Synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine-5-carboxamide and 3-oxo-3,4-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]oxazine-8-carboxamide derivatives as PARP1 inhibitors.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), a widely explored anticancer drug target, plays an important role in single-strand DNA break repair processes. High-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) of a Maybridge small molecule library using the PARP1-benzimidazole-4-carboxamide co-crystal structure and pharmacophore model led to the identification of eleven compounds. These compounds were evaluated using recombinant PARP1 enzyme assay that resulted in the acquisition of three PARP1 inhibitors: 3 (IC50 = 12 µM), 4 (IC50 = 5.8 µM), and 10 (IC50 = 0.88 µM). Compound 4 (2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-5-carboxamide) was selected as a lead and was subjected to further chemical modifications, involving analogue synthesis and scaffold hopping. These efforts led to the identification of (Z)-2-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazine-8-carboxamide (49, IC50 = 0.082 µM) as the most potent inhibitor of PARP1 from the series.

Synthesis and electronic properties of ester substituted 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins and evaluation of anti-proliferative activity of all isomeric 1,2-, 2,3- and 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins against HeLa cell line.

1,4-Dicyanodibenzodioxins bearing carboxy methyl ester groups were synthesized using our established one-step SNAr coupling reaction between ortho- and meta-ester substituted catechols and perfluorinated terephthalonitrile. These are the first examples of 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins substituted at both the benzene moieties. Optical spectra were similar to the earlier examples reported, with a marginal blue shift for the ester dibenzodioxins. Theoretical analysis of the molecular orbitals reveals modest destabilization of the frontier molecular orbitals of one carboxy methyl ester isomer over the other and overall higher HOMO-LUMO gap for both isomers when compared to the earlier published 1,4-dicyanodibenzodioxins. In vitro cytotoxicity against human cervical cancer HeLa cell line was evaluated for these two compounds and all other previously published dibenzodioxins from our laboratory (1,4-dicyano, 1,2-dicyano and 2,3-dicyano variants). A number of derivatives showed anti-tumor activity in µM ranges and also exhibited no cytotoxicity against normal HEK 293 cell line. Mechanistic investigation of cell death pathways indicated high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the dibenzodioxin treated tumor cell lines along with cellular nuclear fragmentation, both of which are markers of the apoptotic cell death pathway.

Design, biological evaluation and 3D QSAR studies of novel dioxin-containing pyrazoline derivatives with thiourea skeleton as selective HER-2 inhibitors.

A series of novel dioxin-containing pyrazoline derivatives with thiourea skeleton have been designed, synthesized and evaluated for their EGFR/HER-2 inhibitory and anti-proliferation activities. A majority of them displayed selective HER-2 inhibitory activity against EGFR inhibitory activity. Compound C20 displayed the most potent activity against HER-2 and MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cell line (IC50 = 0.03 µM and GI50 = 0.15 µM), being slightly more potent than the positive control Erlotinib (IC50 = 0.16 µM and GI50 = 1.56 µM) and comparable with Lapatinib (IC50 = 0.01 µM and GI50 = 0.03 µM). It is a more exciting result that C20 was over 900 times more potent against HER-2 than against EGFR while this value was 0.19 for Erlotinib and 1.00 for Lapatinib, indicating high selectivity. The results of docking simulation indicate that the dioxin moiety occupied the exit of the active pocket and pushed the carbothioamide deep into the active site. QSAR models have been built with activity data and binding conformations to begin our work in this paper as well as to provide a reliable tool for reasonable design of EGFR/HER-2 inhibitors in future.

Design, biological evaluation and 3D QSAR studies of novel dioxin-containing triaryl pyrazoline derivatives as potential B-Raf inhibitors.

A series of novel dioxin-containing triaryl pyrazoline derivatives C1-C20 have been synthesized. Their B-Raf inhibitory and anti-proliferation activities were evaluated. Compound C6 displayed the most potent biological activity against B-Raf(V600E) and WM266.4 human melanoma cell line with corresponding IC50 value of 0.04µM and GI50 value of 0.87µM, being comparable with the positive controls and more potent than our previous best compounds. Moreover, C6 was selective for B-Raf(V600E) from B-Raf(WT), C-Raf and EGFR and low toxic. The docking simulation suggested the potent bioactivity might be caused by breaking the limit of previous binding pattern. A new 3D QSAR model was built with the activity data and binding conformations to conduct visualized SAR discussion as well as to introduce new directions. Stretching the backbone to outer space or totally reversing the backbone are both potential orientations for future researches.

Synthesis and photophysical characterization of quasi push-pull dicyanodibenzodioxins and their anti-tumor activity against glioma cell line C6.

