N-fused imidazoles as novel anticancer agents that inhibit catalytic activity of topoisomerase IIα and induce apoptosis in G1/S phase

Efficient synthesis and first regioselective C-3 direct arylation of imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles

Highly regioselective: An efficient synthesis of the imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole core has been developed, and the first regioselective palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of the C-3 position is described (see scheme). Good to excellent yields were obtained for a wide range of aryl partners with electron-rich and electron-poor substituents. This methodology allows rapid access to a large variety of imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole products and could open the way to the design of new biologically active compounds.

Antibacterial activities of Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé-derived imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-amines

We sought to explore the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-amines for TLR7 (or 8)-modulatory activities. This chemotype, readily accessed via the Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé multi-component reaction, resulted in compounds that were TLR7/8-inactive, but exhibited bacteriostatic activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial activity of this new chemotype, a resistant strain of S. aureus was generated by serially passaging the organism in escalating doses of the most active analogue. A comparison of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of known bacteriostatic agents in wild-type and resistant strains indicates a novel mechanism of action. Structure-activity relationship studies have led to the identification of positions on the scaffold for additional structural modifications that should allow for the introduction of probes designed to examine cognate binding partners and molecular targets, while not significantly compromising antibacterial potency.

Structure-activity relationships in human Toll-like receptor 8-active 2,3-diamino-furo[2,3-c]pyridines

In our ongoing search toward identifying novel and synthetically simpler candidate vaccine adjuvants, we hypothesized that the imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines, readily accessible via the Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé multicomponent reaction, would possess sufficient structural similarity with TLR7/8-agonistic imidazoquinolines. With pyridoxal as the aldehyde component, furo[2,3-c]pyridines, rather than the expected imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, were obtained, which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and crystallography. Several analogues were found to activate TLR8-dependent NF-κB signaling. In a focused library of furo[2,3-c]pyridines, a distinct SAR was observed with varying substituents at C2. In human PBMCs, none of the furo[2,3-c]pyridines showed any proinflammatory cytokine induction but upregulated several chemokine ligand genes. In immunization studies in rabbits, the most active compound showed prominent adjuvantic effects. The complete lack of proinflammatory cytokine induction coupled with strong adjuvantic activity of the novel furo[2,3-c]pyridines render this hitherto unknown chemotype an attractive class of compounds which are expected to be devoid of local or systemic reactogenicity.

The polyphenolic ellagitannin vescalagin acts as a preferential catalytic inhibitor of the α isoform of human DNA topoisomerase II

Polyphenolic ellagitannins are natural compounds that are often associated with the therapeutic activity of plant extracts used in traditional medicine. They display cancer-preventing activity in animal models by a mechanism that remains unclear. Potential targets have been proposed, including DNA topoisomerases II (Top2). Top2α and Top2β, the two isoforms of the human Top2, play a crucial role in the regulation of replication, transcription, and chromosome segregation. They are the target of anticancer agents used in the clinic such as anthracyclines (e.g., doxorubicin) or the epipodophyllotoxin etoposide. It was recently shown that the antitumor activity of etoposide was due primarily to the inhibition of Top2α, whereas inhibition of Top2β was responsible for the development of secondary malignancies, pointing to the need for more selective Top2α inhibitors. Here, we show that the polyphenolic ellagitannin vescalagin preferentially inhibits the decatenation activity of Top2α in vitro, by a redox-independent mechanism. In CEM cells, we also show that transient small interfering RNA-mediated down-regulation of Top2α but not of Top2β conferred a resistance to vescalagin, indicating that the α isoform is a preferential target. We further confirmed that Top2α inhibition was due to a catalytic inhibition of the enzyme because it did not induce DNA double-strand breaks in CEM-treated cells but prevented the formation of Top2α- rather than Top2β-DNA covalent complexes induced by etoposide. To our knowledge, vescalagin is the first example of a catalytic inhibitor for which cytotoxicity is due, at least in part, to the preferential inhibition of Top2α.

CuSO4-glucose for in situ generation of controlled Cu(I)-Cu(II) bicatalysts: multicomponent reaction of heterocyclic azine and aldehyde with alkyne, and cycloisomerization toward synthesis of N-fused imidazoles

The catalytic efficiency of mixed Cu(I)-Cu(II) system in situ generated by partial reduction of CuSO(4) with glucose in ethanol (nonanhydrous) under open air has been explored. With this catalysis, the multicomponent cascade reaction of A(3)-coupling of heterocyclic amidine with aldehyde and alkyne, 5-exo-dig cycloisomerization, and prototropic shift has afforded an efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of therapeutically important versatile N-fused imidazoles. Diverse heterocyclic amidines, several of which are known to be poorly reactive, and aldehydes are compatible in this catalytic process.