Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel non-covalent piperidine-containing peptidyl proteasome inhibitors

A series of novel non-covalent piperidine-containing dipeptidyl derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as proteasome inhibitors. All target compounds were tested for their proteasome chymotrypsin-like inhibitory activities, and selected derivatives were evaluated for the anti-proliferation activities against two multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines RPMI 8226 and MM-1S. Among all of these compounds, eight exhibited significant proteasome inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ less than 20 nM, and four are more potent than the positive control Carfilzomib. Compound 28 displayed the most potent proteasome inhibitory activity (IC₅₀: 1.4 ± 0.1 nM) and cytotoxicities with IC₅₀ values at 13.9 ± 1.8 nM and 9.5 ± 0.5 nM against RPMI 8226 and MM-1S, respectively. Additionally, the ex vivo blood cell proteasome inhibitory activities of compounds 24 and 27–29 demonstrated that the enzymatic metabolism in the whole blood could be well tolerated. All these experiments confirmed that the piperidine-containing non-covalent proteasome inhibitors are potential leads for exploring new anti-cancer drugs.     

Hemlock alkaloids from Socrates to poison aloes

Hemlock (Conium maculatum L. Umbelliferae) has long been known as a poisonous plant. Toxicity is due to a group of piperidine alkaloids of which the representative members are coniine and gamma-coniceine. The latter is the more toxic and is the first formed biosynthetically. Its levels in relation to coniine vary widely according to environmental conditions and to provenance of the plants. Surprisingly, these piperidine alkaloids have turned up in quite unrelated species in the monocotyledons as well as the dicotyledons. Aloes, for instance, important medicinal plants, are not regarded as poisonous although some species are very bitter. Nevertheless a small number of mostly local species contain the alkaloids, especially gamma-coniceine and there have been records of human poisoning. The compounds are recognized by their characteristic mousy smell. Both acute and chronic symptoms have been described. The compounds are neurotoxins and death results from respiratory failure, recalling the effects of curare. Chronic non-lethal ingestion by pregnant livestock leads to foetal malformation. Both acute and chronic toxicity are seen with stock in damp meadows and have been recorded as problems especially in North America. The alkaloids derive biosynthetically from acetate units via the polyketide pathway in contrast to other piperidine alkaloids which derive from lysine.     

Asperidines A–C,pyrrolidine and piperidine derivatives from the soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sclerotiorum PSU-RSPG178

One new pyrrolidine derivative, asperidine A (1), and two new piperidine derivatives, asperidines B (2) and C (3), were isolated from the soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sclerotiorum PSU-RSPG178 together with two known alkaloids. Compound 3 possessed an unprecedented 7-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton with four chiral centers. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic evidence. The absolute configurations of compounds 2 and 3 were established using Mosher’s method and further confirmed for compound 3 by X-ray crystallographic data. Compound 2 dose-dependently inhibited the CFTR-mediated chloride secretion in T84 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.96?μM whereas 3 displayed the same activity with the IC₅₀ value of 58.62?μM. Compounds 2 and 3 also significantly reduced intracellular ROS under both normal and H₂O₂-treated conditions compared with their respective controls in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxic effect on Caco-2 cells. In addition, compound 3 was inactive against noncancerous Vero cells whereas compound 2 was considered to be inactive with the IC₅₀ value of >10?μM.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel tert-amylphenoxyalkyl (homo)piperidine derivatives as histamine H3R ligands

As a continuation of our search for novel histamine H₃ receptor ligands a series of twenty new tert-amyl phenoxyalkylamine derivatives (2–21) was synthesized. Compounds of four to eight carbon atoms spacer alkyl chain were evaluated on their binding properties at human histamine H₃ receptor (hH₃R). The highest affinities were observed for pentyl derivatives 6–8 (K_i = 8.8–23.4 nM range) and among them piperidine derivative 6 with K_i = 8.8 nM. Structures 6, 7 were also classified as antagonists in cAMP accumulation assay (with EC₅₀ = 157 and 164 nM, respectively). Moreover, new compounds were also evaluated for anticonvulsant activity in Antiepileptic Screening Program (ASP) at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (USA). Seven compounds (2–4, 9, 11, 12 and 20) showed anticonvulsant activity at maximal electroshock (MES) test in the dose of 30 mg/kg at 0.5 h. In the subcutaneous pentetrazole (scMET) test compound 4 showed protection at 100 and 300 mg/kg dose at mice, however compounds showed high neurotoxicity in rotarod test at used doses. Also, molecular modeling studies were undertaken, to explain affinity of compounds at hH₃R (taking into the consideration X-ray analysis of compound 18). In order to estimate “drug-likeness” of selected compounds in silico and experimental evaluation of lipophilicity, metabolic stability and cytotoxicity was performed.     

