterpene saponins from the seed cake of Camellia Oleifera and their cytotoxic activity

Two new oleanane-type triterpene saponins, identified as 16α-hydroxy-22-O-angeloyl-23-formyl-28,31-dihydroxymethylene-olean-12-ene-3β-O-{β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid} (oleiferasaponin B₁, 1) and 22-O-hydrocinnamoyl-23-formyl-28-dihydroxymethylene-olean-12-ene-3β-O-{β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid} (oleiferasaponin B₂, 2), were isolated from the seed cake of Camellia oleifera Abel. Their structures were established by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments along with TOF-MS analysis and acid hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was evaluated in four human carcinoma cell lines: A 549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2 and HCT15. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significantly cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 18.5 μM (A549), 11.3 μM (SK-OV-3), 13.9 μM (SK-MEL-2) and 1.6 μM (HCT15) for 1 and IC₅₀ values of 8.4 μM (A549), 6.3 μM (SK-OV-3), 9.2 μM (SK-MEL-2) and 0.8 μM (HCT15) for 2. In addition, compound 2 showed more effective cytotoxic activity than compound 1.     

Two new pseudohalide-bridged Cu(II) complexes with a hydrazone ligand: Syntheses,crystal structures and magnetic studies

Two new pseudohalide-bridged copper(II) complexes [{Cu(PBH)(μ_1,1-CNO)}₂] (1) and {Cu(PBH)(μ_1,5-NCNCN)}_n (2) (where HPBH = 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde benzoyl hydrazone) have been synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, CV, IR and UV–Vis spectral studies. The tridentate hydrazone pro-ligand (HPBH) was obtained by the condensation of benzhydrazide and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde. Structures of both complexes have been established by X-ray crystallography which shows that 1 is a μ_1,1-CNO^?-bridged dimer whereas 2 is a μ_1,5-dca-bridged (dca = dicyanamide) linear polynuclear structure. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions with J values ?0.50 cm^?1 and ?0.10 cm^?1 for 1 and 2, respectively.     

Trispyrazolylmethane piano stool complexes of iron(II) and cobalt(II)

A series of cationic trispyrazolylmethane complexes of the general form [Tm^RM(CH₃CN)₃]²⁺ (Tm = tris(pyrazolyl)methane, 1, R = 3,5-Me₂, M = Fe(II); 2, R = 3-Ph, M = Fe(II); 3, R = 3,5-Me₂, M = Co(II); 4, R = 3-Ph, M = Co(II)) with ‘piano-stool’ structures was prepared by the reaction of the N₃tripodal ligands (Tm^R)with [(CH₃CN)₆M](BF₄)₂ in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that all four complexes with BF₄⁻ counter anions are paramagnetic, high-spin systems in the solid state with μ_eff at high temperatures of 5.2 (1, S = 2), 5.4 (2, S = 2), 4.9 (3, S = 3/2) and 4.6 (4, S = 3/2) BM, respectively. Comparisons of bond lengths from the metal centre to the Tm^R nitrogen donors, and from the metal centre to the acetonitrile nitrogen donors indicate that the neutral tripodal ligands appear to be more weakly coordinated to the metal centre than are the acetonitrile ligands. Reactions of these tripodal complexes with bidentate phosphine ligands, such as 1,2-diphosphinoethane or 1,2-bis(diallylphosphino)ethane leads to displacement of the tripodal ligand, or to the formation of more thermally stable bis-ligand complexes M(Tm^R)₂ (R = 3,5-dimethyl).     

Isolation,identification, and bioactivity of microbial metabolites of cyclopamine and its congeners

The biotransformation of cyclopamine (1) and its congeners (2, 3 and 4) by Cunninghamella echinulata (ACCC 30369) was investigated. The chemical structures of two new congeners (2 and 4) and nine new metabolites were elucidated by 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C and DEPT), 2D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HSQC and NOESY) and HRESIMS analyses and further confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. Among these compounds, 2 and 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells (2, IC₅₀ = 8.03 ± 1.92 μM) and A549 cells (4, IC₅₀ = 10.19 ± 2.18 μM). Conversely, the cytotoxicity of the nine metabolites was sharply reduced. Similar to 1, compound 4 induced a cyclopia phenotype in zebrafish embryos at 20 μM. Moreover, compound 4 was more stable than 1 in an acidic environment.