Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 3-aryloxindoles: a new class of calcium-dependent, large conductance potassium (maxi-K) channel openers with neuroprotective properties

A concise silylamine approach to 2-amino-3-hydroxy-indoles with potent in vivo antimalaria activity

The development of a concise strategy to access 2-amino-3-hydroxy-indoles, which are disclosed as novel antimalarials with potent in vivo activity, is reported. Starting from isatins the target compounds are synthesized in 2 steps and in good yields via oxoindole intermediates by employing tert-butyldimethylsilyl amine (TBDMSNH(2)) as previously unexplored ammonia equivalent.

Expanding the scope of cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed enantioselective alpha-aminations of oxindoles: a versatile approach to optically active 3-amino-2-oxindole derivatives

A cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed, highly enantioselective, alpha-amination of oxindoles has been developed. The reaction is general, operationally simple, and affords the desired products in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivity. Significantly, this study provides a general catalytic method for the construction of a C-N bond at the C3 position of oxindoles as well as for the creation of a nitrogen-containing, tetrasubstituted chiral center.

Convenient synthesis of 3-alkoxy-3-aryloxindoles by intramolecular arylation of mandelic amides

Medicinally important 3-alkoxy-3-aryloxindoles are conveniently prepared by the rapid microwave-promoted palladium-catalyzed intramolecular enolate arylation of mandelate-derived anilides.

Palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of oxindoles

A catalyst generated from Pd(dba)2 and the bulky electron-rich phosphine ligand 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-2',4', 6'-tri-i-propyl-1-1'-biphenyl is effective for the alpha-arylation of oxindoles. Generation of the potassium-enolates of a range of oxindoles allows coupling with aryl chlorides, bromides, and triflates. Significant variation of the substitution pattern on both the oxindole and aryl halide is possible.

Computational models of neuronal biophysics and the characterization of potential neuropharmacological targets

The identification and characterization of potential pharmacological targets in neurology and psychiatry is a fundamental problem at the intersection between medicinal chemistry and the neurosciences. Exciting new techniques in proteomics and genomics have fostered rapid progress, opening numerous questions as to the functional consequences of ligand binding at the systems level. Psycho- and neuro-active drugs typically work in nerve cells by affecting one or more aspects of electrophysiological activity. Thus, an integrated understanding of neuropharmacological agents requires bridging the gap between their molecular mechanisms and the biophysical determinants of neuronal function. Computational neuroscience and bioinformatics can play a major role in this functional connection. Robust quantitative models exist describing all major active membrane properties under endogenous and exogenous chemical control. These include voltage-dependent ionic channels (sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.), synaptic receptor channels (e.g. glutamatergic, GABAergic, cholinergic), and G protein coupled signaling pathways (protein kinases, phosphatases, and other enzymatic cascades). This brief review of neuromolecular medicine from the computational perspective provides compelling examples of how simulations can elucidate, explain, and predict the effect of chemical agonists, antagonists, and modulators in the nervous system.

Thermal and acid-catalyzed Hofmann-Martius rearrangement of 3-N-aryl-2-oxindoles into 3-(arylamino)-2-oxindoles

[reaction: see text] The Hofmann-Martius rearrangement of 3-N-aryl-2-oxindoles into 3-(arylamino)-2-oxindoles under thermal and acid-catalyzed conditions is described.

A-272651, a nonpeptidic blocker of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels, modulates bladder smooth muscle contractility and neuronal action potentials

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK(Ca), K(Ca)1.1) links membrane excitability with intracellular Ca(2+) signaling and plays important roles in smooth muscle contraction, neuronal firing, and neuroendocrine secretion. This study reports the characterization of a novel BK(Ca) channel blocker, 2,4-dimethoxy-N-naphthalen-2-yl-benzamide (A-272651).

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

(86)Rb(+) efflux in HEK-293 cells expressing BK(Ca) was measured. Effects of A-272651 on BK(Ca) alpha- and BK(Ca) alphabeta1-mediated currents were evaluated by patch-clamp. Effects on contractility were assessed using low-frequency electrical field stimulated pig detrusor and spontaneously contracting guinea pig detrusor. Effects of A-272651 on neuronal activity were determined in rat small diameter dorsal root ganglia (DRG).

