Cytostatic 6-Arylpurine Nucleosides V. Synthesis of 8-Substituted 6-Phenylpurine Ribonucleosides

Sugar-modified derivatives of cytostatic 6-(het)aryl-7-deazapurine nucleosides: 2′-C-methylribonucleosides, arabinonucleosides and 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroarabinonucleosides

A series of novel sugar-modified derivatives of cytostatic 6-hetaryl-7-deazapurine ribonucleosides: 2′-C-methylribonucleosides, arabinonucleosides and 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroarabinonucleosides bearing an alkyl, aryl and hetaryl group in position 6 were prepared by palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of corresponding (protected) 6-chloro-(7-fluoro)-7-deazapurine nucleosides with (het)arylboronic, hetarylstannanes and trimethylaluminium eventually followed by deprotection. Key intermediate 6-chloro-7-deazapurine 2′-C-methyl-β-D-ribofuranoside was prepared via a stereoselective nucleobase anion glycosylation with toluoyl-protected 1,2-anhydro-2-C-methylribofuranose. The 1,2-anhydro sugar was synthesized in 3 steps starting from readily available 2-C-methylribonolactone. The 6-chloro-7-deazapurine arabinofuranoside intermediate was obtained by epimerization from 3′,5′-protected 6-chloro-7-deazapurine ribofuranoside via 2′-hydroxyl oxidation followed by reduction. None of the prepared compounds showed any considerable cytostatic or antiviral activity.

The synthesis of the 8-C-substituted 2,6-diamino-9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]purine (PMEDAP) derivatives by diverse cross-coupling reactions

Diisopropyl 8-bromo-2,6-diamino-9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]purine was used as a starting material for the synthesis of the 8-C-substituted 2,6-diamino-9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]purine (PMEDAP) analogues. A systematic screening of diverse cross-coupling reactions was carried out. Stille, Suzuki–Miyaura, Negishi, and Sonogashira cross-couplings, as well as Pd-catalysed reactions with trialkylaluminiums, were employed for the introduction of various alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, and hetaryl substituents to the C-8 position of the 2,6-diaminopurine moiety. In contrast to the potent parent compound PMEDAP, which exhibits potent antiretroviral and antitumor activity, none of the sixteen newly synthesized 8-C-substituted analogues of PMEDAP showed any specific antiviral activity.

6-(Het)aryl-7-deazapurine ribonucleosides as novel potent cytostatic agents

A series of novel 7-deazapurine ribonucleosides bearing an alkyl, aryl, or hetaryl group in position 6 and H, F, or Cl atom in position 7 has been prepared either by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of the corresponding protected 6-chloro-(7-halogenated-)7-deazapurine ribonucleosides with alkyl- or (het)arylorganometallics followed by deprotection, or by single-step aqueous phase cross-coupling reactions of unprotected 6-chloro-(7-halogenated-)7-deazapurine ribonucleosides with (het)arylboronic acids. Significant cytostatic effect was detected with a substantial proportion of the prepared compounds. The most potent were 7-H or 7-F derivatives of 6-furyl- or 6-thienyl-7-deazapurines displaying cytostatic activity in multiple cancer cell lines with a geometric mean of 50% growth inhibition concentration ranging from 16 to 96 nM, a potency comparable to or better than that of the nucleoside analogue clofarabine. Intracellular phosphorylation to mono- and triphosphates and the inhibition of total RNA synthesis was demonstrated in preliminary study of metabolism and mechanism of action studies.

Cross-coupling reactions of unprotected halopurine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleoside triphosphates with 4-boronophenylalanine in water. Synthesis of (purin-8-yl)- and (purin-6-yl)phenylalanines

An expeditious and highly efficient single-step methodology for the introduction of a phenylalanine moiety into position 8 and 6 of the purine scaffold was developed based on aqueous-phase Pd-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of unprotected 4-boronophenylalanine with 8-bromo- or 6-chloropurines. The scope of the methodology was demonstrated by syntheses of unprotected (adenin-8-yl)phenylalanine base, nucleosides, nucleotides and nucleoside triphosphates as well as (purin-6-yl)phenylalanine base and nucleosides. All these products were obtained in high yields and in optically pure form.

