Synthesis of 1-methyl-3-phenylpyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridines via a methylation of 4-phthalimino-3-phenylpyrazoles and optimization toward highly potent corticotropin-releasing factor type-1 antagonists

1-Methyl-3-phenylpyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridines were synthesized via a cyclization reaction of 1-methyl-4-amino-3-phenylpyrazoles 8 with ethyl acetoacetate. Optimization of this series of compounds resulted in CRF(1) antagonists with subnanomolar binding affinity. Compounds bearing a polar group such as methoxy or hydroxy were also found to be very active.

A synthetic strategy for the preparation of cyclic peptide mimetics based on SET-promoted photocyclization processes

A novel method for the synthesis of cyclic peptide analogues has been developed. The general approach relies on the use of SET-promoted photocyclization reactions of peptides that contain N-terminal phthalimides as light absorbing electron acceptor moieties and C-terminal alpha-amidosilane or alpha-amidocarboxylate centers. Prototypical substrates are prepared by coupling preformed peptides with the acid chloride of N-phthalimidoglycine. Irradiation of these substrates results in the generation of cyclic peptide analogues in modest to good yields. The chemical efficiencies of these processes are not significantly affected by (1) the lengths of the peptide chains separating the phthalimide and alpha-amidosilane or alpha-amidocarboxylate centers and (2) the nature of the penultimate cation radical alpha-heterolytic fragmentation process (i.e., desilylation vs decarboxylation). An evaluation of the effects of N-alkyl substitution on the amide residues in the peptide chain showed that N-alkyl substitution does not have a major impact on the efficiencies of the photocyclization reactions but that it profoundly increases the stability of the cyclic peptide.

Stereospecific synthesis of 5-substituted 2-bisarylthiocyclopentane carboxylic acids as specific matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of a series of cyclopentane carboxylic acid matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors are described. Potent and specific MMP-2, -3, -9, -13 inhibitors were obtained by regio- and stereoselective substitutions at positions 2 and 5 on the cyclopentane ring. Compounds 2a and 2e are active in the mouse B16-F10 metastasis model and display very good pharmacokinetic parameters.

Application of pharmacophore models for the design and synthesis of new anticonvulsant drugs

The chemical diversity and various mechanisms of action of anticonvulsants make it difficult to identify a common pharmacophore. The present review outlines different pharmacophore models for anticonvulsant activity with emphasis on the development of new drugs. Some of them represent models for structurally different classes of compounds with similar mechanisms of action. Others represent pharmacophore models for similar chemical classes of compounds for which the mechanism of anticonvulsant action is not clear. A pharmacophore model for sodium channel blocking compounds, anticonvulsants with the phthalimide pharmacophore, a model for anticonvulsant semicarbazones, and a model for GABA uptake inhibitors are presented.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production-regulating activity of phthalimide derivatives in genetically modified murine melanoma cells B78H1

The effect of imides, monothioimides, trimellitimides, as well as 5'-deoxy-5'-phthaloylamino-derivatives of azidothymidine on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by genetically modified murine B78H1 melanoma cells transduced with the gene for human TNF-alpha (B78/TNF) was investigated. It was found that N-(adamant-1-yl)monothiophthalimide (1e) and N-(adamant-2-yl)-monothiophthalimide (1f) showed over 200% enhancing of TNF-alpha production while some of imides were inhibitors.

Use of a pharmacophore model to discover a new class of influenza endonuclease inhibitors

Data from both our own and literature studies of the biochemistry and inhibition of influenza virus endonuclease was combined with data on the mechanism of action and the likely active site mechanism to propose a pharmacophore. The pharmacophore was used to design a novel structural class of inhibitors, some of which were found to have activities similar to that of known influenza endonuclease inhibitors and were also antiviral in cell culture.

