Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of Virazole: 1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide.

Virazole is a synthetic nucleoside active in tissue culture against at least 16 DNA and RNA viruses. Applied topically, it inhibits herpetic keratitis in rabbits and tail lesions induced by herpes, vaccinia, and vesicular stomatitis viruses in mice. Injected intraperitoneally into mice, it inhibits splenomegaly and hepatomegaly induced by Friend leukemia virus and respiratory infections caused by influenza A(O), A(2), and B viruses and parainfluenza 1 virus. infections is also effective.

Modulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and poly(adenosine diphosphoribose) metabolism by the synthetic "C" nucleoside analogs, tiazofurin and selenazofurin. A new strategy for cancer chemotherapy.

Tiazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide) and selenazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylselenazole-4-carboxamide) are synthetic "C" nucleosides whose antineoplastic activity depends on their conversion to tiazofurin-adenine dinucleotide and selenazofurin-adenine dinucleotide which are analogs of NAD. The present study was conducted to determine whether these nucleoside analogs and their dinucleotide derivatives interfere with NAD metabolism and in particular with the NAD-dependent enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Incubation of L1210 cells with 10 microM tiazofurin or selenazofurin resulted in inhibition of cell growth, reduction of cellular NAD content, and interference with NAD synthesis. Using [14C]nicotinamide to study the uptake of nicotinamide and its conversion to NAD, we showed that the analogs interfere with NAD synthesis, apparently by blocking formation of nicotinamide mononucleotide. The analogs also serve as weak inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which is an NAD-utilizing, chromatin-bound enzyme, whose function is required for normal DNA repair processes. Continuous incubation of L1210 cells in tiazofurin or selenazofurin resulted in progressive and synergistic potentiation of the cytotoxic effects of DNA-damaging agents, such as 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. These studies provide a basis for designing chemotherapy combinations in which tiazofurin or selenazofurin are used to modulate NAD and poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism to synergistically potentiate the effects of DNA strand-disrupting agents.

Use of tiazofurin to enhance the metabolism and cytotoxic activities of analogues of guanine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine.

An effective modulator of cellular guanine nucleotide pools, 2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide (tiazofurin) was tested for its ability to affect utilization of certain guanine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine analogues by Chinese hamster ovary cells and hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase)-deficient variants. The nucleoside analogues investigated were chosen for their potential to be metabolized to the nucleotide level by pathways other than those requiring the action of HGPRTase. Exposure of tiazofurin-treated (500 microM for 3 h) cells to 3-deazaguanosine (200 microM for 3 h) resulted in enhanced 3-deazaGTP formation and an increase (5-10-fold) in the ratio 3-deazaGTP/GTP. Tiazofurin treatment also stimulated [3H]deoxyguanosine utilization (8-fold) by HGPRTase-deficient cells, and accordingly, greatly increased the cytotoxicity of 2'-deoxy-3-deazaguanosine and arabinosylguanine. This study emphasizes the potential usefulness of tiazofurin in sequential combination with appropriate analogues of guanosine and deoxyguanosine in a clinical setting and as a tool in studying the metabolism of these agents.

Phosphorylation of 3-deazaguanosine by nicotinamide riboside kinase in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The growth inhibitory activity of 3-deazaguanosine toward a mutant line (TGR-3) of Chinese hamster ovary cells deficient in hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) was substantially reversed by the simultaneous addition of nicotinamide riboside. The activities of most other ribonucleoside analogues tested were unaffected. The formation of cellular 3-deazaGMP and 3-deazaGTP from the ribonucleoside analogue, as measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography, was inhibited by the presence of nicotinamide riboside. The inhibition was dependent on concentration of 3-deazaguanosine and could also be demonstrated by following the metabolism of 3-deazaguanosine, labeled with 14C in the ribose moiety, to [14C]3-deazaGTP. In the presence of 100 microM nicotinamide riboside formation of the labeled triphosphate derivative of 3-deazaguanosine was undetectable. A 3-deazaguanosine phosphorylating activity was separated from other cellular kinases by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Contaminating purine nucleoside phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1) was subsequently removed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The resulting enzyme preparation demonstrated the greatest activities with nicotinamide riboside and 3-deazaguanosine and, in addition, could also phosphorylate tiazofurin and guanosine to lesser, but significant, degrees. These and other observations suggest that 3-deazaguanosine, and perhaps other agents such as tiazofurin, may, at least in part, be phosphorylated by a nicotinamide ribonucleoside kinase in these cells. If so, it is possible that the activity of this agent in other types of cells in vivo could be dependent upon the presence of this enzyme and that it could be influenced by cellular concentrations of the natural pyridine nucleoside.

