Novel 1,2,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives as Potent Neuroprotectors: Approach to Creation of Bioavailable Drugs

Synthesis of 3,5-Disubstituted-1,2,4-thiadiazoles via NaH-DMF-Promoted Dehydrogenative Intramolecular N-S Bond Formation

A facile transition-metal-free synthesis of 3,5-bis(het)aryl/arylaminothiadiazoles has been reported. The overall protocol involves base-mediated tandem thioacylation of amidines with dithioesters or aryl isothiocyanates in DMF solvent and subsequent in situ intramolecular dehydrogenative N-S bond formation of thioacylamidine intermediates under an inert atmosphere. A probable mechanism involving a carbamoyl anion, generated by deprotonation of DMF, acting as a radical initiator has been suggested.

Sodium Carbonate-Promoted Formation of 5-Amino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles and 5-Amino-1,2,4-selenadiazoles with Elemental Sulfur and Selenium

Sodium carbonate-promoted facile synthesis of 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles and 5-amino-1,2,4-selenadiazoles with elemental sulfur and selenium, respectively, was developed. This method was carried out with O2 in the air as the green oxidant, and it has several advantages, including low cost, low toxicity, and stable sulfur and selenium sources, good to excellent yields with water as the sole byproduct, simple operation, and a broad substrate scope. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the formation of the 1,2,4-thiadiazole ring and the 1,2,4-selenadiazole ring undergoes different processes.

Permeability of New Antifungal Fluconazole Derivatives through a Lipophilic Membrane: Experiment and Modeling

Relationships between the structures of molecules and their properties form the basis of modern chemistry and lay the foundation for structure-based drug design. Being the main two determinants of bioavailability, solubility and permeability of drugs are widely investigated experimentally and predicted from physicochemical parameters and structural descriptors. In the present study, we measure the passive diffusion permeability of a series of new fluconazole derivatives with triazole and thiazolo-pyrimidine moieties connected by different linker bridges through the PermeaPad barrier-a relatively new biomimetic lipophilic membrane that has been increasingly used in recent years. The permeability coefficients of new derivatives are shown to be dependent both on the structure of the linker fragment and on the substituent in the phenyl ring of the thiazolo-pyrimidine moiety. The impact of the compound ionization state on the permeability is revealed. Reliable correlations of the permeability with the antifungal activity and distribution coefficient are found. In addition, the solubility-diffusion approach is shown to be able to successfully predict the permeability of the studied derivatives. The obtained results can be considered another step in the development of permeability databases and design of schemes for in vitro permeability prediction.

Molecular iodine-promoted oxidative cyclization for the synthesis of 1,3,4-thiadiazole-fused- [1,2,4]-thiadiazole incorporating 1,4-benzodioxine moiety as potent inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase: In vitro and in silico study

Twenty-five analogs were synthesized based on 1,3,4-thiadiazole-fused-[1,2,4]-thiadiazole incorporating 1,4-benzodioxine moiety (1-25) and then tested for the antidiabetic profile. The entire afforded derivatives showed varied inhibition profiles ranging between 0.70 ± 0.01 and 30.80 ± 0.80 μM (against α-amylase) in comparison to standard acarbose (12.80 ± 0.10 μM). Similarly, synthetics analogs also displayed a varied range of α-glucosidase activity ranging from 0.80 ± 0.01 μM to IC50 = 29.70 ± 0.40 μM (against α-glucosidase) as compared to standard acarbose (IC50 = 12.90 ± 0.10 μM). Among synthesized analogs, compound 22 showed excellent potency due to the presence of di-hydroxy substitutions at the 2,3-position of the aryl ring. For all analogs, the structure-activity relationship was carried out based on the pattern of substitutions around the aryl ring, and further, the potent analogs were subjected to a molecular docking study to analyze how active residues of targeted enzymes interact with active parts of newly prepared analogs. The result obtained shows that these compounds furnish several key interactions with enzyme active sites and, hence, enhanced their enzymatic activities.

External oxidant-free and transition metal-free synthesis of 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazoles as promising antibacterials against ESKAPE pathogen strains

A new route to 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives via reaction of N-chloroamidines with isothiocyanates has been proposed. The advantages of this method are high product yields (up to 93%), the column chromatography-free workup procedure, scalability and the absence of additive oxidizing agents or transition metal catalysts. The 28 examples of 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives obtaining via the proposing protocol were evaluated in vitro against ESKAPE pathogens strains (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae). It was found that compounds 5ba, 5bd, 6a, 6d and 6c have potent antibacterial activity (MIC values 0.09-1.5 μg mL^-1), which is superior to the activity of commercial antibiotics such as pefloxacin (MIC 4-8 μg mL^-1) and streptomycin (MIC 2-32 μg mL^-1). The additional cytotoxic assay of hit compounds on PANC-1 cell line demonstrated the low or non-cytotoxicity activity at the same level of concentrations. Thus, these 5 compounds are promising starting point for further antimicrobial drug development.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of thiadiazole amide derivatives as nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) inhibitors

