Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4'-(6,7-disubstituted-2,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-biphenyl-4-ol as potent Chk1 inhibitors

A new series of potent tricyclic pyrazole-based Chk1 inhibitors are described. Analogues disubstituted on the 6- and 7-positions show improved Chk1 inhibition potency compared with analogues with a single substituent on either the 6- or 7-position. Based on the lead compound 4'-(6,7-dimethoxy-2,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-biphenyl-4-ol (2), detailed SAR studies on the 6- and 7-positions were performed. 3'-morpholin-4'-yl-propoxy, pyridin-4'-ylmethoxy, pyridin-3'-ylmethoxy, 2'-(5'-ethyl-pyridin-2'-yl)-ethoxy, pyridin-2'-ylethoxy, (6'-methyl-pyridin-2'-yl)-propoxyethoxy, 2',3'-dihydroxyl-1'-yl-propoxy, and tetrahydro-furan-3'-yloxy have been identified as the best groups on the 6-position when the 7-position is substituted with methoxyl group. Pyridin-2'-ylmethoxy and pyridin-3'-ylmethoxy have been identified as the best substituents at the 7-position while the 6-position bearing methoxyl group. These compounds significantly potentiate the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging antitumor agents in a cell-based assay and efficiently abrogate the doxorubicin-induced G2/M and the camptothecin-induced S checkpoints, suggesting that their potent biological activities are mechanism-based through Chk1 inhibition.     

Discovery of N-methyl-4-(4-methoxyanilino)quinazolines as potent apoptosis inducers. Structure–activity relationship of the quinazoline ring

As a continuation of our efforts to discover and develop apoptosis inducing N-methyl-4-(4-methoxyanilino)quinazolines as novel anticancer agents, we explored substitution at the 5-, 6-, 7-positions of the quinazoline and replacement of the quinazoline by other nitrogen-containing heterocycles. A small group at the 5-position was found to be well tolerated. At the 6-position a small group like an amino was preferred. Substitution at the 7-position was tolerated much less than at the 6-position. Replacing the carbon at the 8-position or both the 5- and 8-positions with nitrogen led to about 10-fold reductions in potency. Replacement of the quinazoline ring with a quinoline, a benzo[d][1,2,3]triazine, or an isoquinoline ring showed that the nitrogen at the 1-position is important for activity, while the carbon at the 2-position can be replaced by a nitrogen and the nitrogen at the 3-position can be replaced by a carbon. Through the SAR study, several 5- or 6-substituted analogs, such as 2a and 2c, were found to have potencies approaching that of lead compound N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N,2-dimethylquinazolin-4-amine (1g, EP128495, MPC-6827, Azixa®).     

Synthesis and SAR of cis-1-benzoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline ligands for control of gene expression in ecdysone responsive systems

A library of 35 cis-1-benzoyl-2-methyl-4-(phenylamino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines was prepared. The compounds bore various substitutuents on the benzoyl ring, at the 4-position of the phenylamino ring and at the 6-position of the tetrahydroquinoline ring. The compounds were assayed for their ability to cause expression of a reporter gene downstream of an ecdysone response element in a mammalian cell line engineered to express the ecdysone receptor from Aedes aegypti. In general, compounds with small lipophilic substituents at the meta and para-positions of the benzoyl ring and hydrogen or fluorine at the 4-position of the phenylamino ring and the 6-position of the tetrahydroquinoline ring were the most potent.     

Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship Study of 5-Iodo- and Diaryl-analogues of Tubercidin: Inhibitors of Adenosine Kinase

The adenosine kinase inhibitory (AKI) activity of 5-iodo and diaryl analogues of tubercidin is quantitatively analyzed using Fujita-Ban and Hansch type analyses. The Fujita-Ban analysis being a non-parametric approach assigned the highest contribution to Cl at the X-position, C6H4-4-Cl, C6H5, 2-furanyl and I at the Y-position and CH2NH2 and CH3 at the Z-position. In addition, a OH substituent at the C-position also emerged as a better choice possibly due to its engagement in hydrogen bonding with some active site function. Thus a compound having Cl, C6H4-4-Cl, CH2NH2 and OH respectively at X-, Y-, Z- and C-positions is predicted to have a potency nearly 1.5 orders of magnitude higher than the most potent compound of the parent data set. The Hansch type analysis, on the other hand, is a parametric approach and is carried out on two sub-sets of original compounds. This sub-division is based on size and nature of the substituents present at the X- and Y-positions. For the compounds in the first sub-set the derived significant correlation equation suggested that the substituent at the Y-position exhibiting a higher field effect and a substituent such as Cl and CH2NH2 at X- and Z-positions, respectively, are important for a compound to show increased AKI activity. Thio/alkylthio at X and CH2OCH3 at Z, on the other hand, lead to a detrimental effect. Similarly for the compounds in the second sub-set, the derived significant correlation equation showed that a substituent at the X-position having a higher negative field effect, a substituent at the Y-position having bulky groups and the C-position occupied by a OH group are essential for enhancement of the activity of a compound.     

Modulation of the 6-position of benzopyran derivatives and inhibitory effects on the insulin releasing process

The synthesis of different series of 4- and 6-substituted R/S-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyrans is described. All of these new benzopyran derivatives were bearing, at the 4-position, a phenylthiourea moiety substituted on the phenyl ring by a meta or a para-electron-withdrawing group such as Cl or CN. The study aimed at exploring the influence of the nature of the substituent at the 6-position in order to develop new benzopyran-type K(ATP) channel activators exhibiting an improved selectivity towards the insulin secreting cells. The original compounds were examined in vitro on rat pancreatic islets (inhibition of insulin release) as well as on rat aorta rings (vasorelaxant effect) and their activity was compared to that of the reference K(ATP) channel activators (±)-cromakalim, (±)-pinacidil, diazoxide and to previously synthesized cromakalim analogues. Structure-activity relationships indicated that the inhibitory effect on the insulin secreting cells was related to the lipophilicity of the molecules and to the size of the substituent located at the 6-position. A marked inhibitory activity on the insulin secretory process was obtained with molecules bearing a bulky tert-butyloxycarbonylamino group at the 6-position (20-23). The latter compounds were found to have the same efficacy on the pancreatic endocrine tissue than some previously described molecules. Lastly, radioisotopic experiments further identified R/S-N-4-chlorophenyl-N'-(6-tert-butyloxycarbonylamino-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-4-yl)thiourea (23) as a K(ATP) channel opener.     

Discovery and lead identification of quinazoline-based BRD4 inhibitors

A new series of quinazoline-based analogs as potent bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitors is described. The structure-activity relationships on 2- and 4-position of quinazoline ring, and the substitution at 6-position that mimic the acetylated lysine are discussed. A co-crystallized structure of 48 (CN750) with BRD4 (BD1) including key inhibitor-protein interactions is also highlighted. Together with preliminary rodent pharmacokinetic results, a new lead (65, CN427) is identified which is suitable for further lead optimization.     

Design and synthesis of novel benzimidazole derivatives as phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitors with reduced CYP1A2 inhibition

A novel class of phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors with reduced CYP1A2 inhibition were designed and synthesized starting from 2-{[(1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl)oxy]methyl}quinoline (1). Introduction of an isopropyl group at the 2-position and a methoxy group at the 5-position of the benzimidazole ring of lead compound 1 resulted in the identification of 2-{[(2-isopropyl-5-methoxy-1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl)oxy]methyl}quinoline (25b), which exhibited potent PDE10A inhibitory activity with reduced CYP1A2 inhibitory activity compared to compound 1.     

