Naphtho[2,3-d]isoxazole-4,9-dione-3-carboxylates: Potent, non-cytotoxic, antiapoptotic agents

Compounds containing a quinone moiety represent an important class of biologically active molecules that are widespread in nature, displaying anticancer, antibacterial, antimalarial, and fungicidal activities. In the course of designing 2,3-disubstituted-1,4-naphthoquinones derivatives as potential cysteine protease inhibitors, two naphtho[2,3-d]isoxazole-4,9-dione-3-carboxylates, 1a and 1b, were obtained. The antiapoptotic potential of 1a and 1b was then evaluated and compared to that of naphthoquinone 4. Primary rat hepatocytes were incubated with synthesized naphthoquinone derivatives and then exposed to the apoptotic stimulus camptothecin. Our results indicate that naphtho[2,3-d]isoxazole-4,9-dione-3-carboxylates 1a and 1b exerted a potent protective role in camptothecin-induced apoptosis in primary rat hepatocytes. Both 1a and 1b significantly increased cell viability, while reducing nuclear fragmentation, caspase-3, -8 and -9 activation, and cytochrome c release induced by camptothecin. In addition, 1a and 1b were shown to up-regulate Bcl-X_L, a pro-survival member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, which modulates the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Similar protective effects of quinone derivatives were seen in HuH-7 and PC12 cells incubated with distinct apoptotic stimuli, such as camptothecin, TGF-β1, or rotenone. Our results suggest that naphtho[2,3-d]isoxazole-4,9-dione-3-carboxylates 1a and 1b may act as potent, cytoprotective agents, through modulation of apoptotic pathways.     

Safe and easy route for the synthesis of 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3-triazolium salt and investigation of its anticancer activities

We have developed a new safe and easy route for the synthesis of 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3-triazolium derivatives. We have reported the synthesis of 4,9-dioxo-1,3-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazol-3-ium chloride from methylation of 1-methyl-1H-naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole-4,9-dione. The synthesis of 1-methyl-1H-naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole-4,9-dione is inefficient as a significant amount of by-product is formed that is difficult to separate and also unsafe as it requires the use of hazardous methylazide as a starting material. It is, however, important to develop an improved method for the synthesis of 4,9-dioxo-1,3-dimethylnaphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazol-3-ium salt due to its significant anticancer activities. Herein, we report a safe and convenient route for the synthesis of this compound, which lead to more detailed exploration of its profound anticancer activities. The improved method can be applicable for the synthesis of other 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3-triazolium salts of interest without the use of potentially explosive methylazide. The compound synthesized in this new method shows significant anticancer activities against melanoma, colon cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and central nervous system (CNS) cancer with GI50 values ranging from low μM to nM.     

Mutagenic activity of methyl-substituted tri-and tetracyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles

A number of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles have been identified in coal-derived products and in shale oils. The mutagenic activity of some of these compounds, including dibenzothiophene, benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene, benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene and benzo[b]naphtho[2,3-d]thiophene have been determined using the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test. These compounds demonstrated either very weak or no mutagenic activity. The methyl derivatives of each of these four compounds were assayed for mutagenic activity. Salmonella typhimurium TA98 was used as the tester strain. All assays required a rat-liver homogenate metabolic activator. Five of the methylated derivatives, 1-methylbenzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene, 3-methylbenzo[b]naphtho[1,2,-d]thiophene, 1-methylbenzo[b]-naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene, 6-methylbenzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene and 4-methylbenzo[b]naphtho[2,3-[d]thiophene demonstrated mutagenic activity. However, activity was observed only at high concentrations of the metabolic activator.     

Antiproliferative activity of synthetic naphthoquinones related to lapachol. First synthesis of 5-hydroxylapachol

A series of 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones analogues was synthesized from juglone (6) and their antiproliferative activity against a representative panel of six human solid tumor cell lines has been investigated. The 2,5-dihydroxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)naphthalene-1,4-dione (4) and 2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (27) were the most potent antiproliferative agents with GI₅₀ values of 0.42–8.1 and 0.80–2.2 μM, respectively. The results provide insight into the correlation between some structural properties of 5-hydroxynaphthoquinones and their antiproliferative activity.     