Importance of extracellular nucleotides is widely understood. These nucleotides act as ligand for P2X and P2Y receptors and modulate a variety of biological functions. However, their extracellular concentration is maintained by a chain of enzymes termed as ecto-nucleotidases. Amongst them, nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) is an important enzyme family responsible for the dephosphorylation of these nucleotides. Overexpression of NTPDases leads to many pathological conditions such as cancer and thrombosis. So far, only a few NTPDase inhibitors have been reported. Considering this scarcity of (NTPDase) inhibitors, a number of thiadiazole amide derivatives were synthesized and screened against human (h)-NTPDases. Several compounds showed promising inhibitory activity; compound 5a (IC₅₀ (µM); 0.05 ± 0.008) and 5g (IC₅₀ (µM); 0.04 ± 0.006) appeared to be the most distinguished molecules corresponding to h-NTPDase1 and -2. However, h-NTPDase3 was the least susceptible isozyme and only three compounds (5d, 5e, 5j) strongly inhibited h-NTPDase3. Interestingly, compound 5e was recognized as the most active compound that showed dual inhibition against h-NTPDase3 as well as against h-NTPDase8. For better comprehension of binding mode of these inhibitors, most potent inhibitors were docked with their respective isozyme.

1,2,4-Thiadiazole acyclic nucleoside phosphonates as inhibitors of cysteine dependent enzymes cathepsin K and GSK-3β

In analogy to antiviral acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, a series of 5-amino-3-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-ones bearing a 2-phosphonomethoxyethyl (PME) or 3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl (HPMP) group at the position 2 of the heterocyclic moiety has been synthesized. Diisopropyl esters of PME- and HPMP-amines have been converted to the N-substituted ureas and then reacted with benzoyl, ethoxycarbonyl, and Fmoc isothiocyanates to give the corresponding thiobiurets, which were oxidatively cyclized to diisopropyl esters of 5-amino-3-oxo-2-PME- or 2-HPMP- 1,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-ones. The phosphonate ester groups were cleaved with bromotrimethylsilane, yielding N⁵-protected phosphonic acids. The subsequent attempts to remove the protecting group from N⁵ under alkaline conditions resulted in the cleavage of the 1,2,4-thiadiazole ring. Similarly, compounds with a previously unprotected 5-amino-1,2,4-thiadiazolone base moiety were stable only in the form of phosphonate esters. The series of twenty-one newly prepared 1,2,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-ones were explored as potential inhibitors of cysteine-dependent enzymes - human cathepsin K (CatK) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β). Several compounds exhibited an inhibitory activity toward both enzymes in the low micromolar range. The inhibitory potency of some of them toward GSK-3β was similar to that of the thiadiazole GSK-3β inhibitor tideglusib, whereas others exhibited more favorable toxicity profile while retaining good inhibitory activity.

Novel cocrystals of the potent 1,2,4-thiadiazole-based neuroprotector with carboxylic acids: virtual screening, crystal structures and solubility performance

Five new multicomponent solid forms of the biologically active 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivative (TDZH) with dicarboxylic and hydroxybenzoic acids have been discovered by combined virtual/experimental cocrystal screening.

The Dawn of Mitophagy: What Do We Know by Now?

Mitochondria are essential organelles for healthy eukaryotic cells. They produce energyrich phosphate bond molecules (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation using ionic gradients. The presence of mitophagy pathways in healthy cells enhances cell protection during mitochondrial damage. The PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin-dependent pathway is the most studied for mitophage. In addition, there are other mechanisms leading to mitophagy (FKBP8, NIX, BNIP3, FUNDC1, BCL2L13). Each of these provides tethering of a mitochondrion to an autophagy apparatus via the interaction between receptor proteins (Optineurin, p62, NDP52, NBR1) or the proteins of the outer mitochondrial membrane with ATG9-like proteins (LC3A, LC3B, GABARAP, GABARAPL1, GATE16). Another pathogenesis of mitochondrial damage is mitochondrial depolarization. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) antioxidant responsive elements (AREs) along with antioxidant genes, including pro-autophagic genes, are all involved in mitochondrial depolarization. On the other hand, mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) and AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) are the major regulatory factors modulating mitophagy at the post-translational level. Protein-protein interactions are involved in controlling other mitophagy processes. The objective of the present review is to analyze research findings regarding the main pathways of mitophagy induction, recruitment of the autophagy machinery, and their regulations at the levels of transcription, post-translational modification and protein-protein interaction that appeared to be the main target during the development and maturation of neurodegenerative disorders.