Biochemical differences among four inosinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, mycophenolic acid, ribavirin, tiazofurin, and selenazofurin, studied in mouse lymphoma cell culture.

The mechanism of the cellular toxicity of four inosinate dehydrogenase (IMP-DH) inhibitors with different antitumor and antiviral pharmacological profiles was investigated in mouse lymphoma (S-49) cell culture. Drug effects on cell growth, nucleotide pools, and DNA and RNA synthesis were measured in the presence and absence of guanine salvage supplies. Both guanine and guanosine were capable of bypassing the IMP-DH block, while they also demonstrated some growth-inhibitory effects when added alone in high concentrations. All four drugs reduced cellular guanosine triphosphate levels and caused secondary changes of the uridine, cytidine, and adenosine triphosphate pools that were similar among the four drugs. However, several drug effects in addition to IMP-DH inhibition were observed except with mycophenolic acid which may represent a pure IMP-DH inhibitor. Both tiazofurin and selenazofurin interfered with the uptake and/or metabolism of uridine and thymidine tracers; however, this effect appeared not to contribute to their cellular toxicity in vitro. Moreover, selenazofurin and tiazofurin impaired the utilization of exogenous guanine salvage supplies for DNA and RNA synthesis, and guanine was particularly ineffective in reversing the toxic effects of tiazofurin on cell growth. This finding is important in view of the available guanine salvage supplies in vivo. Since tiazofurin, selenazofurin, and their known metabolites failed to inhibit hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyl transferase, guanosine monophosphate kinase, and guanosine diphosphate kinase in cell extracts or permeabilized cells, these drugs may interfere with salvage transport across cellular membranes. The toxic effects of mycophenolic acid and ribavirin were similarly reversed by salvage supplies of up to 200 microM guanine, which suggests that ribavirin primarily acts as an IMP-DH inhibitor under these conditions. This result could explain the rather low antitumor efficacy of both mycophenolic acid and ribavirin in vivo. However, increasing the guanine salvage supply in the medium above 200 microM further reversed the toxic effects of mycophenolic acid to maximum rescue, while it increased the toxicity of ribavirin (300 microM). This finding suggests the presence of a toxic mechanism of ribavirin at higher concentrations that is dependent upon the presence of guanine supplies sufficient to fully overcome the IMP-DH inhibition. This study documents that each antimetabolite displays a unique spectrum of activities with multiple toxic targets.

Tiazofurin is phosphorylated by three enzymes from Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The growth inhibitory activity of tiazofurin toward adenosine kinase deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was partially reversed by the presence of nicotinamide riboside. Similarly, the formation of tiazofurin 5'-monophosphate and the active metabolite, tiazofurin 5'-adenine dinucleotide could be partially inhibited by 100 microM nicotinamide riboside in CHO cells and substantially inhibited (80-90%) in adenosine kinase deficient cells. Tiazofurin phosphorylating activity from CHO cell extracts was resolved into two peaks by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The first peak of activity was identified as adenosine kinase (ATP:adenosine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.20). The second peak of activity correlated with a previously described 3-deazaguanosine phosphorylating activity that was identified as a nicotinamide ribonucleoside kinase. Contaminating purine nucleoside phosphorylase was removed by sedimentation through a sucrose density gradient which also resolved the tiazofurin phosphorylating activity into two peaks, one requiring just ATP and the other requiring both ATP and IMP. Of the substrates tested with the lower density peak, nicotinamide riboside was most efficient and was the only natural substance that competed well with tiazofurin for phosphorylation, substantiating its suggested identity as a nicotinamide ribonucleoside kinase. The apparent Km value for nicotinamide riboside (2 microM) was significantly less than that for tiazofurin (13.6 microM). ATP was the best phosphate donor; CTP and UTP were utilized less efficiently and IMP did not support the reaction. The best substrate for the higher density peak of tiazofurin phosphorylation was inosine and both ATP and IMP were required for the reaction, suggesting its identity as a 5'-nucleotidase. In summary, it appears that adenosine kinase, nicotinamide ribonucleoside kinase, and 5'-nucleotidase may all contribute to the phosphorylation of tiazofurin in CHO cells.

Chemotherapeutic characterization in mice of 2-amino-9-beta-D-ribofuranosylpurine-6-sulfinamide (sulfinosine), a novel purine nucleoside with unique antitumor properties.

