Novel Ranking System for Identifying Efficacious Anti-Influenza Virus PB2 Inhibitors.

Through antigenic drift and shifts, influenza virus infections continue to be an annual cause of morbidity in healthy populations and of death among elderly and at-risk patients. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses such as H5N1 and H7N9 and the rapid spread of the swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus in 2009 demonstrate the continued need for effective therapeutic agents for influenza. While several neuraminidase inhibitors have been developed for the treatment of influenza virus infections, these have shown a limited window for treatment initiation, and resistant variants have been noted in the population. In addition, an older class of antiviral drugs for influenza, the adamantanes, are no longer recommended for treatment due to widespread resistance. There remains a need for new influenza therapeutic agents with improved efficacy as well as an expanded window for the initiation of treatment. Azaindole compounds targeting the influenza A virus PB2 protein and demonstrating excellent in vitro and in vivo properties have been identified. To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of these PB2 inhibitors, we utilized a mouse influenza A virus infection model. In addition to traditional endpoints, i.e., death, morbidity, and body weight loss, we measured lung function using whole-body plethysmography, and we used these data to develop a composite efficacy score that takes compound exposure into account. This model allowed the rapid identification and ranking of molecules relative to each other and to oseltamivir. The ability to identify compounds with enhanced preclinical properties provides an opportunity to develop more-effective treatments for influenza in patients.

Silver-catalyzed carbon-phosphorus functionalization of N-(p-methoxyaryl)propiolamides coupled with dearomatization: access to phosphorylated aza-decenones.

Silver-catalyzed cascade difunctionalization of N-(p-methoxyaryl)propiolamides coupled with dearomatization was achieved and used to regiospecifically construct a variety of phosphorylated aza-decenones bearing adjacent quaternary stereocenters under mild conditions in moderate to excellent yields.

[15]aneN4S: synthesis, thermodynamic studies and potential applications in chelation therapy.

The purpose of this work was to synthesize and characterize the thiatetraaza macrocycle 1-thia-4,7,10,13-tetraazacyclopentadecane ([15]aneN4S). Its acid-base behaviour was studied by potentiometry at 25 °C and ionic strength 0.10 M in KNO3. The protonation sequence of this ligand was investigated by 1H-NMR titration that also allowed the determination of protonation constants in D2O. Binding studies of [15]aneN4S with Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ metal ions were further performed under the same experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that this compound has a higher selectivity and thermodynamic stability for Hg2+ and Cu2+, followed by Ni2+. The UV-visible-near IR spectroscopies and magnetic moment data for the Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes indicated a tetragonal distorted coordination geometry for both metal centres. The value of magnetic moment and the X-band EPR spectra of the Cu(II) complex are consistent with a distorted square pyramidal geometry.

Approaches to a multitargeting drug development: first profiled 3- ethoxycarbonyl-1-aza-9-oxafluorenes representing a perspective compound class targeting Alzheimer disease relevant kinases CDK1, CDK5 and GSK-3ß.

Since Alzheimer disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease, recent therapeutical approaches concentrate on the development of a multitargeting drug. Various protein kinases are known to be involved in the progression of AD. A first series of 3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-aza-9-oxafluorenes has been synthesized and biologically evaluated as AD-relevant protein kinase inhibitors. A concentration-dependent inhibition of important AD-relevant kinases has been characterized after the selectivity of kinase inhibition had been demonstrated. Structure-activity relationships of protein kinase inhibition are discussed and first multitargeting inhibitors have been identified.

An expedient synthesis and screening for antiacetylcholinesterase activity of piperidine embedded novel pentacyclic cage compounds.

The aim of this study was to synthesize and evaluate diazapentacyclic analogs for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. The pentacyclic analogs were synthesized by one-pot three-component domino reactions in a microwave synthesizer. Most of the compounds exhibited moderate to good AChE inhibitory activity, compound 5i showed potent inhibitory activity with IC50 1.12 ± 0.01 µM and this may provide a new lead for developing potential inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease.

Scorpiand-like azamacrocycles prevent the chronic establishment of Trypanosoma cruzi in a murine model.

Chagas disease is today one of the most important neglected diseases for its upcoming expansion to non-endemic areas and has become a threat to blood recipients in many countries. In this study, the trypanocidal activity of ten derivatives of a family of aza-scorpiand like macrocycles is evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro and in vivo murine model in which the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease were analyzed. The compounds 4, 3 and 1 were found to be more active against the parasite and less toxic against Vero cells than the reference drug benznidazole, 4 being the most active compound, particularly in the chronic phase. While all these compounds showed a remarkable degree of inhibition of the Fe-SOD enzyme of the epimastigote forms of T. cruzi, they produced a negligible inhibition of human CuZn-SOD and Mn-SOD from Escherichia coli. The modifications observed by (1)H NMR and the amounts of excreted catabolites by the parasites after treatment suggested that the mechanism of action could be based on interactions of the side chains of the compounds with enzymes of the parasite metabolism. The ultrastructural alterations observed in treated epimastigote forms confirmed that the compounds having the highest activity are those causing the largest cell damage. A complementary histopathological analysis confirmed that the compounds tested were significantly less toxic to mammals than the reference drug.

