Synthesis of some 4-mono- and 4,5-disubstituted homoadamantanes (tricyclo [4·3·1·13,8]undecanes)

Molecular design, synthesis and biological evaluation of cage compound-based inhibitors of hepatitis C virus p7 ion channels

The hepatitis C caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an acute and/or chronic liver disease ranging in severity from a mild brief ailment to a serious lifelong illness that affects up to 3% of the world population and imposes significant and increasing social, economic, and humanistic burden. Over the past decade, its treatment was revolutionized by the development and introduction into clinical practice of the direct acting antiviral (DAA) agents targeting the non-structural viral proteins NS3/4A, NS5A, and NS5B. However, the current treatment options still have important limitations, thus, the development of new classes of DAAs acting on different viral targets and having better pharmacological profile is highly desirable. The hepatitis C virus p7 viroporin is a relatively small hydrophobic oligomeric viral ion channel that plays a critical role during virus assembly and maturation, making it an attractive and validated target for the development of the cage compound-based inhibitors. Using the homology modeling, molecular dynamics, and molecular docking techniques, we have built a representative set of models of the hepatitis C virus p7 ion channels (Gt1a, Gt1b, Gt1b_L20F, Gt2a, and Gt2b), analyzed the inhibitor binding sites, and identified a number of potential broad-spectrum inhibitor structures targeting them. For one promising compound, the binding to these targets was additionally confirmed and the binding modes and probable mechanisms of action were clarified by the molecular dynamics simulations. A number of compounds were synthesized, and the tests of their antiviral activity (using the BVDV model) and cytotoxicity demonstrate their potential therapeutic usefulness and encourage further more detailed studies. The proposed approach is also suitable for the design of broad-spectrum ligands interacting with other multiple labile targets including various viroporins.

Evaluation of antiproliferative effect of N-(alkyladamantyl)phthalimides in vitro

A series of (1-adamantyl)phthalimides, 1-4, and (2-adamantyl)phthalimides, 5-8, characterized by different chain length between the adamantyl and the phthalimide moiety were synthesized, as well as 1- and 2-adamantylphthalimides substituted by nitro 9, 10, and amino group 11, 12, and phthalimides bearing homoadamantyl 13 and protoadamantyl substituent 14 and 15. The compounds were tested for antiproliferative activity in vitro on a series of five human cancer lines: MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), SW 620 (colon carcinoma), HCT 116 (colon carcinoma), MOLT-4 (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), H 460 (lung carcinoma), and a non-tumor cell line HaCaT (human keratinocytes). All compounds except nitro derivatives 9 and 10 exhibited antiproliferative activity. The activity was generally better in the 2-adamantyl series 5-8 and in the compounds having the longest alkyl spacers as in 4 and 8, or with an amino group as in 9 and 10. The most active compounds with the propylene spacer 4 and 8 showed the highest selectivity toward tumor cells. The activity was found to be due to a delay in the progress through the cell cycle at G1/S phase.

On the Baylis–Hillman reaction of acrylate, acrylonitrile, and acrolein with some non-enolizable α-dicarbonyl compounds: synthesis of phytotoxic bipolaroxin models

The Baylis–Hillman reaction of acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, and acrolein with several cyclic α-dicarbonyl compounds was investigated. Whereas acrylonitrile reacted with most of these ketones, giving good yields of the expected 1′-cyanovinyl carbinols, the more sterically demanding methyl acrylate failed to undergo the reaction. Attempted Baylis–Hillman reaction of acrolein with the 1,2-dicarbonyl substrates usually resulted in polymers but, in two cases, the desired α-substituted acroleins were obtained. An alternative route to such compounds was developed, employing a Grignard – allylic oxidation sequence. In bioassays, some of the products, embodying the functionality believed responsible for the phytotoxicity of the sesquiterpene bipolaroxin, inhibited germination of lettuce seeds. This activity diminished with time. Keywords: Baylis–Hillman, acrylonitrile, acrylate, acrolein, α-dicarbonyl, bipolaroxin, phytotoxicity.