SLV310, a novel, potential antipsychotic, combining potent dopamine D2 receptor antagonism with serotonin reuptake inhibition

In this paper, SLV310 is presented as a novel, potential antipsychotic displaying the interesting combination of potent dopamine D(2) receptor antagonism and serotonin reuptake receptor inhibition in one molecule. As such, SLV310 could be useful in treating a broad range of symptoms in schizophrenia. This paper describes the structure-activity relationship in a series of compounds leading to SLV310 (6b, 2-[4-[4-(5-fluoro-1H-indol-3-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridin-1-yl]-butyl]-phthalimide) together with pharmacological data showing the unique profile of this compound.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of phthalimide derivatives, designed as new thalidomide analogues

This paper describes the synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of new N-phenyl-phthalimide sulfonamides (3a-e) and the isosters N-phenyl-phthalimide amides (4a-e), designed as hybrids of thalidomide (1) and aryl sulfonamide phosphodiesterase inhibitor (2). In these series, compound 3e (LASSBio 468), having a sulfonyl-thiomorpholine moiety, showed potent inhibitory activity on LPS-induced neutrophil recruitment with ED(50)=2.5mg kg(-1), which was correlated with its inhibitory effect on TNF-alpha level.

Novel phthalimide derivatives, designed as leukotriene D(4) receptor antagonists

A series of phthalimide acid derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as leukotriene D(4) receptor antagonists. The tetrazolephthalimide LASSBio 552 (7) was shown to be able to inhibit the contractile activity induced by 100 nM of LTD(4) in guinea-pig tracheal strips with an IC(50) = 31.2 microM. In addition, LASSBio 552 (7) has been showed to present a better efficacy than zafirlukast (1) used as standard.

A new synthesis of oxadiazole, thiazolidinone, N-phthalimidoamino carbonyl and arylidene derivatives with potential antimicrobial activity

Condensation of carbohydrazide derivatives Ia, b with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and acetylenedicarboxylic acid yielded benzofuran derivatives II a-d. Reaction of Ib with aromatic aldehydes formed products III a-d. Treatment of compounds III a-d with mercaptoacetic acid yielded the cyclocondensation products (IVa-d). Phthalic anhydride reacted with compounds (Ia, b)to form products (Va, b). It has been found that both khellin and visnagin (VIa, b)react with aromatic aldehydes to give arylidene derivatives (VIIa-e). Condensation of diphenyl nitrilamine with 2-arylidene furochromones VII derivatives afforded cyclo-adducts (VIII a-i). The antibacterial activities of the selected compounds were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Erwinia with good results.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: topically acting antiglaucoma sulfonamides incorporating phthaloyl and phthalimido moieties

Sulfonamides incorporating 2-carboxy-benzenecarboxamido (phthaloyl) moieties in their molecules were prepared by reaction of phthalic anhydride with aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides in mild conditions. Another closely related series of derivatives was prepared by reaction of the same reagents in more energetic conditions, when the corresponding phthalimides were obtained. Some of these compounds showed very good in vitro carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes I, II and IV inhibitory properties, with affinities for the enzymes in the low nanomolar range for the best inhibitors. Some of the potent CA inhibitors reported here have been formulated as sodium salts, in aqueous solutions for topical administration as antiglaucoma agents, in normotensive/glaucomatous rabbits. Only the derivatives possessing good water solubility, showed effective and longer lasting topical intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering than dorzolamide and brinzolamide, two clinically used topical antiglaucoma drugs. All the in vivo effective new compounds belonged to the first series of derivatives, whereas the corresponding phthalimides, although stronger in vitro CA inhibitors were devoid of topical IOP lowering properties, probably due to their unproper physico-chemical properties.

N,N',N",N"'-Tetraethylterephthalamidinium bis(tetrazolate)

The crystal structure of the title 2:1 salt of tetrazole and a substituted terephthalamidine, C(16)H(28)N(4)(2+).2CHN(4)(-), contains an infinite network of hydrogen bonds, with short N.N distances of 2.820 (2) and 2.8585 (19) A between the tetrazolate anion and the amidinium cation. Involvement of the lateral N atoms of the tetrazole in the hydrogen bonding appears to be a typical binding pattern for the tetrazolate anion.

