Design, synthesis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic studies of novel quinazoline derivatives as phosphodiesterase 7 inhibitors.

Introduction: Phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7) is a high-affinity cyclic AMP (cAMP)-specific PDE that is expressed in immune and proinflammatory cells. In this work, we explore the possibility that selective small molecule inhibitors of this enzyme family could provide a novel approach to alleviate the inflammation that is associated with many inflammatory diseases. Methods: A series of novel substituted 4-hydrazinoquinazoline derivatives and fused triazoloquinazolines were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro for their PDE7A inhibition activities, in comparison with Theophylline, a non-selective PDE inhibitor, and BRL50481, a selective PDE7A inhibitor. This series of novel quinazoline derivatives were synthesized via multi-step reactions. The reaction sequence began with selective monohydrazinolysis of compounds 2a,b to give 3a,b. Schiff bases 4a-h were synthesized by the reaction of the quinazolylhydrazines 3a,b with various substituted aromatic aldehydes. The reaction of 4a-h with bromine in acetic acid, in turn, gave fused triazoloquinazolines 5a-h. These compounds were characterized by satisfied spectrum analyses mainly including 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and MS together with elemental analyses. Results and discussion: The results of in vitro PDE7A inhibition activity clearly indicated that compounds 4b, 4g, 5c, and 5f exhibited good potency. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies further supported our findings and provided the basis of interaction in terms of conventional hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking patterns. The present results lay the groundwork for developing lead compounds with improved phosphodiesterase seven inhibitory activities.

Selective COX-2 Inhibitors: Road from Success to Controversy and the Quest for Repurposing.

The introduction of selective COX-2 inhibitors (so-called 'coxibs') has demonstrated tremendous commercial success due to their claimed lower potential of serious gastrointestinal adverse effects than traditional NSAIDs. However, following the repeated questioning on safety concerns, the coxibs 'controversial me-too' saga increased substantially, inferring to the risk of cardiovascular complications, subsequently leading to the voluntary withdrawal of coxibs (e.g., rofecoxib and valdecoxib) from the market. For instance, the makers (Pfizer and Merck) had to allegedly settle individual claims of cardiovascular hazards from celecoxib and valdecoxib. Undoubtedly, the lessons drawn from this saga revealed the flaws in drug surveillance and regulation, and taught science to pursue a more integrated translational approach for data acquisition and interpretation, prompting science-based strategies of risk avoidance in order to sustain the value of such drugs, rather than their withdrawal. Looking forward, coxibs are now being studied for repurposing, given their possible implications in the management of a myriad of diseases, including cancer, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and so on. This article briefly summarizes the development of COX-2 inhibitors to their market impression, followed by the controversy related to their toxicity. In addition, the events recollected in hindsight (the past lessons), the optimistic step towards drug repurposing (the present), and the potential for forthcoming success (the future) are also discussed.

Synthesis, biological screening, and molecular docking of quinazolinone and quinazolinethione as phosphodiesterase 7 inhibitors.

N-Substituted isatoic anhydrides were used as starting materials for the synthesis of compounds 5-16 through alkali hydrolysis, Schiff base reactions, and oxidation. Compounds 18-23 were obtained by thionation of their oxo isosteres using Lawesson's reagent. Cyclocondesation of anthranilic acid with thiourea afforded compounds 25-27, which were S-alkylated to afford compounds 28-30, which were thionated using Lawesson's reagent to afford 31-33. The compounds were tested for their in vitro inhibitory activity against the phosphodiesterase 7A (PDE7A) enzyme compared with the selective PDE7 inhibitor BRL50481. All the compounds showed the inhibitory activity on the enzyme at micromolar levels. Compounds 9 and 25 showed the highest inhibitory activity on the enzyme: IC50 = 0.096 and 0.074 µM, respectively, comparable to BRL50481 (IC50 = 0.072 µM). The binding mode and binding affinity of the target compounds at the enzyme PDE7A-binding site were studied through molecular docking. Compounds 9 and 25 showed good recognition at the enzyme-binding site and were capable of binding in an inhibitory mode similar to the reference compound BRL50481, forming the necessary interactions with the key amino acids. Docking studies and enzyme assay were in agreement.

Novel analogues of sydnone: synthesis, characterization and antibacterial evaluation.

New sydnone derivatives bearing a substituted phenyl ring at the 3-position have been synthesized. Two separate series of 3-(carboxyphenyl)sydnone derivatives have been prepared by cyclization of the corresponding N-nitroso-N-(carboxyphenyl)-glycine 3. The obtained 3-(carboxyphenyl)sydnones 4 were subjected to a series of different chemical reactions on the carboxylic acid group. Compound 5, the potassium salt of 4a, was reacted with alpha-chloroacetanilide derivatives 6 to give the corresponding esters 7. On the other hand, the acid hydrazide 9 was condensed with different aromatic aldehydes to give the corresponding arylidene derivatives 10. The synthesized compounds were tested for their antibacterial activities against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Some of the test compounds exhibited high activity; among them, 10d is considered to be a lead compound possessing high broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.

Synthesis and biological testing of novel analogues of sydnone as potential antibacterial agents.