In preclinical investigations performed in mice, 2-amino-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl purine-6-sulfinamide (sulfinosine), a novel derivative of 6-thioguanosine (6TGR), was active against six solid tumors and four strains of experimental leukemia. Sulfinosine penetrated the central nervous system more readily than did 6TGR and, when given repeatedly, was much more effective in the treatment of L1210 leukemia, being curative for some mice. Other findings of major interest to us were the different dosing characteristics of sulfinosine and 6TGR, the divergent efficiencies of the two drugs in generating cellular resistance, and the activity of sulfinosine against experimental leukemias refractory to 6TGR and other experimental or clinically used chemotherapeutic agents. The chemotherapeutic characterization of sulfinosine that evolved from these studies suggests that this agent may have unique properties that deserve clinical consideration. Both the dosing characteristics of the drug and its pronounced activity against thiopurine-resistant experimental leukemia favor the possibility that sulfinosine could be used to advantage in the treatment of human leukemia unresponsive to 6-mercaptopurine or 6-thioguanine.

Site-selective cAMP analogs induce nuclear translocation of the RII cAMP receptor protein in Ha-MuSV-transformed NIH/3T3 cells.

Site-selective cAMP analogs, depending on the position of their substituents on the adenine ring, selectively bind to either site 1 or site 2 of the known cAMP binding sites of protein kinase. Treatment of Harvey murine sarcoma virus-transformed NIH/3T3 cells with such site-selective analogs results in growth inhibition and phenotypic reversion, and the combination of a C-8 thio or halogen analog (site 1 selective) with an N6 analog (site 2 selective) produces a synergistic effect. We report here that the growth inhibitory effect of the analogs correlates with the nuclear translocation of the RII cAMP receptor protein, the regulatory subunit of protein kinase type II. The transformed NIH/3T3 cells contained no detectable level of RII in the nucleus, whereas nontransformed NIH/3T3 cells exhibited a high level of nuclear RII. Within 30 min after treatment of the transformed cells with the site-selective analogs, immunofluorescence against the RII protein markedly increased in the cell nucleus. The nuclear translocation of the RII cAMP receptor protein is an early event in the reverse transformation of the fibroblasts treated with site-selective cAMP analogs.

Site-selective cyclic AMP analogs provide a new approach in the control of cancer cell growth.

Site-selective cyclic AMP analogs bind to site 1 or site 2 of the known cAMP-binding sites depending on the position of substituents on the purine ring, either at C-2 and C-8 (site 1) or at C-6 (site 2). The growth inhibitory effect of such site-selective cAMP analogs used in this investigation with 15 human cancer cell lines surpassed that of analogs previously tested. The most potent analogs were 8-chloro, N6-benzyl and N6-phenyl-8-p-chlorophenylthio-cAMP. The combination of a C-8 with an N6 analog had synergistic effects. The 24 site-selective analogs tested produced growth inhibition ranging from 30 to 80% at micromolar concentrations with no sign of toxic effects. Growth inhibition was not due to a block in a specific phase of the cell cycle but paralleled a change in cell morphology, an increase of the RII cAMP receptor protein and a decrease of p21 ras protein. Since the adenosine counterpart of the 8-chloro analog produced G1 synchronization without affecting the RII and p21 ras protein levels, it is unlikely that an adenosine metabolite is involved in the analog effect. Site-selective cAMP analogs thus provide a new biological tool for control of cancer growth.

Successful immunotherapy of murine melanoma metastases with 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine.

We have recently reported that a synthetic nucleoside, 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine (7T8OG) is a potent activator of a number of effectors which are involved in anti-tumor immune responses. 7T8OG was found to induce interferon (IFN) production, to activate asialo-GM1 positive (AGM+1) killer cells, and to enhance specific antibody responses. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 7T8OG on growth of the murine pulmonary B16 melanoma and on formation of metastases. C57BL/6 mice were injected i.p. with 50-150 mg/kg 7T8OG before or after i.v. inoculation of B16 melanoma tumor cells, and 17-19 days after tumor inoculation, the number of metastases in the lungs were counted. 7T8OG given systemically in a single or a divided dose 24 h prior to the challenge of tumor cells reduced the number of lung tumor metastases by 89-99% which is highly significant as compared to untreated control (P less than 0.001). Occasional extra pulmonary tumor growth in the thoracic cavity and neck lymph node was also completely inhibited. The reduction in the number of tumor nodules was dose dependent. A single dose of 150 mg/kg of 7T8OG was also effective in inhibiting the growth of 3-5 day old metastatic tumors. The cytotoxic activity of killer cells induced in vivo by 7T8OG was completely abolished by in vitro treatment of cells with anti-AGM1 antibody plus complement. Administration of anti-AGM1 antibody following the 7T8OG treatment completely abrogated the anti-tumor effect of 7T8OG, resulting in a massive increase in the number of tumor foci in the lungs. Administration of carageenan or silica followed by injection of 7T8OG caused a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in the number of pulmonary tumor nodules compared to treatment with 7T8OG only. These findings indicate that activated macrophages or perhaps their cytokine (tumor necrosis factor) also contribute to the host tumor defense by 7T8OG.