KEY RESULTS

A-272651 (10 microM) inhibited (86)Rb(+) efflux evoked by NS-1608 in HEK-293 cells expressing BK(Ca) currents. A-272651 concentration-dependently inhibited BK(Ca) currents with IC(50) values of 4.59 microM (Hill coefficient 1.04, measured at +40 mV), and 2.82 microM (Hill coefficient 0.89), respectively, for BK(Ca) alpha and BK(Ca) alphabeta1-mediated currents. Like iberiotoxin, A-272651 enhanced field stimulated twitch responses in pig detrusor and spontaneous contractions in guinea pig detrusor with EC(50) values of 4.05+/-0.05 and 37.95+/-0.12 microM, respectively. In capsaicin-sensitive DRG neurons, application of A-272651 increased action potential firing and prolonged action potential duration.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These data demonstrate that A-272651 modulates smooth muscle contractility and neuronal firing properties. Unlike previously reported peptide BK(Ca) blockers, A-272651 represents one of the first small molecule BK(Ca) channel blockers that could serve as a useful tool for further characterization of BK(Ca) channels in physiological and pathological states.

Chiral purity assay for Flindokalner using tandem mass spectrometry: Method development, validation, and benchmarking

The present work demonstrates the application and validation of a mass spectrometry method for quantitative chiral purity determination. The particular compound analyzed is Flindokalner, a Bristol-Myers Squibb drug candidate for post-stroke neuroprotection. Chiral quantification of Flindokalner was achieved using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and the kinetic method, a gas phase method used for thermochemical and chiral determinations. The MS/MS method was validated and benchmarked against two separate chromatographic techniques, chiral high performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection (LC/UV) and achiral high performance liquid chromatography with circular dichroism detection (LC/CD). The chiral purity determination of Flindokalner using MS/MS proved to be rapid (3 min run time for each sample) and to have accuracy and precision comparable to the chiral LC/UV and achiral LC/CD methods. This method represents an alternative to commonly used chromatographic techniques as a means of chiral purity determination and is particularly useful in rapid screening experiments.

Atropisomeric 3-(β-hydroxyethyl)-4-arylquinolin-2-ones as Maxi-K Potassium Channel Openers

The synthesis of a series of 3-beta-hydroxyethyl-4-arylquinolin-2-ones is described. These compounds contain hydrophilic and hydrophobic substituents ortho to the phenolic OH in the C ring of the quinolinone. Electrophysiological evaluation of the panel of compounds revealed that 11 and 16 with an unbranched ortho substituent retain activity as maxi-K ion channel openers. Members of this series of compounds can exist as stable atropisomers. Calculated estimates of the energy barrier for rotation around the aryl-aryl single bond in 3 is 31 kcal/mol. The atropisomers of (+/-)-3, (+/-)-4, and (+/-)-11 were separated by chiral HPLC and tested for their effect on maxi-K mediated outward current in hSlo injected X. laevis oocytes. The (-) isomer in each case was found to be more active than the corresponding (+) isomer, suggesting that the ion channel exhibits stereoselective activation. X-ray crystallographic structures of (+)-3 and (+)-11 were determined. Evaluation of the stability of (-)-3 at 80 degrees C in n-butanol indicated a 19.6% conversion to (+)-3 over 72 h. In human serum at 37 degrees C (-)-3 did not racemize over the course of the 30 h study.

Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroxylation Reactions of Oxindoles and β-Keto Esters Using DBFOX Ligand

The first catalytic enantioselective hydroxylation reaction of both 3-aryl and 3-alkyl-2-oxindoles using the DBFOX-Zn(II) complex, leading to pharmaceutically important chiral 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles was described. The structure of oxidant was found to play an important role to increase the enantioselectivity. The methodology has successfully applied to the highly enantioselective hydroxylation of beta-keto esters using the DBFOX-Ni(II) complex.

