2-Aminobenzoxazole-appended coumarins as potent and selective inhibitors of tumour-associated carbonic anhydrases.

We have carried out the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a small library of 2-aminobenzoxazole-appended coumarins as novel inhibitors of tumour-related CAs IX and XII. Substituents on C-3 and/or C-4 positions of the coumarin scaffold, and on the benzoxazole moiety, together with the length of the linker connecting both units were modified to obtain useful structure-activity relationships. CA inhibition studies revealed a good selectivity towards tumour-associated CAs IX and XII (Ki within the mid-nanomolar range in most of the cases) in comparison with CAs I, II, IV, and VII (Ki > 10 µM); CA IX was found to be slightly more sensitive towards structural changes. Docking calculations suggested that the coumarin scaffold might act as a prodrug, binding to the CAs in its hydrolysed form, which is in turn obtained due to the esterase activity of CAs. An increase of the tether length and of the substituents steric hindrance was found to be detrimental to in vitro antiproliferative activities. Incorporation of a chlorine atom on C-3 of the coumarin moiety achieved the strongest antiproliferative agent, with activities within the low micromolar range for the panel of tumour cell lines tested.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Pyrimidine Steroids as Antiproliferative Agents.

A small and focused library of steroidal non-fused and fused pyrimidines was prepared from pregnenolone acetate and diosgenin, respectively. The key step was the cycloaddition reaction of nitrogen-containing 1,3-binucleophiles with the steroidal α,ß-unsaturated ketone. Urea, thiourea and guanidine reacted in a similar manner and afforded the steroidal pyrimidines in good yields. The antiproliferative tests against human tumor cell lines gave GI50 values in the micromolar range and had no effect on healthy fibroblasts. Additional experiments indicated that the compounds did not act as P-glycoprotein substrates, thus avoiding the rise of drug resistance. The fused steroidal pyrimidinethione was selected as drug lead for further testing due to its strong antiproliferative activities within the low micromolar range.

Bioactivities of Flavonoids from Lopezia racemosa.

Lopezia racemosa Cav. (Onagraceae) has been used in Mexican traditional medicine to alleviate stomachache, biliary colic, urine retention, stomach cancer, and skin, dental, buccal, and urinary infections. The objective of this study was to determine the bioactivities of specific parts of the plant to scientifically confirm its traditional use. Aerial parts and flowers were macerated and subsequently extracted with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. This study was focused on the analysis of polar components, and thus the methanolic fractions were selected for further investigations. These fractions were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity using a panel of bacterial Gram-positive and -negative strains, as well as fungal strains, including filamentous fungi and yeasts. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of the extract was assessed by MTT using the human-derived monocytic THP-1 and the normal human fibroblast cell lines. Various fractions showed antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, although the most relevant were against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. No inhibition of yeasts was recorded. Only four fractions showed cytotoxic effects when the human-derived THP-1 and fibroblast cells were assessed. The four flavonoids isolated from the extract were luteolin, luteolin-6-C-hexoside, luteolin-8-C-hexoside, and hyperoside. The biological activities presented in this study validate some traditional uses of the plant.

Synthesis of unprecedented steroidal spiro heterocycles as potential antiproliferative drugs.

Herein we report the straightforward preparation of novel conformationally-restricted steroids from trans-androsterone and estrone, decorated with spiranic oxazolidin-2-one or 2-aminooxazoline motifs at C-17 as potential antiproliferative agents. Such unprecedented pharmacophores were accessed using an aminomethylalcohol derivative at C-17 as the key intermediate; reaction of such functionality with triphosgene, or conversion into N-substituted thioureas, followed by an intramolecular cyclodesulfurization reaction promoted by yellow HgO, furnished such spirocycles in excellent yields. Title compounds were tested in vitro against a panel of six human tumor cell lines, named A549 (non-small cell lung), HBL-100 (breast), HeLa (cervix), SW1573 (non-small cell lung), T-47D (breast) and WiDr (colon), and the results were compared with steroidal chemotherapeutic agents (abiraterone and galeterone); the A-ring of the steroidal backbone, the nature of the heterocycle and the N-substituents proved to be essential motifs for establishing structure-activity relationships concerning not only the potency but also the selectivity against tumor cell lines. Estrone derivatives, particularly those bearing a spiranic 2-aminooxazoline scaffold were found to be the most active compounds, with GI50 values ranging from the low micromolar to the submicromolar level (0.34-1.5 µM). Noteworthy, the lead compounds showed a remarkable increase in activity against the resistant cancer cell lines (T-47D and WiDr) compared to the anticancer reference drugs (up to 120-fold).

