The amination of difluoro(diethoxyphosphoryl)acetyl chloride: Facile synthetic route to novel amides containing difluoromethylenephosphonate moiety

Synthesis of an α-phosphono-α,α-difluoroacetamide analogue of the diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate 5-InsP7

Diphosphoinositol phosphates (PP-InsPs) are an evolutionarily ancient group of signalling molecules that are essential to cellular and organismal homeostasis. As the detailed mechanisms of PP-InsP signalling begin to emerge, synthetic analogues of PP-InsPs containing stabilised mimics of the labile diphosphate group can provide valuable investigational tools. We synthesised 5-PCF2Am-InsP5 (1), a novel fluorinated phosphonate analogue of 5-PP-InsP5, and obtained an X-ray crystal structure of 1 in complex with diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate kinase 2 (PPIP5K2). 5-PCF2Am-InsP5 binds to the kinase domain of PPIP5K2 in a similar orientation to that of the natural substrate 5-PP-InsP5 and the PCF2Am structure can mimic many aspects of the diphosphate group in 5-PP-InsP5. We propose that 1, the structural and electronic properties of which are in some ways complementary to those of existing phosphonoacetate and methylenebisphosphonate analogues of 5-PP-InsP5, may be a useful addition to the expanding array of chemical tools for the investigation of signalling by PP-InsPs. The PCF2Am group may also deserve attention for wider application as a diphosphate mimic.

Design and synthesis of some new theophylline derivatives with bronchodilator and antibacterial activities

Methylxanthines especially theophylline have been recognized as potent bronchodilators for the relief of acute asthma for over 65 years. Recently, it was found that bacterial infection plays a role in asthma pathogenesis. Accordingly, the present work involves the synthesis of 6-(4-(un)substituted phenyl)thiazolo[2,3-f]theophyllines 2a-g and different series of 8-(1,2,4-triazol-3-ylmethylthio)theophyllines 6-9. The chemical structures of the target compounds were proved by IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, EI-MS and HRMS spectroscopic techniques along with elemental analyses. The bronchodilator activity of fifteen compounds was determined in vivo by acetylcholine induced bronchospasm in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Results revealed that all compounds showed moderate to good activity; in addition, five compounds exhibited a bronchodilator activity nearly similar to that of aminophylline as a standard. The antibacterial activity of all the target compounds was investigated in vitro against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Results revealed that some compounds showed more potent antibacterial activity than ampicillin as a standard. Acute toxicity study for four target compounds revealed that none of these derivatives showed significant toxicity up to 300 mg/kg. It was found that compound 8c combined both promising bronchodilator and antibacterial activities. This compound could be subjected for further investigations as a new possible candidate in the treatment of bronchial asthma.