Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles as selective insect GABA receptor antagonists

Design, Synthesis, and Bioactivity of Trifluoroethylthio-Substituted Phenylpyrazole Derivatives

As the first marketed phenylpyrazole insecticide, fipronil exhibited remarkable broad-spectrum insecticidal activity. However, it poses a significant threat to aquatic organisms and bees due to its high toxicity. Herein, 35 phenylpyrazole derivatives containing a trifluoroethylthio group on the 4 position of the pyrazole ring were designed and synthesized. The predicted physicochemical properties of all of the compounds were within a reasonable range. The biological assay results revealed that compound 7 showed 69.7% lethality against Aedes albopictus (A. albopictus) at the concentration of 0.125 mg/L. Compounds 7, 7g, 8d, and 10j showed superior insecticidal activity for the control of Plutella xylostella (P. xylostella). Notably, compound 7 showed similar insecticidal activity against Aphis craccivora (A. craccivora) compared with fipronil. Potential surface calculation and molecular docking suggested that different lipophilicity and binding models to the Musca domestica (M. domestica) gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors may be responsible for the decreased activity of the tested derivatives. Toxicity tests indicated that compound 8d (LC50 = 14.28 mg/L) induced obviously 14-fold lower toxicity than fipronil (LC50 = 1.05 mg/L) on embryonic-juvenile zebrafish development.

The mode of action of isocycloseram: A novel isoxazoline insecticide

Isocycloseram is a novel isoxazoline insecticide and acaricide with activity against lepidopteran, hemipteran, coleopteran, thysanopteran and dipteran pest species. Isocycloseram selectively targets the invertebrate Rdl GABA receptor at a site that is distinct to fiproles and organochlorines. The widely distributed cyclodiene resistance mutation, A301S, does not affect sensitivity to isocycloseram, either in vitro or in vivo, demonstrating the suitability of isocylsoseram to control pest infestations with this resistance mechanism. Detailed studies demonstrated that the binding sites relevant to the insecticidal activity of avermectins and isocycloseram are distinct. Isocycloseram was shown to compete for binding with metadiamide insecticides related to broflanilide. In addition, a G335M mutation in the third transmembrane domain of the Rdl GABA receptor, impaired the ability of both isocycloseram and metadiamides to block the GABA mediated response. As such the Insecticides Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) has classified isocycloseram in Group 30 "GABA-Gated Chloride Channel Allosteric Modulators".

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and In Silico Computational Studies of 7-Chloro-4-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)quinoline Derivatives: Search for New Controlling Agents against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

The insecticidal and antifeedant activities of five 7-chloro-4-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)quinoline derivatives were evaluated against the maize armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). These hybrids were prepared through a copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC, known as a click reaction) and displayed larvicidal properties with LD₅₀ values below 3 mg/g insect, and triazolyl-quinoline hybrid 6 showed an LD₅₀ of 0.65 mg/g insect, making it 2-fold less potent than methomyl, which was used as a reference insecticide (LD₅₀ = 0.34 mg/g insect). Compound 4 was the most active antifeedant derivative (CE₅₀ = 162.1 μg/mL) with a good antifeedant index (56-79%) at concentrations of 250-1000 μg/mL. Additionally, triazolyl-quinoline hybrids 4-8 exhibited weak inhibitory activity against commercial acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus electricus (electric-eel AChE) (IC₅₀ = 27.7 μg/mL) as well as low anti-ChE activity on S. frugiperda larvae homogenate (IC₅₀ = 68.4 μg/mL). Finally, molecular docking simulations suggested that hybrid 7 binds to the catalytic active site (CAS) of this enzyme and around the rim of the enzyme cavity, acting as a mixed (competitive and noncompetitive) inhibitor like methomyl. Triazolyl-quinolines 4-6 and 8 inhibit AChE by binding over the perimeter of the enzyme cavity, functioning as noncompetitive inhibitors. The results described in this work can help to identify lead triazole structures from click chemistry for the development of insecticide and deterrent products against S. frugiperda and related insect pests.

