Synthesis, optimization and structure-activity relationships of 3,5-disubstituted isoxazolines as new anti-tuberculosis agents

Iodine(III)-Mediated Keto-oximation of O-Alkynyl Hydroxylamines: A Route to 3-Acyl Isoxazolines and 1,2-Oxazines

An intramolecular iodine(III)-mediated keto-oximation of O-alkynyl hydroxylamines offers rapid and straightforward access to 3-acyl Δ2-isoxazolines and 1,2-oxazines. This approach features mild, metal-free, and aerobic reaction conditions with good functional group tolerance. Moreover, the synthetic utility of this method is demonstrated by the synthesis of unique structural motifs such as isoxazolidine, 3-vinyl isoxazoline, and 2,5-diphenylpyrazine derivatives by the conversion of 3-acyl Δ2-isoxazolines, thereby showcasing its efficiency and applicability in synthetic chemistry.

Hybridization of antimicrobial oxazolidinones with commercial drugs: A fight against the "superbugs"

Antimicrobial resistance caused by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes, termed as "superbugs," poses a grave healthcare concern in the contemporary era. Though this phenomenon is natural, an incessant use of antibiotics due to their unregulated over-the-counter availability, and a lack of compliance with the legislation seem to be major contributing factors. This phenomenon has further complicated the treatment of common infectious diseases thereby leading to prolonged illness, disability, and even death. In addition, a sizeable impact on the healthcare cost is met due to a prolonged stay at the medical facilities to receive an intensive care. Overall, the gains of "Millennium Development Goals" and the accomplishment of Sustainable Development Goals are at risk due to the emerging antimicrobial resistance. Since an early identification and development of novel antibiotic classes that evade antimicrobial resistance appears improbable, the strategy of hybridization of the existing antibiotics with efficacious pharmacophores and drug molecules with a different mechanism of antimicrobial action can be a silver lining for the management of superbugs. In this regard, we aim to provide a perspective for the applicability of the hybridization of oxazolidinone class of antibiotics with other drugs for evading antimicrobial resistance.

Total Synthesis of the Dihydrooxepine-Spiroisoxazoline Natural Product Psammaplysin A

We report a general synthetic entry to dihydrooxepine-spiroisoxazoline (DOSI) natural products that culminated in the first racemic total synthesis of psammaplysin A. For the synthesis of the unique spirocyclic fragment we employed a strategy that features two key transformations: (1) a diastereoselective Henry reaction/cyclization sequence to access the C7 hydroxylated isoxazoline scaffold in one step and (2) a regioselective Baeyer-Villiger ring expansion to install the fully substituted dihydrooxepine and avoid the risk of a previously observed oxepine-arene oxide rearrangement. The overall synthesis proceeds in 13 steps from an inexpensive starting material.

Ultrasound-assisted one-pot three-component synthesis of new isoxazolines bearing sulfonamides and their evaluation against hematological malignancies

In the present study, following a one-pot two-step protocol, we have synthesized novel sulfonamides-isoxazolines hybrids (3a-r) via a highly regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The present methodology capitalized on trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) as a safe and ecological oxidant and chlorinating agent for the in-situ conversion of aldehydes to nitrile oxides in the presence of hydroxylamine hydrochloride, under ultrasound activation. These nitrile oxides could be engaged in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with various alkene to afford the targeted sulfonamides-isoxazolines hybrids (3a-r). The latter were assessed for their antineoplastic activity against model leukemia cell lines (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, K562 and Promyelocytic Leukemia, HL-60).

Antitubercular and antibacterial activities of isoxazolines derived from natural products: Isoxazolines as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA

Isoxazoline derivatives of the natural products eugenol, 1’- S-acetoxychavicol acetate and sclareol are prepared through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions in an aqueous buffered system. The compounds are evaluated for their antitubercular and antibacterial activities. Compounds 2, 2a and 3f display strong antitubercular activity with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 26.68, 17.89 and 14.58 µM, respectively. Furthermore, derivative 3f exhibits antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus (minimum inhibitory concentration value of 29.16 µM). Isoxazoline derivatives of 1’- S-acetoxychavicol acetate demonstrate improvements in cytotoxicity, and derivative 3f of sclareol demonstrates improved antitubercular and antibacterial activities. Isoxazolines derived from natural products exhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) inhibitory activity, and molecular modelling predicts that they form hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with NADH and with the key residues of the InhA binding site.