New selenosteroids as antiproliferative agents.

Starting from natural steroids (diosgenin, hecogenin, smilagenin, estrone), we have prepared a wide panel of selenoderivatives, including benzoselenazolones, selenosemicarbazones, isoselenocyanates, selenoureas, selenocyanates and diselenides, with the aim of developing new families of potential chemotherapeutic agents. The modification of the organoselenium moieties, and their position on the steroid provided valuable information concerning the antiproliferative activities. Among all the families accessed herein, the best profile was achieved for selenoureas on the A ring of estrone, which exhibited GI50 values in the range 2.0-4.1 µM for all the tested tumor cell lines, with increased potency compared with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, like 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. Cell cycle analysis revealed that selenoureas induced accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle in the breast cancer cell lines HBL-100 and T-47D; therefore, a different mechanism than cisplatin, that induces cell cycle accumulation in the S phase as a result of DNA damage, must be involved. In the rest of the tumor cells, a slight increase of the S compartment was observed. Moreover, selenosteoids turned out to be excellent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mimics for the catalytic removal of deleterious H2O2 (t1/2 8.0-22.5 min) and alkyl peroxides (t1/2 23.0-38.9 min) when used in substoichiometric amounts (1% molar ratio), thus providing a valuable tool for reducing the intrinsic oxidative stress in tumor progression.

Novel synthesis of steroidal oximes and lactams and their biological evaluation as antiproliferative agents.

A novel three-step methodology to obtain 6a-aza-B-homo steroidal lactams has been developed starting from the easily available cholesterol and pregnenolone. In addition, a new procedure for the synthesis of a 6a-aza-B-homo steroidal lactam analog of vespertilin, starting from diosgenin has been established. In both synthetic pathways, the key intermediate is a hydroxyimino derivative obtained in a one- or two-step sequence from the starting materials. These methods avoid the use of hazardous oxidant agents in the process. The new steroidal oximes and lactams were examined for their antiproliferative activities against several tumor cell lines. The 6,23-dihydroxyimino derivative exhibited the highest activity with GI50 values of 11-22µM.

Synthesis of monomeric and dimeric steroids containing [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.

The synthesis of several monomeric and dimeric steroidal [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (TPs) derived from steroids are described. These derivatives were prepared from α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds through a Claisen Schmidt condensation and rearrangement of the spiro moiety followed by a cycloaddition with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. The antiproliferative activity of compounds 7, 13-15 was tested against human cancer cells; several IG50 values were below 10µM.

Diosgenin-based thio(seleno)ureas and triazolyl glycoconjugates as hybrid drugs. Antioxidant and antiproliferative profile.

The stereoselective preparation of diosgenin-derived thio(seleno)ureas and glycomimetics bearing a 1,2,3-triazolyl tether on C-3 has been accomplished. The key steps in the synthetic pathway are the incorporation of an amino moiety and its further transformation into thio- and selenoureas, and also a click chemistry reaction involving a propargyl residue and an azido moiety to afford carbohydrate-derived 1,2,3-triazoles; subsequent BF3-promoted acetolysis of the spiranic moiety afforded the corresponding 22-oxocholestanic structure. The N-phenyl selenourea, an hitherto unknown steroidal derivative, turned out to be a potent ROS scavenger, in particular against free radicals (EC50 = 29.47 ± 2.33 µM, DPPH method), and as a glutathione peroxidase mimic in the elimination of H2O2 (t1/2 = 4.8 min, 1% molar ratio). 22-Oxocholestane structures bearing a C-3 azido, propargyl, thioureido, and particularly selenoureido moiety behaved as strong antiproliferative agents against HeLa cells (IC50 1.87-11.80 µM). N-phenyl selenourea also exhibited IC50 values lower than 6.50 µM for MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cells; apoptosis was found to be involved in its mode of action. Such compound was also capable of efficiently eliminating ROS endogenously produced by HeLa cells. Antiproliferative properties of thioxo and selenoxo derivatives were stronger than diosgenin.

Epimerization of C-22 in (25R)- and (25S)-sapogenins.

