A new C-nucleoside analogue of tiazofurin: synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (imidazofurin)

2-Beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide, an imidazole analogue of the antitumor agent tiazofurin, was synthesized and evaluated for the growth inhibitory activity of human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells.

C-nucleoside analogues of furanfurin as ligands to A1 adenosine receptors

Furanfurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylfuran-4-carboxamide) derivatives and analogues were synthesized and their affinity for adenosine receptors was determined. The agonistic behavior of furanfurin against A1 receptors is preserved only when the furan ring is substituted with isosteric pentatomic ring systems such as oxazole, thiazole or thiophene, and the carboxamide group is unsubstituted. Replacement of the hydrogen atoms of the carboxamide group with alkyl, cycloalkyl or arylalkyl groups generates compounds endowed with moderate antagonistic activity.

Synthesis, conformational analysis, and biological activity of C-thioribonucleosides related to tiazofurin

The syntheses of furanthiofurin [5beta-D-(4'-thioribofuranosyl)furan-3-carboxamide, 1] and thiophenthiofurin [5beta-D-(4'-thioribofuranosyl)thiophene-3-carboxamide, 2], two C-thioribonucleoside analogues of tiazofurin, are described. Direct trifluoroacetic acid-catalyzed C-glycosylation of ethyl furan-3-carboxylate with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-4-thio-D-ribofuranose gave 2- and 5-glycosylated regioisomers, as a mixture of alpha and beta anomers. Ethyl 5-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl)-beta-D-(4'-thioribofuranosyl)furan-3-carboxylate (6beta) was debenzylated and then converted into the corresponding amide (furanthiofurin) by reaction with ammonium hydroxide. A similar C-glycosylation of ethyl thiophene-3-carboxylate with 1,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-4-thio-D-ribofuranose catalyzed by stannic chloride afforded an anomeric mixture of 2- and 5-glycosylated regioisomers. Deacetylation of ethyl 5-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl)-beta-D-(4'-thioribofuranosyl)thiophene-3-carboxylate (13beta) with methanolic ammonia and treatment of the ethyl ester with ammonium hydroxide gave thiophenthiofurin. The glycosylation site and anomeric configuration were established by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Thiophenthiofurin was found to be cytotoxic in vitro toward human myelogenous leukemia K562, albeit 39-fold less than thiophenfurin, while furanthiofurin proved to be inactive. K562 cells incubated with thiophenthiofurin resulted in inhibition of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) and an increase in IMP pools with a concurrent decrease in GTP levels. From computational studies it was deduced that, among the C-nucleoside analogues of tiazofurin, activity requires an electrophilic sulfur adjacent to the C-glycosidic bond and an energetically favorable conformer around chi = 0 degrees. Among these, the more constrained (least flexible) compounds (tiazofurin and thiophenfurin) are more active than the less constrained thiophenthiofurin. Those compounds which contain a nucleophilic oxygen in place of the thiazole or thiophene (oxazofurin, furanfurin, and furanthiofurin) show the least activity.

Monocyclic L-nucleosides with type 1 cytokine-inducing activity

A series of 1,2,4-triazole L-nucleosides were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to stimulate type 1 cytokine production by activated human T cells in direct comparison to the known active agent ribavirin. Among the compounds prepared, 1-beta-L-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (5, ICN 17261) was found to be the most uniformly potent compound. Conversion of the 3-carboxamide group of 5 to a carboxamidine functionality resulted in 1-beta-L-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamidine hydrochloride (10), which induced cytokine levels comparable to 5 for two of the three type 1 cytokines examined. Modification of the carbohydrate moiety of 5 provided compounds of reduced activity. Significantly, ICN 17261 offers interesting immunomodulatory potential for the treatment of diseases where type 1 cytokines play an important role.

Another complication of ribavirin therapy in a mechanically ventilated neonate

A critical incident is reported in which ribavirin administered from a small particle aerosol generator (SPAG) into a ventilator circuit became deposited around the humidifier temperature probe with the consequence that it became thermally insulated. This caused overheating of the humidifier and the potential for thermal injury to the respiratory tract. The circuit for aerosolized ribavirin administration is described and modifications suggested to avoid crystal precipitation within the circuit.