Discovery of 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-benzonitriles and 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-pyridine-2'-carbonitriles as potent checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitors

An extensive structure-activity relationship study of the 3-position of a series of tricyclic pyrazole-based Chk1 inhibitors is described. As a result, 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-benzonitriles (4) and 4'-(1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-pyridine-2'-carbonitriles (29) emerged as new lead series. Compared with the original lead compound 2, these new leads fully retain the biological activity in both enzymatic inhibition and cell-based assays. More importantly, the new leads 4 and 29 exhibit favorable physicochemical properties such as lower molecular weight, lower Clog P, and the absence of a hydroxyl group. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship studies were performed at the 6- and 7-positions of 4, which led to the identification of ideal Chk1 inhibitors 49, 50, 51, and 55. These compounds not only potently inhibit Chk1 in an enzymatic assay but also significantly potentiate the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging agents in cell-based assays while they show little single agent activity. A cell cycle analysis by FACS confirmed that these Chk1 inhibitors efficiently abrogate the G2/M and S checkpoints induced by DNA-damaging agent. The current work paved the way to the identification of several potent Chk1 inhibitors with good pharmacokinetics that are suitable for in vivo study with oral dosing.     

Structure--activity relationships of 1beta-methyl-2-(5-phenylpyrrolidin-3-ylthio)carbapenems

Structure--activity relationship studies of 1beta-methyl-2-[(3S,5R)-5-(4-aminomethylphenyl)pyrrolidin-3-ylthio]carbapenems, especially those pertaining to the relationship between antibacterial activity and side-chain structure were conducted. These studies suggested that the trans-(3S,5R)-5-phenylpyrrolidin-3-ylthio side-chain and the aminomethyl group at the 4-position of the phenyl ring play a key role in enhancing the antibacterial activity against the MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. In particular, the basicity of a substituent at the 4-position of the phenyl ring were shown to greatly contribute to the antibacterial activity against MRSA and methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus epidermidis strains. In contrast, the amidine group was shown to lead to potent antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa strains comparable to that of imipenem, however, a good correlation between the basicity of the 4-substituent and antipseudomonal activity was not observed. In conclusion, the 4-aminomethyl or methylaminomethyl group on the phenyl ring was the best substituent for antipseudomonal activity.     

Lactams as prostanoid receptor ligands. Part 4: 2-Piperidones as selective EP4 receptor agonists

2-Piperidones were prepared bearing heptanoic acid or a thioether heptanoic acid at the 1-position as well as appropriately substituted at the 6-position to mimic the structure of prostaglandins. The stereochemical purity at the 6-position was determined to be 95% ee for an advanced synthetic intermediate. The 2-piperidones were identified as potent agonists at the EP4 prostanoid receptor. They displayed a high affinity (Ki 5-130 nM) at EP4 and subtype selectivity.     

Mechanism of flavin reduction in the class 1A dihydroorotate dehydrogenase from Lactococcus lactis

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenases (DHODs) oxidize dihydroorotate (DHO) to orotate (OA) using the FMN prosthetic group to abstract a hydride equivalent from C6 and a protein residue (cysteine for class 1A DHODs) to deprotonate C5. The fundamental question of whether the scission of the two DHO C-H bonds is concerted or stepwise was addressed for the class 1A enzyme from Lactococcus lactis by determining kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) on flavin reduction in anaerobic stopped-flow experiments. Isotope effects were determined at two pH values. At pH 7.0, KIEs were approximately 2-fold for DHO labeled singly at the 5-position or the 6-position and approximately 4-fold for DHO labeled at both the 5- and 6-positions. At pH 8.5, the KIEs observed for DHO labeled at the 5-position, the 6-position, and the 5- and 6-positions were approximately 2-, approximately 3-, and approximately 6-fold, respectively. These isotope effects are consistent with a concerted oxidation of DHO. The pH dependence of reduction was also determined, and a pKa of 8.3 was found. This pKa can be attributed to the ionization of the active site cysteine which deprotonates C5 of DHO during the reaction. To further investigate the importance of the active site base, two site-directed mutants were also studied: Cys130Ala (removal of the active site base) and Cys130Ser (replacement with the active site base used by class 2 DHODs). Both mutant enzymes exhibited binding affinities for DHO similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Reduction of both mutants was extremely slow compared to that of the wild type; the rate of reduction increased with pH, showing no sign of a plateau. Interestingly, double-deuterium isotope effects on the Cys130Ser mutant also showed a concerted mechanism for flavin reduction.     