Tacrine - Benzothiazoles: Novel class of potential multitarget anti-Alzheimeŕs drugs dealing with cholinergic, amyloid and mitochondrial systems

A series of tacrine - benzothiazole hybrids incorporate inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation and mitochondrial enzyme ABAD, whose interaction with Aβ leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, into a single molecule. In vitro, several of 25 final compounds exerted excellent anti-AChE properties and interesting capabilities to block Aβ aggregation. The best derivative of the series could be considered 10w that was found to be highly potent and selective towards AChE with the IC₅₀ value in nanomolar range. Moreover, the same drug candidate exerted absolutely the best results of the series against ABAD, decreasing its activity by 23% at 100 µM concentration. Regarding the cytotoxicity profile of highlighted compound, it roughly matched that of its parent compound - 6-chlorotacrine. Finally, 10w was forwarded for in vivo scopolamine-induced amnesia experiment consisting of Morris Water Maze test, where it demonstrated mild procognitive effect. Taking into account all in vitro and in vivo data, highlighted derivative 10w could be considered as the lead structure worthy of further investigation.

Mitochondria as a promising target for developing novel agents for treating Alzheimer's disease

The mitochondria-targeting drugs can be conventionally divided into the following groups: those compensating for the energy deficit involved in neurodegeneration, including stimulants of mitochondrial bioenergetics and activators of mitochondrial biogenesis; and neuroprotectors, that are compounds increasing the resistance of mitochondria to opening of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores. Although compensating for the energy deficit and inhibition of MPT are obvious targets for drugs used in the very early stages of Alzheimer-like pathology, but their use as the monotherapy for patients with severe symptoms is unlikely to be sufficiently effective. It would be optimal to combine targets that would provide the cognitive-stimulating, the neuroprotective effects and the ability to affect specific disease-forming mechanisms. In the design of such drugs, assessment of their potential mitochondrial-targeted effects is of particular importance. The possibility of targeted drug design for simultaneous action on mitochondrial and neurotransmitter's receptors targets is, in particularly, based on the known interplay of various cellular pathways and the presence of common structural components. Of particular interest is directed search for multitarget drugs that would act simultaneously on mitochondrial calcium-dependent functions, the targets (receptors, enzymes, etc.) facilitating neurotransmission, and the molecular targets related to the action of so-called disease-modifying factors, in particular, the formation and overcoming of the toxicity of β-amyloid or hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The examples of such approaches realized on the level of preclinical and clinical trials are presented below.

The Effect of Short-Term Physical Activity on the Oxidative Stress in Rats with Different Stress Resistance Profiles in Cerebral Hypoperfusion

Oxidative stress associated with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is one of the fundamental factors leading to neurodegenerative diseases. To prevent oxidative stress, physical activity is effective. Physical exercise enables development of rehabilitation techniques that can progressively increase patients' stress resistance. We determined the oxidative stress dynamics in experimental hypoperfusion and modeled rehabilitation measures, comparing sex and stress resistance levels. The experiment was performed on 240 Wistar rats of both sexes over a period of 90 days. Based on behavioral test results obtained using the open field test, the rats were divided into active animals with predicted higher stress resistance (HSR) and passive animals with predicted lower stress resistance (LSR). TBA (thiobarbituric acid) plasma concentration of the active products (malondialdehyde-MDA), blood plasma (NO-X) concentration, and L-citrulline (LC) concentration were determined spectrophotometrically at the corresponding wave length (nm). The intensity of oxidative stress was evaluated using the chemoluminscent method to determine the blood plasma antioxidant activity on the BCL-07 biochemoluminometer. This study revealed two stages of oxidative stress: a less pronounced phase covering the first days after surgery and a main one, which starts from the month after the operation to 3 months. Female sex and a high initial level of stress resistance reduced the severity of oxidative stress. Physical activity commencing a week after the surgery resulted in "reloading" the adaptive mechanisms and slowed the onset of the main stage, leading to a decrease in the free-radical process in all studied subgroups and the greater blood plasma (NO)-X decrease in the male animals. Future neuropharmacological intervention most likely will be able to determine the pathophysiology mechanism of chronic brain hypoperfusion and potentially extending adaptive responses.

Molecular Iodine-Promoted [3 + 2] Oxidative Cyclization for the Synthesis of Heteroarene-Fused [1,2,4] Thiadiazoles/Selenadiazoles

Two new classes of heteroarene-fused [1,2,4]thiadiazole and [1,2,4]selenadiazole are synthesized through the iodine-mediated [3 + 2] oxidative cyclization of 2-aminoheteroarenes and isothiocyanates/isoselenocyanates. This oxidative [3 + 2] annulation strategy is highly regiospecific to proceed a selective C-N bond formation at the endo-nitrogen of 2-aminoheteroarenes followed by an intramolecular oxidative N-S/N-Se bond formation. It is the first example of an I₂-mediated oxidative nitrogen-selenium (N-Se) bond formation.