New anti-inflammatory N-pyridinyl(alkyl)phthalimides acting as tumour necrosis factor-alpha production inhibitors

This paper describes the synthesis of N-pyridinyl(alkyl)phthalimides related to N-phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluorophthalimides known to be inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) production. Pharmacomodulation at the phthalimidic nitrogen led to the selection of two pharmacophoric fragments (2,4-lutidinyl and beta-picolyl), allowing significant inhibition of TNFalpha production (compounds 12 and 17). Variation of the substituents linked to the homocycle of their phthalimide scaffold indicated that high (TNFalpha production) inhibitory potency could be achieved, notably by 5-fluoro, 4- or 5-nitro, 5-amino and especially tetrafluoro substitution. The most active compound, N-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrafluorophthalimide (32) (84% inhibition at 10 microM), also produced an anti-oedematous effect in the PMA-induced mouse-ear swelling test. Although less active than dexamethasone, it exerted a marked reduction in ear thickness after oral administration (63% vs. 85% for dexamethasone at 0.2 mMkg(-1)) and remained efficient after topical application (46% vs. 96% for the dexamethasone). It also induced potent inhibition in the rat carrageenan foot oedema test with an ID(50) (0.14 microMkg(-1)) comparable with that of N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)phthalimide (4) (0.15 microMkg(-1)).

Thymidine phosphorylase inhibitors with a homophthalimide skeleton

Several N-phenylhomophthalimide derivatives were prepared and their inhibitory activity on thymidine phosphorylase/ platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (TP/PD-ECGF) was assessed. Among them, 2-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-7-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1,3-dione (9) was found to be a more potent inhibitor than the classical inhibitor, 5-nitrouracil (1). Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis indicated that 9 shows mixed-type competitive inhibition of TP/PD-ECGF, while 1 is a competitive inhibitor.

Synthesis and hypolipidemic activity of N-phthalimidomethyl tetra-O-acyl-α-d-mannopyranosides

A facile synthesis of anomerically pure phthalimidomethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- and phthalimidomethyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-4,6-di-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosides (6 and 9b) starting from N-hydroxymethylphthalimide and tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal is described. Compounds 3, 6, 8, 9a and 9b have been tested for their hypolipidemic activity in mice. All these compound showed significant reduction of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Compound 9b has been found to possess the highest activity.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of some new phthalimide analogues

The reactive intermediate 1-(chloroalkyl)-1-aza-2-azoniaallene salts 3, which were prepared by treatment of the alpha,alpha'-dichloroazo derivatives 2 with SbCl5, underwent cycloaddition with the N-cyanoalkyl phthalimide compounds 4 and afforded the 1,2,4-triazolium salts 5. These salts rearranged spontaneously to the protonated 1,2,4-triazoles 6, followed by hydrolysis in situ to the 1,2,4-triazolo-alkyl-phthalimide compounds 7. The newly synthesized compounds were then evaluated for their antitumor activity in three cell lines.

Efficient synthesis of (S)-4-phthalimido-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-8-(2,6-dichlorobenzyloxy)- 3-oxo-2H-2-benzazepin-2-acetic acid (PHt-Hba(2,6-Cl2-Bn)-Gly-OH)

4-Amino-2-benzazepin-3-ones have proven very useful for studying the biologically active conformations of peptides. The synthesis of Pht-Aba-Xaa-OH by reaction of the corresponding 1,3-oxazolidin-5-one with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMSA) has been reported in the literature. However, when this procedure was applied to the preparation of Pht-Hba(Bn)-Gly-OH 8, many byproducts were formed and the yield of the desired aminobenzazepinones 7 and 8 was very low. We report in this paper an efficient methodology for the synthesis of Pht-Hba(2,6-Cl2-Bn)-Gly-OH 17 starting from the commercially available tyrosine. In our procedure, the dipeptide Pht-Tyr(2,6-Cl2-Bn)-Gly-OH 15 is converted to the 1,3-oxazolidin-5-one 16 which then undergoes Friedel-Crafts cyclization in the presence of tin tetrachloride to afford the desired 4-phthalimido-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-8-(2,6-dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-be nzazepin-3-one 17 in excellent yield.

Synthetic receptors for CG base pairs

Hydrogen-bond-mediated complexation of a CG base pair by a hexylureido phthalimide and a hexylureido isoindolin-1-one was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy in an organic solvent. Chemical shift data indicate that both receptors effectively bind the CG base pair from the major groove side.