Dibenzodioxins bearing multiple electron withdrawing groups were synthesized using a simple one-step methodology including examples of molecules possessing electron acceptor groups in both ends. As a consequence internal charge delocalization occurs and the optical spectra are found to be bathochromically shifted compared to similar examples known thus far. A theoretical analysis of the molecular orbitals reveals the origin of the peaks in the dibenzodioxin optical spectra. Select examples exhibit in vitro neuro-cytotoxicity against glioma cell line C6, a finding which enhances existing knowledge about the pharmacologically relevant structural motifs in dibenzodioxins.

Mechanism and direct kinetics study on the homogeneous gas-phase formation of PBDD/Fs from 2-BP, 2,4-DBP, and 2,4,6-TBP as precursors.

This study investigated the homogeneous gas-phase formation of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) from 2-BP, 2,4-DBP, and 2,4,6-TBP as precursors. First, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out for the formation mechanism. The geometries and frequencies of the stationary points were calculated at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level, and the energetic parameters were further refined by the MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p) method. Then, the formation mechanism of PBDD/Fs was compared and contrasted with the PCDD/F formation mechanism from 2-CP, 2,4-DCP, and 2,4,6-TCP as precursors. Finally, the rate constants of the crucial elementary reactions were evaluated by the canonical variational transition-state (CVT) theory with the small curvature tunneling (SCT) correction over a wide temperature range of 600-1200 K. Present results indicate that only BPs with bromine at the ortho position are capable of forming PBDDs. The study, together with works already published from our group, clearly shows an increased propensity for the dioxin formations from BPs over the analogous CPs. Multibromine substitutions suppress the PBDD/F formations.

Synthesis of fused-ring nicotine derivatives from (S)-nicotine.

The synthesis of novel fused-ring bicyclic (4-6) and tricyclic (7-10) nicotine derivatives from natural (S)-nicotine are described. Enantiopure bicyclic dioxino, dihydrofuro, and dihydropyranol nicotine derivatives as well as tricylic benzofuro and benzopyran derivatives were synthesized from simple alkoxy or halonicotine intermediates. Attempts to synthesize furonicotines (11, 12) resulted in formation of the furonicotine dimers 42 and 49.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of new benzodioxinic lactones as potential anticancer drugs.

A set of disubstituted tetracyclic lactones has been synthesized and tested for potential antitumor activity. Several of them possess a noticeable cytotoxicity against L1210 and HT-29 colon cells in vitro. Relationships between chain nature and biological properties were sought. Lactones with a pentyl or hexyl substituent at C-11 are the most active ones. The introduction of a functional group at the side chain of C-11 modified the potency; carboxylic acid and primary amine decreased the cytotoxicity, whereas a cyano group increased the activity. An extensive structure-activity relationship study of these derivatives, including carbon homologues and bioisosteres has been performed. The synthesis and cytotoxicity of these compounds are discussed. Two lactones are recognized as potential lead compounds.

Suppression of formation of dioxins in combustion gas of municipal waste incinerators by spray water injection.

Dioxins in the combustion gas of municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) are resynthesized when the combustion gas passes from the outlet exaust gas boiler to the outlet gas duct. The objective of the study was to estimate if the suppression of the formation of dioxins depends on the inlet gas temperature and diameter and/or temperature of droplet spray water using an actual incinerator operation data. The dioxin formation and/or the quenching temperature is revealed using the Altwicker theory equation with the information of inlet gas temperature and droplet spray water. The evaporation rate of a spray water droplet also can be estimated using the Mizutani theory. The highest dioxin formation was found at 350 degrees C; thereafter, it decreased quickly. When an area of 500 microm for droplet-formed dioxins is defined as 100%, the values of formed dioxins for 400, 300, 200 and 100 microm droplet areas are estimated as 71, 41, 25 and 18%, respectively. It is revealed that the smaller size of droplet spray water and lower inlet gas temperature enable the decrease in dioxin formation. The decreased dioxin formation and/or the lower quenching temperature is revealed using the Altwicker theory equation with the information of inlet gas temperature and droplet spray water size.

De novo formation characteristics of dioxins in the dry zone of an iron ore sintering bed.

The objectives of this work are to understand the details of the mechanism of dioxin formation in the part of a sintering bed termed the dry zone, and to obtain ideas on how to prevent their formation. Sinter mixtures of various composition types were heated in a packed bed reactor, and dioxins in the outlet gas and in the sinter mixture residue were measured. The dioxin formation potential of a simple sinter mixture composed of iron ore, coke and limestone was markedly lower than that of fly ash from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI). In consideration of this result, a series of experiments were conducted using a sinter mixture impregnated with CuCl2. Experimental results showed that dioxin formation was temperature-dependent in the range of 300-550 degrees C, with the maximum observed at around 300 degrees C, which was quite similar to that of fly ash from the MSWI. The homologue distribution of PCDD/Fs in gas and solid reflected the possible difference in carbonaceous materials in coke and activated coke. Gaseous hydrogen chloride acted as a chlorinating reagent for dioxin formation.

