Arylpropanolamines: selective beta3 agonists arising from strategies to mitigate phase I metabolic transformations.

Utilization of N-substituted-4-hydroxy-3-methylsulfonanilidoethanolamines 1 as selective beta(3) agonists is complicated by their propensity to undergo metabolic oxidative N-dealkylation, generating 0.01-2% of a very potent alpha(1) adrenergic agonist 2. A summary of the SAR for this hepatic microsomal conversion precedes presentation of strategies to maintain the advantages of chemotype 1 while mitigating the consequences of N-dealkylation. This effort led to the identification of 4-hydroxy-3-methylsulfonanilidopropanolamines 15 for which the SAR for the unique stereochemical requirements for binding to the beta adrenergic receptors culminated in the identification of the potent, selective beta(3) agonist 15f.

BMS-201620: a selective beta 3 agonist.

A series of N-(4-hydroxy-3-methylsulfonanilidoethanol)arylglycinamides were prepared and evaluated for their human beta3 adrenergic receptor agonist activity. SAR studies led to the identification of BMS-201620 (39), a potent beta3 full agonist (Ki = 93 nM, 93% activation). Based on its favorable safety profile, BMS-201620 was chosen for clinical evaluation.

Beta 3 agonists. Part 1: evolution from inception to BMS-194449.

Screening of the BMS collection identified 4-hydroxy-3-methylsulfonanilidoethanolamines as full beta 3 agonists. Substitution of the ethanolamine nitrogen with a benzyl group bearing a para hydrogen bond acceptor promoted beta(3) selectivity. SAR elucidation established that highly selective beta(3) agonists were generated upon substitution of C(alpha) with either benzyl to form (R)-1,2-diarylethylamines or with aryl to generate 1,1-diarylmethylamines. This latter subset yielded a clinical candidate, BMS-194449 (35).(1)

BMS-196085: a potent and selective full agonist of the human beta(3) adrenergic receptor.

A series of 4-hydroxy-3-methylsulfonanilido-1,2-diarylethylamines were prepared and evaluated for their human beta(3) adrenergic receptor agonist activity. SAR studies led to the identification of BMS-196085 (25), a potent beta(3) full agonist (K(i)=21 nM, 95% activation) with partial agonist (45%) activity at the beta(1) receptor. Based on its desirable in vitro and in vivo properties, BMS-196085 was chosen for clinical evaluation.

Tubulin polymerization by paclitaxel (taxol) phosphate prodrugs after metabolic activation with alkaline phosphatase.

Paclitaxel (taxol) phosphate derivatives BMY46366, BMY-46489, BMS180661 and BMS180820 were used to determine the ability of alkaline phosphatase to convert these water-soluble potential prodrugs to tubulin-polymerizing metabolites (i.e., paclitaxel). Compounds were treated up to 180 min with an in vitro metabolic activation system composed of 10% bovine alkaline phosphatase in 0.2 M tris, pH 7.4, or in 0.2 M glycine, pH 8.8, plus 0.05 M MgCl2. Samples were tested (either by direct addition or after methylene chloride extraction/dimethyl-sulfoxide resuspension) in spectrophotometric tubulin polymerization assays utilizing bovine-derived microtubule protein. Pretreatment of 2'- and 7-phosphonoxyphenylpropionate prodrugs BMS180661 and BMS180820 with alkaline phosphatase for 30 to 120 min yielded relative initial slopes of about 20 to 100% at test concentrations equimolar to paclitaxel. High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of BMS180661 treated with alkaline phosphatase confirmed the production of paclitaxel from the prodrug. In contrast, 2'- and 7-phosphate analogs BMY46366 and BMY46489 treated with alkaline phosphatase were not active in tubulin assays. None of the paclitaxel phosphate prodrugs polymerized tubulin in the absence of metabolic activation. The differences in tubulin polymerization with metabolic activation may be related both to accessibility of the phosphate group to the enzyme and to anionic charge effects. These results demonstrate that certain paclitaxel phosphate prodrugs can be metabolized by alkaline phosphatase to yield effective tubulin polymerization.

5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase--V. Acycloadenosine derivatives as inhibitors of the enzyme.

Various adenosine acyclonucleoside derivatives were tested as inhibitors of 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MeSAdo) phosphorylase, an enzyme involved in the salvage of adenine and methionine from MeSAdo. The 2-halogenated derivatives of acyloadenosine [9-(2-hydroxyethoxy-methyl)adenine], including the chloro-, bromo- and iodo-congeners, all inhibited murine Sarcoma 180 (S180) MeSAdo phosphorylase, with Ki values in the range of 10(-6) to 10(-5) M. Halogenated derivatives of 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)adenine, which more closely resemble the natural substrate, were substantially more potent inhibitors of the enzyme, with Ki values in the range of 2-7 x 10(-7) M. 5'-Methylthio and 5'-halogenated analogs of 2'-deoxy-1',2'-seco-adenosine were weak inhibitors, with Ki values of 10(-4) M or greater. 9-[(1-Hydroxy-3-iodo-2-proxy)methyl]adenine. (HIPA), the derivative with the lowest Ki values among these analogs, was a competitive inhibitor of S180 MeSAdo phosphorylase. In preliminary studies, HIPA inhibited MeSAdo phosphorylase in intact HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, as it limited the incorporation of [8-14C]MeSAdo into cellular adenine nucleotide pools. In addition, 9-(phosphonoalkyl)adenines, representing potential multisubstrate inhibitors of MeSADo phosphorylase, were synthesized. Of these the heptyl derivative was the most potent inhibitor, with a Ki of 1.5 x 10(-5) M at low (3.5 mM) phosphate concentrations. The inhibitory effects of these analogs could be ablated at high phosphate concentrations (50 mM), suggesting that they interact with the phosphate binding site on the enzyme. Some of these novel MeSAdo phosphorylase inhibitors may have a role in cancer chemotherapy as potentiators of agents that block purine de novo synthesis, e.g. antifolates and 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside.