Novel acyclic phosphonylated 1,2,3-triazolonucleosides with an acetamidomethyl linker: synthesis and biological activity

Cycloaddition reactions for antiviral compounds

Prominent in the current stage of drug development, antiviral compounds can be efficiently prepared through cycloaddition reactions. The chapter reports the use of classical Diels–Alder and their hetero version for the design and synthesis of compounds that were tested for their antiviral activities against a variety of viruses. Furthermore, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of selected 1,3-dipoles, such as azides, nitrones, and nitrile oxides, are reviewed in the light of their application in the preparation of key intermediates for antiviral synthesis. A few examples of [2+2] cycloaddition reactions are also presented. The products obtained from these pericyclic reaction approaches were all tested for their activities in terms of blocking the virus replication, and the relevant biological data are highlighted.

Design, Synthesis, and the Biological Evaluation of a New Series of Acyclic 1,2,3-Triazole Nucleosides

A new strategy for the synthesis of N3 -benzoylated- and N3 -benzylated N1 -propargylquinazoline-2,4-diones 30a-d and 31a-d from isatoic anhydride 41 is reported. The alkynes 30a-d and 31a-d were applied in the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with azides 27 and 28 to synthesize acyclic 1,2,3-triazole nucleosides. The obtained alkynes and 1,2,3-triazole were evaluated for antiviral activity against a broad range of DNA and RNA viruses. The alkyne 30d showed activity against adenovirus-2 (EC50  = 8.3 μM), while compounds 37a and 37d were also active toward herpes simplex virus-1 wild-type and thymidine kinase deficient (HSV-1 TK- ) strains (EC50 values in the range of 4.6-13.8 μM). In addition, compounds 30a, 30b, 37b, and 37c exhibited activity toward varicella-zoster virus (VZV) TK+ and TK- strains (EC50  = 2.1-9.5 μM). The compound 30b proved to be the most selective against VZV and displayed marginal activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Although the compound 30a had improved anti-HCMV activity, the increase in anti-HCMV activity was accompanied by significant toxicity. Compounds 37a and 37d showed inhibitory effects toward the human T lymphocyte (CEM) cell line (IC50  = 21 ± 7 and 22 ± 1 μM, respectively), while compound 35 exhibited cytostatic activity toward HMEC-1 cells (IC50  = 28 ± 2 μM).

Synthesis and the Biological Activity of Phosphonylated 1,2,3-Triazolenaphthalimide Conjugates

A novel series of diethyl {4-[(5-substituted-1,3-dioxo-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2(3H)-yl)-methyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl}alkylphosphonates designed as analogues of amonafide was synthesized. All phosphonates were assessed for antiviral activity against a broad range of DNA and RNA viruses and several of them showed potency against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) [EC50 (50% effective concentration) = 27.6-91.5 μM]. Compound 16b exhibited the highest activity against a thymidine kinase-deficient (TK-) VZV strain (EC50 = 27.59 μM), while 16d was the most potent towards TK⁺ VZV (EC50 = 29.91 μM). Cytostatic properties of the compounds 14a-i-17a-i were studied on L1210, CEM, HeLa and HMEC-1 cell lines and most of them were slightly cytostatic for HeLa [IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) = 29-130 µM] and L1210 cells [IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) = 14-142 µM].