On the conformation of tiazofurin analogues

Tiazofurin, an important inhibitor of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase, has been argued to possess a restricted glycosylic bond due to an energetically favorable intramolecular (1-4) electrostatic interaction between the partial positive sulfur and the negative oxygen of the ribose. This rigidity has been appointed as a plausible cause that leads to activity in the sulfur containing compounds as opposed to the inactive oxazofurin-like analogues (i.e. S is replaced by an oxygen) that lack this favorable interaction. We reinvestigated this notion by using computational methods to report that although the above interaction (or its lack) is likely to contribute to the low-energy conformation of these classes of molecules, the flexibility of the glycosylic bond is ultimately determined by steric interaction of the heteroatoms with the C2'-H and O4' of the ribose. Application of this theory in the design of new analogues is presented as well.

Ribavirin conjugated with lactosaminated poly-L-lysine: selective delivery to the liver and increased antiviral activity in mice with viral hepatitis

Ribavirin (RIBV) is a useful drug in the treatment of chronic type C hepatitis but displays a toxicity for red blood cells (RBC), which limits its dosage and necessitates withdrawal in some patients. Selective concentration of RIBV in liver should improve therapeutic results. Liver targeting can be achieved by coupling the drug to galactosyl-terminating peptides, which specifically enter hepatocytes. In the present work, we conjugated RIBV to lactosaminated poly-L-lysine (L-Poly(Lys)), a hepatotropic carrier enabling intramuscular (IM) administration of conjugates. The L-Poly(Lys)-RIBV conjugate had a heavy drug load (312-327 microg of RIBV in 1 mg of conjugate) and was very soluble in 0.9% NaCl (200 mg/mL). The conjugate was devoid of acute toxicity in mouse. When incubated with human or mouse blood, it did not release the drug. After IM administration to mice, the conjugate was selectively taken up by the liver, where the drug was released in a pharmacologically active form. This was demonstrated using mice infected with a strain of murine hepatitis virus (MHV) sensitive to RIBV. Coupled RIBV, IM injected, inhibited MHV replication in liver at a daily dose two to three times lower than that of the free drug. In mice IM injected with a conjugate tritiated in the RIBV moiety, the ratios between the levels of radioactivity in liver and RBC were two times higher than in animals injected with free tritiated RIBV. In conclusion, the present results support the possibility that the chemotherapeutic index of RIBV in chronic type C hepatitis can be increased by conjugation with L-Poly(Lys).

Antiviral activities of nucleotide heterodimers against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in vitro

Nucleotide heterodimers were synthesized and examined for their inhibitory effects on the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), including HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor-resistant mutants. 3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidilyl-(5')-phospho-(5')-6-[(3', 5'-dimethylphenyl)thio]-5-ethyl-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]uracil (AZT-P-E-HEPU-dM) and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidilyl-(5')-phospho-(5')-2', 3'-dideoxyinosine (AZT-P-ddI) proved to be highly potent and selective inhibitors of HIV-1 (IIIB strain) in MT-4 cells. The mechanism of inhibition by these heterodimers may be attributed to their degradation and the formation of each constituent. AZT-P-E-HEPU-dM was also markedly inhibitory to an AZT-resistant mutant (HIV-1-IIIB/AZT) and an E-HEPU-dM-resistant mutant (HIV-1-IIIB-R). However, AZT-P-ddI was found to have a less inhibitory effect on HIV-1-IIIB/AZT than on HIV-1-IIIB. The heterodimers of (5',5') AZT and ribavirin (AZT-P-Ribavirin) and (5',5') ddI and ribavirin (ddI-P-Ribavirin) were also synthesized: AZT-P-Ribavirin inhibited HIV-1 replication, but ddI-P-Ribarvirin did not.

