Solid-phase synthesis of substituted guanidines using a novel acid labile linker

Guanidine and 2-Aminoimidazoline Aromatic Derivatives as α2-Adrenoceptor Antagonists, 1: Toward New Antidepressants with Heteroatomic Linkers

The efficient preparation and pharmacological characterization of different families of (bis)guanidine and (bis)2-aminoimidazoline derivatives ("twin" and "half" molecules) as potential alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists for the treatment of depression is presented. The affinity toward the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor of all the compounds prepared was measured in vitro in human brain tissue. Additionally, the activity as agonist or antagonist of those compounds with a pK(i) larger than 7 was determined in functional [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding assays in human brain tissue. Finally, the activity of the most promising compounds was confirmed by means of in vivo microdialysis experiments in rats. Compounds 1, 2b, 3b, 12b, 13b, 17b, 18b, 22b, 25b, 26b, 28b, and 30 showed a good affinity toward the alpha(2)-ARs. In general, the 2-aminoimidazoline derivatives displayed higher affinities than their guanidine analogues. Finally and most importantly, compounds 18b and 26b showed antagonistic properties over alpha(2)-ARs not only in vitro [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding but also in vivo microdialysis experiments. Moreover, both compounds have shown to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and, therefore, they can be considered as potential antidepressants.

New Cellulose-Supported Reagent: A Sustainable Approach to Guanidines

[reaction: see text] A new cellulose-supported reagent for the synthesis of guanidine in aqueous medium is reported starting from commercially available functionalized cellulose beads. Primary and secondary amines, anilines, and amino acids were transformed to the corresponding guanidines in high yields and under very mild conditions.

TFA-sensitive arylsulfonylthiourea-assisted synthesis of N,N'-substituted guanidines

An efficient synthesis of N,N'-substituted guanidine derivatives was developed via an aromatic sulfonyl-activated thiourea intermediate. The use of certain aromatic sulfonamides, such as PbfNH(2), as the key reagent to incorporate a TFA-labile guanidine protection group greatly facilitates solid-phase synthesis of N,N'-substituted guanidine compounds.

Solid-phase synthesis of trisubsituted guanidines

The solid-phase library synthesis of trisubstituted guanidines was accomplished. Amines were loaded onto the 4-formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxymethyl linker via reductive amination. Subsequent acylation with Fmoc-4-aminomethylbenzoic acid followed by Fmoc deprotection gave solid-supported primary amines. Alternatively, sulfonylation of resin-bound secondary amines with 4-cyanobenzenesulfonyl chloride followed by borane reduction also gave solid-supported primary amines. Both resins were acylated with isocyanates to furnish solid-supported ureas. Dehydration of ureas with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in pyridine gave solid-supported carbodiimides. Nucleophilic addition of amines to the carbodiimide bond followed by cleavage off the solid support gave trisubstituted guanidines.

New reagents, reactions, and peptidomimetics for drug design

It has been a major focus in our laboratories to prepare novel reagents and peptidomimetic structures for drug design. We have designed and prepared novel guanidinylation reagents that can be employed in solution or as solid phase reagents. We and others have utilized the reagent 3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one (DEPBT) for amide bond formation to couple sterically hindered structures. These couplings proceed with remarkably strong resistance to racemization. In the area of peptidomimetics, we have incorporated novel building blocks to create biologically active compounds. These building blocks include thioether and alkylamine bridges, beta-methylated, and beta,beta-dimethylated amino acid residues. These mimetic structures have been incorporated into specific target molecules such as opioids to obtain cyclic peptidomimetics with potent and selective biological activity.

Recent developments in combinatorial organic synthesis

The level of sophistication of combinatorial synthesis continues to increase at a heady pace. Fairly complex target molecules are now being assembled combinatorially using a broad palette of organic reactions both in solution- and solid-phase. This review highlights academic and industrial examples of combinatorial synthesis published within the last year. Recent advances in small-molecule synthesis are outlined, ranging from simple acyclic scaffolds to complex natural products.

A novel approach for the solid-phase synthesis of substituted cyclic guanidines, their respective bis analogues, and N-acylated guanidines from N-acylated amino acid amides

An efficient method for the solid-phase synthesis of cyclic guanidines from N-acylated amino acid amides, bis cyclic guanidines from N-acylated dipeptides derived from orthogonally protected diamino acids, and N-acylated guanidines from disubstituted cyclic guanidines is described. The exhaustive reduction of N-acylated amino acid amides yields diamines that on treatment with cyanogen bromide lead to the formation of cyclic guanidines. Resin-bound orthogonally protected diamino acids (i.e., N(alpha)-Fmoc-N(x)-(Boc)-diamino acid, x = beta, gamma, delta, epsilon) were N-acylated following removal of the Fmoc group. Removal of the Boc functionality from the side chain then generated a primary amine. Subsequent coupling of Boc amino acids, followed by removal of the Boc group, generated dipeptides that were N-acylated. Exhaustive reduction of amide bonds of the N-acylated dipeptides generated tetraamines having four secondary amines, which upon cyclization with cyanogen bromide afforded the resin-bound trisubstituted bis cyclic guanidines. Treatment of the resin-bound disubstituted cyclic guanidines with carboxylic acids gave N-acylated guanidines. On the basis of their high yield and purity, bis cyclic guanidines derived from N(alpha)-Fmoc-N(epsilon)-Boc-lysine and N-acylated guanidines were chosen for preparation of mixture-based combinatorial libraries. Details of the preparation of these positional scanning libraries using the "libraries from libraries" concept are presented.

A novel solid-phase synthesis of highly diverse guanidines: reactions of primary amines attached to the T2 linker

The reaction of primary amines with the T2 diazonium resin generates polymer-bound triazenes, which can in turn be acylated by the addition of isothiocyanate. The formed thioureas are readily transformed into the corresponding guanidines by the reaction with amines in the presence of mercury(II) oxide, tosyl chloride, or silver nitrate. This reaction sequence furnishes trisubstituted guanidines that are potentially useful pharmacophores.