New amidine-benzenesulfonamides as iNOS inhibitors for the therapy of the triple negative breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a specific breast cancer subtype, and poor prognosis is associated to this tumour when it is in the metastatic form. The overexpression of the inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) is considered a predictor of poor outcome in TNBC patients, and this enzyme is reported as a valuable molecular target to compromise TNBC progression. In this work, new amidines containing a benzenesulfonamide group were designed and synthesized as selective iNOS inhibitors. An in vitro biological evaluation was performed to assess compounds activity against both the inducible and constitutive NOSs. The most interesting compounds 1b and 2b were evaluated on MDA-MB-231 cells as antiproliferative agents, and 1b capability to counteract cell migration was also studied. Finally, an in-depth docking study was performed to shed light on the observed potency and selectivity of action of the most promising compounds.

Synthesis, bioevaluation and docking studies of new imidamide derivatives as nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

In search of new Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) inhibitor agents, two isosteric series of derivatives with an imidamide scaffold (one of them with a hydroxyl group and the other with a carbonyl one) were synthesized and evaluated on inducible (iNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) isoforms. These compounds have been designed by combining a kynurenamine framework with an amidine moiety in order to improve selectivity for the inducible isoform. In general, the in vitro inhibitory assays exhibited better inhibition values on the iNOS isoform, being the N-(3-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzimidamide 4i the most active inhibitor with the highest iNOS selectivity, without inhibiting eNOS. Docking studies on the two most active compounds suggest a different binding mode on both isozymes, supporting the experimentally observed selectivity towards the inducible isoform. Physicochemical in silico studies suggest that these compounds possess good drug-likeness properties.

Quinazolinones, Quinazolinthiones, and Quinazolinimines as Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors: Synthetic Study and Biological Evaluation.

The synthesis of different compounds with a quinazolinone, quinazolinthione, or quinazolinimine skeleton and their in vitro biological evaluation as inhibitors of inducible and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (iNOS and nNOS) isoforms are described. These derivatives were obtained from substituted 2-aminobenzylamines, using diverse cyclization procedures. Furthermore, the diamines were synthesized by two routes: A conventional pathway and an efficient one-pot synthesis in a continuous-flow hydrogenator. The structures of these heterocycles were confirmed by (1) H and (13) C nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectroscopy data. The structure-activity relationships of the target molecules are discussed in terms of the effects of both the R radical and the X heteroatom in the 2-position. In general, the assayed compounds behave as better iNOS than nNOS inhibitors, with the quinazolinone 11e being the most active inhibitor of all tested compounds and the most iNOS/nNOS selective one.

(1) H and (13) C NMR spectral assignment of N,N'-disubstituted thiourea and urea derivatives active against nitric oxide synthase.

The (1) H and (13) C NMR resonances of seventeen N-alkyl and aryl-N'-[3-hydroxy-3-(2-nitro-5-substitutedphenyl)propyl]-thioureas and ureas (1-17), and seventeen N-alkyl or aryl-N'-[3-(2-amino-5-substitutedphenyl)-3-hydroxypropyl]-thioureas and ureas (18-34), designed as NOS inhibitors, were assigned completely using the concerted application of one- and two-dimensional experiments (DEPT, HSQC and HMBC). NOESY studies confirm the preferred conformation of these compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development of urea and thiourea kynurenamine derivatives: synthesis, molecular modeling, and biological evaluation as nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

Herein we describe the synthesis of a new family of kynurenamine derivatives with a urea or thiourea moiety, together with their in vitro biological evaluation as inhibitors of both neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases (nNOS and iNOS, respectively), enzymes responsible for the biogenesis of NO. These compounds were synthesized from a 5-substituted-2-nitrophenyl vinyl ketone scaffold in a five-step procedure with moderate to high chemical yields. In general, the assayed compounds show greater inhibition of iNOS than of nNOS, with 1-[3-(2-amino-5-chlorophenyl)-3-oxopropyl]-3-ethylurea (compound 5 n) being the most potent iNOS inhibitor in the series and the most iNOS/nNOS-selective compound. In this regard, we performed molecular modeling studies to propose a binding mode for this family of compounds to both enzymes and, thereby, to elucidate the differential molecular features that could explain the observed selectivity between iNOS and nNOS.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives as potential nNOS/iNOS selective inhibitors. Part 2: Influence of diverse substituents in both the phenyl moiety and the acyl group.

In a preliminary article, we reported a series of 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives as neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitors. Here we present the data about the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) of these compounds. In general, we can confirm that these pyrazoles are nNOS selective inhibitors. In addition, taking these compounds as a reference, we have designed and synthesized a series of new derivatives by modification of the heterocycle in 1-position, and by introduction of electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents in the aromatic ring. These derivatives have been evaluated as nNOS and iNOS inhibitors in order to identify new compounds with improved activity and selectivity. Compound 3r, with three methoxy electron-donating groups in the phenyl moiety, is the most potent nNOS inhibitor, showing good selectivity nNOS/iNOS.

NMR spectroscopic characterization of new 2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives.