New Positive Allosteric Modulator of AMPA Receptors: in vitro and in vivo Studies

A new derivative of 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, which showed a high activity as a positive allosteric modulator of AMPA receptors of the CNS, was studied in electrophysiological experiments. At doses of 0.01 mg/kg, this compound significantly improved the memory of experimental animals disturbed by maximal electric shock. The results indicate that this compound is a promising candidate for preclinical trials and clinical studies as a drug for treatment of a number of psychoneurological diseases.

Regioselective C-C cross-coupling of 1,2,4-thiadiazoles with maleimides through iridium-catalyzed C-H activation

A regioselective C-C cross-coupling of 1,2,4-thiadiazoles with maleimides through iridium catalysis was developed. This transformation tactically linked the 1,2,4-thiadiazoles and succinimides together, and the novel molecules formed may have potential biological activity.

Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative [3+2] Annulation for the Synthesis of 5-Amino/Imino-Substituted 1,2,4-Thiadiazoles through C-N/N-S Bond Formation

A copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative annulation reaction of 2-aminopyridine/amidine with isothiocyanate has been reported. This strategy involving C-N/N-S bond formations provides various 5-amino/imino-substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives under a Cu/O₂ catalytic system. This method has demonstrated high reactivity, mild reaction conditions, and a broad substrate scope. Furthermore, the synthetic utilities of the approach are demonstrated by further modifications.

A efficient protocol for the synthesis of thioamides in [DBUH][OAc] at room temperature

A novel, simple and eco-friendly method to synthesize thioamides from aryl nitriles and sodium sulfide (Na₂S·9H₂O) catalyzed by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-enium acetate ([DBUH][OAc]) ionic liquid (IL) at room temperature was developed in this paper.

Cocrystals of a 1,2,4-thiadiazole-based potent neuroprotector with gallic acid: solubility, thermodynamic stability relationships and formation pathways

The thermodynamic stability relationships and the formation pathways of the cocrystals of 1,2,4-thiadiazole-based neuroprotector with gallic acid were investigated.

Towards the rational design of novel drugs based on solubility, partitioning/distribution, biomimetic permeability and biological activity exemplified by 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives

Novel 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives as potent neuroprotectors were synthesized and identified. Their ability to inhibit the glutamate stimulated Ca2+ uptake was investigated. The solubility of thiadiazoles was measured in a buffer solution (pH 7.4) at 298 K. The distribution coefficients in 1-octanol/buffer (pH 7.4) and 1-hexane/buffer (pH 7.4) immiscible phases as model systems imitating the gastrointestinal tract epithelium and the blood-brain barrier were determined. Permeation experiments the new Permeapad™ barrier using Franz diffusion cells were conducted and the apparent permeability coefficients were obtained. The influence of the compound structure on the physicochemical properties determining the bioavailability of drug-like substances was revealed. Solubility-permeability interplay has been assessed to evaluate potential bioavailability of the compounds studied.

A one-pot multistep cyclization yielding thiadiazoloimidazole derivatives

A versatile synthetic procedure is described to prepare the benzimidazole-fused 1,2,4-thiadiazoles 2a–c via a methanesulfonyl chloride initiated multistep cyclization involving the intramolecular reaction of an in-situ generated carbodiimide with a thiourea unit. The structure of the intricate heterocycle 2a was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis and its mechanism of formation supported by DFT computations.

Adsorption and trace detection of pharmacologically significant 5-methylthio-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thiol molecule adsorbed on silver nanocolloids and understanding the role of Albrecht's "A" and Herzberg-Teller contributions in the SERS spectra

The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of biologically and industrially significant 5-methylthio-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole 2-thiol molecule have been investigated. The SERS spectra at various concentrations of the adsorbate are compared with the Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) and normal Raman spectra (NRS) of the probe molecule recorded in different environmental conditions. The optimized molecular structures of the most probable thione and the thiol forms of the molecule have been estimated from the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The vibrational signatures of the molecule have been assigned from the potential energy distributions (PEDs). The detail vibrational analyses reveal that ∼54% of the thione form of the molecule is prevalent in the solid state and its population increases to ∼65% in ACN solvent medium. Concentration dependent SERS, together with the 2-dimensional correlation spectra (2D-COS), corroborate the presence of both the thione and the thiol forms of the molecule even in the surface adsorbed state. The orientations of the thione and the thiol forms of the molecule on the nanocolloidal silver surface have been predicted from the surface selection rule. The selective enhancement of Raman bands in the SERS spectra have been explored from the view of the Albrecht's "A" and Herzberg-Teller (HT) charge transfer (CT) contribution.

The impact of structural modification of 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives on thermodynamics of solubility and hydration processes

The influence of a structural modification on thermodynamic aspects of solubility and hydration processes of 1,2,4-thiadiazole drug-like compounds was investigated.