Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bis-azamacrocycles that inhibit HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication by antagonism of the chemokine receptor CXCR4.

Bis-tetraazamacrocycles such as the bicyclam AMD3100 are a class of potent and selective anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 agents that inhibit virus replication by binding to the chemokine receptor CXCR4, the co-receptor for entry of X4 viruses. With the aim of optimizing the anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 activity of bis-azamacrocycles, a series of analogues were synthesized which contain neutral heteroatom (oxygen, sulfur) or heteroaromatic (of lower pK(a) than a secondary amine) replacements for the amino groups of AMD3100. The introduction of one or more heteroatoms such as oxygen or sulfur into the macrocyclic ring of p-phenylenebis(methylene)-linked dimers (to give N(3)X or N(2)X(2) bis-macrocycles) gave analogues with substantially reduced anti-HIV-1 (III(B)) and anti-HIV-2 (ROD) potency. In addition, the bis-sulfur analogue was also markedly more cytotoxic to MT-4 cells. However, bis-tetraazamacrocycles featuring a single pyridine group incorporated within the macrocyclic framework exhibited anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 potency comparable to that of their saturated, aliphatic counterparts. The p-phenylenebis(methylene)-linked dimer of the py[14]aneN(4) macrocycle inhibited HIV-1 replication at a 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) of 0.5 microM while remaining nontoxic to MT-4 cells at concentrations approaching 200 microM. A series of analogues containing macrocyclic heteroaromatic groups of varying pK(a) were also synthesized, and their ability to inhibit HIV replication was evaluated. Replacing the pyridine moiety of the py[14]aneN(4) macrocyclic ring with pyrazine or pyridine groups substituted in the 4-position (with electron-withdrawing or -donating groups) either reduced antiviral potency or increased cytotoxicity to MT-4 cells. Finally, we synthesized a series of analogues in which the ring size of the bis-pyridyl macrocycles was varied between 12 and 16 members per ring including the py[iso-14]aneN(4) ring system, an isomer of the py[14]aneN(4) macrocycle. The p-phenylenebis(methylene)-linked dimer of the py[iso-14]aneN(4) (AMD3329) displayed the highest antiviral activity of the bis-azamacrocyclic analogues reported to date, exhibiting EC(50)'s against the cytopathic effects of HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication of 0.8 and 1.6 nM, respectively, that is, about 3-5-fold lower than the EC(50) of AMD3100. AMD3329 also inhibited the binding of a specific CXCR4 mAb and the Ca(2+) flux induced by SDF-1alpha, the natural ligand for CXCR4, more potently than AMD3100. Furthermore, AMD3329 also interfered with virus-induced syncytium formation at an EC(50) of 12 nM.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bis-tetraazamacrocycles that inhibit human immunodeficiency virus replication. 2. Effect of heteroaromatic linkers on the activity of bicyclams.

A series of bicyclam analogs connected through a heteroaromatic linker have been synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 (IIIB) and HIV-2 (ROD) replication in MT-4 cells. The activity of pyridine- and pyrazine-linked bicyclams was found to be highly dependent upon the substitution of the heteroaromatic linker connecting the cyclam rings. For example, 2,6- and 3,5-pyridine-linked bicyclams were potent inhibitors of HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication, whereas the 2,5- and 2,4-substituted pyridine-linked compounds exhibited substantially reduced activity and, in addition, were found to be highly toxic to MT-4 cells. We have subsequently discovered that these effects are not unique; amino-substituted linkers also have the potential to deactivate phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bicyclams. A model is proposed to explain the deactivating effects of the pyridine group in certain substitution patterns based on the ability of the pyridine nitrogen to participate in pendant conformations (complexation) with the adjacent azamacrocyclic ring, which may involve hydrogen bonding or coordination to a transition metal. The introduction of a sterically hindering group such as phenyl at the 6-position of the 2,4-substituted pyridine-linked bicyclam appears to prevent pendant conformations, providing an analog with comparable anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 activities to the parent m-phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bicyclam. The results of this study have been used to develop a quantitative structure-activity relationship model with improved predictive capability in order to aid the design of antiviral bis-azamacrocyclic analogs.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bis-tetraazamacrocycles that inhibit HIV replication. Effects of macrocyclic ring size and substituents on the aromatic linker.