Synthesis of tetracyclic benzodioxins as potential antitumour agents.

We report the synthesis of five new tetracyclic benzodioxins, from reaction of 1,2-naphthalenediol, 7,8-dihydroxyquinoline or 7,8-dihydroxyisoquinoline with isopropyl 2-chloro-3-nitrobenzoate. Mixtures of isomeric esters were obtained which were separated by conventional flash silica chromatography or preparative HPLC and fully characterized by NMR. Ester hydrolysis and amide formation afforded the target carboxamides 7-9, 11 and 12. The biological activities of the benzodioxins broadly paralleled those of the corresponding phenazines. A tetracyclic pyrido derivative was the most cytotoxic, with an IC50 of 0.11 microM in P388 leukaemia cell culture, but did not represent a significant improvement over a number of 9-substituted tricyclic phenazines.

Synthesis and biological properties of some 2H-1-benzopyrano[7,8-b][1,4]benzodioxin-2-ones.

The synthesis of 2H-benzopyrano[7,8-b][1,4]tetrahydrobenzodioxin-2-ones and 2H-benzopyrano [7,8-b][1,4]benzodioxin-2-ones is reported. This class of compounds, prepared with the aim of obtaining new monofunctional photosensitizing drug, appears to be ineffective upon UVA irradiation but shows a moderate but significant activity in the dark.

Potential antitumor agents. 64. Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of dibenzo[1,4]dioxin-1-carboxamides: a new class of weakly binding DNA-intercalating agents.

A series of substituted dibenzo[1,4]dioxin-1-carboxamides has been synthesized and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. The required substituted dibenzo[1,4]dioxin-1-carboxylic acids were prepared by a variety of methods. No regiospecific syntheses were available for many of these, and separation of the mixtures of regioisomers obtained was sometimes difficult. The dibenzo[1,4]dioxin-1-carboxamides are active against wild-type P388 leukemia in vitro and in vivo, with structure-activity relationships resembling those for both the acridine-4-carboxamide and phenazine-1-carboxamide series of DNA-intercalating antitumor agents. In all three series, substituents placed peri to the carboxamide sidechain (the 5-position in the acridines, and the 9-position in the phenazines and dibenzo[1,4]dioxins) enhance activity and potency. The 9-chlorodibenzodioxin-1-carboxamide was also curative against the remotely sited Lewis lung carcinoma. Several of the compounds showed much lower levels of cross-resistance to the P388/AMSA line than classical DNA-intercalating agents, which suggests that their primary mechanism of action may not be via interference with topoisomerase II alpha. This is of interest with regard to the development of drugs to combat resistance mechanisms which arise by the expression of the topo II beta isozyme.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-salicyloyl-N-benzyl thiourea and 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-6-methoxy benzo-1,3-dioxin.

The synthesis of N-salicyloyl-N-benzyl-thiourea and 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-6-methoxy-benzo-1,3-dioxin are described. They were studied for their antiviral, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities in vitro. N-salicyloyl-N-benzyl-thiourea exhibited significant activity against Gram-positive bacteria and against influenza viruses types A/Philippine/H3N2, A/Chilli/H1N1 and B/Paraha, as well as against K562 cell proliferation. By contrast, no such activity was demonstrated by 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-6-methoxy-benzo-1,3-dioxin.

A new family of water-soluble, third generation antitumor platinum complexes.

[1,1-Cyclobutanedicarboxylato(2)-O,O'](1,3-dioxane-5,5-dimethan amine- N,N')platinum(II), 3a, a third generation, very water-soluble platinum complex, has been synthesized along with several of its analogues. All members of the new family contain a 1,3-dioxane or 1,3-dioxolane-1,3-diamine as their basic ligand, a moiety which contributes to their increased water solubility, and a bidentate acid ligand, which is responsible for their good stability. They were all easily crystallized and characterized by 1H NMR and elemental analysis, and the parent complex 3a was further characterized by 13C NMR. Their very desirable physical properties combined with their broad spectrum of antitumor activity and reduced toxicity make them good candidates of further development.

Formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins upon combustion of commercial textile products containing 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether (Irgasan DP300).

Commercial textile products containing 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether (Irgasan DP300) as an antimicrobial agent gave dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(s) (di-CDD) upon combustion. The extent of conversion of Irgasan DP300 into di-CDD(s) reached 19-43% at 600 degrees C. Upon bleaching the textile products with sodium hypochlorite, Irgasan DP300 was chlorinated to 2',3,4,4'-tetrachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 2',4,4',5-tetrachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether and 2',3,4,4',5-pentachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether. These chlorinated derivatives were converted into trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin upon combustion, which are more toxic than di-CDD(s). These results suggest that the bleaching and incineration of textile products containing Irgasan DP300 result in environmental pollution by PCDDs.