π-Excess σ2P ligands: synthesis of biaryl-type 1,3-benzazaphosphole hybrid ligands and formation of P

Acid-catalyzed cyclocondensations of 2-phosphanylanilines 1 with substituted benzaldehydes or heteroaryl aldehydes open a convenient route to new biaryl-type 1H-1,3-benzazaphosphole hybrid ligands 2a-f with o-phosphanylphenyl, pyridyl, imidazolyl, thienyl or o-methoxyphenyl donor groups (in addition to the σ(2)P donor) and to bromophenyl substituted benzazaphospholes 2g,h. Excess aldehyde leads to concomitant reductive N-alkylation, as shown by formation of 3h besides 2h. The reactions proceed via dihydrobenzazaphospholes 4, which can be detected under mild conditions. The aromaticity-driven dehydrogenation does not liberate dihydrogen but is accomplished by transfer hydrogenations, mainly by reduction of some of the aldehyde. N-Secondary 2-phosphanylanilines 5 also react with aldehydes to form the corresponding N-substituted benzazaphospholes 6. The formation of (P^P')M(CO)4-chelate complexes 8a (M = Cr) and 9a,b (M = Mo) was demonstrated by reaction with M(CO)4(norbornadiene). The crystal structure of 9a, determined in addition to the solution structure elucidation by multinuclear NMR spectra, confirms the chelate formation and reveals a trigonal environment for the low coordinated phosphorus, with the P-Mo(0) vector bent out of the benzazaphosphole ring plane by 14.4° (0.57 Å), together with axial chirality of the molecules in the racemic crystals by twisting of the benzazaphosphole and phenyl π-planes around the common C(2)-C(21) bond.

Superazaporphyrins: meso-pentaazapentaphyrins and one of their low-symmetry derivatives.

Supersized: Three pentaazapentaphyrin derivatives, that is, the superazaporphyrins (SAzPs), as well as a superphthalocyanine (SPc) and a mixed low-symmetry derivative have been prepared and characterized. Decaaryl SAzPs have a distorted (4n+2) π structure and show the Q bands at about λ=840-880 nm. These compounds are relatively air stable.

Polyalkoxybenzenes from plants. 5. Parsley seed extract in synthesis of azapodophyllotoxins featuring strong tubulin destabilizing activity in the sea urchin embryo and cell culture assays.

A series of 4-azapodophyllotoxin derivatives with modified rings B and E have been synthesized using allylpolyalkoxybenzenes from parsley seed oil. The targeted molecules were evaluated in vivo in a phenotypic sea urchin embryo assay for antimitotic and tubulin destabilizing activity. The most active compounds identified by the in vivo sea urchin embryo assay featured myristicin-derived ring E. These molecules were determined to be more potent than podophyllotoxin. Cytotoxic effects of selected molecules were further confirmed and evaluated by conventional assays with A549 and Jurkat human leukemic T-cell lines including cell growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, cellular microtubule disruption, and induction of apoptosis. The ring B modification yielded 6-OMe substituted molecule as the most active compound. Finally, in Jurkat cells, compound induced caspase-dependent apoptosis mediated by the apical caspases-2 and -9 and not caspase-8, implying the involvement of the intrinsic caspase-9-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Synthesis and Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Evaluation of Aza-Stilbene Derivatives.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a truly global disease, found in every country on earth. One-third of humanity, over 2 billion people, carry the bacillus that causes TB and 2 million people die of the disease each year. Despite that, no new specific drug against Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been developed since the 1960s. There are several candidates for new anti-TB agents, but none proven clinically effective. Stilbenes are compounds found in numerous medicinal plants and food products with some known biological and even antimycobacterial activity. This paper describes the synthesis and the anti-M. tuberculosis activity of eight stilbene analogues. The synthesis and characterization of these compounds are shown, and the results compared with one "first"-line drug used in current therapy.

Synthesis and evaluation of two series of 4'-aza-carbocyclic nucleosides as adenosine A2A receptor agonists.

The synthesis of two series of 4'-aza-carbocyclic nucleosides are described in which the 4'-substituent is either a reversed amide, relative to the carboxamide of NECA, or an N-bonded heterocycle. Using established purine substitution patterns, potent and selective examples of agonists of the human adenosine A(2A) receptor have been identified from both series. The propionamides 14-18 and the 4-hydroxymethylpyrazole 32 were determined to be the most potent and selective examples from the 4'-reversed amide and 4'-N-bonded heterocyclic series, respectively.

B,O-chelated azadipyrromethenes as near-IR probes.