Synthesis and biological activity of certain derivatives of oxazinomycin and related oxadiazole nucleosides.

Oxazinomycin was converted into 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyloxazinomycin (2) and 2',3'-O-isopropylideneoxazinomycin (3), respectively. Compound 3 was iodinated and reduced to provide 5'-deoxy-2',3'-O-isopropylideneoxazinomycin (5) which, after acid hydrolysis, provided 5'-deoxyoxazinomycin (6). Alternatively, the iodination of oxazinomycin followed by catalytic hydrogenation also provided 6. Oxazinomycin was treated with 2-acetoxybenzoyl chloride to provide 3'-O-acetyl-2'-chloro-2'-deoxyoxazinomycin (8) which, after reduction with tributyltin hydride, provided 3'-O-acetyl-2'-deoxyoxazinomycin (9). Oxazinomycin was also converted into oxazinomycin 5'-phosphate (10) and into O4,2'-anhydrooxazinomycin (11). 1,2,4-Oxadiazole-3,5-dione (12) was glycosylated to provide 2-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3,5-dione (13) which, after deacetylation, provided 2-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3,5-dione (14). Similarly, 12 provided 2-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole-3,5-dione (17); 14 was also converted into the corresponding 2',3'-O-isopropylidene derivative 15. Compound 14 showed significant antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1, in vitro.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 2-beta-D-ribofuranosylselenazole-4- carboxamide and related derivatives.

Treatment of 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1-carbonitrile with hydrogen selenide provided 2,5-anhydro-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-D-allonselenoamide (3). Compound 3 was treated with ethyl bromopyruvate to provide ethyl 2-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranosyl)selenazole-4-carboxylates, which after ammonolysis were converted to 2-beta-D-ribofuranosylselenazole-4-carboxamide (6) and its alpha-analogue 7, respectively. Acetylation of nucleoside 6 provided 2-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)selenazole-4-carboxamide, and phosphorylation of 6 provided the corresponding 5'-phosphate 9. Compounds 6 and 9 were found to be cytotoxic toward P388 and L1210 cells in culture and effective against Lewis lung carcinoma in mice.

Synthesis and antifungal properties of certain 7-alkylaminopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.

A series of 7-alkylaminopyrazolo[1,5-alpha]pyrimidines (5-25) and one 7-alkylthiopyrazolo[1,5-alpha]pyrimidine (4) were synthesized from the corresponding 7-chloro precursors 3, which were prepared in turn from the 7-hydroxy analogues 2, obtained via condensation of 3-aminopyrazoles with acetoacetate esters, malonate esters, or acetylenedicarboxylate ester. Compounds 4-25 were found to inhibit Trichophyton mentagrophytes (in vitro). The degree of inhibition increased with increasing 7-alkylamino chain length up to C8 units and then began to decrease with longer chain lengths. Unsaturated chains were more fungitoxic than saturated chains, 5-methyl-7-oleylaminopyrazolo[1,5alpha]pyrimidine [22, R7=NH(CH2)8CH=CH(CH2)7CH3] being four times more inhibitory and 16 times more fungicidal (against T. mentagrophytes) than 5-methyl-7-n-octylaminopyrazolo[1,5-alpha] pyrimidine [11, R7=NH(CH2)7CH3]. Although 11 and 22 appeared to have some efficacy as topical antifungeal agents, when applied to T. mentagrophytes infections in vivo, both caused irritation (of abraded and unabraded guinea pig skin) as did compound 4 (R5=Me; R7=SC8H17).

Synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of 6-oxo-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)nocotinic acid and related derivatives.

5-Substituted 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyridine-2-ones (6-oxonicotinic acid nucleosides) were prepared by direct glycosylation of 5-ntrio-, 5-carbomethoxy-, 5-carboxamido-, 5-amino, 5-carbobenzyloxyamino-, and 5-acetamido-2-trimethylsilyloxy or corresponding 2-methoxypyridine derivatives by the Hilbert-Johnson method. The glycosylation products were deblocked by conventional procedures and substituents at the 5 position were modified to give the 5-carboxamide, carboxyhydrazide, and carboxylic acid. Only 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyridin-2-one-5-carboxylic acid [1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-6-oxonicotinic acid (12), showed significant activity in treating adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of certain nucleoside 5'-phosphonoformate derivatives.