Several series of 3-phenylsydnone derivatives conjugated to well-known moieties with antibacterial activity were synthesized via several routes. These derivatives include 3-cyano-2-oxopyridine, 2-amino-3-cyanopyridine, 2-arylidene-1-ethylidenehydrazine and 2-aroyl-1-ethylidenehydrazine moieties. Thus, the key intermediate 3-(4-acetylphenyl)sydnone (3) was allowed to react with the appropriate aldehyde, ethyl cyanoacetate or malononitrile in presence of excess ammonium acetate in two steps (method 1) or through a one-pot reaction technique (methods 2 and 3) to give the corresponding sydnone derivatives 5 and 6, respectively. Moreover, condensation of compound 3 with hydrazine hydrate followed by the reaction with the appropriate aldehyde, mono- and dicarboxylic acid hydrazide yielded the corresponding sydnone derivatives 8, 9 and 10, respectively. Most of the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against various pathogenic organisms of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using agar dilution method.

Synthesis and in vitro antibacterial evaluation of novel imidazo[2',1':5,1]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-c]-quinazoline derivatives of 5-thioxo-1, 2, 4-triazole, 4-oxothiazolidine, and their open-chain counterparts.

Two novel series of imidazo[2', 1':5, 1]-1, 2, 4-triazolo[4, 3-c]quinazolines bearing 5-thioxo-1, 2, 4-triazoles, 6a-f, and 4-oxothiazolidines, 7a-f, were synthesized from corresponding thiosemicarbazide derivatives, 5a-f. The stepwise methodology applied to the preparation of compounds 5a-f was initiated with reaction of the parent 3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazolo[4, 3-c]quinazolines, 2, with ethyl 2-chloroacetoacetate resulting in annelation of the imidazole ring to give esters, 3a-c. However, hydrazinolysis of these ester derivatives gave the corresponding acid hydrazides, 4a-c, which on reaction with the appropriate alkyl isothiocyanate yielded compounds 5a-f. In turn, compounds 5, were cyclized with potassium hydroxide or with ethyl bromoacetate to give the corresponding thioxotriazoles 6 and oxothiazolidines 7, respectively. All synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Some test compounds were found to possess potent antibacterial activities. Compound, 7f, exhibited much higher potency than the reference standard ciprofloxacin, against both types of bacteria, particularly, Gram-positive organisms.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some quinazoline derivatives as antitumor and antiviral agents.

A new series of 4-(4-aryl-1-piperazinyl)quinazolines 4a-f, 4-(3-substituted phenylamino)quinazoline derivatives 5a-h, 2-methoxycarbonylphenylaminoquinazoline derivatives 6a, b, 2-hydrazinocarbonylphenylaminoquinazolines 7a, b and 2-aryl-1-(substituted 4-quinazolinyl)-1,4-dihydro-5-oxo-5H-1,3,4-benzotriazepines 8a-j have been synthesized and tested for their antitumor and antiviral activities. Among them, compounds 5a-d exhibited broad spectrum antitumor activity with full panel median growth inhibition (GI50) at concentrations of 3.2, 2.0, 4.8, 4.0 mumol/l and total growth inhibition at concentrations of 56.5, 51.0, 63.0 and 73.0 mumol/l, respectively. Compounds 7a and 7b showed moderate selectivity toward leukemia cell line. On the other hand, compounds 8a and 8b showed moderate anti HIV-1 potency with EC50 values of 40.5 and 52.8 mumol/l, respectively. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic and biological data are reported.

Pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidines and pyrimido[5',4':5, 6]pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidines as new antiviral agents: synthesis and biological activity.

A series of 7-amino- and 7-oxo-5-aryl-6-cyanopyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidines, 4 and 11, respectively, and pyrimido [5', 4':5, 6]pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 6 and 7 was synthesized and investigated as antiviral agents. Different synthetic strategies for the preparation of the target compounds were explored. A synthetic procedure for 4 and 11 starting with 6-amino-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-2, 4-dioxopyrimidine, proper aldehyde, and malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate, respectively, in a one-pot reaction proved to be the method of choice for preparation of compounds of such type. Construction of another pyrimidine ring on the pyridine nucleus of compound 4 was achieved either by reaction with phenyl iso(thio)cyanate or with formic acid to yield 6 and 7, respectively. The structure of the prepared compounds was confirmed through elemental analysis and spectral investigation. Most of the newly synthesized compounds were subjected to antiviral activity testing against herpes simplex virus (HSV) where some of them show good activities.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory screening of some quinazoline and quinazolyl-4-oxoquinazoline derivatives.

Synthesis of some new derivatives of 2-aryl-4-oxo-1-(4-quinazolyl)quinazolines is described. Methyl N-(4-quinazolyl)anthranilate was allowed to react with phenyl iso(thio)cyanate to give 3-phenyl-1-(4-quinazolyl)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-2, 4-dioxo- and 4-oxo-2-thioxoquinazolines (3a and 3b respectively) Alternatively, anthranilic acid amide derivatives were subjected to cyclization with aromatic aldehydes to give 2-aryl-4-oxo-1-(4-quinazolyl)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinazolines 5. On the other hand, 2-chloro-4-(4-substituted 1-piperazinyl)quinazoline derivatives were subjected to the same type of reactions at the 2-position to afford the corresponding quinazoline derivatives 8 and 10 respectively. Furthermore, the acid amide 4b cyclized with acid chlorides to give the corresponding 2-aryl-1-(2-chloro-4-quinazolyl)-4-oxo-1, 4-dihydroquinazolines 11 from which the triazoloquinazoline derivatives 13 and 15 were synthesized through the intermediate hydrazine derivatives 12. Most of the newly synthesized compounds were tested for their antiinflammatory activities. However, some of the novel compounds were found to exhibit good antiinflammatory potencies.