Novel piperidinedione analogs as inhibitors of breast cancer cell growth

We previously reported the utility of antineoplaston-A10 (3-phenylacetylamino-2,6-piperidinedione) as an endogenous cancer protector and immune modulator in breast cancer patients (Cancer Lett., 2000, 157, 57). In this study, four new piperidinedione A10 analogs were synthesized and tested for their antimitotic activity on a human breast cancer cell line against the prototype A10 and the antibreast cancer drug tamoxifen. Moreover, the DNA binding capacity of such compounds was evaluated against A10, (E)-3-(4-Nitrocinnamoylamino)-2,6-piperidinedione "3B" and (E)-3-(4-hydroxycinnamoylamino)-2,6-piperidinedione "3D" were several-fold more potent antiproliferative agents than A10 and tamoxifen. They also had significantly higher capacity to bind DNA than A10. Conversely, (E)-3-(cinnamoylamino)-2,6-piperidinedione "3A" and (E)-3-(4-methoxycinnamoylamino)-2,6-piperidinedione) "3C" had weaker biological profiles than the lead compound A10. Detailed synthetic, spectroscopic, and biological data are reported.

A formal total synthesis of (-)-cephalotaxine

A formal total synthesis of (-)-cephalotaxine (1) has been achieved. The key step is an intramolecular aldol condensation of the diketone 9, which in turn was obtained in three steps from the azabicyclic compound 6 derived from D-proline according to Seebach's procedure. Treatment of 9 with a catalytic amount of sodium 2-methyl-2-butanolate in benzene at room temperature gave the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone 8 in 43% yield. Catalytic hydrogenation of 8 followed by reduction of the ketone 22 with sodium borohydride and acetylation of the resulting alcohol 23 gave the acetoxy derivative 24, which, after deprotection, was acylated with (methylthio)acetic acid to give the amide 26. Compound 26 was converted into optically active ketolactam 4 following the synthetic operations developed for the synthesis of the racemic compound.

Synthesis of certain new 2,4,5(6) trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-alpha]pyrimidines as potential antihypertensive agents

A series of 1,2,4-triazolol[1,5-alpha]pyrimidines bearing at position 2, morpholine, piperidine or piperazine moities has been prepared. In addition, ethyl 4-methyl-2-(4-acylpiperazin-1-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[1, 5-alpha]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one-6-carboxylates 25,26, which have related structure with prazosin, have been synthesized. Ten representative compounds were tested in vitro and in vivo for their antihypertensive activity where compounds 7, 11 and 25 showed promising activity. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic and biological data are reported.

1,1-Bis-(1,2,4-triazolyl and 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl) ethane and phenylethane derivatives as potential antibacterial agents

A series of compounds containing two identical heterocyclic moieties such as triazole and thiadiazole separated by ethane or phenylethane was synthesized. The structures of the newly prepared compounds were established on the basis of their elemental analyses and spectral data. The target compounds were subjected to antifungal and antibacterial screening. The results of this testing revealed that compounds 23, 26, 34 and 35 showed promising antibacterial activity, while, compound 33 showed remarkable antifungal activity.

Percentages of the deuterium retained after para-hydroxylation of (R)(+)4-2H-phenytoin and (S)(-) 4-2H-phenytoin in rat

(R)(+) and (S)(-) 4-2H-phenytoin have been used as substrates for the determination of the percentage of deuterium retention (NIH shift) after para-hydroxylation of the substrates in rat. By using GC-MS analyses, the percentages of deuterium retention were found to be 69% and 70% for the (R) and (S) phenyl rings, respectively. The results add additional evidence for the involvement of arene oxide in the oxidation of the pro (R) and pro (S) phenyls of phenytoin. The oxidation process of each ring could be mediated by independent enzyme systems, a rapid oxidative enzyme for the pro (S) phenyl and a slow oxidative enzyme for the pro (R) phenyl.