Synthesis and evaluation of bioactive naphthoquinones from the Brazilian medicinal plant, Tabebuia avellanedae

A series of naphthoquinones based on the naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione skeleton such as (−)-5-hydroxy-2-(1′-hydoxyethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (1) and its positional isomer, (−)-8-hydroxy-2-(1′-hydoxyethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (2), which are secondary metabolites found in the inner bark of Tabebuia avellanedae, were stereoselectively synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated in conjunction with those of their corresponding enantiomers. Compound 1 exhibited potent antiproliferative effect against several human tumor cell lines, but its effect against some human normal cell lines was much lower than that of mitomycin. On the other hand, its enantiomer (R)-1 was less active toward the above tumor cell lines than 1. The antiproliferative effect of 2 against all tumor cell lines was significantly reduced. These results indicated the presence of the phenolic hydroxy group at C-5 is of great important for increasing antiproliferative effect. In addition, 1 also showed higher cancer chemopreventive activity than 2, while there were no significant differences between 1 and 2 in antimicrobial activity. Both compounds displayed modest antifungal and antibacterial activity (Gram-positive bacteria), whereas they were inactive against Gram-negative bacteria.     

Cytotoxic activity toward KB cells of 2-substituted naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-diones and their related compounds

We investigated the cytotoxic activity of 2-substituted naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-diones. We have previously synthesized 33 types of 2-substituted and related compounds, and the cytotoxic activity of these compounds was then examined by a KB cell culture assay. 2-(3-Furanoyl)benzoic acids and 1,4-naphthoquinones had no activity. 2-Acetyl-4,9-dimethoxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan 4 showed low activity. However, parent naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 2 and most 2-substituted derivatives exhibited cytotoxic activity. The parent structure was therefore for cytotoxicity. 2-Formylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione 11 had particularly potent activity (ED50=0.09 microg/ml).     

Furanonaphthoquinones,atraric acid and a benzofuran from the stem barks of Newbouldia laevis

The series of naturally occurring furanonaphthoquinones is extended by identification of the derivatives 2-(1'-methylethenyl)-5-hydroxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione and 2-(1'-methylethenyl)-7-hydroxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione. They are accompanied in the stem barks of Newbouldia laevis by the known analogues 5-hydroxy-dehydro-iso-alpha-lapachone, 2-acetyl-5-hydroxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione and 2-(1'-methylethenyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione along with the rare atraric acid and the new 2-(1'-methylethenyl)-6-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. The structures of these compounds were established from spectroscopic studies.     

Chemoenzymatic preparation of a biologically active naphthoquinone from Tabebuia impetiginosa using lipases or alcohol dehydrogenases

Cancer chemopreventive agent (S)-5-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione and its counterpart (R)-acetate have been obtained through a lipase-catalyzed transesterification process in organic solvent. Candida antarctica lipase B and Pseudomonas cepacia lipase have demonstrated their potential as excellent biocatalysts for the production of enantiomerically pure compounds under mild reaction conditions. At the same time different commercially available alcohol dehydrogenases have been tested in the bioreduction of the corresponding naphthoquinone in an aqueous system. Biologically active (S)-alcohol has been isolated in enantiopure form with different conversion values depending on the biocatalyst employed and the reaction conditions.     

2-Substituted-1-(2-morpholinoethyl)-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole-4,9-diones: Design,synthesis and antiproliferative activity

Thirty-six of novel compounds 2-substituted-1-(2-morpholinoethyl)-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole-4,9-diones, bearing a N-(2-morpholinoethyl) group and a 2-substituted imidazole segment on a naphthoquinone skeleton, were designed, synthesized and tested as anticancer agents. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro against three human cancer cell lines: human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7), human cervical carcinoma cell line (Hela), and human lung carcinoma cell line (A549); and one normal cell line: mouse fibroblast cell line (L929). Among them, the compound 2-(3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-morpholinoethyl)-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole-4,9-dione showed good antiproliferative activity against MCF-7, Hela and A549 (IC₅₀ values are equal to 10.6?μM, 8.3?μM and 4.3?μM respectively) and low cytotoxicity to L929 (IC₅₀ value is equal to 67.3?μM).     