TEMPO-Mediated Selective Synthesis of Isoxazolines, 5-Hydroxy-2-isoxazolines, and Isoxazoles via Aliphatic δ-C(sp3)-H Bond Oxidation of Oximes

Selective synthesis of three different bioactive heterocycles; isoxazolines, 5-hydroxy-2-isoxazolines and isoxazoles from the same starting material using TEMPO (2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl) as a radical initiator is reported. Selectivity was achieved using different oxidants with TEMPO. The reaction goes through a 1,5-HAT (hydrogen atom transfer) process resulting in products with good yields. This strategy offers a straightforward route to three different heterocycles from oximes via radical-mediated C(sp³ )-H oxidation.

2-Isoxazolines: A Synthetic and Medicinal Overview

Isoxazolines are nitrogen- and oxygen-containing five-membered heterocyclic scaffolds with extensive biological activities. This framework can be readily obtained in good to excellent yields through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between nitrones with alkynes or allenes, aryl/alkyl halides, alkynes, and oxaziridines under mild conditions. This scaffold has been an emerging area of interest for many researchers given their wide range of bioactivities. Herein we review synthetic strategies toward isoxazolines and the role these efforts have had in enhancing the biological activity of natural products and synthetic compounds such as antitubercular agents, COX-1 inhibitors, COX-2 inhibitors (e. g., valdecoxib), nicotinic receptor modulators, and MIF inhibitors. With a focus on efforts from 2010 onward, this review provides in-depth coverage of the design and biological evaluation of isoxazoline systems and their impact on various pathologies.

Insight into antimicrobial activity of substituted phenylcarbamoyloxypiperazinylpropanols

3-[4-(Substituted)phenyl-/4-(diphenylmethyl)phenylpiperazin-1-yl]-2-hydroxypropyl-1-[(substituted)phenyl]carbamates and their salts with hydrochloric acid were synthesized, characterized, and tested in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 as reference and quality control strains, against three methicillin-resistant isolates of S. aureus, and three isolates of vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis. All the compounds were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇R_a/ATCC 25177, M. kansasii DSM 44162, and M. smegmatis ATCC 700084. All of the tested compounds demonstrated very good activity against all the tested strains/isolates comparable with or better than that of clinically used drugs (ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, isoniazid). 1-[{(3-Trifluoromethyl)phenyl}carbamoyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-ium chloride demonstrated the highest potency against all the tested strains/isolates (MICs ranged from 3.78 to 30.2 µM), and 1-[{(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl}carbamoyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl]-4-(diphenylmethyl)piperazin-1-ium chloride was the most effective against all the screened mycobacterial strains (MICs ranged from 3.64 to 14.5 µM). All the investigated derivatives had strong antibiofilm activity against S. aureus ATCC 29123 and a synergistic or additive effect with gentamicin against isolates of E. faecalis with both intrinsic and acquired resistance to gentamicin. The screening of the cytotoxicity of the compounds was performed using human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells. The IC₅₀ values of the most effective compounds ranged from ca. 2.8 to 7.3 µM; thus, it can be stated that the antimicrobial effect is closely connected with their cytotoxicity. These observations disqualify these compounds from further development as antimicrobial agents, but they can be considered potential multi-target drugs with a preferred anticancer effect with good water solubility and additional anti-infectious activity.

The synthetic and therapeutic expedition of isoxazole and its analogs

Isoxazole, constituting an important family of five-membered heterocycles with one oxygen atom and one nitrogen atom at adjacent positions is of immense importance because of its wide spectrum of biological activities and therapeutic potential. It is, therefore, of prime importance that the development of new synthetic strategies and designing of new isoxazole derivatives should be based on the most recent knowledge emerging from the latest research. This review is an endeavor to highlight the progress in the chemistry and biological activity of isoxazole derivatives which could provide a low-height flying bird's eye view of isoxazole derivatives to the medicinal chemists for the development of clinically viable drugs using this information.

5-(2-Chlorophenyl)-3-(2H-chromen-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole

In the title compound, C17H11ClN2O2, the central oxadiazole ring carries 2H-chromene and 2-chlorophenyl substituents at the 3- and 5-positions, respectively. C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds form two-dimensional sheets parallel to (212), with each individual molecule involved in six of these weak interactions. The sheets are stacked perpendicular to (212) by offset π–π stacking interactions.