(Ethoxycarbonyl)phosphonic dichloride (3) was synthesized by chlorination of bis(trimethylsilyl) (ethoxycarbonyl)phosphonate with thionyl chloride. Adenosine 5'-(ethoxycarbonyl)phosphonate (4), guanosine 5'-(ethoxycarbonyl)phosphonate (5), 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-(ethoxycarbonyl)phosphonate (18) and 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-(ethoxycarbonyl)phosphonate (19) were synthesized by coupling of compound 3 with adenosine, guanosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, and 2'-deoxyguanosine, respectively. Alkaline treatment of 4, 5, 18, and 19 gave the corresponding adenosine 5'-(hydroxycarbonyl)phosphonate (14), guanosine 5'-(hydroxycarbonyl) phosphonate (15), 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-(hydroxycarbonyl)phosphonate (20), and 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-(hydroxycarbonyl) phosphonate (21). Treatment of 4 and 5 with methanolic ammonia resulted in the production of adenosine 5'-(aminocarbonyl)phosphonate (12) and guanosine 5'-(aminocarbonyl)phosphonate (13), respectively. The nucleotide analogue 20 exhibited the most potent antiviral activity of this group of nucleotide tested in vitro and was most active against herpes viruses especially HSV-2. The nucleotide analogue 21 had lower, but significant, activity against HSV-2. All of the compounds tested were nontoxic to confluent Vero cells at concentrations as high as 5000 microM.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of certain imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines.

A series of 5-substituted and 5,7-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines has been prepared. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of these compounds against a variety of microorganisms is reported. 5-n-Octylaminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine exhibited significant activity against all the microorganisms studied.

Synthesis and antischistosomal activity of certain pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.

Several 7-hydroxypyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (1-21), 7-mercaptopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (37-49), and 4-alkylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones (50-55) and the corresponding 4-alkylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-thiones (56-60) were synthesized and tested for antischistosomal activity against Schistosoma mansoni. Of the compounds examined, the greatest degree of activity in vitro was found with the 7-mercaptopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines. In particular, compounds 37 and 47 proved lethal at 100 micrograms/mL after an exposure of only 1 h. The 7-hydroxypyrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrimidines were not as active. None of the compounds exhibiting in vitro activity were active against S. mansoni in vivo.

6-aminopyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one, a novel analogue of guanine.

Treatment of dimethyl alpha-ethoxymethylidineacetonedicarboxylate with hydrazine gave methyl 3-(methoxy-carbonylmethyl)pyrazole-4-carboxylate which, upon ammonolysis and dehydration, afforded methyl 3-(cyanomethyl)pyrazole-4-carboxylate. This compound, when heated with liquid ammonia, gave 6-aminopyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one, a new guanine analogue, which did not possess any of the potent antiviral activity shown by 6-aminoimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one (3-deazaguanine).

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of substituted 5,6-dihydro-5-nitrouracils.

Reaction of 5-nitrouracil derivatives with sodium borohydride in methanol-water, followed by neutralization of the product with acid, has produced 5,6-dihydro-5-nitrouracil (5) 5,6-dihydro-6-dihydro-6-methyl-5-nitrouracil (7), 5,6-dihydro-5-nitro-1-(4-nitrophenyl)uracil (10), and 5,6-dihydro-5-nitro-1(beta-D-ribofuranuronic acid ethyl ester)uracil (12). In assays for antimicrobial activity using strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, significant inhibition of growth was not found.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some novel heterocycles. Azolo-as-triazines.

A general method for the preparation of substituted azolo-as-triazines is reported. The various alpha-aminoazoles (3-aminopyrazole, 3-amino-s-triazole, 5-amino-v-triazole, 2-aminoimidazole, 4(5)-aminoimidazole, and their substituted derivatives) were diazotized and coupled with active methylene reagents (beta-diketones, beta-keto esters, beta-keto acids, ethyl cyanoacetate and malononitrile) to afford intermediates which were then cyclized in methanol, acetic acid, or benzene. The cyclized products were the corresponding pyrazolo[2,3-c]- (2), s-triazolo[2,3-c]- (3), imidazo[3,4-c]- (4), v-triazolo[1,2-c]- (5), and imidazo[3,4-c]-as-triazines (6) with substituents such as amino, alkyl (or hydrogen), ester, ketone, or nitrile, depending on the methylene reagent used. Of the 28 compounds synthesized (representative of the five heterocycles) six, with various substituents, exhibited specific in vitro antimicrobial activity. Compounds 2b and 2d inhibited the gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas, 3a, and 5a inhibited the gram-positive Staphylococcus, 2h inhibited the dermatophyte Trichophyton, and 2c inhibited the yeast Candida in the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) range of 0.40-0.16 mumol/ml.