Synthesis of PDK, a novel porphyrin-linked dicarboxylate ligand

A novel trinucleating ligand system H4(PDK), for porphyrin-based diamine bis(Kemp's triacid)imide, was constructed by using two molecules of Kemp's triacid and one molecule of porphyrin as building blocks. The dimeso-substituted octaalkylporphyrin unit, carrying bromomethyl groups at the ortho positions of two trans-positioned meso-phenyl groups, was synthesized from (3,3'-diethyl-4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-dipyrrolyl)methane and (alpha-bromo-o-tolualdehyde. The structures of both of the two atropisomers (alpha,alpha- and alpha,beta-) of bromoporphyrin, H2(alpha,alpha-BP) and H2(alpha,beta-BP), were determined by X-ray crystallography, with the alpha,beta-isomer as the free base form and the alpha,alpha-isomer as the zinc complex. Both the alpha,alpha- and alpha,beta-isomers of the bromomethyl porphyrins were converted to their aminomethyl derivatives, H2(alpha,alpha-AP) and H2(alpha,beta-AP), through the corresponding imidoporphyrin intermediates, H2(alpha,alpha-IP) and H2(alpha,beta-IP), by the Gabriel synthesis. The alpha,alpha- and alpha,beta-aminoporphyrins were coupled with Kemp's triacid anhydride-chloride to form H4(alpha,alpha-PDK) and H4(alpha,beta-PDK), respectively. Unlike the alpha,beta-isomer, the structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallography for the zinc complex, H4(alpha,alpha-PDK) has a remarkable and complicated solvent-dependent 1H NMR spectrum that suggests the existence of hydrogen bonding interactions between two convergent, tethered Kemp's triacid units, as predicted in a modeling study. The convergent feature is essential for the target ligand H4(alpha,alpha-PDK) to form trinuclear metal complexes with a bis(carboxylato) dimetallic unit sitting above a metalloporphyrin ring.

Synthesis of ecteinascidin ET-743 and phthalascidin Pt-650 from cyanosafracin B

An efficient new process is described for the synthesis of ecteinascidin ET-743 (1) and phthalascidin (2), starting from readily available cyanosafracin B (3).

General base and general acid catalyzed intramolecular aminolysis of esters. Cyclization of esters of 2-aminomethylbenzoic acid to phthalimidine

Plots of log k(0) vs pH for the cyclization of trifluoroethyl and phenyl 2-aminomethylbenzoate to phthalimidine at 30 degrees C in H(2)O are linear with slopes of 1.0 at pH >3. The values of the second-order rate constants k(OH) for apparent OH(-) catalysis in the cyclization reactions are 1.7 x 10(5) and 5.7 x 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), respectively. These rate constants are 10(5)- and 10(7)-fold greater than for alkaline hydrolysis of trifluoroethyl and phenyl benzoate. The k(OH) for cyclization of the methyl ester is 7.2 x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Bimolecular general base catalysis occurs in the intramolecular nucleophilic reactions of the neutral species. The value of the Bronsted coefficient beta for the trifluoroethyl ester is 0.7. The rate-limiting step in the general base catalyzed reaction involves proton transfer in concert with leaving group departure. The mechanism involving rate-determining proton transfer exemplified by the methyl ester in this series (beta = 1.0) can then be considered a limiting case of the concerted mechanism. General acid catalysis of the neutral species reaction or a kinetic equivalent also occurs when the leaving group is good (pK(a) </= 12.4). That the mechanism and/or rate-determining step of the intramolecular aminolysis reactions is different than in bimolecular reactions or the intramolecular reactions of other esters is attributed to the excellent steric fit of the nucleophile to the reaction center of the 2-aminomethylbenzoate esters.

Structure-activity relationships in a series of bisquaternary bisphthalimidine derivatives modulating the muscarinic M(2)-receptor allosterically

Hexane-bisammonium-type compounds containing lateral phthalimide moieties are well-established ligands of the common allosteric binding site of muscarinic M(2) receptors. Previous structure-activity relationships (SAR) revealed two positively charged centers and two lateral phthalimide moieties in a defined arrangement to be essential of a high allosteric potency. The purpose of this study was to replace one carbonyl group of the phthalimides with hydrogens, hydroxy, alkoxy, phenyl, benzyl, and benzylidene groups in order to check the influence of these substituents on the allosteric activity in antagonist-linked receptors. The analysis of the quantitative SAR indicated that a high allosteric potency is related to a certain amount of rigidity as well as polarizibility and the ability to form hydrophobic interactions.