Structure-based bioisosterism design, synthesis, insecticidal activity and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of anthranilic diamide analogues containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole rings

BACKGROUND

Anthranilic diamide derivatives are among the most important classes of synthetic insecticides. Moreover, the 1,2,4-oxadiazole heterocycle, a bioisostere of amide, has been extensively used in pesticides. In order to discover novel molecules with high insecticidal activities, a series of anthranilic diamide analogues containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole rings were designed and synthesised.

RESULTS

A series of novel anthranilic diamide derivatives containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole were obtained, and confirmed by ¹ H and ¹³ C nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The structure of 3-bromo-N-(4-chloro-2-methyl-6-{3-[(methylsulphonyl)methyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl}phenyl)-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide was further characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, bioassays showed that most of the newly synthesised compounds displayed 100% mortality against Plutella xylostella at 100 mg L^-1 , and compound 3IIl showed 90% larvicidal activities at a concentration of 0.5 mg L^-1 . The LC₅₀ value of 3IIl was 0.20 mg L^-1 , which indicated that it may be used as a potential leading compound for further structural optimisation. Furthermore, brief comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) models were established to study the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the title compounds.

CONCLUSION

Compound 3IIl may be used as a potential leading compound for further structural optimisation, and SARs and CoMFA models could provide reliable clues for further structural optimisation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synthesis and evaluation of pretomanid (PA-824) oxazolidinone hybrids

Pretomanid (PA-824) is an important nitroimidazole antitubercular agent in late stage clinical trials. However, pretomanid is limited by poor solubility and high protein binding, which presents opportunities for improvement in its physiochemical properties. Conversely, the oxazolidinone linezolid has excellent physicochemical properties and has recently shown impressive activity for the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis. In this study we explore if incorporation of the outer ring elements found in first and second generation oxazolidinones into the nitroimidazole core of pretomanid can be used to improve its physicochemical and antitubercular properties. The synthesis of pretomanid outer oxazolidinone ring hybrids was successfully performed producing hybrids that maintained antitubercular activity and had improved in vitro physicochemical properties. Three lead compounds were identified and evaluated in a chronic model of tuberculosis infection in mice. However, the compounds lacked efficacy suggesting that portions of PA-824 tail not found in the hybrid molecules are required for in vivo efficacy.

Efficient assembly of mono- and bis(1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)furoxan scaffolds via tandem reactions of furoxanylamidoximes

Tandem protocols for the synthesis of new types of hybrid molecules – (1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)furoxans based on the furoxanylamidoximes heterocyclization have been developed.

A one-pot synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl-2-isoxazolines from trifluoromethyl aldoxime

Functionalized 3-trifluoromethyl-2-isoxazolines and 3-trifluoromethylisoxazoles were easily prepared from trifluoromethyl aldoxime 2 under mild conditions by using DIB as oxidant. Theoretical studies of the reactivity of trifluoroacetonitrile oxide 4 toward olefins and alkynes were carried out. The 3-trifluoromethyl-2-isoxazolines were ring-opened with NaBH4 and NiCl2 to yield the corresponding trifluoromethylated γ-amino alcohols.

Recent development of potent analogues of oxazolidinone antibacterial agents

The oxazolidinones are a new and potent class of antimicrobial agents with activity mainly against Gram-positive strains. The commercial success of linezolid, the only FDA-approved oxazolidinone, has prompted many pharmaceutical companies to devote resources to this area of investigation. Until now, four types of chemical modifications of linezolid and oxazolidinone-type antibacterial agents, including modification on each of the A-(oxazolidinone), B-(phenyl), and C-(morpholine) rings as well as the C-5 side chain of the A-ring substructure, have been described. Division into sections according to side chain modification or the type of ring will be used throughout this review, although the process of synthesis usually involves the simultaneous modification of several elements of the linezolid substructure; therefore, assignment into the appropriate section depends on the structure-activity relationships (SAR) studies. This review makes an attempt to summarise the work carried out in the period from 2006 until mid-2012.

Evaluation of 3-(3-chloro-phenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole as a novel anti-inflammatory drug candidate

BACKGROUND

3-(3-chloro-phenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole (DIC) is a five-membered heterocyclic compound containing a N-O bond. The anti-inflammatory effects of this compound were studied both in vitro and in vivo.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

DIC effectively decreased TNF-α and IL-6 release from LPS-stimulated macrophages in a dose dependent manner. DIC diminished the levels of COX-2 with subsequent inhibition of PGE(2) production. DIC also compromised HMGB1 translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Moreover, DIC prevented the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and inhibited the MAPK pathway. In vivo, DIC inhibited migration of neutrophils to the peritoneal cavity of mice.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the potential utilization of a synthetic compound, as a lead for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs.

