Synthesis and Characterization of New V1A Antagonist Compounds: The Separation of Four Atropisomeric Stereoisomers.

A new class of selective vasopressin receptor 1A (V1A) antagonists was identified, where "methyl-scan" was performed around the benzene ring of the 5-hydroxy-triazolobenzazepine core. This led to the synthesis of two 10-methyl derivatives, each possessing a chiral axis and a stereogenic center. The four atropisomeric stereoisomers (involving two enantiomer pairs and atropisomeric diastereomers) could be successfully isolated and spectroscopically characterized. According to the in vitro pharmacological profiles of the compounds, the human V1A receptor has a strong preference toward the isomers having an aR axial chirality, the most active isomer being the aR,5S isomer. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationships obtained for the isomers and for the newly synthesized analogues could be tentatively explained by an in silico study.

Discovery and evaluation of novel benzazepinone derivatives as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors with potent activity.

Glycogen phosphorylase (GP) is a key enzyme of glycogen catabolism, so it is significant to discover a new GP inhibitor. A series of benzazepinone derivatives were discovered as GP inhibitors with potent activity. Among these derivatives, compound 5d showed significant potential against rabbit muscle GPa (IC50 = 0.25 ± 0.05 µM) and cellular efficacy. The in vivo study revealed that 5d significantly inhibited increases in fasting blood glucose level in two kinds of hyperglycemic mice models. The possible binding mode of compound 5d was explored based on molecular docking simulations. These results indicated that derivatives with benzazepinone were potential chemical entities against hyperglycemia.

Deconstruction - Reconstruction: Analysis of the Crucial Structural Elements of GluN2B-Selective, Negative Allosteric NMDA Receptor Modulators with 3-Benzazepine Scaffold.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The NMDA receptor plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, as well as depression and drug or alcohol dependence. Due to its participation in these pathologies, the development of selective modulators for this ion channel is a promising strategy for rational drug therapy. The prototypical negative allosteric modulator ifenprodil inhibits selectively GluN2B subunit containing NMDA receptors. It was conformationally restricted as 2-methyl-3-(4-phenylbutyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine-1,7-diol, which showed high GluN2B affinity and inhibitory activity. For a better understanding of the relevance of the functional groups and structural elements, the substituents of this 3-benzazepine were removed successively (deconstruction). Then, additional structural elements were introduced (reconstruction) with the aim to analyze, which additional modifications were tolerated by the GluN2B receptor. METHODS: The GluN2B affinity was recorded in radioligand receptor binding studies with the radioligand [3H]ifenprodil. The activity of the ligands was determined in two-electrode voltage clamp experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes transfected with cRNA encoding the GluN1-1a and GluN2B subunits of the NMDA receptor. Docking studies showed the crucial interactions with the NMDA receptor protein. RESULTS: The deconstruction approach showed that removal of the methyl moiety and the phenolic OH moiety in 7-positon resulted in almost the same GluN2B affinity as the parent 3-benzazepine. A considerably reduced GluN2B affinity was found for the 3-benzazepine without further substituents. However, removal of one or both OH moieties led to considerably reduced NMDA receptor inhibition. Introduction of a NO2 moiety or bioisosteric replacement of the phenol by a benzoxazolone resulted in comparable GluN2B affinity, but almost complete loss of inhibitory activity. An O-atom, a carbonyl moiety or a F-atom in the tetramethylene spacer led to 6-7-fold reduced ion channel inhibition. CONCLUSION: The results reveal an uncoupling of affinity and activity for the tested 3-benzazepines. Strong inhibition of [3H]ifenprodil binding by a test compound does not necessarily translate into strong inhibition of the ion flux through the NMDA receptor associated ion channel. 3-(4-Phenylbutyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine- 1,7-diol (WMS-1410) shows high GluN2B affinity and strong inhibition of the ion channel. Deconstruction by removal of one or both OH moieties reduced the inhibitory activity proving the importance of the OH groups for ion channel blockade. Reconstruction by introduction of various structural elements into the left benzene ring or into the tetramethylene spacer reduced the NMDA receptor inhibition. It can be concluded that these modifications are not able to translate binding into inhibition.