Design, synthesis, and BK channel-opening activity of hexahydrodibenzazepinone derivatives

In order to explore new scaffolds for large-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channel (BK channel) openers, we carried out molecular design and synthesis on the basis of the following two concepts: (1) introduction of a heteroatom into the dehydroabietic acid (BK channel opener) skeleton would allow easier introduction of substituents. (2) Because of the fourfold symmetrical structure of BK channels, dimeric compounds in which two pharmacophores are linked through a tether are expected to have a greater binding probability to the channels, resulting in increased channel-opening activity. Herein, we explore the usefulness of the hexahydrodibenzazepinone structure as a new scaffold for BK channel openers. The synthesized monomer compounds of hexahydrodibenzazepinone derivatives, which can be derived from dehydroabietic acid, were subjected to electrophysiological patch-clamp studies, followed by Magnus contraction-relaxation assay using rabbit urinary bladder smooth muscle strips to assess overall activities. Dimeric compounds were designed by linking the monomeric hexahydrodibenzazepinone derivatives through a diacetylenebenzene tether, and their channel-opening activities were evaluated by electrophysiological methods. Finally, we concluded that the critical structure for BK channel-opening activity is the hexahydrodibenzazepinone monomer substituted with a phenyl-bearing alkynyl substituent on the lactam amide.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Addition of Arylboronic Acids to Isatins: An Entry to Diversity in 3-Aryl-3-Hydroxyoxindoles

[reaction: see text] A general method for the catalytic 1,2-addition of aryl and alkenyl boronic acids to isatins is described using a rhodium(I)/triphenylphosphite catalyst. The application of this transformation allows the synthesis of a variety of 3-aryl-3-hydroxyoxindole building blocks in high yields. An enantioselective version of this reaction using a rhodium(I)/phosphoramidite system is also presented.

Analogs of a potent maxi-K potassium channel opener with an improved inhibitory profile toward cytochrome P450 isozymes

Quinolinone 1 is a potent maxi-K potassium channel opener. In an effort to design analogs of 1 with a better inhibitory profile toward the CYP2C9 isozyme, the two acidic sites were chemically modified independently to generate a number of analogs. These analogs were evaluated as maxi-K channel openers in vitro using Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing cloned hSlo maxi-K channels. Compounds 15, 17, and 19 showed potent activity as maxi-K channel openers and were further evaluated for inhibition of the activity of the CYP2C9 isozyme. Compounds 17 and 19 showed diminished inhibitory potency against 2C9 and also against a panel of other more common CYP isozymes.

Partial structures of ketoconazole as modulators of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BK(Ca))

A series of partial structures of ketoconazole has been synthesized and tested for activity on the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BK) in bovine smooth muscle cells. This has provided openers and blockers of the channel. The results suggest that the phenyl and phenoxy moieties are important for interaction with BK, whereas the imidazole group is unimportant. The properties of the phenoxy moiety seem to determine whether the compounds act to open or block the channel.

Voltage-gated cation channel modulators for the treatment of stroke

Neuronal voltage-gated cation channels regulate the transmembrane flux of calcium, sodium and potassium. Neuronal ischaemia occurring during acute ischaemic stroke results in the breakdown in the normal function of these ion channels, contributing to a series of pathological events leading to cell death. A dramatic increase in the intracellular concentration of calcium during neuronal ischaemia plays a particularly important role in the neurotoxic cascade resulting in stroke-related acute neurodegeneration. One approach to provide therapeutic benefit following ischaemic stroke has been to target neuronal voltage-gated cation channels, and particularly blockers of calcium and sodium channels, for post-stroke neuroprotection. A recent development has been the identification of openers of large-conductance calcium- and voltage-dependent potassium channels (maxi-K channels), which hyperpolarize ischaemic neurons, reduce excitatory amino acid release, and reduce ischaemic calcium entry. Thus far, targeting these voltage-gated cation channels has not yet yielded significant clinical benefit. The reasons for this may involve the lack of small-molecule blockers of many neuronal members of these ion channel families and the design of preclinical stroke models, which do not adequately emulate the clinical condition and hence lack sufficient rigor to predict efficacy in human stroke. Furthermore, there may be a need for changes in clinical trial designs to optimise the selection of patients and the course of drug treatment to protect neurons during all periods of potential neuronal sensitivity to neuro-protectants. Clinical trials may also have to be powered to detect small effect sizes or be focused on patients more likely to respond to a particular therapy. The development of future solutions to these problems should result in an improved probability of success for the treatment of stroke.

Highly Diastereoselective Arylation of (S)-Mandelic Acid Enolate: Enantioselective Synthesis of Substituted (R)-3-Hydroxy-3-phenyloxindoles and (R)-Benzylic Acids and Synthesis of Nitrobenzophenones

An easy access to substituted (R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyloxindoles, (R)-benzylic acids, and benzophenones is described. The reaction of the lithium enolate of the (2S,5S)-cis-1,3-dioxolan-4-one derived from optically active (S)-mandelic acid and pivalaldehyde with several o- and p-halonitrobenzenes proceeds readily to give the corresponding arylation products in good yields and diastereoselectivities. The reduction of the nitro group with Zn/HCl/EtOH in the o-nitro arylation products with concomitant intramolecular aminolysis of the dioxolanone moiety leads directly to enantiomerically pure (R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyloxindoles. On the other hand the basic hydrolysis of the dioxolanone moiety in all the arylation products (ortho and para) leads to enantiomerically pure substituted (R)-benzylic acids. The oxidative decarboxylation of these latter with oxygen as terminal oxidant in the presence of pivalaldehyde and the Co(III)-Me2opba complex as catalyst gives substituted nitrobenzophenones.

Functional analysis of large conductance Ca2(+)-activated K(+) channels: ion flux studies by atomic absorption spectrometry

Although techniques such as (86)Rb(+) flux provide a sensitive measure of K(+) channel activity, the relatively short half-life and high-energy emission, together with the quantities of radioactive material generated, hinder the usefulness of flux-based formats in high throughput screening efforts. This study elaborates on the utilization of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques for a nonradioactive rubidium efflux assay for large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca)) channels. Utilizing human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells expressing the BK(Ca) alpha subunit, a 96-well cell-based nonradioactive rubidium efflux screen for channel openers and inhibitors was established. Known BK(Ca) channel openers, including NS1608, NS1619, and NS-8, activated rubidium efflux with EC(50) values ranging from 1 to 4 microM in both radioactive and nonradioactive efflux formats. Compounds such as iberiotoxin, paxilline, and charybdotoxin inhibited rubidium efflux responses evoked by the BK(Ca) channel opener NS1608 in both radioactive and nonradioactive efflux formats. The IC(50) values of the inhibitors in AAS format were comparable to those derived from (86)Rb(+) efflux assays. The present studies show that the pharmacological profiles of BK(Ca) channels assessed by AAS compare well with those obtained using the (86)Rb(+) efflux assay, and support the utility of nonradioactive efflux format for higher throughput screening campaigns for novel K(+) channel modulators.

Functional characterization of large conductance calcium-activated K+ channel openers in bladder and vascular smooth muscle

Calcium activated K(+) channels (K(Ca) channels) are found in a variety of smooth muscle tissues, the most characterized of which are the large conductance K(Ca) channels (BK(Ca) or maxi-K(+) channels). Recent medicinal chemistry efforts have identified novel BK(Ca) openers including 2-amino-5-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (NS-8), BMS-204352 and its analog 3-(5-chloro-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-6-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one (compound 1), and 5,7-dichloro-4-(5-chloro-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-1H-quinolin-2-one (compound 2). Although these compounds are effective BK(Ca) openers as shown by electrophysiological methods, little is known about their effects on smooth muscle contractility. In this study, the responsiveness of structurally diverse BK(Ca) openers-NS-8, compounds 1 and 2 and the well characterized nonselective NS-1619-was assessed using segments of endothelium denuded rat aorta, rat and guinea pig detrusor precontracted with extracellular K(+), and Landrace pig detrusor stimulated by electrical field. In all preparations, the compounds tested inhibited or completely abolished contractions with similar potencies (-logIC(50) values: 3.8 to 5.1). In rat aorta, in the presence of 80 mM K(+), the compounds significantly shifted the concentration-response curve to the right compared with those obtained in 30 mM K(+). These data are consistent with K(+) channel (BK(Ca) channel) activation as the underlying mechanism of relaxation by compounds that share the electrophysiological property of BK(Ca) current activation. The similar potencies at detrusor and vascular smooth muscle suggest that the achievement of smooth muscle selectivity in vitro with the representative compounds examined in this study may prove to be a challenge when targeting BK(Ca) channels for smooth muscle indications such as overactive bladder.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are specific openers of skeletal muscle BK channel of K+-deficient rats