Maximizing bactericidal activity with combinations of bioreduced drugs

Certain antimicrobial and anticancer drugs are only active following bioactivation within the target cell. Nitroimidazoles, nitrofurans and quinoxaline-di-N-oxides represent three chemical classes that are active as anti-tubercular drugs following intracellular bioreduction to reactive intermediates. Two nitroimidazoles are in clinical trials as new anti-tubercular drugs with significant bactericidal activity as well as activity on nonreplicating bacteria. Nitrofurans and quinoxaline-di-N-oxides, which are in preclinical development, also exhibit bactericidal activity and activity on nonreplicating bacteria. Current data indicate these drugs are bioreduced via distinct pathways that yield reactive free radical species. Since flux though each system would become saturated due to enzyme kinetics, cellular uptake or maximum drug concentration attainable in the host, one may propose that using three distinct systems simultaneously could produce a larger burst of free radicals to rapidly and efficiently kill bacteria and shorten the time to cure for tuberculosis. Arguments for the possible development of a novel combination therapy with maximized bacterial cell killing and the possibility of shortening the time to cure will be presented.

Recent advances in the design and synthesis of heterocycles as anti-tubercular agents

Due to the unusual structure and chemical composition of the mycobacterial cell wall, effective tuberculosis (TB) treatment is difficult, making many antibiotics ineffective and hindering the entry of drugs. With approximately 33% of infection, TB is still the second most deadly infectious disease worldwide. The reasons for this are drug-resistant TB (multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant), persistent infection (latent TB) and synergism of TB with HIV; furthermore no new chemical entity has emerged in last 40 years. New data available from the recently sequenced genome of the mycobacterium and the application of methods of modern drug design promise much for the fight against this disease. In this review, we present an introduction to TB, followed by an overview of new heterocyclic anti-tubercular moieties published during the last decade.

Structure-activity relationship of new anti-tuberculosis agents derived from oxazoline and oxazole benzyl esters

During the syntheses and studies of natural iron chelators (mycobactins), we serendipitously discovered that a simple, small molecule, oxazoline-containing intermediate 3 displayed surprising anti-tuberculosis activity (MIC of 7.7 microM, average). Herein we report elaboration of SAR around this hit as well as the syntheses and evaluation of a hundred oxazoline- and oxazole-containing compounds derived from an efficient three step process: 1) formation of beta-hydroxy amides with serine or threonine; 2) cyclization to afford oxazolines; and 3) dehydration to give the corresponding oxazoles. A number of compounds prepared by this method were shown to possess impressive activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, extremely low toxicity and therefore high therapeutic indexes, as well as activity against even the more recalcitrant non-replicating form of M. tuberculosis. The uniqueness of their structures and their simplicity should allow them to be further optimized to meet ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) requirements. The syntheses of eight of the most potent in vitro compounds were scaled up and the compounds were tested in an in vivo mouse infection model to evaluate their efficacy before engaging upon more elaborate compound design and optimization.

Pharmacophore mapping and electronic feature analysis for a series of nitroaromatic compounds with antitubercular activity

A five point pharmacophore was generated using PHASE for a series of nitroaromatic compounds and their congeners as antitubercular agents. The generated pharmacophore yielded significant 3D-QSAR model with r(2) of 0.890 for a training set of 92 molecules. The model also showed excellent predictive power with correlation coefficient Q(2) of 0.857 for a test set of 31 compounds. The pharmacophore indicated that presence of a nitro group, a piperazine moiety, one aromatic ring feature and two acceptor features are necessary for potent antitubercular activity. The pharmacophore was supported by electronic property analysis using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/3-21*G level. Molecular electrostatic profile of the compounds was consistent with the generated pharmacophore model, particularly appearance of localized negative potential regions near both the oxygen atoms of nitro group extending laterally to the isoxazole ring system/amide bond in the most active compounds. Calculated data further revealed that all active compounds have smaller LUMO energies located over the nitro group, furan ring, and isoxazole ring/amide bond attached to it. Higher negative values of LUMO energies concentrated over the nitro group are indicative of the electron acceptor capacity of the compounds, suggesting that these compounds are prodrugs and must be activated by TB-nitroreductase. The results obtained from this study should aid in efficient design and development of nitroaromatic compounds as antitubercular agents.