N-(1-Phenylethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylate esters in the synthesis of biologically relevant compounds.

Since Garner's aldehyde has several drawbacks, first of all is prone to racemization, alternative three-carbon chirons would be of great value in enantioselective syntheses of natural compounds and/or drugs. This review article summarizes applications of N-(1-phenylethyl)aziridine-2-carboxylates, -carbaldehydes and -methanols in syntheses of approved drugs and potential medications as well as of natural products mostly alkaloids but also sphingoids and ceramides and their 1- and 3-deoxy analogues and several hydroxy amino acids and their precursors. Designed strategies provided new procedures to several drugs and alternative approaches to natural products and proved efficiency of a 2-substituted N-(1-phenylethyl)aziridine framework as chiron bearing a chiral auxiliary.

Synthesis of nonracemic hydroxyglutamic acids.

Glutamic acid is involved in several cellular processes though its role as the neurotransmitter is best recognized. For detailed studies of interactions with receptors a number of structural analogues of glutamic acid are required to map their active sides. This review article summarizes syntheses of nonracemic hydroxyglutamic acid analogues equipped with functional groups capable for the formation of additional hydrogen bonds, both as donors and acceptors. The majority of synthetic strategies starts from natural products and relies on application of chirons having the required configuration at the carbon atom bonded to nitrogen (e.g., serine, glutamic and pyroglutamic acids, proline and 4-hydroxyproline). Since various hydroxyglutamic acids were identified as components of complex natural products, syntheses of orthogonally protected derivatives of hydroxyglutamic acids are also covered.

Novel isoxazolidine analogues of homonucleosides and homonucleotides.

Isoxazolidine analogues of homonucleos(t)ides were synthesized from nucleobase-derived nitrones 20a-20e (uracil, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, thymine, adenine) employing 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with allyl alcohol as well as with alkenylphosphonates (allyl-, allyloxymethyl- and vinyloxymethyl- and vinylphosphonate). Besides reactions with vinylphosphonate the additions proceeded regioselectively to produce mixtures of major cis and minor trans 3,5-disubstituted isoxazolidines (d.e. 28-82%). From vinylphosphonate up to 10% of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazolidines was additionally produced. Vicinal couplings, shielding effects and 2D NOE correlations were employed in configurational assignments as well as in conformational analysis to find out preferred conformations for several isoxazolidines and to observe anomeric effects (pseudoaxial orientation of phosphonylmethoxy groups) for those obtained from vinyloxymethylphosphonate. None of the tested compounds were endowed in vitro with antiviral activity against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses at subtoxic concentrations (up to 250 µM) nor exhibited antiproliferative activity towards L1210, CEM, and HeLa cells (IC50 = ≥100 µM).

Novel acyclic phosphonylated 1,2,3-triazolonucleosides with an acetamidomethyl linker: synthesis and biological activity.

A new series of 4-substituted [(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)acetamido]methylphosphonates as acyclic nucleotide analogs were synthesized from diethyl (2-chloroacetamido)methylphosphonate via azidation followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with selected alkynes derived from natural nucleobases or their mimetics. All compounds were tested for their antiviral activities against DNA and RNA viruses as well as for cytostatic activity or cytotoxicity. Among all tested compounds, [(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)acetamido]methylphosphonate 6e substituted with the N(3)-Bz-benzuracil moiety showed activity against the vesicular stomatitis virus (EC50 = 45 µM) in HeLa cell cultures.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 1,2,3-triazolonucleotides.

A general procedure for the preparation of 1,2,3-triazole analogs of nucleosides from diethyl 2-azidoethoxymethyl- and 2-azidoethoxyethylphosphonates was elaborated. The application of microwave irradiation shortened the reaction time to 10 min in comparison to ca. 48 h when 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions were performed under standard conditions. All compounds were evaluated in vitro for inhibitory activity against a broad variety of DNA and RNA viruses. None of the compounds were antivirally active at subtoxic concentrations. Compound 17k exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human T-lymphocyte cells (IC50=64 µM for CEM).

Synthesis of a new series of phosphonylated 1,2,3-triazoles as acyclic analogs of ribavirin.

A novel series of phosphonylated 1,2,3-triazoles as structural acyclic analogs of ribavirin, in which the 1,2,3-triazole ring was substituted at C4' with COOMe, CONH2, CONHOH, and CH2 NHBoc groups, were synthesized from diethyl azidomethyl-, 2-azidoethyl-, 3-azidopropyl-, 4-azidobutyl-, 2-azido-1-hydroxyethyl-, 3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl-, 2-azidoethoxymethyl- and 2-azidoethoxyethylphosphonate. The efficient synthesis of diethyl azidomethylphosphonate from diethyl 4-nitrobenzenesulfonylmethylphosphonate employing the in situ formed azides is described. All synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activity against a broad variety of RNA and DNA viruses. No antiviral activity was observed at 100 µM. Only compound 13g exhibited inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HeLa cells (IC50=169±45 µM).

Design, synthesis and cytotoxicity of a new series of isoxazolidine based nucleoside analogues.