Synthesis and dopamine receptor pharmacological evaluations on ring C ortho halogenated 1-phenylbenzazepines.

A series of 1-phenylbenzazepines containing bromine or chlorine substituents at the ortho position of the appended phenyl ring (2'-monosubstituted or 2',6'- disubstituted patterns) were synthesized and evaluated for affinity towards dopamine D1R, D2R and D5R. As is typical of the 1-phenylbenzazepine scaffold, the compounds displayed selectivity towards D1R and D5R; analogs generally lacked affinity for D2R. Interestingly, 2',6'-dichloro substituted analogs showed modest D5R versus D1R selectivity whereas this selectivity was reversed in compounds with a 2'-halo substitution pattern. Compound 10a was identified as a D1R antagonist (Ki = 14 nM; IC50 = 9.4 nM).

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 6-phenyl-1,3a,4,10b-tetrahydro-2H-benzo[c]thiazolo[4,5-e]azepin-2-one derivatives as potential BRD4 inhibitors.

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a key epigenetic regulator in cancer, and inhibitors targeting BRD4 exhibit great anticancer activity. By replacing the methyltriazole ring of the BRD4 inhibitor I-BET-762 with an N-methylthiazolidone heterocyclic ring, fifteen novel BRD4 inhibitors were designed and synthesized. Compound 13f had a hydrophobic acetylcyclopentanyl side chain, showing the most potent BRD4 inhibitory activity in the BRD4-BD1 inhibition assay (IC50 value of 110 nM), it also significantly suppressed the proliferation of MV-4-11 cells with high BRD4 level (IC50 value of 0.42 µM). Furthermore, the potent apoptosis-promoting and G0/G1 cycle-arresting activity of compound 13f were indicated by flow cytometry. As the downstream-protein of BRD4, c-Myc was in significantly low expression by compound 13f treatment in a dose-dependent manner. All the findings supported that this novel compound 13f provided a perspective for developing effective BRD4 inhibitors.

New V1a receptor antagonist. Part 2. Identification and optimization of triazolobenzazepines.

Solid preclinical evidence links vasopressin to social behavior in animals, so, extensive work has been initiated to find new vasopressin V1a receptor antagonists which can improve deteriorated social behavior in humans and can treat the core symptoms of autistic behavior, as well. Our aim was to identify new chemical entities with antagonizing effects on vasopressin V1a receptors. Continuing our previous work, we found an in vitro and in vivo orally active V1a selective antagonist molecule (40) among [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1]benzazepines.

Biosynthesis of a New Benzazepine Alkaloid Nanangelenin A from Aspergillus nanangensis Involves an Unusual l-Kynurenine-Incorporating NRPS Catalyzing Regioselective Lactamization.

1-Benzazepine is a pharmaceutically important scaffold but is rare among natural products. Nanangelenin A (1), containing an unprecedented 3,4-dihydro-1-benzazepine-2,5-dione-N-prenyl-N-acetoxy-anthranilamide scaffold, was isolated from a novel species of Australian fungus, Aspergillus nanangensis. Genomic and retrobiosynthetic analyses identified a putative nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster (nan). The detailed biosynthetic pathway to 1 was established by heterologous pathway reconstitution in A. nidulans, which led to biosynthesis of intermediates nanagelenin B-F (2-5 and 7). We demonstrated that the NRPS NanA incorporates anthranilic acid (Ant) and l-kynurenine (l-Kyn), which is supplied by a dedicated indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase NanC encoded in the gene cluster. Using heterologous in vivo assays and mutagenesis, we demonstrated that the C-terminal condensation (CT) and thiolation (T3) domains of NanA are responsible for the regioselective cyclization of the tethered Ant-l-Kyn dipeptide to form the unusual benzazepine scaffold in 1. We also showed that NanA-CT catalyzes the regioselective cyclization of a surrogate synthetic substrate, Ant-l-Kyn-N-acetylcysteamine, to give the benzazepine scaffold, while spontaneous cyclization of the dipeptide yielded the alternative kinetically favored benzodiazepine scaffold. The discovery of 1 and the characterization of NanA have expanded the chemical and functional diversities of fungal NRPSs.

Discovery of Ziresovir as a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein Inhibitor.