Facile synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles by the regiospecific alkylation of a ruthenium triazolato complex

The alkylation of the N(2)-bound ruthenium triazolate [Ru]N3C2HCO2Et (2, [Ru] = (η5-C5H5)(dppe)Ru, dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) with benzylbromides is reported. The regiospecific alkylation of 2, which results from the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of ethyl propiolate with [Ru]-N3 (1), gives a series of cationic N(1)-bound N(3)-alkylated-4-ethoxycarbonyl triazolato complexes {[Ru]N3(CH2R)C2HCO2Et}[Br] (3a, R = 4-CH2Br-C6H4; 3b, R = 3,5-(CH2Br)2-C6H3; 3c, R = 2,6-F2-C6H3; 3d, R = 4-CN-C6H4) and the subsequent cleavage of the Ru-N bond of 3a-3d gives N(1)-alkylated-5-ethoxycarbonyl triazoles N3(CH2R)C2HCO2Et (4a-4d) and [Ru]-Br, which, on reacting with sodium azide, would afford [Ru]-N3 (1) thus forming a reaction cycle. The treatment of {[Ru]N3(CH2C6F5)C2HCO2Et}[Br] (3e) with sodium azide in refluxing ethanol gives the free triazole N3(CH2C6F5)C2HCO2Et (4e) and 1. The treatment of 2 with an equivalent of 3a affords a dinuclear bis(triazolato) complex {α,α'-bis([Ru]N3C2HCO2Et)-p-xylene}[Br]2 (5) and an organic bis(triazole) complex α,α'-bis(N3C2HCO2Et)-p-xylene (6). The treatment of 2 with CF3COOH in CHCl3 at room temperature affords a mixture of N(2)-bound 1H- and 3H-4-ethoxycarbonyl triazolato complexes {[Ru]N3HC2HCO2Et}[CF3COO] (1H-7) and (3H-7) in a ratio of 5 : 2. The structures of 4e, 5 and 1H-7 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

The 1,2,3-triazole ring as a bioisostere in medicinal chemistry

1,2,3-Triazole is a well-known scaffold that has a widespread occurrence in different compounds characterized by several bioactivities, such as antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor effects. Moreover, the structural features of 1,2,3-triazole enable it to mimic different functional groups, justifying its wide use as a bioisostere for the synthesis of new active molecules. Here, we provide an overview of the 1,2,3-triazole ring as a bioisostere for the design of drug analogs, highlighting relevant recent examples.

The antiparasitic isoxazoline A1443 is a potent blocker of insect ligand-gated chloride channels

A structurally unique isoxazoline class compound, A1443, exhibits antiparasitic activity against cat fleas and dog ticks comparable to that of the commercial ectoparasiticide fipronil. This isoxazoline compound inhibits specific binding of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor channel blocker [(3)H]4'-ethynyl-4-n-propylbicycloorthobenzoate (EBOB) to housefly-head membranes, with an IC(50) value of 455pM. In contrast, the IC(50) value in rat-brain membranes is>10muM. To study the mode of action of this isoxazoline, we utilized MdGBCl and MdGluCl cDNAs, which encode the subunits of housefly GABA- and glutamate-gated chloride channels, respectively. Two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology was used to confirm that A1443 blocks GABA- and glutamate-induced chloride currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing MdGBCl or MdGluCl channels, with IC(50) values of 5.32 and 79.9 nM, respectively. Blockade by A1443 was observed in A2'S-MdGBCl and S2'A-MdGluCl mutant channels at levels similar to those of the respective wild-types, and houseflies expressing A2'S-MdGBCl channels were as susceptible to A1443 as standard houseflies. These findings indicate that A1443 is a novel and specific blocker of insect ligand-gated chloride channels.

Click chemistry reactions in medicinal chemistry: applications of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azides and alkynes

In recent years, there has been an ever-increasing need for rapid reactions that meet the three main criteria of an ideal synthesis: efficiency, versatility, and selectivity. Such reactions would allow medicinal chemistry to keep pace with the multitude of information derived from modern biological screening techniques. The present review describes one of these reactions, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ("click-reaction") between azides and alkynes catalyzed by copper (I) salts. The simplicity of this reaction and the ease of purification of the resulting products have opened new opportunities in generating vast arrays of compounds with biological potential. The present review will outline the accomplishments of this strategy achieved so far and outline some of medicinal chemistry applications in which click-chemistry might be relevant in the future.

