Flupirtine and retigabine as templates for ligand-based drug design of KV7.2/3 activators.

Drug induced liver injury (DILI) and tissue discoloration led to the recent discontinuation of the therapeutic use of the closely related drugs flupirtine and retigabine, respectively. Experience gained with these drugs strongly suggests that heterotetramer, voltage-gated potassium channels 2 and 3 (KV7.2/3) are valid targets for effective treatment of pain and epilepsy. Because the adverse effects are not related to the mechanism of action, it appears promising to investigate chemical modifications of these clinically validated, drug-like leads. In the present retro-metabolic drug design study, a series of 43 compounds were synthesized and characterized with regard to KV7.2/3 opening activity and efficacy. The most active compound 22d displays excellent potency (EC50 = 4 nM) and efficacy (154%) as a KV7.2/3 opener. Limited aqueous solubility hampered toxicity testing at concentrations higher than 63 µM, but this concentration was nontoxic to two hepatocellular cell lines (HEP-G2 and TAMH) in culture. The slightly less active but more soluble compound 25b (EC50 = 11 nM, efficacy 111%) showed an improved toxicity/activity ratio compared to flupirtine by three orders of magnitude and represents an attractive lead structure for the development of safer analgesics and antiepileptics.

Sulfide Analogues of Flupirtine and Retigabine with Nanomolar KV 7.2/KV 7.3 Channel Opening Activity.

The potassium channel openers flupirtine and retigabine have proven to be valuable analgesics or antiepileptics. Their recent withdrawal due to occasional hepatotoxicity and tissue discoloration, respectively, leaves a therapeutic niche unfilled. Metabolic oxidation of both drugs gives rise to the formation of electrophilic quinones. These elusive, highly reactive metabolites may induce liver injury in the case of flupirtine and blue tissue discoloration after prolonged intake of retigabine. We examined which structural features can be altered to avoid the detrimental oxidation of the aromatic ring and shift oxidation toward the formation of more benign metabolites. Structure-activity relationship studies were performed to evaluate the KV 7.2/3 channel opening activity of 45 derivatives. Sulfide analogues were identified that are devoid of the risk of quinone formation, but possess potent KV 7.2/3 opening activity. For example, flupirtine analogue 3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-N-(6-(isobutylthio)-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamide (48) has 100-fold enhanced activity (EC50 =1.4 nm), a vastly improved toxicity/activity ratio, and the same efficacy as retigabine in vitro.

Flupirtine Analogues: Explorative Synthesis and Influence of Chemical Structure on KV7.2/KV7.3 Channel Opening Activity.

Neuronal voltage-gated potassium channels KV7.2/KV7.3 are sensitive to small-molecule drugs such as flupirtine, even though physiological response occurs in the absence of ligands. Clinically, prolonged use of flupirtine as a pain medication is associated with rare cases of drug-induced liver injury. Thus, safety concerns prevent a broader use of this non-opioid and non-steroidal analgesic in therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs such as hyperactive bladder or neonatal seizures. With the goal of studying influences of chemical structure on activity and toxicity of flupirtine, we explored modifications of the benzylamino bridge and the substitution pattern in both rings of flupirtine. Among twelve derivatives, four novel thioether derivatives showed the desired activity in cellular assays and may serve as leads for safer KV channel openers.

Bulky N-substituted 1,3-benzazaphospholes: access via Pd-catalyzed C-N and C-P cross coupling, lithiation, and conversion to novel P=C-PtBu2 hybrid ligands.

The syntheses of novel bulky N-substituted 1,3-benzazaphospholes are presented, together with their reactions with tert-butyllithium and coupling with tBu 2PCl to novel P, P'-hybrid ligands that combine the highly basic and bulky di- tert-butylphosphanyl group with pi-acidic low-coordinated phosphorus. The syntheses start with the preparation of new N-secondary 2-bromoanilines 1 by reduction of N-acyl 2-bromoanilides or more generally by Pd-catalyzed selective monoamination of o-dibromobenzene, followed by Pd-catalyzed C-P coupling with P(OEt) 3 to the respective 2-anilino-phosphonates 2. The next steps are reduction to 2-phosphanylanilines 3 and condensation with Me 2NCH(OMe) 2, which leads via phosphaalkenes 4 to the corresponding N-substituted benzazaphospholes 5. The reaction with tBuLi depends on the steric demand of the N substituent. Methyl, neopentyl-, and mesityl-derivatives were converted to P=C Li species 6 and coupled with tBu 2PCl to novel P=C-P tBu 2 ligands 7, whereas N-adamantyl and N-2,6-diisopropylphenyl-derivatives prefer addition of tBuLi at the PC bond to form dihydroderivatives. The chemical shifts of the low-coordinated phosphorus of 5 and 7 were found to reflect electronic and steric effects of the N substituents. The comparison of the crystal structures of N-neopentyl-1,3-benzazaphospholes 5 and 7 gives evidence of steric repulsion between the adjacent di- tert-butyl and neopentyl groups by the preferred anti orientation of the P- tert-butyl groups and moderate deviations of C2 and P3 of 7b from the ring plane.