Furanfurin and thiophenfurin: two novel tiazofurin analogues. Synthesis, structure, antitumor activity, and interactions with inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase

The syntheses of furan and thiophene analogues of tiazofurin (furanfurin and thiophenfurin, respectively) are described. Direct stannic chloride-catalyzed C-glycosylation of ethyl 3-furan-carboxylate (6) or ethyl 3-thiophencarboxylate (18) with 1,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-D-ribofuranose gave 2- and 5-glycosylated regioisomers, as a mixture of alpha- and beta-anomers, and the beta-2,5-diglycosylated derivatives. Deprotection of ethyl 5-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)furan-3-carboxylate (9 beta) and ethyl 5-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)thiophene-3-carboxylate (20 beta) with sodium ethoxide afforded ethyl 5-beta-D-ribofuranosylfuran-3-carboxylate (12 beta) and ethyl 5-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiophene-3-carboxylate (23 beta) which were converted into 5-beta-D-ribofuranosylfuran-3-carboxamide (furanfurin, 4) and 5-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiophene-3-carboxamide (thiophenfurin, 5) by reaction with ammonium hydroxide. The anomeric configuration and the site of glycosylation were established by 1H-NMR and proton-proton nuclear Overhauser effect difference spectroscopy. The structure of compound 23 beta was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Thiophenfurin was found to be cytotoxic in vitro toward murine lymphocytic leukemia P388 and L1210, human myelogenous leukemia K562, human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60, human colon adenocarcinoma LoVo, and B16 melanoma at concentrations similar to that of tiazofurin. In the same test furanfurin proved to be inactive. Thiophenfurin was found active in vivo in BD2F1 mice inoculated with L1210 cells with a % T/C of 168 at 25 mg/kg. K562 cells incubation with thiophenfurin resulted in inhibition of inosine monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase (63%) and an increase in IMP pools (6-fold) with a concurrent decrease in GTP levels (42%). Incubation of adenosine-labeled K562 cells with tiazofurin, thiophenfurin, and furanfurin resulted in a 2-fold higher NAD analogue formulation by thiophenfurin than by tiazofurin. Furanfurin was converted to the NAD analogue with only 10% efficiency. The results obtained support the hypothesis that the presence of S in the heterocycle in position 2 with respect to the glycosidic bond is essential for the cytotoxicity and IMP dehydrogenase activity of tiazofurin, while the N atom is not.

C-glycosyl bond conformation in oxazofurin: crystallographic and computational studies of the oxazole analogue of tiazofurin

Oxazofurin is the inactive oxazole analogue of the C-glycosyl thiazole antitumor agent tiazofurin. Replacement of the thiazole sulfur in tiazofurin with the oxazole oxygen in oxazofurin produces conformational effects that are examined using crystallographic and computational methods. The crystal structure of oxazofurin contains six molecules in the asymmetric unit and has been refined to a standard R value of 6.8% for all data. The six oxazofurin conformers show an average C-glycosidic torsion angle of 70(9) degrees. This value is significantly higher than the average absolute C-glycosidic torsion angle of 24(10) degrees obtained from previous thiazole nucleoside structures. Previous studies suggest that, in tiazofurin, an electrostatic interaction between a positively charged thiazole sulfur and negatively charged furanose oxygen constrains the C-glycosidic torsion angle to a relatively small value. Ab initio molecular orbital studies presented here suggest that the higher C-glycosidic angles observed in the oxazofurin structures result from a repulsive interaction between negatively charged oxazole and furanose oxygens. Thus, it is likely that differences in activity between oxazo- and tiazofurin are either (1) due directly to differences in electronic properties between the thiazole and oxazole rings or (2) due to the variation in C-glycosidic bond conformation resulting from the alteration in the charge distribution of the heterocycle.

Solid-state and solution conformations of isotiazofurin: crystallographic, computational and 1H NMR studies

Isotiazofurin (C9H12N2O5S, NSC363223) is a thiazole nucleoside analogue of the antitumour agent tiazofurin. The conformation of this analogue has been studied using a variety of experimental and computational techniques. The crystal and molecular structure of isotiazofurin has been determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques and refined to a conventional R value of 0.030 for all data. Conformational features conserved in other thiazole nucleoside structures are also observed in the solid-state structure of isotiazofurin. The C-glycosidic torsion angle remains in the anti conformation and the carboxamide amino group remains cis-planar to the ring nitrogen. Ab initio calculations at the RHF/321G*@321G* level and natural bond orbital analysis of the results suggest that the carboxamide cis-planar conformation observed in the solid state is maintained in solution. However, semiempirical calculations suggest that a syn conformation about the C-glycosidic bond is energetically favored. This is supported by 1H nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) studies. Analyses of NOE results using both slow- and rapid-exchange models indicate a preference for the syn conformation in solution. Thus, the anti conformation observed in the crystal structures of isotiazofurin is not maintained by isotiazofurin in solution.