Synthesis of 6-Amino-, 6-Methyl- and 6-Aryl-2-(hydroxymethyl)purine Bases and Nucleosides

An efficient methodology of the synthesis of 6-substituted 2-(hydroxymethyl)purine derivatives (bases and nucleosides) was developed. Regioselective Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 6-chloro-2-iodopurines with [(benzoyloxy)methyl]zinc iodide gave 2-[(benzoyloxy)-methyl]-6-chloropurines that were converted to 2-(hydroxymethyl)adenines by reactions with ammonia and to 6-methyl- or 6-aryl-2-(hydroxymethyl)purines by cross-coupling reactions with trimethylaluminium or arylboronic acids followed by deprotection. The title 6-substituted 2-(hydroxymethyl)purine bases and nucleosides did not exhibit significant cytostatic or anti-HCV activity.

Cytostatic 6-Arylpurine Nucleosides. 6. SAR in Anti-HCV and Cytostatic Activity of Extended Series of 6-Hetarylpurine Ribonucleosides

Significant anti-HCV activity of 6-hetarylpurine ribonucleosides has been discovered and is reported here for the first time and compared with cytostatic effect. An extended series of 6-hetarylpurine nucleosides has been prepared by heterocyclizations in position 6 of purine nucleosides or by cross-couplings of 6-chloropurine nucleosides with hetarylboronic acids, -stannanes, or -zinc halides. The most anti-HCV active were purine ribonucleosides bearing pyrrol-3-yl or 2-furyl groups exerting EC(90) = 0.14 and 0.4 microM, respectively.

Synthesis of 2-Substituted 6-(Hydroxymethyl)purine Bases and Nucleosides

A facile and efficient methodology of the synthesis of 6-(hydroxymethyl)purine derivatives (bases and nucleosides) was developed based on Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 6-halopurines or N-protected 2-amino-6-halopurines with (benzoyloxymethyl)zinc iodide followed by deprotection. Regioselective hydroxymethylations of 2,6-dihalopurines were also studied and used for the synthesis of 2-chloro-6-(hydroxymethyl)- or 2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl)purines. The 6-(hydroxymethyl)purine ribonucleoside 5f exerted high cytostatic effect and moderate inhibition of adenosine deaminase, while all the other derivatives were much less effective or entirely inactive.

Cocyclotrimerization of 6-Alkynylpurines with α,ω-Diynes as a Novel Approach to Biologically Active 6-Arylpurines

Transition metal complex catalyzed cocyclotrimerization of 6-alkynylpurines 1 with various diynes enables the preparation of a plethora of substituted 6-arylpurines 3 in good yields. The most general catalyst for the reaction is a user-friendly system based on a nickel-phosphine complex and reductant (NiBr(2)(dppe)/Zn) in MeCN. The reaction conditions are compatible with various protective groups on the purine moiety (Bn, THP). As far as other potential catalysts were concerned, only CoBr(PPh(3))(3) showed reasonable activity in cocyclotrimerization of alkynylpurines with dipropargyl ether. A comparison of catalytic with stoichiometric approaches and the ligand effect in the catalyst is also given. Cytostatic activity screening of title 6-arylpurines was performed and several moderately active compounds were found.

Covalent Analogues of DNA Base-Pairs and Triplets VII. Synthesis and Cytostatic Activity of Bis(purin-6-yl)acetylene and -diacetylene Nucleosides

The title bis(purin-6-yl)acetylene and -diacetylene nucleoside derivatives were prepared as covalent base-pair analogues starting from acyl-protected 6-ethynylpurine and 6-iodopurine nucleosides by the Sonogashira cross-coupling or oxidative alkyne-dimerization reactions followed by deprotection. The key starting acyl-protected 6-ethynylpurine nucleosides were prepared by a sequence of cross-coupling reactions of protected 6-halopurine nucleosides with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene followed by a modified desilylation with TBAF in presence of acetic acid. Surprisingly, the acyl-protected nucleosides exhibited significant cytostatic activity higher than the fully deprotected title compounds.

An efficient synthesis of 2-substituted 6-methylpurine bases and nucleosides by Fe- or Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 2,6-dichloropurines

Fe-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 9-substituted or protected 2,6-dichloropurines with 1 equiv of methylmagnesium chloride gave regioselectively 2-chloro-6-methylpurines in good yields. The same reactions with 3 equiv of methylmagnesium chloride or Pd-catalyzed reactions with trimethylaluminum afforded 2,6-dimethylpurines. The 2-chloro-6-methylpurines underwent another coupling with phenylboronic acid to give 6-methyl-2-phenylpurines. All reactions were perfomed for Bn- and THP-protected purine bases as well as for acyl-protected ribosides and 2-deoxyribosides. After deprotection, free purine bases and nucleosides were obtained.