Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of macrocyclic hydroxamic acids that inhibit tumor necrosis factor alpha release in vitro and in vivo.

To search for TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors, we designed a new class of macrocyclic hydroxamic acids by linking the P1 and P2' residues of acyclic anti-succinate-based hydroxamic acids. A variety of residues including amide, carbamate, alkyl, sulfonamido, Boc-amino, and amino were found to be suitable P1-P2' linkers. With an N-methylamide at P3', the 13-16-membered macrocycles prepared exhibited low micromolar activities in the inhibition of TNF-alpha release from LPS-stimulated human whole blood. Further elaboration in the P3'-P4' area using the cyclophane and cyclic carbamate templates led to the identification of a number of potent analogues with IC(50) values of