5-Arylisoxazolidin-3-yl-3-diethoxyphosphonates have been synthesized from N-methyl-C-diethoxyphosphorylnitrone and vinyl aryls in good yields and their transformation into the respective phosphonic acids has been accomplished via dealkylation procedure using trimethylsilyl bromide. Phosphonates having 1- and 2-naphthyl substituents at C5 in the isoxazolidine ring as well as the respective phosphonic acids have been found cytotoxic to HeLa and K562 cells with IC(50) in the 0.1-0.3 mM range. Preliminary studies on mechanism of action imply that intercalation to DNA is not responsible for their cytotoxic properties.

Synthesis of (1R,2R)- and (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonates as analogues of fosfomycin.

Cyclohexylammonium (1R,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-hydroxypropylphosphonate was conveniently synthesized from dibenzyl (1S,2R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonate by a reaction sequence including mesylation, hydrolysis of acetal, intramolecular Williamson reaction, and hydrogenation in the presence of cyclohexylamine. For dibenzyl (1S,2R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonates the same approach was not successful, since prior the epoxide-ring closure tritylation of HO-C3 in dibenzyl (1R,2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-mesyloxypropylphosphonate was necessary and the hydrogenolysis of dibenzyl (1S,2R)-1,2-epoxy-3-trityloxypropylphosphonate yielded a complex reaction mixture.

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates containing the amide bond: hydroxy derivatives.

ABSTRACT: To study the influence of a linker rigidity and changes in donor-acceptor properties, three series of nucleotide analogs containing a P-X-HN-C(O)- residue (X=CH(OH)CH2, CH(OH)CH2CH2, CH2CH(OH)CH2) as a replacement for the P-CH2-O-CHR- fragment in acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, e.g., adefovir, cidofovir, were synthesized. EDC proved to provide good yields of the analogs from the respective ω-amino-1- or -2-hydroxyalkylphosphonates and nucleobase-derived acetic acids. New phosphorus-nucleobase linkers are characterized by two fragments of the restricted rotation within amide bonds and in four-atom units (P-CH(OH)-CH2-N, P-CH(OH)-CH2-C and P-CH2-CH(OH)-C) in which antiperiplanar disposition of P and N/C atoms was deduced from 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. The synthesized analogs P-X-HNC(O)-CH2B [X=CH(OH)CH2, CH(OH)CH2CH2, CH2CH(OH)CH2] appeared inactive in antiviral assays on a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses at concentrations up to 100 µM, while two phosphonates showed cytostatic activity towards myeloid leukemia (K-562) and multiple myeloma cells (MM.1S) with IC50 of 28.8 and 40.7 µM, respectively.

1'-Homonucleosides and their structural analogues: A review.

Nucleoside analogues belong to an important class of antiviral and anticancer drugs. Insertion of a methylene fragment between the anomeric carbon and pyrimidine or purine bases transforms nucleosides into 1'-homonucleosides. When compared with nucleosides this modification lengthens the separation between HO-C5' of pentofuranoside fragments and nitrogen (N1 or N9) atoms of nucleobases, lowers the steric and electronic interactions between nucleobases and sugar rings, introduces greater flexibility around a CH2-Base bond and thus allows for more rotational freedom, and since the anomeric effect no longer operates any sugar or pseudosugar moiety exists in its unique conformation and experiences specific conformational mobility and hydrolysis of the C1'-CH2Base bond by cellular enzymes is no longer feasible. This review covers 1'-homonucleosides with a tetrahydrofuran ring and its nitrogen and sulfur analogues as well as those containing a cyclopentane moiety as a sugar replacer. Achievements in syntheses of sugar or pseudosugar scaffolds are of primary interest since pathways to install nucleobases are well recognized. Whenever possible, the biological activity, mostly antiviral and antitumor but sometimes as inhibitors of specific enzymes, will be presented and discussed to help identify structural features responsible for the particular mode of action and thus possible therapeutic significance.

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates containing the amide bond.

ABSTRACT: To study the influence of a linker rigidity and donor-acceptor properties, the P-CH2-O-CHR- fragment in acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (e.g., acyclovir, tenofovir) was replaced by the P-CH2-HN-C(O)- residue. The respective phosphonates were synthesized in good yields by coupling the straight chain of ω-aminophosphonates and nucleobase-derived acetic acids with EDC. Based on the 1H and 13C NMR data, the unrestricted rotation within the methylene and 1,2-ethylidene linkers in phosphonates from series a and b was confirmed. For phosphonates containing 1,3-propylidene (series c) fragments, antiperiplanar disposition of the bulky O,O-diethylphosphonate and substituted amidomethyl groups was established. The synthesized ANPs P-X-HNC(O)-CH2B (X = CH2, CH2CH2, CH2CH2CH2, CH2OCH2CH2) appeared inactive in antiviral assays against a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses at concentrations up to 100 µM while marginal antiproliferative activity (L1210 cells, IC50 = 89 ± 16 µM and HeLa cells, IC50 = 194 ± 19 µM) was noticed for the analog derived from (5-fluorouracyl-1-yl)acetic acid and O,O-diethyl (2-aminoethoxy)methylphosphonate.