Carbonic-anhydrase (CA) inhibitors are used in the treatment of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (hypoPP) and related channelopathies but their mechanism of action is unknown. Patch-clamp experiments and molecular modeling investigations were performed to evaluate the mechanism of actions of CA inhibitors on skeletal muscle Ca2+-activated-K+ (BK) channel of K+-deficient rats used as animal model of hypoPP. CA inhibitors showing different degree of CA inhibition such as acetazolamide (ACTZ), dichlorphenamide (DCP), hydrochlorthiazide (HCT), etoxzolamide (ETX), methazolamide (MTZ), and bendroflumethiazide (BFT), which lacks inhibitory effects on CA enzymes, were tested in vitro on BK channels. The application of ACTZ, BFT, ETX, and DCP to excised patches activated the BK channel with potency: ACTZ(DE50=7.3x10(-6)M)>BFT(DE50=5.93x10(-5)M)>ETX(DE50=1.17x10(-4)M)>>DCP. In contrast, MTZ and HCT failed to activate the BK channel. Molecular modeling studies showed that the capability of CA inhibitors to open the BK channel was related to the presence in their structures of an intra-molecular hydrogen bond with calculated inter-atomic distances ranging between 1.82 A degrees and 3.01 A degrees and of an aromatic ring poor of electrons. ACTZ, BFT, ETX, and DCP showed these pharmacofores, while MTZ and HCT did not. Our data indicate that the activation of BK channel is a property of CA inhibitors that interact with the channel subunit/s and that this effect is not related to their capability to inhibit the CA enzymes.

Enantioselective synthesis of BMS-204352 (MaxiPost) using N-fluoroammonium salts of cinchona alkaloids (F-CA-BF4)

The enantioselective synthesis of a potent Maxi-K potassium channel opener (BMS-204352) mediated by N-fluoroammonium salts of cinchona alkaloids is described. Two synthetic pathways were evaluated. An ee as high as 88% was achieved (>99% after a single recrystallisation).

Novel openers of Ca2+-dependent large-conductance potassium channels: symmetrical pharmacophore and electrophysiological evaluation of bisphenols

Electrophysiological evaluation of symmetrical analogues of the known maxi-K opener NS-004 (1) led to the discovery of bisphenols 2a, 3a and 4a as openers of cloned maxi-K channels expressed in oocytes.

Enantioselective fluorination mediated by N-fluoroammonium salts of cinchona alkaloids: first enantioselective synthesis of BMS-204352 (MaxiPost)

We have employed a cinchona alkaloid/Selectfluor-mediated enantioselective fluorination of the oxindole 2 to achieve the first enantioslective synthesis of BMS-204352 (MaxiPost, S-1), an effective opener of maxi-K channels. Fluorination occurred to produce S-1 with 84% ee using the bis-cinchona alkaloid (DHQ)(2)AQN. Recrystallization produced enantiomerically pure (>99% ee) product. Quinidine-mediated fluorination of 2 gave the (R)-antipode of 1 with 68% ee.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 4-aryl-3-aminoquinolin-2-ones: a new class of calcium-dependent, large conductance, potassium (maxi-K) channel openers targeted for post-stroke neuroprotection

A series of 4-aryl-3-aminoquinoline-2-one derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as activators of the cloned maxi-K channel mSlo (hSlo) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes using electrophysiological methods. A brain penetrable activator of maxi-K channels was identified and shown to be significantly active in the MCAO model of stroke.

4,5-diphenyltriazol-3-ones: openers of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (maxi-K) channels

A series of diphenyl-substituted heterocycles were synthesized and evaluated by electrophysiological techniques as openers of the cloned mammalian large-conductance, Ca(2+)-activated potassium (maxi-K) channel. The series was designed from deannulation of known benzimidazolone maxi-K opener NS-004 (2) thereby providing an effective template for obtaining structure-activity-related information. The triazolone ring system was the most studied wherein 4,5-diphenyltriazol-3-one 6d (maxi-K = 158%) was identified as the optimal maxi-K channel opener.