Most of the naturally occurring steroidal sapogenins (C-23 non-substituted frameworks), possess an R configuration at the spiro C-22 center. Their C-22 epimers have become important targets in biological research. This paper describes a procedure to obtain 22S-spirostans from 22R-sapogenins and pseudosapogenin skeletons, without affecting the chirality at either C-25 or C-20. An optimal way to synthesize the pair of C-22 stereoisomers of 23-acetyldiosgenin is also reported. The latter was obtained from a 22,26-epoxycholestane or from 23-acetylfurostene compounds.

Synthesis of steroidal derivatives containing substituted, fused and spiro pyrazolines.

An efficient and facile synthesis of fused, substituted and spiro pyrazoline steroid derivatives through a cycloaddition reaction of different α,ß-unsaturated ketones with hydrazine acetate in acetic acid is reported. Depending on the starting material, the ring closure reaction provided a mixture of two steroidal pyrazoline epimers that were separated and studied by NMR techniques. In one case it was possible to isolate and characterize the hydrazone derivative as the reaction intermediate, which confirms the mechanism proposed in the literature [11,25,26].

Synthetic pathway to 22,23-dioxocholestanic chain derivatives and their usefulness for obtaining brassinosteroid analogues.

Recognizing the functionality of the pentacyclic steroidal derivative 7a as important synthon to obtain new brassinosteroid analogs, we have accomplished the derivatization of hecogenin, a sapogenin from the 25R serie containing a carbonyl group at C-12, to a 22,23-dioxocholestanic chain derivative. Starting from hecogenin acetate (5a) or hecogenin tosylate (5b), we obtained two pentacyclic derivatives (7a and 7b) which were subjected to an oxidation reaction on the double bond at C-12(23) to obtain a 22,23-dioxocholestanic chain, with the regeneration of the carbonyl group at C-12. Reduction of the carbonyl groups lead to the 20-epi-12,23-dihydroxy-22-oxo system 11a-b. The absolute configuration of compound 11a was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Westphalen's diol diacetate: 19(10→5)-abeo-5ß-cholest-9-ene-3ß,6ß-diyl diacetate.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE TITLE STEROID [ALTERNATIVE NAME: 3ß,6ß-diacet-oxy-5ß-methyl-19-norcholest-9(10)-ene], C31H50O4, confirms the generally accepted mechanism for the rearrangement of a cholestan-5α-ol derivative reported a century ago by Westphalen. The methyl group at position 10 of the starting material migrates to position 5 in the steroidal nucleus, while a Δ(9) bond is formed, as indicated by the C=C bond length of 1.347 (4) Å. The methyl transposition leaves the 5R configuration unchanged, with the methyl oriented towards the ß face. During the rearrangement, the steroidal B ring experiences a conformational distortion from chair to envelope with the C atom at position 6 as the flap. In the title structure, the isopropyl group of the side chain is disordered over two positions, with occupancies of 0.733 (10) and 0.267 (10). The carbonyl O atom in the acetyl group at C3 is also disordered with an occupancy ratio of 0.62 (4):0.38 (4).

3-tert-Butyl 5-methyl (2R,4S,5R)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-3,5-dicarboxylate.

The title mol-ecule, C(23)H(26)N(2)O(8), was synthesized in three steps starting from m-nitro-cinnamic acid. The central oxazolidine ring adopts an almost perfect envelope conformation with the O atom as the flap [puckering parameter ϕ = 0.3 (6)°]. The dihedral angle formed by the benzene rings is 61.81 (9)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected into double chains parallel to [010] by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The absolute configuration was assigned from the synthetic procedure.

Rapid conversion of spirostans into furostan skeletons at room temperature.

We report a facile protocol to obtain 22-substituted furostans and pseudosapogenins in high yields from (25R)- and (25S)-sapogenins. This method involves the treatment of the sapogenin with acetic-trifluoroacetic mixed anhydride and BF(3)·OEt(2) at room temperature, followed by the addition of a nucleophile (H(2)O, MeOH or KSeCN). In the case of 22-hydroxyfurostans, they can be transformed to pseudosapogenins by treatment with p-toluensulfonic acid.

Stereospecific synthesis of new steroidal isoxazoles in dry media.