A database study of nonbonded intramolecular sulfur-nucleophile contacts

A search of the Cambridge Structural Database (1991, version 4.5) was performed to investigate nonbonded intramolecular 1,4 S...O close contacts of the kind seen in the thiazole nucleoside tiazofurin and other classes of compounds. The search yielded 362 structures with 1,4 S...O connectivity. S...O distances in 70% of these structures were less than the sum of the sulfur and oxygen van der Waals radii. Findings indicate that 1,4 S...O close contacts are common and so probably result from intramolecular interactions rather than from external crystal packing forces. A structure containing a sulfur atom in a conjugated ring system is more likely to exhibit 1,4 S...O close contacts than a structure containing a sulfur atom in an unconjugated and/or acyclic environment. Sulfur-nitrogen contacts were also investigated and were found to show similar properties. These results are consistent with findings from previous quantum-chemical-based studies performed on model fragments [Burling & Goldstein (1992). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 2313-2320].

Structures of the 4-cyano and 4-methylamidate analogs of tiazofurin

4-Cyanotiazofurin [2-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)thiazole-4-carbonitrile, (1)], C9H10N2O4S, M(r) = 242.3, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.329(1), b = 8.295 (1), c = 8.697(1) A, beta = 90.90 (1) degree, V = 528.7(1) A3, Z = 2, Dx = 1.52 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 27.2 cm-1, F(000) = 252, T = 293 K, R = 0.0487 for all 1171 unique reflections. 4-Methylamidatetiazofurin [methyl 2-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)thiazole-4-carboximidate, (2)], C10H14N2O5S, M(r) = 274.3, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 8.596(1), b = 11.060(1), c = 26.064(1) A, V = 2478.1(2) A3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.47 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 24.5 cm-1, F(000) = 1152, T = 293 K, R = 0.0374 for all 2902 unique reflections. Compound (2) crystallizes with two crystallographic unique structures in the asymmetric unit [(2a) and (2b)]. All three structures show a close contact between the thiazole sulfur and the pentose oxygen O(1'). S...O(1') distances are 2.936 (3) A in (1), 2.773 (2) A in (2a) and 2.878 (2) A in (2b), resulting from C-glycosidic torsion angles of 34.5 (4), 15.6 (3) and 27.2 (3) degrees respectively. This interesting feature is conserved in the crystal structures of other thiazole nucleosides [Burling & Goldstein (1992).

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of N-carboxamidine-substituted analogues of 1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamidine hydrochloride

Ten, hitherto unreported, analogues of 1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamidine hydrochloride (2a, ribamidine) and methyl carboximidate 5 have been synthesized. These include the N-cyano (2b), N-alkyl (2c-e), N-amino acid (2f-h), N,N'-disubstituted (6, 7a,b), and the N-methylated carboxamide (1f) analogues of ribavirin. In addition, a new facile synthesis of carboxamidine 2a was also developed. All compounds were evaluated for biological activity against the following RNA viruses: Punta Toro (PT) and sandfly fever (SF) viruses (bunyaviruses); Japanese encephalitis (JE), yellow fever (YF), and dengue-4 viruses (flaviviruses); parainfluenza type 3 (PIV3), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and measles viruses (paramyxoviruses); influenza A and influenza B viruses (orthomyxoviruses); Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEE, alphavirus); human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1, lentivirus); the DNA-containing vaccinia (VV) virus (poxvirus); and adeno type 5 (Ad5) viruses. All of the compounds except for 2b and 7a,b exhibited activity against the bunyaviruses such as that observed with 2a; however, higher IC50 values were generally observed. Glycine analogue 2f showed activity in PT-virus-infected mice in terms of increased survivors and decreased markers of viral pathogenicity. Carboxamidine 2a, carboximidate 5, and dimethyl amidine 6 exhibited activity against dengue type-4 virus. Monomethyl amidine 2c demonstrated activity against RSV, PIV3, and, to a lesser extent, influenza A and B. Activity of 2c generally required higher IC50 values than unsubstituted 2a. The latter exhibited hitherto unreported activity against RSV; therapeutic indices for 2a against RSV and PIV3 were greater than 64 and greater than 21. No substantial in vitro activity was observed for any of the compounds tested against Ad5, measles, JE, YF, VEE, or HIV-1. In addition, evidence is presented which argues in favor of a distinct antiviral mechanism of action for carboxamidines, e.g. 6, in contrast to a role as a carboxamide precursor.