Coordination and derivatization of 3, 4, and 6-membered nitrogen heterocycles at a chiral tungsten(II) center

Reaction of [Tp′W(CO)₂(PhCCPh)][OTf] (1b) (Tp′ = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) with excess aziridine or 2-methylaziridine followed by protonation with produces chiral tungsten(II) amine complexes (3, 4; R = Me, Ph). An azetidine amido complex, Tp′W(CO)(PhCCMe)(H₂) (5) is synthesized by reaction of [Tp′W(CO)₂(PhCCMe)][OTf] (1a) with excess azetidine. Oxidation of amido complex 5 with I₂ in the presence of a weak base provides the corresponding 1-azetine complex, (6). Addition of methylmagnesium bromide to complex 6 results in formation of predominantly one diastereomer (S_WR_C/R_WS_C) (96:4 dr) of the 2-methylazetidine complex, Tp′W(CO)(PhCCMe)(H₂) (7). Reaction of complex 5 with results in formation of a cationic azetidine complex, (8). Reaction of 1b with excess piperidine followed by oxidation affords 2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine complex 9b, . Formation of an enamido complex, Tp′W(CO)(PhCCPh)(H₂) (10), is observed upon addition of base to 9b. Subsequent addition of [D⁺] to the enamido β-carbon results in the formation of the deuterated product, 9b-d₁, as determined by ²H NMR. Seven X-ray crystal structures have been determined, and these encompass complexes with 3, 4, and 6-membered heterocyclic ligands. Crystal structures are reported for two aziridine adducts (2, 4) two neutral amido complexes (5, 7), one cationic imine complex (6), and one cationic amine (8) complex derived from azetidine, and the imine complex formed from piperidine (9).     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of piperidine (piperazine)-amide substituted derivatives as multi-target antipsychotics

We report the optimisation of a series of novel amide-piperidine (piperazine) derivatives using the multiple ligand approach with dopamine and serotonin receptors. Of the derivatives, compound 11 exhibited high affinity for the D₂, 5-HT_1A, and 5-HT_2A receptors, but low affinity for the 5-HT_2C and histamine H₁ receptors and human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels. In vivo, compound 11 reduced apomorphine-induced climbing, MK-801-induced hyperactivity and DOI-induced head twitching without observable catalepsy, even at the highest dose tested. In addition, it exhibited suppression in a CAR test. Furthermore, in a novel object recognition task, it displayed procognition properties. Therefore, compound 11 is a promising candidate multi-target antipsychotic.     

The discovery and synthesis of potent zwitterionic inhibitors of renin

The incorporation of a carboxylic acid within in a series of 3-amido-4-aryl substituted piperidines (represented by general structure 32) led to the discovery of potent, zwitterionic, renin inhibitors with improved off-target profiles (CYP3A4 time-dependent inhibition and hERG affinity) relative to analogous non-zwitterionic inhibitors of the past (i.e., 3). Strategies to address the oral absorption of these zwitterions are also discussed within.     

Leishmanicidal activity of the crude extract,fractions and major piperidine alkaloids from the flowers of Senna spectabilis

Senna spectabilis (sin. Cassia excelsa, C. spectabilis) is an endemic tree of South America and Africa, very common in Brazil, where it is known as “canafistula-de-besouro” and “cassia-do-nordeste”. In folk medicine, this plant is indicated for the treatment of constipation, insomnia, anxiety, epilepsy, malaria, dysentery and headache. Phytopharmacological studies have also confirmed anticonvulsive, sedative, anti-malarial, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of many parts of S. spectabilis. In this communication, we present a comparative study of the leishmanicidal activity of the crude ethanolic extract, its fractions and also the two major alkaloidal metabolites (−)-cassine/(−)-spectaline, trying to establish a relationship between the presence of piperidine alkaloidal constituents and leishmanicidal activity. The growth inhibitory effect of promastigote forms of Leishmania major was determined for the crude extract, fractions of the flowers of S. spectabilis and a mixture of (−)-cassine/(−)-spectaline in comparison to pentamidine used as standard drug. The cytotoxic effects were assessed on macrophage strain J774 by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Fractions dichloromethane (FL-DCM) and n-butanol (FL-Bu) and a mixture of (−)-cassine/(−)-spectaline (∼7:3) exhibited significant activity against the parasite Leishmania major (IC₅₀ values of 0.6 ± 0.1 μg/ml, 1.6 ± 0.9 μg/ml and 24.9 ± 1.4 μg/ml, respectively), without toxic effects on murine macrophages. Due to the promising results elicited, further studies in vivo need to be performed to confirm the therapeutic potential of Senna spectabilis.     

Structural modifications of N-arylamide oxadiazoles: Identification of N-arylpiperidine oxadiazoles as potent and selective agonists of CB2

Structural modifications to the central portion of the N-arylamide oxadiazole scaffold led to the identification of N-arylpiperidine oxadiazoles as conformationally constrained analogs that offered improved stability and comparable potency and selectivity. The simple, modular scaffold allowed for the use of expeditious and divergent synthetic routes, which provided two-directional SAR in parallel. Several potent and selective agonists from this novel ligand class are described.