An easy and fast procedure was developed for one-pot synthesis of steroidal isoxazoles starting from 23-acetylsapogenins derivatives in presence of P2O5/SiO2 in dry media under microwaves irradiation is described. Substrates of the 25S and 25R series were used as raw materials, establishing that this new methodology is applicable to both series.

Novel steroidal penta- and hexacyclic compounds derived from 12-oxospirostan sapogenins.

The E ring regioselective acid-catalyzed opening of spirostanic sapogenins possessing a carbonyl group at C-12, such as botogenin and hecogenin, provided the new 12,23-cyclo-22,26-epoxycholesta-11,22-diene skeleton, in addition to new compounds of the already known 12,23-cyclocholest-12(23)-en-22-one frameworks. This transformation proceeds in a single step, under slightly acidic conditions. Both, penta- and hexacyclic steroids were obtained with retention of configuration of all asymmetric centers.

Deacylation reactions of 20-acetyl dinorcholanic lactones and 20,23-diacetyl furost-22-enes.

We report the deacylation of (20R)-20-acetyl-23,24-dinorcholanic lactones by hydrazine hydrate, under microwave irradiation in high yields. The elimination of the 20-acetyl group proceeded with retention of configuration which contrast with other proved deacylation methods that yield a mixture of diastereoisomers. In this way, unnatural (20R)-23,24-dinorcholanic lactones can be produced rapidly on a large scale. Both (20R)- and (20S)-lactones were prepared starting from diosgenin, hecogenin and sarsasapogenin, in 72-80% overall yields.

The zwitterion (23'E)-(23R,25S)-23-[1-(oxidoiminio)eth-yl]-5ß-spiro-stan-3ß-yl acetate.

The title steroidal compound, C(31)H(49)NO(5), resulted from the selective oximation of (23R)-23-acetyl-sarsasapogenin acetate. One- and two-dimensional (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra, as well as IR data, are in agreement with the presence of a ketoxime group at C-23. However, recrystallization in slightly acidic media affords the title compound in the rare zwitterionic oxime form, as a consequence of migration of the hydr-oxy H atom to the N atom in the oxime group. This H atom is clearly detected and its position was refined from X-ray data. The geometry for the C=N(+)(H)-O(-) group features long C=N and short N-O bond lengths compared to non-zwitterionic oximes. The ketoxime is stabilized with the E configuration, avoiding steric hindrance between the oxime O atom and H atom at C-23. The sum of the angles around the oxime N atom is 359.6°, giving a planar configuration for that atom, as expected for sp(2) hybridization.

(20S,2''S)-20-[4'-(3''-Hydroxy-2''-methyl-prop-yl)-3'-methylisoxazol-5-yl]-5ß-preg-nan-3ß,16ß-diol.

The title steroidal compound, C(29)H(47)NO(4), was prepared in a one-pot reaction starting from a sarsasapogenin derivative of known configuration. The isoxazole heterocycle is oriented towards the α face of the steroid nucleus and, although fully functionalized on C atoms, does not provoke steric hindrance with the adjacent D ring. The absolute configuration observed for chiral centers is as expected, and shows that no epimerization occurred in the precursors. In the crystal, the three OH groups serve as donors for hydrogen bonding with O and N atoms. The isoxazole N atom is involved in O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [100]. These chains are further connected via O-H⋯O and weak C-H⋯O contacts, giving rise to a three-dimensional supra-molecular network.

Accurate stereochemistry for two related 22,26-epiminocholestene derivatives.

Regioselective opening of ring E of solasodine under various conditions afforded (25R)-22,26-epiminocholesta-5,22(N)-diene-3beta,16beta-diyl diacetate (previously known as 3,16-diacetyl pseudosolasodine B), C(31)H(47)NO(4), or (22S,25R)-16beta-hydroxy-22,26-epiminocholesta-5-en-3beta-yl acetate (a derivative of the naturally occurring alkaloid oblonginine), C(29)H(47)NO(3). In both cases, the reactions are carried out with retention of chirality at the C16, C20 and C25 stereogenic centers, which are found to be S, S and R, respectively. Although pseudosolasodine was synthesized 50 years ago, these accurate assignments clarify some controversial points about the actual stereochemistry for these alkaloids. This is of particular importance in the case of oblonginine, since this compound is currently under consideration for the treatment of aphasia arising from apoplexy; the present study defines a diastereoisomerically pure compound for pharmacological studies.