Ziresovir (RO-0529, AK0529) is reported here for the first time as a promising respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion (F) protein inhibitor that currently is in phase 2 clinical trials. This article describes the process of RO-0529 as a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable RSV F protein inhibitor and highlights the in vitro and in vivo anti-RSV activities and pharmacokinetics in animal species. RO-0529 demonstrates single-digit nM EC50 potency against laboratory strains, as well as clinical isolates of RSV in cellular assays, and more than one log viral load reduction in BALB/c mouse model of RSV viral infection. RO-0529 was proven to be a specific RSV F protein inhibitor by identification of drug resistant mutations of D486N, D489V, and D489Y in RSV F protein and the inhibition of RSV F protein-induced cell-cell fusion in cellular assays.

Tetrahydro-3-benzazepines with fluorinated side chains as NMDA and σ1 receptor antagonists: Synthesis, receptor affinity, selectivity and antiallodynic activity.

The class of tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepines was systematically modified in 1-, 3- and 7-position. In particular, a F-atom was introduced in ß- or γ-position of the 4-phenylbutyl side chain in 3-position. Ligands with the F-atom in γ-position possess higher GluN2B affinity than analogs bearing the F-atom in ß-position. This effect was attributed to the reduced basicity of ß-fluoro amines. 3-Benzazepines with a benzylic OH moiety show moderate GluN2B affinity, but considerable selectivity over the σ2 receptor. However, removal of the benzylic OH moiety led to increased GluN2B affinity, but reduced GluN2B/σ2 selectivity. With respect to GluN2B affinity the phenol 17b with a γ-fluorophenylbutyl moiety in 3-position represents the most interesting fluorinated ligand (Ki(GluN2B) = 16 nM). Most of the synthesized ligands reveal either similar GluN2B and σ1 affinity or higher σ1 affinity than GluN2B affinity. The methyl ether 16b shows high σ1 affinity (Ki(σ1) = 6.6 nM) and high selectivity over a broad panel of receptors and transporters. The high antiallodynic activity in the mouse capsaicin assay proved the σ1 antagonistic activity of 16b.

Novel latonduine derived proligands and their copper(ii) complexes show cytotoxicity in the nanomolar range in human colon adenocarcinoma cells and in vitro cancer selectivity.

Four Schiff bases derived from 7-hydrazin-yl-5,8-dihydroindolo[2,3-d][2]benzazepin-(6H)-one and its bromo-substituted analogue (HL1-HL4) and four copper(ii) complexes 1-4 have been synthesised and fully characterised by standard spectroscopic methods (1H and 13C NMR, UV-vis), ESI mass spectrometry, single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroelectrochemistry. In addition, two previously reported complexes with paullone ligands 5 and 6 were prepared and studied for comparison reasons. The CuII ion in 1-4 is five-coordinate and adopts a square-pyramidal or slightly distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry. The ligands HL1-4 act as tridentate, the other two coordination places are occupied by two chlorido co-ligands. The organic ligands in 2 and 3 are bound tighter to copper(ii) when compared to related paullone ligands in 5 and 6. The new compounds show very strong cytotoxic activity against human colon adenocarcinoma doxorubicin-sensitive Colo 205 and multidrug resistant Colo 320 cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the low micromolar to nanomolar concentration range.

Discovery of a potent tyrosine kinase AXL inhibitor bearing the 3-((2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-7-yl)amino)pyrazine core.

Starting from the recently launched FLT3/AXL multi-targeted inhibitor Gilteritinib (5), we conducted a side-chain ring closure medicinal chemistry approach leading to the identification of compound 15c as a highly potent AXL inhibitor in the biochemical and cellular anti-proliferative assays, with IC50 values of 1.2 and 0.3 nM, respectively. Compared with the reference compound 5, our new discovered AXL inhibitor 15c is more potent in both assays.

Synthesis and dopaminergic activity of a series of new 1-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines and 2-substituted 1-aryl-3-tetrahydrobenzazepines.