Influence of anellation in N-heterocyclic carbenes: novel quinoxaline-anellated NHCs trapped as transition metal complexes.

The synthesis, NMR-, and crystal structure data of novel electron-deficient quinoxaline anellated imidazol-2-ylidene precursors and complexes thereof are reported and compared with related less electron-withdrawing or non-anellated N-heterocyclic carbenes and complexes to illustrate anellation effects.

3H-1,3-Azaphospholo[4,5-b]pyridines--novel heterocyclic P,N-bridging or hybrid ligands: synthesis and first d(8)-transition metal complexes.

The first 3H-1,3-azaphospholo-pyridines 2a-c were synthesized as racemic mixtures in modest to medium yield by the reaction of N-(2-chloropyrid-3-yl)-trimethylacetimidoyl chloride 1 with RPLi2 (R = Ph, n-Bu, i-Bu), generated from RPH2 and BuLi in THF at -70 °C, and studied with respect to their suitability as ligands (L) in transition metal complexes. Reactions of 2a with group 6 metal(0) pentacarbonyls led to P-coordinated LM(CO)5 complexes 3a-5a (Cr, Mo, W) and the reaction of 2c with (norbornadiene)Mo(CO)4 surprisingly to 4c. [Rh(1,5-COD)Cl]2 and 2a,b, in metal/ligand ratio 1 : 1, furnished LRh(1,5-COD)Cl complexes 6a,b with P-coordination, 6b accompanied by a minor contamination by the bis-coordinated L[Rh(COD)Cl]2 complex 7b. Reactions of 2a,b with [(allyl)PdCl]2 proceeded in THF with dismutation of N-coordinated (allyl)PdCl and formed with 2a a labile crude product [(2a){(allyl)PdCl}1.2(PdCl2)0.8]·C4H8O, with the composition close to L[Pd(allyl)Cl]PdCl2 THF (8a·THF), which converted during crystallization to 9a, whereas 2b directly formed the N,N'-PdCl2-bridged bis[LPd(allyl)chloride] complex 9b. Conversion of 2b with equimolar amounts of Pd(CH3CN)2Cl2 in THF, or Na2PdCl4 in methanol, gave rise to the dimeric P,N-bridging complex 10b. Crystal structure analyses of 6a (rac), 9b·2CDCl3 (meso), 10b·4.5THF and 10b·2D6-acetone (rac) provided detailed structural information. 10b, but more efficiently complexes formed in situ from 2a,b and Pd2(DBA)3 or Pd(OAc)2, catalysed the arylamination of 2-bromopyridine with 2,4,6-trimethylaniline.

A new promising application for highly cytotoxic metal compounds: η6-areneruthenium(II) phosphite complexes for the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis.

Two series of η(6)-areneruthenium(II) phosphite complexes were prepared, characterized, and evaluated in vitro for their toxic potential against Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes. Neutral complexes of general formula [(η(6)-p-cymene)RuCl(2){P(OR)(3)}] (R = Et, (i)Pr, Ph) with two easily exchangable chloride ligands showed only minor toxicity, whereas the substitution of these moieties against a ß-diketonate (2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptanedionate) ligand led to hydrolytically stable complex salts of type [(η(6)-p-cymene)Ru(ß-diketonate){P(OR)(3)}][BF(4)] (R = Et, (i)Pr, Ph) with comparable in vitro toxicity (50% PGI release at c = 1.4 - 4.7 µM) to the reference drug nitazoxanide (50% PGI release at c = 1.2 µM). In addition, the latter complexes were highly toxic against rat hepatoma cells (IC(50) = 0.40-2.0 µM) and less toxic against human foreskin fibroblasts (IC(50) = 1.1-2.9 µM) and Vero cells (IC(50) = 1.2-8.9 µM). The measured cytotoxicities against mammalian cells are, to the best of our knowledge, among the highest ever observed for ruthenium-based complexes. In conclusion, complex salts of type [(η(6)-p-cymene)Ru(ß-diketonate){P(OR)(3)}][BF(4)] might be interesting candidates for further development toward anthelmintic drugs and/or highly cytotoxic metal compounds.

P=C-N-heterocycles: synthesis of biaryl-type 1,3-benzazaphospholes with ortho-substituted phenyl or 2-heteroaryl groups.