STAT3 inhibitory activity of naphthoquinones isolated from Tabebuia avellanedae

The extract of Tabebuia avellanedae has been used as a folk medicine, and the various biological activities of T. avellanedae have been extensively studied. However, few studies have reported which natural products play a role in their biological effects. In this study, we evaluated representative naphthoquinones isolated from T. avellanedae and found that furanonaphthoquinones were the key structures required to exhibit STAT3 phosphorylation inhibitory activities. Our SAR analysis indicated that removal of a hydroxyl group enhanced the STAT3 phosphorylation inhibitory activity. In addition, the combined results of a mobility shift assay, SH2 domain binding assay, and docking simulation by Autodock 4.2.6 suggested that (S)-5-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (1) could directly bind to the hinge region of STAT3.     

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 2,3,5-triaryl-4H,2,3,3a,5,6,6a-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazole-4,6-diones for advanced glycation end product formation inhibitory activity

The synthesis of some biologically interesting pyrrolo-isoxazolidine derivatives was accomplished by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of substituted azomethine N-oxides 1 with substituted N-aryl maleimides 2 leading to the formation of new stereoisomeric 2,3,5-triaryl-4H,2,3,3a,5,6,6a-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazole-4,6-dione derivatives 3 in excellent yields. The synthesized compounds have been screened for their advanced glycation end (AGE) product formation inhibitory activity on the basis of their ability to inhibit the formation of AGEs in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose assay. All the synthesized compounds have been found to exhibit significant activity against AGE formation.     

Discovery of TAK-733, a potent and selective MEK allosteric site inhibitor for the treatment of cancer

A novel 5-phenylamino-8-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4,7(3H,8H)-dione series of MEK inhibitors has been developed using structure-based drug design. Lead optimization of this series led to the discovery of TAK-733. This was advanced to Phase I clinical studies for cancer treatment.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity study of a novel class of cationic anthraquinone analogs

Reported previously by our group, one-pot cycloaddition using naphthoquinone, sodium azide and alkyl halides can lead to the formation of both 1-alkyl-1H- and 2-alkyl-2H-naphtho[2,3-d]triazole-4,9-diones. Herein, the effect of leaving group and additive in dictating the selectivity between the formation of 1-alkyl-1H- and 2-alkyl-2H-naphtho[2,3-d]triazole-4,9-diones has been further investigated. In the process of investigating the factors that control the selectivity and the biological activity associated with these two compounds, a novel class of antibacterial cationic anthraquinone analogs has been developed. Although these compounds are structurally similar, different antibacterial profiles are noted. One lead compound, 4e manifests high potency (MIC < 1 ??g/mL) and selectivity against Gram positive (G+) pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while exerting only modest activity against Gram negative (G−) bacteria. Other lead compounds (4f and 4g) exhibit broad antibacterial activity including MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) that is comparable to other commercially available cationic antiseptic chemicals. This unique difference in antibacterial profile may pave the way for the development of new therapeutic agents.     

Design and synthesis of spirotryprostatin-inspired diketopiperazine systems from prolyl spirooxoindolethiazolidine derivatives

Based on the spirotryprostatin-A structure, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated different series of compounds belonging to the diketopiperazine structural class as potential cell cycle modulators and cytotoxic agents. Starting from the spirooxoindolthiazolidine scaffold, amide coupling with Pro derivatives and intramolecular cyclization reactions are suitable synthetic methods to generate chemically diverse diketopiperazine system, such as hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a][1,3]thiazolo[3,2-d]pyrazine-5,10-dione (structure I), hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a] [1,3]thiazolo[3,4-d]pyrazine-5,10-dione (structure II) and spiroindol-2-one[3,3′]hexahydro-5,10H-pyrrolo[1,2-a][1,3]thiazolo[3,4-d]pyrazine-5,10-dione (structure III). Some of these compounds, especially those who belong to the series I and II, showed interesting cytotoxic activity.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic properties of 4,11-bis[(aminoethyl)amino]anthra[2,3-b]thiophene-5,10-diones,novel analogues of antitumor anthracene-9,10-diones

We developed the synthesis of a series of thiophene-fused tetracyclic analogues of the antitumor drug ametantrone. The reactions included nucleophilic substitution of methoxy groups in 4,11-dimethoxyanthra[2,3-b]thiophene-5,10-diones with ethylenediamines, producing the derivatives of 4,11-diaminoanthra[2,3-b]thiophene-5,10-dione in good yields. Several compounds showed marked antiproliferative potency against doxorubicin-selected, P-glycoprotein-expressing tumor cells and p53^?/? cells. The cytotoxicity of some novel compounds for P-glycoprotein-positive cells is highly dependent on N-substituent at the terminal amino group of ethylenediamine moiety. The cytotoxic potency of selected compounds correlated with their ability to attenuate the functions of topoisomerase I and telomerase, strongly suggesting that these enzymes are the major targets of antitumor activity of anthra[2,3-b]thiophene-5,10-dione derivatives.     

