Alpha-cyanocinnamide derivatives: a new family of non-peptide, non-sulfhydryl inhibitors of Ras farnesylation

(Nitrooxyacyloxy)methyl esters of aspirin as novel nitric oxide releasing aspirins

A series of (nitrooxyacyloxy)methyl esters of aspirin were synthesized and evaluated as new NO-donor aspirins. Different amounts of aspirin were released in serum from these products according to the nature of nitrooxyacyloxy moiety present. In the aromatic series, there is a rather good linear correlation between the amount of aspirin released and the potencies of the products in inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Both the native compounds and the related nitrooxy-substituted acid metabolites were able to relax rat aorta strips precontracted with phenylephrine, in keeping with a NO-induced activation of the sGC as a mechanism that underlies the vasodilator effect. The products here described are new improved examples of NO-donor aspirins containing nitrooxy groups. They could represent an alternative to the use of aspirin in a variety of clinical applications.

Synthesis of N-Substituted γ-Methylene γ-Lactams

N-Substituted cyanoacetamides 1 were condensed with 1,2-diketones 2 under base catalysis to form γ-hydroxy γ-lactams 3. Treatment of 3 with acids gave novel fungicidal γ-methylene γ-lactams 4. The exocyclic double bond of 4b reacted reversibly with 4-toluene sulfinate.

Syntheses of Certain 3-Aryl-2-propenoates and Evaluation of their Cytotoxicity

A series of 3-aryl-2-propenoates including cinnamates, (E)-methyl/ethyl 3-[2-(1,4-dimethoxy-5,8-dione)naphthalenyl]-2-propenoates (8ba, 8bb) and (E)-methyl/ethyl 3-[2-(1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-dione)anthracenyl]-2-propenoates (9aa,9ab) was synthesized and evaluated for antitumor cytotoxicity. It was found that the ortho- or para-dihydroxy funtionality on the aryl ring was essential for the cytotoxicity of cinnamates. Compounds 8ba, 8bb and 9aa, 9ab showed potent cytotoxicity against various tumor cell lines.