Potential antitumor agents. 54. Chromophore requirements for in vivo antitumor activity among the general class of linear tricyclic carboxamides.

Structure-antitumor activity relationships are reported for a number of different examples (acridine, phenazine, anthracene, acridone, xanthenone, thioxanthenone, anthraquinone, pyridoquinazoline, dibenzodioxin, thianthrene, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, dibenzofuran, carbazole, and pyridoindole) of the general class of N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl] linear tricyclic carboxamides. Only the compounds containing coplanar chromophores intercalated DNA. There is an absolute requirement for an oxygen or aromatic nitrogen (possibly as hydrogen-bond acceptors) peri to the carboxamide, together with a planar ring geometry for biological activity. In addition to further delineating the nature of the pharmacophore for this class of compounds, the work has also identified dibenzo[1,4]dioxin as a novel DNA-intercalating chromophore with in vivo antitumor activity.

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and related compounds: quantitative in vivo and in vitro structure-activity relationships.

The effects of structure on the in vitro receptor binding affinities, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) induction potencies in rat hepatoma cells were determined for the following compounds: 2-bromo-, 2,7/2,8-dibromo-, 2,3,7-tribromo-, 2,4,6,8/1,3,7,9-tetrabromo-, 2,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,2,3,7,8-pentabromo-, 1,2,4,7,8-pentabromo-, 2,3-dibromo-7,8-dichloro-, 2,8-dibromo-3,7-dichloro- and 2-bromo-3,7,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) for the polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) were comparable for both in vitro responses: the most active compounds were substituted only in the lateral 2,3,7 and 8 position and the addition of non-lateral or removal of lateral halogen substituents reduced the activity of the resultant compound. The biologic and toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,2,4,7,8-pentabromo-1,2,3,7,8-pentabromo-, 2-bromo-3,7,8-trichloro- and 2,3-dibromo-7,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on several receptor-mediated responses (thymic atrophy, body weight loss, hepatic microsomal AHH and EROD induction) were determined in a dose-response fashion in immature male Wistar rats. A comparison of the ED50 values for the in vivo responses demonstrated that the SARs for the PBDDs and brominated polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins were comparable to those observed for in vitro receptor binding and AHH induction. Moreover, there was an excellent linear correlation between the -log EC50 (in vitro AHH induction) vs. the in vivo -log ED50 (thymic atrophy) and -log ED50 (body wt loss) correlation coefficient, r = 0.97 for all 2 correlations).

Effects of substituents on the cytosolic receptor-binding avidities and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction potencies of 7-substituted 2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins. A quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis.

The binding affinities of 16 7-substituted 2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins for the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) cytosolic receptor protein from male Wistar rats have been determined. The EC50 value for each compound was estimated by competitive displacement of [3H]TCDD and the data illustrated that the differences between competitive ligands were dependent on the substituent (X) group. The EC50 value for 7-trifluoromethyl-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin was 1.95 X 10(-8) M and was greater than 1000-fold more active than 7-amino-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (EC50 = 2.88 X 10(-5) M). Multiple parameter linear regression analysis of the data for 14 different compounds gave the following equation: log (1/EC50) = 1.24 pi + 6.11. This demonstrated that the binding affinity was linearly dependent on the lipophilicity (pi) of the 7-X-group. This contrasted with a comparable analysis of the substituent effects on the binding of 13 4'-substituted 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobiphenyls to the cytosolic receptor which showed that the lipophilicity, electronegativity, and hydrogen-bonding capacity were important physicochemical determinants which facilitated binding to the receptor protein. These data suggest that the halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and biphenyls may interact with different binding sites on the receptor or they may bind to the same site but exert different conformational effects on the receptor protein. For the 7-X-2,3,-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, there was not a rank order correlation between receptor-binding EC50 values and the induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) or ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase in rat hepatoma H-4-II E cells in culture. However, the data could be correlated with an estimate of substituent width, the STERIMOL factor (B5), i.e., log (AHH) = 1.29 log (binding) + 2.19 delta B5 - 1.31 (delta B5)2 - 1.48. The importance of a steric factor in the correlation between receptor binding and AHH induction for substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins and halogenated biphenyls is consistent with a structure-dependent conformational change(s) in the receptor protein:ligand complex after the initial binding event. Presumably, this latter process is associated with the steps involving interactions between the ligand:receptor complex and nuclear binding sites.