Structural requirement of chalcones for the inhibitory activity of interleukin-5

Novel chalcones were found as potent inhibitors of interleukin (IL)-5. 1-(2-Benzyloxy-6-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (2b, 78.8% inhibition at 50microM, IC(50)=25.3microM) was initially identified as a potent inhibitor of IL-5. This shows the compatible activity with budesonide or sophoricoside. To identify structural requirements, 26 chalcones were prepared and their inhibitory activities were tested against IL-5. Among them, compound 4-[(E)-3-(2-cyclohexylmethoxy-6-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl]benzenesulfonamide (2w, 99.5% inhibition at 50microM, IC(50)=1.8microM) shows the most potent activity. The important structural requirements of these chalcone analogs exhibiting the inhibitory activity against IL-5 were recognized as the following. (1) The hydrophobic group such as benzyloxy or cyclohexylmethoxy at 6-position of A ring is necessary. (2) The existence of phenolic hydroxyl at 6-position of A ring is critical. (3) Propenone unit as alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone is essential. (4) Electron withdrawing groups with hydrogen acceptor property at 4-position of B ring enhance the activity and quantitative structure-activity relationship of 2 regarding these substituents was determined.     

Synthesis of novel 6-substituted acyclouridine derivatives and their anti-HIV-1 activity

To improve the anti-HIV activity of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT), a variety of its analogues were synthesized. Introduction of SR group to the C-6 position was carried out based on LDA lithiation followed by the reaction of aryl- or alkyl disulfide. An addition-elimination reaction of a 6-phenylsulfinyl derivative was used for synthesizing the analogues having OR or NHR group at the C-6 position. The C-5 modified derivatives were synthesized mainly based on LTMP lithiation of a 6-phenylthio derivative. Modification at the 2- or 4-position was also carried out. Some compounds prepared in the present study showed higher activity than HEPT.     

6-Carboxy-5,7-diarylcyclopenteno[1,2-b]pyridine derivatives: a novel class of endothelin receptor antagonists

Compounds (2-5) with a 6-carboxy-5,7-diarylcyclopentenopyridine skeleton were designed, synthesized, and identified as a new class of potent non-peptide endothelin receptor antagonists. The regio-isomer 2 was found to show potent inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 2.4 nM against (125)I-labeled ET-1 binding to human ET(A) receptors and a 170-fold selectivity for ET(A) over ET(B) receptors. Furthermore, 2 displayed more potent in vivo activity than did the indan-type compound 1 in a mouse ET-1 induced lethality model, suggesting the potential of 2 as a new lead structure. Derivatization on substituted phenyl groups at the 5- and 7-positions of 2 revealed that a 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl group at the 5-position and a 4-methoxyphenyl group at the 7-position were optimal for binding affinity. Further derivatization of 2 by incorporating a substituent into the 2-position of the 4-methoxyphenyl group led to the identification of a more potent ET(A) selective antagonist 2p with an IC(50) value of 0.87 nM for ET(A) receptors and a 470-fold selectivity. In addition, 2p showed highly potent in vivo efficacy (AD(50): 0.04 mg/kg) in the lethality model.     

Synthesis of novel quinolone and quinoline-2-carboxylic acid (4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)amides: a late-stage diversification approach to potent 5HT1B antagonists

Multiparallel amenable syntheses of 6-methoxy-8-amino-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid-(4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)amides (I) and 4-amino-6-methoxy-8-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-quinoline-2-carboxylic acid (4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)amides (II) which facilitate late-stage diversification at the 8-position of (I) and at the 4- and 8-positions of (II) are described. The resulting novel series were determined to contain potent 5HT(1B) antagonists. Preliminary SAR data are presented.     