We have previously described the potent and selective inhibition of several strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) by JM2763, an n-propyl-linked dimer of the 1,4,8,11-tetraazamacrocyclic (cyclam) ring system. Upon further investigation, we have also found that incorporating an aromatic rather than aliphatic linker leads to analogs with higher antiviral potency. The prototype, JM3100 (19a, isolated as the octahydrochloride salt), which contains a p-phenylenebis(methylene) moiety linking the cyclam rings, inhibited the replication of HIV-1 (IIIB) and HIV-2 (ROD) at EC50's of 4.2 and 5.9 nM, respectively, while remaining nontoxic to MT-4 cells at concentrations exceeding 421 microM. In order to identify the structural features of bis-tetraazamacrocycles required for potent activity, we have prepared a novel series of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked analogs, in which the macrocyclic ring size was varied from 12 to 16 ring members. Depending upon the substitution of the phenylenebis(methylene) linker (para or meta), sub-micromolar anti-HIV activity was exhibited by analogs bearing macrocycles of 12-14 ring members but with varying cytotoxicity to MT-4 cells. Furthermore, while we found that identical macrocyclic rings are not required for activity, substituting an acyclic polyamine equivalent for one of the cyclam rings in 19a resulted in a substantial reduction in anti-HIV potency, clearly establishing the importance of the constrained macrocyclic structure. A short series of transition metal complexes of 19a were also prepared and evaluated. Complexes of low kinetic stability such as the bis-zinc complex retained activity comparable to that of the parent compound. Finally, the activity of bicyclam analogs appears to be insensitive to the electron-withdrawing or -donating properties of substituents introduced onto the linker, but sterically hindering groups such as phenyl markedly reduced activity. As a result, several analogs with anti-HIV potency comparable to that of 19a have been identified.

A fast and efficient determination of amines and preservatives in cough and cold liquid and suspension formulations using a single isocratic ion-pairing high performance [correction of power] liquid chromatography method.

A single, highly selective ion-pairing reverse phase-high power liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of amines and preservatives in a wide range of Tylenol((R)) liquid and suspension liquid products. As with many OTC products, the challenge is to quantitatively extract the analytes from difficult matrices and specifically analyze them in the presence of various excipients and flavors. Historically, separate analytical methods were used for each class of analytes (acids, bases and neutral compounds). In this method a mobile phase consisting of a buffered ion-pairing agent with acetonitrile, methanol and tetrahydrofuran was used to separate the charged amines from neutral and acidic compounds on a Phenomenex LUNA C8(2) 75 x 4.6 mm i.d. analytical column with a 3-microm particle size. The analytes include acids (benzoic acid), bases (pseudoephedrine, chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, doxylamine and diphenhydramine) and a neutral compound (butylparaben). The effects of pH, the chain length of the ion-pairing reagent, ionic strength and organic modifiers on the separation are discussed. The method is linear from 15 to 150% of the target amounts. The optimized method proves to be specific, robust and accurate for the analysis of the compounds.

Pharmacokinetics of antiviral polyoxometalates in rats.

Polyoxometalates are soluble mineral compounds formed principally of oxide anions and early transition metal cations. The polyoxometalates K12H2[P2W12O48].24H2O (JM 1591), K10[P2W18Zn4(H2O)2O68].20H2O (JM 1596), and [(CH3)3NH]8[Si2W18Nb6O77] (JM 2820) demonstrate potent antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2, herpes simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus in vitro. The preclinical pharmacokinetics of these three compounds were characterized after single-dose intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg to rats. Plasma, urine, and feces were collected for 168 h, and polyoxometalate concentrations were determined by atomic emission. Serum protein binding was measured by equilibrium dialysis. All three compounds were highly bound to serum proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. Total and unbound concentrations of the three compounds in plasma declined in a triexponential manner with terminal half-lives of 246.0 +/- 127.0, 438.4 +/- 129.4, and 32.2 +/- 5.37 h (mean +/- standard deviation) for JM 1591, JM 1596, and JM 2820, respectively. Systemic clearances based on total concentrations in plasma were low, averaging 0.016 +/- 0.002, 0.015 +/- 0.002, and 0.018 +/- 0.003 liter/h/kg for JM 1591, JM 1596, and JM 2820, respectively. The clearances of unbound compounds from plasma averaged 0.966 +/- 0.136, 0.050 +/- 0.005, and 0.901 +/- 0.165 liter/h/kg for JM 1591, JM 1596, and JM 2820, respectively. For JM 1596, the clearance of unbound compound from the kidneys was lower than the glomerular filtration rate (0.086 liter/h/kg), suggesting this polyoxometalate underwent renal tubular reabsorption. However, JM 1591 and JM 2820 appeared to undergo tubular secretion. The fraction of the dose recovered in urine was 11.5, 46.8, and 10.6% for JM 1591, JM 1596, and JM 2820, respectively. Approximately 5% of the dose of each polyoxometalate was recovered in feces. The steady-state volume of distribution based on total concentrations averaged 1.44 liters/kg for JM 1591, 2.39 liters/kg for JM 1596, and 0.59 liter/kg for JM 2820, indicating moderate to wide distribution throughout the body. All three compounds were detected in various tissues 1 week after single-dose administrations, with the highest levels found in the kidneys and liver. The results of this study indicate that the disposition of polyoxometalates is highly dependent on their molecular structure.