A series of new 1-aryl-6,7-dihydroxy tetrahydroisoquinolines with several substitution patterns in the 1-aryl group at C-1 were prepared in good yields. The influence of each substituent on the affinity and selectivity for D1 and D2 dopaminergic receptors was studied. Moreover, N-alkyl salts of these tetrahydroisoquinolines were used as starting material to synthesize a series of new 1-aryl-7,8-dihydroxy 3-tetrahydrobenzazepines derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents at C-2 position by the diastereoselective Stevens rearrangement. The structure-activity relationship of these compounds was explored to evaluate the effect of the functional group at C-2 in benzazepines and the modification in the aryl group at the isoquinoline C-1 position towards the affinity and selectivity for the mentioned receptors. The 1-aryl-6,7-dihydroxy tetrahydroisoquinoline 4c shows significant affinity towards D2 receptor, with Ki value of 31 nM. This significant affinity can be attributed to the presence of a thiomethyl group, and it is the most active 1-aryl-6,7-dihydroxy tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative reported to date.

Synthesis of enantiopure antiobesity drug lorcaserin.

Acylation of enantiomerically pure (R)-2-(3-chlorophenyl)propan-1-amine using chloroacetyl chloride, followed by borane reduction and aluminum chloride catalyzed cyclization yielded enantiopure lorcaserin.

Tricyclic pyrazolo[1,5-d][1,4]benzoxazepin-5(6H)-one scaffold derivatives: Synthesis and biological evaluation as selective BuChE inhibitors.

BuChE inhibitors play important roles in treatment of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD). A series of tricyclic pyrazolo[1,5-d][1,4]benzoxazepin-5(6H)-one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitors. Some derivatives showed selective BuChE inhibitory activity, which was influenced by the volumes of the substituted groups at the C6 position and halogen substituents at the benzene ring of tricyclic scaffold. Among them, compounds 3f and 3o with dihalogen and 6-ethyl substituent showed the most potent activity (IC50 = 2.95, 2.04 µM, and mixed-type, non-competitive inhibition against BuChE, respectively). Eutomer (6R)-3o exhibited better BuChE inhibitory activity than (6S)-3o. Compound 3o exhibited nontoxic, good ADMET properties, and remarkable neuroprotective activity. Docking studies revealed the same binding orientation within the active site of target enzyme. Compound 3o was nicely bound to BuChE via three hydrogen bonds, one Alkyl interaction and three Pi-Alkyl interactions. The selective BuChE inhibitors had a potential use in progressive neurodegenerative disorder.

Efficient One-Pot Access to Trisubstituted 2-Benzazepin-3-ones as Constrained Pseudopeptide Analogues and Privileged Scaffolds.

BACKGROUND: Benzazepines received great attention in the field of medicinal chemistry since this scaffold has been recognized to belong to the important family of privileged templates. More specifically, the 4-amino-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-benzazepin-3-one (Aba) is used as a core structure in a variety of constrained therapeutic peptide (turn) mimetics.Most of the synthetic approaches towards this template have focused on cyclizations which form the central 7-membered azepine ring. OBJECTIVE: Previous investigations in our group allowed an expansion of the substitution patterns in the 4-amino-benzazepin-3-one scaffold by introduction of methyl substituents at positions 4 and 5 of the azepinone ring system, but also to 1-aryl substituted compounds. These were the only trisubstituted analogues obtained to date. To introduce an additional point of diversification and conformational constraint useful for peptide mimicry, one can use bifunctional substrates in the Ugi reaction as reported in the present manuscript. METHOD: The 1-carboxamido-substituted Aba scaffold has been synthesized via the Ugi-3CR reaction starting from N-Phth-protected 2-formyl-L-Phe-OH with a set of amine and isocyanide derivatives. The most suited reaction conditions were applied, involving preformation of the imine in MeOH (0.1 M) in the presence of anhydrous Na2SO4 during 2 hours at room temperature, followed by the addition of an equimolar quantity of isocyanide prior to heating the reaction mixture at 80 °C for 20 hours, using sealed vial reaction conditions. RESULTS: The substituted Aba scaffolds were isolated in moderate yields (and diastereomeric ratio). This is due to the requirement for a double N-phthaloyl protection of the bifunctional building block, which prevents the use of an excess of amine reagent to drive the reaction conversion to completion, and some starting substrate always remains. Despite the moderate yields, the methodology is efficient since it only requires a limited number of synthetic steps in a final one-pot reaction. In most cases, the diastereomers could be separated by preparative RP-HPLC or via silica gel column chromatography. This is interesting from a medicinal chemistry point of view, since access is provided to the individual diastereomers. CONCLUSION: We have developed an efficient and useful one-pot strategy to access 1-substituted 4- aminobenzazepinone (Aba) derivatives via the Ugi-3CR reaction. To the best of our knowledge, these scaffolds are only accessible through the presented methodology. The obtained structural complexity, as well as the substitution versatility of these trisubstituted scaffolds, will allow their use in various biological applications.