1,5-Biaryl pyrrole derivatives as EP1 receptor antagonists: Structure-activity relationships of 4- and 5-substituted benzoic acid derivatives

This paper details the SAR of 1,5-biaryl pyrrole derivatives with substituents in the 2-, 4-, and 5-positions of the benzoic acid group as EP1 receptor antagonists. Substitution at the 2-position was poorly tolerated, whereas only fluorine was tolerated at the 4-position. In contrast, a range of substituents at the 5-position were discovered which enhanced the in vitro affinity and led to compounds with promising oral exposure. Three derivatives showed efficacy in a preclinical model of inflammatory pain when dosed orally to rats.     

Syntheses and structure-activity relationships of novel, potent, and selective trans-2-[3-oxospiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),1'-cyclohexan]-4'-yl]benzimidazole NPY Y5 receptor antagonists

Syntheses and structure-activity relationships of a novel class of 2-[3-oxospiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),1'-cyclohexan]-4'-yl]benzimidazole NPY Y5 receptor antagonists are described. Optimization of the lead compound 2a by incorporating substituents into the 5-position or into both the 5- and 6-positions of the benzimidazole core part led to the identification of 5-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzimidazole (2r: IC(50)=3.3 nM) and 5-(2-methyltetrazol-5-yl)benzimidazole (2u: IC(50)=5.9 nM), both of which are potent, selective, and orally bioavailable Y5 receptor antagonists.     

Reactive oxygen species generation through NADH oxidation by 6-formylpterin derivatives in the dark

6-formylpterin (6FP) has been reported to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as *O2- and H2O2 from O2 in the presence of NADH under light condition. In the present study, we prepared a variety of 6FP derivatives and found that 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyleneamino)-6-formyl-3-pivaloylpteridin-4-one and 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyleneamino)-6-formyl-3-methylpteridin-4-one, in which the 2-amino groups are modified by a dimethylaminomethylene group and the 3-positions by pivaloyl and methyl groups and 2-amino-6-formyl-3-methylpteridin-4-one in which the amino group at the 2-position is free and the 3-position is modified by a methyl group generated H2O2 from O2 on oxidation of NADH to NAD+ in the dark. However, 6FP and 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyleneamino)-6-formylpteridin-4-one, in which the 3-position is free did not yield H2O2. These results indicate that modification of the 3-position is essential to make the activities of 6FP available in the dark and would be suggestive for designing pharmaceutical compounds that generate appropriate and controllable amounts of ROS in vivo.     

Functionalization of pyrimidine and purine nucleosides at C4 and C6: C-nucleophilic substitution of their C4- and C6-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) derivatives

A study of C-nucleophilic substitution at the C4-position on pyrimidine and C6-position on 2'-deoxyguanosine to produce novel nucleosides is presented with the spectroscopic properties of their respective substitution products. C4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) pyrimidine nucleosides 1 were treated with nitroalkanes, malononitrile, acetylacetone, ethyl nitroacetate, acetoacetate and cyanoacetate at 100 degrees C in dioxane in the presence of DBU resulting in the production of novel nucleosides 2-11. To explore the application of this methodology to purine chemistry, this approach was used to produce novel analogs from 2'-deoxyguanosine. We found that the triazolo derivative 12 undergoes C-nucleophilic substitution with nitromethane, malononitrile, acetylacetone, ethyl nitroacetate and cyanoacetate in the presence of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in DMF at 100 degrees C to give novel nucleosides 13-17.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of (4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)isoquinoline derivatives as selective glycine transporter 1 inhibitors

To identify novel glycine transporter 1(GlyT1) inhibitors with greater selectivity relative to GlyT2 and improved aqueous solubility, we synthesized a series of 4H-1,2,4-triazole derivatives with heteroaromatic rings at the 4-position and investigated their structure-activity relationships. Replacement of the 2-fluorophenyl group of lead compound 5 with various aromatic groups led to the identification of 5-(3-biphenyl-4-yl-5-ethyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)isoquinoline (15) with 38-fold selectivity between GlyT1 and GlyT2. 15 also showed improved aqueous solubility and in vivo efficacy on (+)-HA966-induced hyperlocomotion in mice over the lead compound.