New bronchodilators. 3. Imidazo[4,5-c][1,8]naphthyridin-4(5H)-ones

Synthesis and Bronchodilator Studies of Some Novel 6-Alkyl/Aryl-1,2,4-Triazino[4,3-c]Quinazolines

A series of alkyl- and aryl-1,2,4-triazino[4,3-c]quinazolines (5a-h and 8a-h) were synthesized and characterized. The title compounds were evaluated for their in vivo bronchodilator activity on guinea pigs. All the test compounds exhibited good protection against histamine-induced bronchospasm. The structure-activity relationships based on the results obtained for these series were studied. Incorporation of an aryl ring with halo substitution to the theophylline bioisostere increases its potency. Among the compounds tested, 5b was found to be the most potent with 88.7% protection against histamine-induced bronchospasm compared to the standard compound aminophylline (87.8%).

Regioselective synthesis of biologically interesting pentacyclic polyheterocycles by sequential thio-Claisen and AlCl3 catalyzed oxy-Claisen rearrangement of 4-(4′-aryloxybut-2′-ynylthio)-1-phenyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one

A number of 4-aryloxymethyl-6-phenyl-2H-thiopyrano[3,2-c][1,8]naphthyridin-5(6H)-ones were regio selectively synthesized in 82%–95% yields by the thermal Claisen rearrangement of 4-(4′-aryloxybut-2′-ynylthio)-1-phenyl-[1,8]naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones. These products were then subjected to a second Claisen rearrangement in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst, anhyd. AlCl3, to give hitherto unreported pentacyclic heterocycles in 75%–90% yields. The same final products were also obtained in low yield upon refluxing 4-aryloxymethyl-6-phenyl-2H-thio pyrano-[3,2-c][1,8]naphthyridin-5(6H)-ones in N,N-diethyl aniline for 12–14 h. This method was found to be more effective than thermal Claisen rearrangement.Key words: [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement, regioselective synthesis, phase transfer catalysis, sequential Claisen rearrangement, Lewis acid catalyzed Claisen rearrangement, single crystal X-ray.

Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors, structurally unrelated to rolipram, as promising agents for the treatment of asthma and other pathologies

An increase of cyclic adenosine and guanosine monophosphate (cAMP and cGMP) level can be achieved by inhibition of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which are the enzymes responsible for the conversion of these second messengers into the corresponding 5-monophosphate inactive counterparts. The high heterogeneity in PDE families and in their tissue distribution, as well as their different functional role, make these enzymes very attractive targets for medicinal chemists. The PDE 4 family is particularly abundant in immunocompetent cells, where an increase of cAMP leads to the inhibition of the synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokines and active oxygen species. Moreover PDE 4 inhibitors are able to reduce bronchial smooth muscle tone in vitro and show bronchodilatory effects in vivo. Thus, the current therapy for asthma, which is based on a combination of beta(2) agonists and corticosteroids, could be replaced by treatment with PDE 4 inhibitors. This review mainly covers PDE 4 inhibitors structurally related to xanthines and Nitraquazone, which appear to be very attractive models for the synthesis of novel PDE 4 inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of asthma, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease and some autoimmune diseases. These compounds could be devoid of the central side-effects (nausea, vomiting, headache) of the archetypal Rolipram, which hampered its development as a drug. The review also highlights the novel structural classes of PDE 4 inhibitors recently reported in the literature.