Structures of the 2',3'-dideoxy and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy analogs of tiazofurin

2',3'-Dideoxytiazofurin [2-(2',3'-dideoxy-beta-D-glycero-pentafuranosyl)thiazole-4- carboxamide]hemihydrate (1), C9H12N2O3S.1/2H2O, Mr = 237.3, monoclinic, C2, a = 23.141 (2), b = 5.912 (1), c = 8.252 (1) A, beta = 90.71 (1) degrees, V = 1128.9 (4) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.396 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 25.0 cm-1, F(000) = 500, T = 295 K, R = 0.0319 for all 1316 unique reflections. 2',3'-Didehydro-2',3'-dideoxytiazofurin [2-(2',3'-dideoxy-beta-D-glyceropent-2-enofuranosyl)thiazole -4-carboxamide] (2), C9H10N2O3S, Mr = 226.3, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 22.172 (2), b = 8.019 (1), c = 5.991 (1) A, V = 1065.2 (4) A3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.411 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 25.9 cm-1, F(000) = 472, T = 295 K, R = 0.0344 for all 957 unique reflections. Both structures show a close contact between the thiazole S and the pentose O(1') atoms. S...O(1') distances are 2.834 (2) A in (1) and 2.835 (1) A in (2), resulting from C-glycosidic torsion angles of 14.1 (2) and 5.2 (3) degrees respectively. This unusual feature is conserved in the crystal structures of other thiazole nucleosides [Goldstein, Mao & Marquez (1988). J. Med. Chem. 31, 1026-1031].

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 2-beta-D-ribofuranosyloxazole-4-carboxamide (oxazofurin)

Condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-2,5-anhydro-D-allonyl chloride (4) with ethyl 2-amino-2-cyanoacetate (5) provided 2-[(3',4',6'-tri-O-benzoyl-2',5'-anhydroallonyl)amino]-2-cyanoa cetate (6). Compound 6 was treated with hydrogen chloride gas to give ethyl 5-amino-2-(2',3',5'-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D- ribofuranosyl)oxazole-4-carboxylate (8). Reductive dediazotization of blocked nucleoside 8 provided ethyl 2-(2',3',5'-tri-O- benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)oxazole-4-carboxylate (10), which after deblocking with sodium methoxide and ammonolysis was converted to 2-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-oxazole-4-carboxamide (oxazofurin, 3), an analogue of the antitumor and antiviral C-nucleoside tiazofurin (1). Oxazofurin (3) was found to be cytotoxic toward B16 murine melanoma cells in culture but inactive against murine leukemia P388 and L1210.

[Synthesis, conformation analysis, and antiviral activity of benzimidazole ribofuranosides]

To study the structure-biological effect correlation in the series of nucleoside analogues containing deazapurines, a number of 2-R-benzimidazole 1-beta-D-ribofuranosides (R = H, CF3, SCF3, CH2SCF3, CH2Ph, CH2CN) have been prepared by the modified silyl method. On the basis of CD and PMR data it was shown that the compounds exist in solution mainly as syn-conformers. Calculation of the furanose ring pseudorotation parameters in terms of N-S model indicates the predominance of S-population. In contrast to acyclonucleosides, the ribofuranosides obtained are nonactive against entheroviruses and more cytotoxic.