Complementary synthetic routes to a new class of near-IR fluorophores are described. These allow facile access (four synthetic steps) to the core fluorophore and substituted derivatives with emissions between 740 and 780 nm in good quantum yields.

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.

Convergent synthesis of complex diketopiperazines derived from pipecolic acid scaffolds and parallel screening against GPCR targets.

A convergent approach to highly functionalized diketopiperazines (DKPs) using enantioenriched pipecolic acids is described. Scandium triflate-catalyzed [4 + 2] aza-annulation was employed to produce stereochemically well-defined building blocks. A resin "catch and release" strategy was devised to convert annulation products to pipecolic acid monomers. Complex diketopiperazines were efficiently assembled utilizing one-pot cyclodimerization of pipecolic acids. Massively parallel screening of the complex DKPs against a panel of molecular targets identified novel ligands for a number of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphonated carbocyclic 2'-oxa-3'-aza-nucleosides.

The synthesis of carbocyclic 2'-oxa-3'-aza-nucleosides has been described, based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a new phosphonated nitrone with vinyl acetate followed by coupling with silylated nucleobases. The obtained compounds have been evaluated for their ability to inhibit the reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis retrovirus: no significant activity has been observed.

Synthesis and anticonvulsant properties of new N-phenylamino derivatives of 2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane, 2-azaspiro[4.5]decane-1,3-dione and 3-cyclohexylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione. Part IV.

To continue our systematic SAR studies a series of N-phenylamino derivatives of 2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-, 2-azaspiro[4.5]decane-, 6-methyl-2-azaspiro[4.5]decane-1,3-dione and 3-cyclohexylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione were synthesized and tested for their anticonvulsant activity in the maximum electroshock seizure (MES) and subcutaneous metrazole seizure threshold (sc. Met) tests. Among those molecules the most potent were N-(4-methylphenyl)-amino-2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-1,3-dione [V], N-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-amino-2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-1,3-dione [VI], N-(3-methylphenyl)-amino-2-azaspiro[4.5]decane-1,3-dione [VIII] and N-(4-methylphenyl)-amino-6-methyl-2-azaspiro[4.5]decane-1,3-dione [XIV], which inhibited the seizures mainly in the sc. Met test. The obtained results revealed that anticonvulsant activity depended on the presence and the position of the methyl or trifluoromethyl groups at the aryl moiety, as well as the size and the manner of attachment of the cycloalkyl system at the position-3 of the pyrrolidine-2,5-dione ring.

The synthesis and evaluation of [2.2.1]-bicycloazahydantoins as androgen receptor antagonists.

A novel series of [2.2.1]-azahydantoins has been designed and synthesized in an enantiospecific manner. The ability of these compounds to act as antagonists to the androgen receptor was investigated and several were found to have potent activity in vitro.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of aza inhibitors of chorismate mutase.

A series of aza inhibitors (4-9) of chorismate mutase (E.C. 5.4.99.5) was designed, prepared, and evaluated against the enzyme by monitoring the direct inhibition of the chorismate, 1, to prephenate, 2, conversion. None of these aza inhibitors displayed tighter binding to the enzyme than the native substrate chorismate or greater inhibitory action than the previously reported ether analogue, 3. Furthermore, no time-dependent loss of enzyme activity was observed in the presence of the two potentially reactive aza inhibitors (7 and 9). These results in conjunction with inhibition data from a broader series of chorismate mutase inhibitors allowed a novel proposal for the mechanistic role of chorismate mutase to be developed. This proposed mechanism was computationally verified and correlated with crystallographic studies of various chorismate mutases.

N-hydroxyethyl-piperidine and -pyrrolidine homoazasugars: preparation and evaluation of glycosidase inhibitory activity.

An efficient and practical strategy for the synthesis of N-hydroxyethyl-1-deoxy-homonojirimycins 4 and 5 and N-hydroxyethyl-pyrrolidine homoazasugars 6 and 7 with full stereocontrol is being reported. The key step involved is the intermolecular Michael addition of benzylamine to D-glucose derived alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 8 followed by N-alkylation with ethyl bromoacetate. Reduction with LAH, acetylation, hydrogenation and protection with -Cbz group afforded compounds 14a and 14b. Removal of 1,2-acetonide functionality, hydrogenation and deacetylation afforded N-hydroxyethyl-D-gluco-1-deoxyhomonojirimycin (4) and N-hydroxyethyl-L-ido-1-deoxyhomonojirimycin (5), respectively. Compounds 14a and 14b on acetylation followed by removal of 1,2-acetonide functionality, sodium metaperiodate oxidation, hydrogenation and deacetylation gave 1,4,5-trideoxy-1,4-imino-N-hydroxyethyl-D-arabino-hexitol (6) and 1,4,5-trideoxy-1,4-imino-N-hydroxyethyl-L-xylo-hexitol (7), respectively. The glycosidase inhibition activity of compounds 4, 5, 6, 7, 16a and 16b was evaluated using sweet almond seed as a rich source of different glycosidases.