Using conformationally locked nucleosides to calibrate the anomeric effect: Implications for glycosyl bond stability

Synthesis of 1',2'-methano-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides as potential antivirals

The synthesis of constrained nucleosides has become an important tool to understand the SAR in the interaction between biological and synthetic nucleotides in the context of antisense oligonucleotide therapy. The incorporation of a cyclopropane into a furanose ring of a nucleoside induces some degree of constrain without affecting significantly the steric environment of a nucleoside. Here, we report a new, short and stereocontrolled synthesis of two constrained nucleosides analogues, 1',2'- methano-2',3'-dideoxyuridine 9, and the corresponding cytidine analog 12. X-ray crystallography revealed that the furanose ring in the constrained uridine and cytidine analogues was flattened with virtual loss of pseudorotation. The phosphoramidate esters of the novel constrained uridine and cytidine nucleosides, intended as prodrugs, were tested in cell-based assays for viral replication across the herpes virus family and HIV inhibition courtesy of Merck laboratories, Rahway. They were also tested in antiproliferative assays against colorectal and melanoma cell lines. Unfortunately, none of the compounds showed activity in these assays.

Synthesis of conformationally North-locked pyrimidine nucleosides built on an oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane scaffold

Beginning with a known 3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane scaffold (I), the relocation of the fused cyclopropane ring bond and the shifting of the oxygen atom to an alternative location engendered a new 2-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane template (II) that mimics more closely the tetrahydrofuran ring of conventional nucleosides. The synthesis of this new class of locked nucleosides involved a novel approach that required the isocyanate II (B = NCO) with a hydroxyl-protected scaffold as a pivotal intermediate that was obtained in 11 steps from a known dihydrofuran precursor. The completion of the nucleobases was successfully achieved by quenching the isocyanate with the lithium salts of the corresponding acrylic amides that led to the uracil and thymidine precursors in a single step. Ring closure of these intermediates led to the target, locked nucleosides. The anti-HIV activity of 29 (uridine analogue), 31 (thymidine analogue), and 34 (cytidine analogue) was explored in human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells or modified HOS cells (HOS-313) expressing the herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-1 TK). Only the cytidine analogue showed moderate activity in HOS-313 cells, which means that the compounds are not good substrates for the cellular kinases.

Synthesis and growth regulatory activity of a prototype member of a new family of aminothiol radioprotectors

The synthesis, growth inhibition and radioprotective activity of the PrC-210 aminothiol, 3-(methylamino)-2-((methylamino)methyl)propane-1-thiol, and its polyamine and thiolated polyamine progenitors are reported. All of the molecules significantly inhibited growth of cultured normal human fibroblasts. The combination of an ROS-scavenging thiol group and a positively charged alkyl-amine backbone provided the most radioprotective aminothiol molecule.