Discovery of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-ones as corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor antagonists with a carbonyl-based hydrogen bonding acceptor

A new class of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one corticotropin-releasing factor 1 (CRF₁) receptor antagonists has been designed and synthesized. In general, reported CRF₁ receptor antagonists possess a sp²-nitrogen atom as hydrogen bonding acceptor (HBA) on their core scaffolds. We proposed to use a carbonyl group of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives as a replacement for the sp²-nitrogen atom as HBA in classical CRF₁ receptor antagonists. As a result, several pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives showed CRF₁ receptor binding affinity with IC₅₀ values in the submicromolar range. Ex vivo ¹²⁵I-sauvagine binding studies showed that 2-(dipropylamino)-3,7-dimethyl-5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,7-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one (16b) (30 mg/kg, po) was able to penetrate into the brain and inhibit radioligand binding to CRF₁ receptors (frontal cortex, olfactory bulb, and pituitary) in mice. We identified pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives as the first CRF₁ antagonists with a carbonyl-based HBA.     

N-Tetrahydrothiochromenoisoxazole-1-carboxamides as selective antagonists of cloned human 5-HT2B

The serendipitous discovery of N-cyclohexyl-8-fluoro-3,3a,4,9b-tetrahydro-1H-thiochromeno[4,3-c]isoxazole-1-carboxamide as a selective human serotonin 5-HT_2B antagonist with K_i of 42 ± 5 nM is reported herein. A subsequent functional assay indicated little agonist activity compared to 5-HT itself.     

Five-membered heteroaromatic ring fused-pyrimidine derivatives: Design,synthesis, and hedgehog signaling pathway inhibition study

A series of novel five-membered heteroaromatic ring fused-pyrimidine derivatives including purines, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines, pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines, thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines, thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines and furo[3,2-d]pyrimidines have been identified to be potent inhibitors of hedgehog signaling pathway. The synthesis and SAR of these compounds are described. Among this new series of hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitors, most compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity compared to vismodegib, indicating that the five-membered heteroaromatic ring fused-pyrimidines stand out as encouraging scaffolds among the currently reported structural skeletons for hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitors, deserving more exploration and further investigation.     

Microbially Mediated Formation of Benzonaphthothiophenes from Benzo[b]thiophenes

Studies of the microbial metabolism of benzo[b]thiophene (molecular weight 134) by three Pseudomonas isolates showed the formation of benzothiophene sulfoxide, benzothiophene sulfone, and a sulfur-containing metabolite with a molecular weight of 234. Desulfurization of the high-molecular-weight product with nickel boride gave 1-phenylnaphthalene, indicating that the metabolite was benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene. Similarly, the isolates were capable of producing the analogous dimethyl-substituted benzonaphthothiophenes from methylbenzothiophenes that had the methyl substitution on the benzene ring. The formation of benzo[b] naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene was also observed when a petroleum-degrading mixed culture was incubated with benzothiophene-supplemented Prudhoe Bay crude oil. Investigations into the mechanism of formation of these high-molecular-weight compounds showed that they resulted from an abiotic, Diels-Alder-type condensation of two molecules of the sulfoxide, which were microbially produced from the respective benzothiophene, with the subsequent loss of two atoms of hydrogen and oxygen and one atom of sulfur. The condensation products also formed from the sulfoxides of benzothiophene and methylbenzothiophenes when the sulfoxides were enzymatically synthesized by oxidation of the benzothiophene with horse heart cytochrome c and H₂O₂.     

Discovery of novel thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl hydrazone-based inhibitors of Cyclin D1-CDK4: Synthesis,biological evaluation,and structure–activity relationships

The synthesis and evaluation of new analogues of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl hydrazones are described. 2-Pyrdinecarboxaldehyde [6-(tert-butyl)thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-yl]hydrazone derivatives have been identified as cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitors. The potency, selectivity profile, and structure–activity relationship of this series of compounds are discussed.