Biarylcarboxylic acids and -amides: inhibition of phosphodiesterase type IV versus [3H]rolipram binding activity and their relationship to emetic behavior in the ferret.

In addition to having desirable inhibitory effects on inflammation, anaphylaxis, and smooth muscle contraction, PDE-IV inhibitors also produce undesirable side effects including nausea and vomiting. In general, compounds that inhibit PDE-IV also potently displace [3H]rolipram from a high-affinity binding site in rat cortex. While this binding site has not been identified, it has been proposed to be an allosteric binding site on the PDE-IV enzyme. Preliminary studies have suggested that the emetic potency of PDE-IV inhibitors is correlated with affinity for the brain rolipram binding site rather than potency at inhibiting PDE-IV enzyme activity. Efforts to eliminate the emetic potential of PDE-IV inhibitors were directed toward developing compounds with decreased [3H]rolipram binding affinity while retaining PDE-IV potency. Thus, a novel series of 4-(3-alkoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)benzoic acids and their corresponding carboxamides were prepared and evaluated for their PDE-IV inhibitory and rolipram binding site properties. Modification of the catechol ether moiety led to phenylbutoxy and phenylpentoxy analogues that provided the desired activity profile. Specifically, 4-[3-(5-phenylpentoxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-methylbenzoic acid, 18, was found to exhibit potent PDE-IV inhibitory activity (IC50 0.41 microM) and possessed 400 times weaker activity than rolipram for the [3H]rolipram binding site. In vivo, compound 18 was efficacious in the guinea pig aerosolized antigen induced airway obstruction assay (ED50 8.8 mg/kg, po) and demonstrated a significant reduction in emetic side effects (ferret, 20% emesis at 30 mg/kg, po).

Synthetic approaches to 2-(4-hydroxy-7-chromanyl)benzoic acids as antagonists of leukotriene B4.

Structural modification of 1 led to a series of 2-(4-hydroxy-7-chromanyl)benzoic acid LTB4 antagonists exemplified by 2 and 3. The use of an organostannane biaryl coupling, a non steroselective reduction and a chromatographic resolution limited the utility of this synthetic route. To address these issues, a new synthetic route was developed utilizing a palladium catalyzed coupling of aryl oxazolines in tandem with a stereospecific enone reduction as key synthetic steps. Resolution was achieved by fractional crystallization of a (S)-(-)-alpha-methylbenzylamine salt.

Novel nonpeptide agents potently block the C-type inactivated conformation of Kv1.3 and suppress T cell activation.

The nonpeptide agent CP-339,818 (1-benzyl-4-pentylimino-1,4-dihydroquinoline) and two analogs (CP-393,223 and CP-394,322) that differ only with respect to the type of substituent at the N1 position, potently blocked the Kv1.3 channel in T lymphocytes. A fourth compound (CP-393,224), which has a smaller and less-lipophilic group at N1, was 100-200-fold less potent, suggesting that a large lipophilic group at this position is necessary for drug activity. CP-339,818 blocked Kv1.3 from the outside with a IC50 value of approximately 200 nM and 1:1 stoichiometry and competitively inhibited 125I-charybdotoxin from binding to the external vestibule of Kv1.3. This drug inhibited Kv1.3 in a use-dependent manner by preferentially blocking the C-type inactivated state of the channel. CP-339,818 was a significantly less potent blocker of Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kv1.5, Kv1.6, Kv3.1-4, and Kv4.2; the only exception was Kv1.4, a cardiac and neuronal A-type K+ channel. CP-339,818 had no effect on two other T cell channels (I(CRAC) and intermediate-conductance K(Ca)) implicated in T cell mitogenesis. This drug suppresses human T cell activation, suggesting that blockade of Kv1.3 alone is sufficient to inhibit this process.

trans-3-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-7-chromanylbenzoic acid derivatives as antagonists of the leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor.

The SAR of a series of 2-(7-chromanyl)benzoic acids has been investigated with the aim of identifying potent and selective LTB4 receptor antagonists that maintain potency in complex biological fluids. We found optimal activity in derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups in the benzoic acid ring and with an unsubstituted C-3 benzyl group on the chromanol nucleus. While compounds containing a 3-(4-phenyl)benzyl chromanol substituent were potent LTB4 receptor antagonists, the increased lipophilicity imparted by the additional phenyl substituent led to decreased potency in the presence of plasma proteins. From among the potent compounds identified, CP-195543, the 5'-trifluoromethyl 3-benzyl chromanol, was selected for development.