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of phthalimide-phenylpiperazines: a novel series of potent and selective alpha(1)(a)-adrenergic receptor antagonists

Beginning from the screening hit and literature alpha(1)-adrenergic compounds, a hybridized basic skeleton A was proposed as the pharmacophore for potent and selective alpha(1a)-AR antagonists. Introduction of a hydroxy group to increase the flexibility afforded B which served as the screening model and resulted in the identification of the second-generation lead 1. Using the Topliss approach, a number of potent and selective alpha(1a)-AR antagonists were discovered. In all cases, binding affinity and selectivity at the alpha(1a)-AR of S-hydroxy enantiomers were higher than those of the R-hydroxy enantiomers. As compared to the des-hydroxy analogues, the S-hydroxy enantiomers had slightly lower binding affinity at alpha(1a)-AR but gained more than 2-fold selectivity for alpha(1a)-AR over alpha(1b)-AR, and 2- to 6-fold selectivity for alpha(1a)-AR over alpha(1d)-AR. They also had less cross activities against a panel of 25-35 peripheral and CNS receptors. The S-hydroxy enantiomers 23 and 24 (K(i) = 0.29 nM, 0.33 nM; alpha(1b)/alpha(1a) >5690, >6060; alpha(1d)/alpha(1a) = 186, 158, respectively) were slightly less potent but much more selective at alpha(1a)-AR than tamsulosin (K(i) = 0.13 nM, alpha(1b)/alpha(1a) = 14.8, alpha(1d)/alpha(1a) = 1.4). In the functional assay, the S-hydroxy enantiomers 20, 23, and 24 were less potent than tamsulosin in inhibiting contractions of rat prostate tissue but more selective in the inhibition of tissue contractions of rat prostate versus rat aorta. Compound 24 was selected as the development candidate for the treatment of BPH.

Rational design of selective submicromolar inhibitors of Tritrichomonas foetus hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase

All parasitic protozoa lack the ability to synthesize purine nucleotides de novo, relying instead on purine salvage enzymes for their survival. Hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGXPRT) from the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus is a rational target for antiparasitic drug design because it is the primary enzyme the parasite uses to salvage purine bases from the host. The study presented here is a continuation of our efforts to use the X-ray structure of the T. foetus HGXPRT-GMP complex to design compounds that bind tightly to the purine pocket of HGXPRT. The goal of the current project was to improve the affinity and selectivity of previously identified HGXPRT inhibitor TF1 [4-(3-nitroanilino)phthalic anhydride]. A virtual library of substituted 4-phthalimidocarboxanilides was constructed using methods of structure-based drug design, and was implemented synthetically on solid support. Compound 20 [(4'-phthalimido)carboxamido-3-benzyloxybenzene] was then used as a secondary lead for the second round of combinatorial chemistry, producing a number of low-micromolar inhibitors of HGXPRT. One of these compounds, TF2 [(4'-phthalimido)carboxamido-3-(4-bromobenzyloxy)benzene], was further characterized as a competitive inhibitor of T. foetus HGXPRT with respect to guanine with a K(I) of 0.49 microM and a 30-fold selectivity over the human HGPRT. TF2 inhibited the growth of cultured T. foetus cells in a concentration-dependent manner with an ED(50) of 2.8 microM, and this inhibitory effect could be reversed by addition of exogenous hypoxanthine. These studies underscore the efficiency of combining structure-based drug design with combinatorial chemistry to produce effective species-specific enzyme inhibitors of medicinal importance.

A new, more efficient, and effective process for the synthesis of a key pentacyclic intermediate for production of ecteinascidin and phthalascidin antitumor agents

An efficient process is described for the synthesis of 5, a key intermediate for the synthesis of the potent antitumor agents ecteinascidin 743 (1) and phthalascidin (2) from the readily available building blocks 3b and 4.