The (1) H and (13) C NMR resonances of twenty-seven 2,2-dimethyl-5-(2-nitrophenyl-5-substituted)-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles, and twenty-seven 3-acyl-5-(2-amino-5-substituted)-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles were assigned completely using the concerted application of one-dimensional and two-dimensional experiments (DEPT, HMQC and HMBC). NOESY experiments, X-ray crystallography and conformational analysis confirm the preferred conformation of these compounds.

1,3,4-Thiadiazole derivatives as selective inhibitors of iNOS versus nNOS: Synthesis and structure-activity dependence.

The synthesis of new compounds with a 1,3,4-thiadiazole structure, and their in vitro biological evaluation as inhibitors of both neuronal and inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS and iNOS) is described. These compounds have been designed by an isosteric modification of a series of 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives, previously described as the nNOS inhibitors. The insertion of the S atom in the heterocyclic ring induces a selective inhibition of the iNOS isoform. Some of these compounds show as iNOS inhibition percentage near of 100% at a concentration of 50 µM, and the IC(50) values measured for the more potent compounds are in a range of 20-40 µM.

Characterization of 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives by (13) C NMR spectroscopy.

The (13) C NMR resonances of 19 1-acyl-3-(2-nitro-5-substitutedphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles, and 19 1-acyl-3-(2-amino-5-substituted)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles, were completely assigned using the concerted application of one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments (DEPT, gs-HSQC and gs-HMBC).

NMR and conformational studies of new 5-phenylpyrrole-carboxamide derivatives.

The 1H and 13C NMR resonances of 22 5-(5-substituted-2-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamides, 22 5-(5-substituted-2-aminophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamides, and 9 5-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamides were assigned completely using the concerted application of one- and two-dimensional experiments (DEPT, gs-HMQC and gs-HMBC). NOE studies and conformational analysis confirm the preferred conformations of such compounds.

Phenylpyrrole derivatives as neural and inducible nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and iNOS) inhibitors.

We have previously described a series of 3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives as moderately potent nNOS inhibitors. As a follow up of these studies, several new 5-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide derivatives have been synthesized, and their biological evaluation as in vitro inhibitors of both neural and inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS and iNOS) is described. Some of these compounds show good iNOS/nNOS selectivity and the more potent compounds 5-(2-aminophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxilic acid methylamide (QFF205) and cyclopentylamide (QFF212) have been tested as regulators of the in vivo nNOS and iNOS activity. Both compounds prevented the increment of the inducible NOS activity in both cytosol (iNOS) and mitochondria (i-mtNOS) observed in the MPTP model of Parkinson's disease.

1H, 13C NMR, X-ray and conformational studies of new 1-alkyl-3-benzoyl-pyrazole and 1-alkyl-3-benzoyl-pyrazoline derivatives.

The (1)H and (13)C NMR resonances of 22 1-alkyl-pyrazole and 25 1-alkyl-pyrazoline derivatives were assigned completely using the concerted application of one- and two-dimensional experiments (DEPT, gs-HMQC and gs-HMBC). Nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) effects, conformational analysis and X-ray crystallography confirm the preferred conformation of those compounds.

Pyrazoles and pyrazolines as neural and inducible nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and iNOS) potential inhibitors (III).

We have previously described a series of 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole as moderately potent nNOS inhibitors. As a follow up of these studies, we report here the preparation and the preliminary evaluation of a series of 1-alkyl-3-benzoyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole and 1-alkyl-3-benzoyl-1H-pyrazole as potential inhibitors of both neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases (nNOS and iNOS). None of the reported compounds exhibited significant iNOS or nNOS inhibition, although the 1-benzyl-3-(2-amino-5-chlorobenzoyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester derivative (10l), which shows an inhibition of 50% versus iNOS at a 1mM final concentration and no activity against nNOS, is potentially amenable of further optimization. The reasons for the inactivity of the reported series are discussed on the basis of docking studies.

Kynurenamines as neural nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

To find new compounds with potential neuroprotective activity, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized a series of neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitors with a kynurenamine structure. Among them, N-[3-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropyl]acetamide is the main melatonin metabolite in the brain and shows the highest activity in the series, with an inhibition percentage of 65% at a 1 mM concentration. The structure-activity relationship of the new series partially reflects that of the previously reported 2-acylamido-4-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acids, endowed with a kynurenine-like structure. Structural comparisons between these new kinurenamine derivatives, kynurenines, and 1-acyl-3-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives also reported confirm our previous model for the nNOS inhibition.

4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives with inhibitory nNOS activity in rat brain: synthesis and structure-activity relationships.

In an attempt to find new compounds with neuroprotective activity, we have designed, synthesized and characterized 19 new nNOS inhibitors with a 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole structure. Compounds 11r [1-cyclopropanecarbonyl-3-(2-amino-5-chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole] and 11e [1-cyclopropanecarbonyl-3-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)- 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole] show the highest activities with inhibition percentages of 70% and 62%, respectively. A structure-activity relationship for the nNOS inhibition can be established from the structural comparison of these new pyrazole derivatives and the described synthetic kynurenines 10.