Design, synthesis, antiviral and cytotoxic evaluation of novel acyclic phosphonate nucleotide analogues with a 5,6-dihydro-1H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine-4,7-dione system.

ABSTRACT: A series of diethyl 2-(4,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)alkylphosphonates was synthesised from ω-azidoalkylphosphonates and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and was further transformed into the respective diamides, dihydrazides, and 5,6-dihydro-1H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine-4,7-diones as phosphonate analogues of acyclic nucleosides having nucleobases replaced with substituted 1,2,3-triazoles. All compounds containing P-C-C-triazole or P-C-C-CH2-triazole moieties exist in single conformations in which the diethoxyphosphoryl and substituted 1,2,3-triazolyl or substituted (1,2,3-triazolyl)methyl groups are oriented anti. All phosphonates were evaluated in vitro for activity against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses. None of the compounds were endowed with antiviral activity. They were not cytostatic at 100 µM.

The synthesis, antiviral, cytostatic and cytotoxic evaluation of a new series of acyclonucleotide analogues with a 1,2,3-triazole linker.

The efficient synthesis of a new series of acyclonucleotide analogues with a 1,2,3-triazole linker is described starting from diethyl azidomethyl-, 2-azidoethyl-, 3-azidopropyl-, 4-azidobutyl-, 2-azido-1-hydroxyethyl-, 3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl- and 3-azido-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates and selected alkynes under microwave irradiation. Several O,O-diethylphosphonate acyclonucleotides were transformed into the respective phosphonic acids. All compounds were evaluated in vitro for activity against a broad variety of DNA and RNA viruses and cytostatic activity against murine leukaemia L1210, human T-lymphocyte CEM and human cervix carcinoma HeLa cells. Acyclonucleotide 22e exhibited activity against both herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2) in HEL cell cultures (EC50 = 17 µM) and feline herpes virus (EC50 = 24 µM) in CRFK cell cultures, while compounds 20k, 21k, 22k and 23k preferentially inhibited proliferation of human T-lymphocyte CEM cells at IC50 in the 2.8-12 µM range.

Design, synthesis, antiviral, and cytotoxic evaluation of novel phosphonylated 1,2,3-triazoles as acyclic nucleotide analogues.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diethyl 2-azidoethyl-, 3-azidopropyl-, 2-azido-1-hydroxyethyl-, 3-azido-2-hydroxypropylphosphonates with selected N-propargyl nucleobases gave a series of the phosphonylated 1,2,3-triazole acyclonucleosides in which the phosphonate residue and nucleobases were linked by three- and four-carbon chains. Under standard conditions (TMSBr, ethanol), all synthesized O,O-diethylphosphonates were transformed into the respective phosphonic acids. All compounds were evaluated in vitro for activity against a broad variety of DNA and RNA viruses. Unfortunately, no antiviral activity was observed at 100 µM.

Design, synthesis and cytotoxicity of a new series of isoxazolidines derived from substituted chalcones.

A new series of isomeric isoxazolidin-3-yl-3-phosphonates were synthesised from N-methyl-C-diethoxyphosphorylnitrone and substituted chalcones. The respective isoxazolidin-3-yl-3-phosphonic acids were obtained from phosphonates via dealkylation procedure using trimethylsilyl bromide. Selected phosphonates and their respective phosphonic acids were screened for their cytotoxic activity to HeLa and K562 cells with IC(50) in the 0.1-0.3mM range.

P(CH(3)NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N as a dehydrobromination reagent: synthesis of vitamin A derivatives revisited.

Although P(CH(3)NCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (1) was found to be less effective than 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in the removal of hydrogen bromide from vitamin A intermediates 13-cis-10-bromo-9,10-dihydroretinyl acetates (6) and 14-bromo-9,14-dihydroretinyl acetate (11) when the reaction was carried out in refluxing benzene, in acetonitrile at room temperature it was superior to DBN and DBU. A (31)P NMR study of this reaction suggests that the carbanion generated from acetonitrile-d(3) in the presence of 1 is the basic species that initiates the elimination step. Diastereoselectivity of the nucleophilic addition of (Z)-HC triple bond C(CH(3))=CHCH(2)OH to the carbonyl group of (E)-2-methyl-4-(2',6',6'-trimethyl-1'-cyclohexen-1'-yl)-3-butenal (2) was only moderate (20%), and (9R,10S)-13-cis-11,12-didehydro-9,10-dihydro-10-hydroxyretinol (3b) predominated. The LiAlH(4) reduction of the C triple bond C bond in the diastereoisomeric diols 3 afforded 13-cis-9,10-dihydro-10-hydroxyretinols 4a and 4b as major products together with 11-cis-13-cis-isomers and the deoxygenated compound (3EZ,5EZ,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1,3,5,8-nonatetraene (9). Reaction of 15-acetates of the pure diastereoisomeric allylic alcohols 4a and 4b with PBr(3) occurred with significant but not identical retention of configuration, and with concomitant formation of the rearranged bromide 11.