Regioselective synthesis of 1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)- 4-alkyl-1H-[1,2,3]-triazoles

A new and efficient method for the synthesis of 1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoro-methylphenyl)-4-alkyl-1H-[1,2,3]-triazoles by the room temperature 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of (2-azido-1,3-dichloro-5-trifluoromethyl)benzene with terminal alkynes in the presence of Cu (I) salt as catalyst is reported. All the reactions gave 1,4-disubstituted products with high regioselectivity, as no 1,5-disubstituted product was formed. The structures of all the title compounds have been confirmed by elemental analysis, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and in addition, the structure of compound 5a was investigated by X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis, 3D-QSAR, and docking studies of 1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles as selective antagonists for β3 over α1β2γ2 GABA receptors

A series of 16 1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles with substituents at both the 4- and 5-positions of the triazole ring were synthesized, and a total of 49 compounds, including previously reported 4- or 5-monosubstituted analogues, were examined for their ability to inhibit the specific binding of [(3)H]4'-ethynyl-4-n-propylbicycloorthobenzoate (EBOB), a non-competitive antagonist, to human homo-oligomeric beta3 and hetero-oligomeric alpha1beta2gamma2 gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Among all tested compounds, the 4-n-propyl-5-chloromethyl analogue of 1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole showed the highest level of affinity for both beta3 and alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors, with K(i) values of 659pM and 266nM, respectively. Most of the tested compounds showed selectivity for beta3 over alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors. Among all 1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles, the 4-n-propyl-5-ethyl analogue exhibited the highest (>1133-fold) selectivity, followed by the 4-n-propyl-5-methyl analogue of 1-(2,6-dibromo-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole with a >671-fold selectivity. The 2,6-dichloro plus 4-trifluoromethyl substitution pattern on the benzene ring was found to be important for the high affinity for both beta3 and alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) provided similar contour maps, revealing that an electronegative substituent at the 4-position of the benzene ring, a compact, hydrophobic substituent at the 4-position of the triazole ring, and a small, electronegative substituent at the 5-position of the triazole ring play significant roles for the high potency in beta3 receptors. Molecular docking studies suggested that the putative binding sites for 1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole antagonists are located in the channel-lining 2'-6' region of the second transmembrane segment of beta3 and alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors. A difference in the hydrophobic environment at the 2' position might underlie the selectivity of 1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles for beta3 over alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors. The compounds that had high affinity for beta3 receptors with homology to insect GABA receptors showed insecticidal activity against houseflies with LD(50) values in the pmol/fly range. The information obtained in the present study should prove helpful for the discovery of selective insect control chemicals.

The channel-lining 6' amino acid in the second membrane-spanning region of ionotropic GABA receptors has more profound effects on 4'-ethynyl-4-n-propylbicycloorthobenzoate binding than the 2' amino acid

The noncompetitive antagonist of ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors 4'-ethynyl-4-n-propylbicycloorthobenzoate (EBOB) is a useful tool to probe the antagonist-binding site. In the present study, four mutants of the human GABA(A) receptor beta3 subunit were stably expressed in S2 cells and examined for their abilities to bind [(3)H]EBOB to identify the binding site of EBOB. The homo-oligomeric beta3 GABA receptor was used as a housefly GABA receptor model, as the beta3 subunit has a high sequence similarity with the housefly Rdl subunit in the second membrane-spanning (M2) region. The A274S mutation at the -1' position in the M2 region had no effect on [(3)H]EBOB binding. The A277S mutation at the 2' position led to a decrease in the affinity of EBOB for the GABA receptor. The T281V mutant at the 6' position and the A277S/T281V double mutant completely abolished the binding ability. A beta3 GABA receptor homology model predicts these interactions between the receptor and EBOB. These results suggest that EBOB interacts with threonine 281 and alanine 277, and that threonine 281 plays a more critical role in interacting with EBOB than alanine 277.