A facile synthesis of functionally substituted 2-(hetero)aryl 1,3-benzazaphospholes via nickel- or palladium-catalyzed phosphonylation of N-acyl-2-bromoanilides 1a-k with triethyl phosphite is presented. Anilidophosphonates 2a-g with naphthoyl-, o-substituted phenyl, furoyl- or thenoyl groups allow direct reductive cyclization with LiAlH(4) to benzazaphospholes 3. The reaction of the o-bromoderivative 2d proceeds with concomitant replacement of bromine by hydrogen, whereas the electron-withdrawing pyridyl group of 2h prevents the synthesis of 3h by this short route. An alternative synthesis of 2-pyridylbenzazaphosphole 3hvia anilidophosphonates succeeded starting from Fmoc-anilinophosphonate 2kvia selective cleavage of the N-protecting group, reduction of the resulting phosphonoaniline to phosphinoaniline and cyclization with pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde via a dihydrobenzazaphosphole 8. N-Substituted pyridylmethylbenzazaphosphole 9 was detected as a side product. The structure elucidation of the new compounds is based on multinuclear NMR data and X-ray crystal structure analyses of a phosphonoanilide, underlining the dominance of N-H···O=P hydrogen bonds over N-H···O=C type hydrogen bonds, of 3h and a supramolecular associate of 3b and its unprecedented air oxidation product 10.

Sterically and polarity-controlled reactions of tBuLi with P=CH-NR heterocycles: novel heterocyclic P- and P,O-ligands and preliminary tests in transition-metal catalysis.

(1R)-1,3-Benzazaphospholes 1 a-c, P=CH-NR heterocycles of the indole type, react with tBuLi in two ways, depending on the steric demand of the N-substituent and the polarity of the medium. The presence of small N-alkyl groups induces CH-deprotonation in the 2-position to give hetaryllithium reagents 2 a and 2 b, whereas bulky N-substituents and nonpolar solvents change the reactivity towards addition at the P=C bond. The preferred regioselectivity is tert-butylation at phosphorus, occurring with excellent diastereoselectivity for trans-adducts 3 b and 3 c, but the inverse tert-butylation at C2 to 5 b was also observed. N-Neopentyl groups, with intermediate steric demand, give rise to formation of mixtures in ethers but allow switching either to selective CH lithiation in THF/KOtBu or to addition in pentane. Bulkier N-adamantyl groups always cause preferred addition. Protonation, silylation, and carboxylation were used to convert the P=CLi-NR, (E)-tBuP-CHLi-NR, and LiP-CH(tBu)-NR species into the corresponding sigma(2)-P or sigma(3)-P compounds 4 b and 6 a,b, 7 b,c, or 8 b-10 b with additional N and/or O donor sites. Slow diffusion-controlled air oxidation of 10 b led to the meso-diphosphine 11 b. Preferred eta(1)-P coordination was shown for an [Rh(cod)Cl] complex 12 b, and the potential of the new ligands 4 b and 7 b in catalysis was demonstrated by examples of Pd-catalyzed C-N coupling and Ni-catalyzed ethylene oligomerization (TON>6300). Crystal structures of 6 b, 11 b, and 12 b are presented.

Anellated N-heterocyclic carbenes: 1,3-dineopentylnaphtho[2,3-d]imidazol-2-ylidene: synthesis, KOH addition product, transition-metal complexes, and anellation effects.

Two novel anellated N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), 1,3-dineopentylnaphtho[2,3-d]imidazol-2-ylidene, and 1,3-dineopentyl-2-ylido-imidazolo[4,5-b]pyridine were obtained by reduction of the respective thiones with potassium, the former also by deprotonation of the corresponding naphthimidazolium hexafluorophosphate by using excess KH in THF. The use of equimolar amounts of KH provided an unexpected formal addition product of this NHC with KOH. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the adduct provided evidence for a distorted tetrameric N-heterocyclic alkoxide, stabilized by two THF molecules. In C(6)D(6) the compound undergoes disproportionation. Transition-metal complexes [(NHC)AgCl], [(NHC)Rh(cod)Cl], and (E)-[(NHC)(2)PdCl(2)] of the novel naphthimidazol-2-ylidene were synthesized. X-ray crystal structures and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic data provided detailed structural information. Comparing characteristic data with those of nonanellated and differently anellated NHCs or their complexes provides information on the influence of the extended anellation.

2-phosphanylphenolate nickel catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene.

The previously unknown methallylnickel 2-diorganophosphanylphenolates (R=Ph, cHex) were synthesized and found to catalyze the polymerization of ethylene. To explore the potential for ligand-tuning, a variety of P-alkyl- and P-phenyl-2-phosphanylphenols was synthesized and allowed to react with [Ni(cod)(2)] (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) or with NiBr(2).DME and NaH. The complexes formed in situ with [Ni(cod)(2)] are generally active as ethylene polymerization catalysts with all the ligands tested, whereas the latter systems are inactive when 2-dialkylphosphanylphenols are applied. M(w) values, ranging from about 1000 to about 100000 g mol(-1), increase for various R(2)P groups in the order R=Ph