Developing Synthetic Methods for Bioactive Phosphorus Compounds Using H-Phosphonate Chemistry: A Progress Report

Abstract

In this paper a short account of our recent research concerning the development of new synthetic methods and reagents for the preparation of nucleotides and their analogues, is given.     

Syntheses of 1-[2-(Phosphonomethoxy)Alkyl]Thymine Monophosphates and an Evaluation of their Inhibitory Activity Toward Human Thymidine Phosphorylase

A series of new monophosphates of 1-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)alkyl]thymines, such as PMPTp_, 3-MeO-PMPTp, HPMPTp, and FPMPTp, were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit human thymidine phosphorylase. Kinetic measurements of enzyme activity were performed using thymidine and inorganic phosphate as the substrates. The data show that some monophosphates provide a considerable increase of the multisubstrate inhibitory effect. The highest inhibitory potency was found with (R)-FPMPTp 4c (K _i ^dT = 4.09 ± 0.47 μM, K _i(P_i) = 2.13 ± 0.29 μM) and (R) 3-MeO-PMPTp 4d (K _i ^dT = 5.78 ± 0.71 μM, K _i(P_i) = 2.71 ± 0.37 μM).     

Synthesis and Anti‐HIV Activity of Guanine Modified Fluorinated Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonate Derivatives

The preparation of an unprecedented series of nucleobase modified 3‐fluoro‐2‐(phosphonomethoxy)propyl (FPMP) acyclic nucleosides in both their (R) and (S) enantiomerically pure forms is described. The synthesis focuses on a Mitsunobu alkylation reaction to construct the C?N(9) bond between a chiral fluorinated side‐chain residue and 6‐ or 7‐modified guanine analogs. Prodrugs of FPMP‐7‐deazaguanine were also synthesized by derivatization of the corresponding phosphonic acid functionality with (bis)diamyl aspartate amidate groups, leading to moderate activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1).     

Synthesis,Characterization and Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activities of Novel Aziridinyl Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

New aziridine 2‐phosphonic acids were prepared by monohydrolysis of the aziridine 2‐phosphonates that were obtained by the modified Gabriel?Cromwell reaction of vinyl phosphonate or α‐tosylvinyl phosphonate with a primary amine or a chiral amine. The cellular cytotoxicity of these compounds was tested against the HCT‐116 colorectal cancer cell lines and the CCD‐18Co normal colon fibroblast lines using the MTT assay. Three of the synthesized phosphonic acid derivatives 2e (ethyl hydrogen {(2S)‐1‐[(1S)‐1‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)ethyl]aziridin‐2‐yl}phosphonate), 2h (ethyl hydrogen (1‐benzylaziridin‐2‐yl)phosphonate), and 2i (ethyl hydrogen (1‐cyclohexylaziridin‐2‐yl)phosphonate) showed higher cytotoxicity than the reference cancer treatment agent etoposide. Cell death was through a robust induction of apoptosis even more effectively than etoposide, a well‐known apoptosis inducing agent.     

4"-Thio-5-Ethyl-2"-Deoxyuridine 5"-Phosphonates: Synthesis and Antiviral Activity

A number of new 5"-phosphonate derivatives of 4"-thio-5-ethyl-2"-deoxyuridine (TEDU) were synthesized. These compounds displayed a low cytotoxicity and, except for TEDU 5"-fluorophosphate, antiherpes activity similar to that of 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine (acyclovir) and 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine (pencyclovir). 5"-Ethoxycarbonylphosphonate and 5"-aminocarbonylphosphonate of TEDU were also found to suppress the reproduction of herpes simplex type 1 virus, which is resistant to acyclovir.     

Asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts alkylations of indoles with dialkyl 3‐oxoprop‐1‐enylphosphonates: Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of α‐indolyl phosphonates

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of α‐indolyl phosphonates has been successfully carried out via asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts alkylation of substituted indoles with (E)‐dialkyl 3‐oxoprop‐1‐enylphosphonates in 48–82% yield and 73–96% ee. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis of branched 9-[2-(2-phosphonoethoxy)ethyl]purines as a new class of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates which inhibit Plasmodium falciparum hypoxanthine–guanine–xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase

The malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) lacks the de novo pathway and relies on the salvage enzyme, hypoxanthine–guanine–xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGXPRT), for the synthesis of the 6-oxopurine nucleoside monophosphates. Specific acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) inhibit PfHGXPRT and possess anti-plasmodial activity. Two series of novel branched ANPs derived from 9-[2-(2-phosphonoethoxy)ethyl]purines were synthesized to investigate their inhibition of PfHGXPRT and human HGPRT. The best inhibitor of PfHGXPRT has a K_i of 1 μM. The data showed that both the position and nature of the hydrophobic substituent change the potency and selectivity of the ANPs.     

New derivatives of alkyl-and aminocarbonylphosphonic acids containing 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine

New 5′-phosphonates of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine were synthesized and shown to be low-toxic and markedly active in MT-4 cell cultures infected with HIV-1.     

Enantioseparation of α‐Hydroxyallylphosphonates and Phosphonoallylic Carbonate Derivatives on Chiral Stationary Phases Using Sequential UV,Polarimetric, and Refractive Index Detection

Chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of parent compounds dimethyl α‐hydroxyallyl phosphonate 1a and 1‐(dimethoxyphosphoryl) allyl methyl carbonate 1b was demonstrated by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using Chiralpak AS‐H and ad ‐H chiral stationary phases (CSP), respectively, using a combination of UV, polarimetric, and refractive index detectors. A comparison was made of the separation efficiency and elution order of enantiomeric α‐hydroxyallyl phosphonates and their carbonate derivatives on commercially available polysaccharide AS, ad , OD, IC‐3, and Whelk‐O 1 CSPs. In general, the α‐hydroxyallyl phosphonates were resolved on the AS‐H CSP, whereas the carbonate derivatives 1b and 2b were preferentially resolved on the ad ‐H CSP. The impact of aryl substitution on the resolution of analytes 1d , 1e , 1f and 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 was evaluated. Thermodynamic parameters determined for enantioselective adsorption hydroxyphosphonates 1a and 4 on the AS‐H CSP and carbonate 1b on the ad ‐H CSP demonstrated enthalpic control for separation of the enantiomers. Chirality 28:656–662, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Alternate modes of binding in two crystal structures of alkaline phosphatase-inhibitor complexes

Two high resolution crystal structures of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) in the presence of phosphonate inhibitors are reported. The phosphonate compounds, phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) and mercaptomethylphosphonic acid (MMP), bind competitively to AP with dissociation constants of 5.5 and 0.6 mM, respectively. The structures of the complexes of AP with PAA and MMP were refined at high resolution to crystallographic R-values of 19.0 and 17.5%, respectively. Refinement of the AP-inhibitor complexes was carried out using X-PLOR. The final round of refinement was done using SHELXL-97. Crystallographic analyses of the inhibitor complexes reveal different binding modes for the two phosphonate compounds. The significant difference in binding constants can be attributed to these alternative binding modes observed in the high resolution X-ray structures. The phosphinyl group of PAA coordinates to the active site zinc ions in a manner similar to the competitive inhibitor and product inorganic phosphate. In contrast, MMP binds with its phosphonate moiety directed toward solvent. Both enzyme-inhibitor complexes exhibit close contacts, one of which has the chemical and geometrical potential to be considered an unconventional hydrogen bond of the type C-H...X.