Development and optimization of a new synthetic process for lorcaserin.

A two-step process to synthesize racemic lorcaserin was developed from 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol via formation of bromide or tosylate derivatives. These derivatives were reacted with allylamine in neat conditions to provide pure N-(4-chlorophenethyl)allylammonium chloride. This compound was cyclized in neat conditions using aluminum or zinc chloride to give racemic lorcaserin. After resolution of enantiomers, the wrong enantiomer was racemized and recycled to give new R-lorcaserin.

2-Methyltetrahydro-3-benzazepin-1-ols - The missing link in SAR of GluN2B selective NMDA receptor antagonists.

The NMDA receptor containing GluN2B subunits represents a promising target for the development of drugs for the treatment of various neurological disorders including neurodegenerative diseases. In order to study the role of CH3 and OH moieties trisubstituted tetrahydro-3-benzazepines 4 were designed as missing link between tetra- and disubstituted 3-benzazepines 2 and 5. The synthesis of 4 comprises eight reaction steps starting from alanine. The intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation to obtain the ketone 12 and the base-catalyzed elimination of trifluoromethanesulfinate (CF3SO2-) followed by NaBH4 reduction represent the key steps. The GluN2B affinity of the cis-configured 3-benzazepin-1-ol cis-4a with a 4-phenylbutyl side chain (Ki = 252 nM) is considerably lower than the GluN2B affinity of (R,R)-2 (Ki = 17 nM) indicating the importance of the phenolic OH moiety for the interaction with the receptor protein. Introduction of an additional CH3 moiety in 2-position led to a slight decrease of GluN2B affinity as can be seen by comparing the affinity data of cis-4a and 5. The homologous phenylpentyl derivative cis-4b shows the highest GluN2B affinity (Ki = 56 nM) of this series of compounds. According to docking studies cis-4a adopts the same binding mode as the cocrystallized ligand ifenprodil-keto 1A and 5 at the interface of the GluN2B and GluN1a subunits. The same crucial H-bonds are formed between the C(O)NH2 moiety of Gln110 within the GluN2B subunit and the protonated amino moiety and the OH moiety of (R,R)-cis-4a.

A Schmidt rearrangement-mediated synthesis of novel tetrahydro-benzo[1,4]diazepin-5-ones as potential anticancer and antiprotozoal agents.

Novel tetrahydro-5H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-5-ones, several of them, containing the quinoline pharmacophore, were synthesized via a Schmidt rearrangement from their corresponding 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-quinolones mediated by the NaN3/H2SO4 reaction conditions. Twelve of the obtained compounds were in vitro screened by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their ability to inhibit 60 different human tumor cell lines, where compound 24a presented a remarkable activity against 58 of the 60 cancer cell lines, with the most important GI50 values ranging from 0.047 to 8.16 µM and LC50 values ranging from 9.4 to > 100 µM. Additionally, some of them were evaluated as antimalarial, antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial agents. The best antimalarial response was observed for compound 22g with an EC50 = 13.61 µg/mL for Plasmodium falciparum, while compound 24d exhibited high activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. and Leishmania (V) panamensis with EC50 = 2.78 µg/mL and 3.35 µg/mL respectively.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Assessment of Biased Allosteric Modulation of the Urotensin II Receptor Using Achiral 1,3,4-Benzotriazepin-2-one Turn Mimics.

Benzotriazepin-2-ones were designed to mimic the suggested bioactive γ-turn conformation of the Bip-Lys-Tyr tripeptide in Urocontrin ([Bip4]URP), which modulates the urotensin II receptor (UT) and differentiates the effects of the endogenous ligands urotensin II (UII) and urotensin II-related peptide (URP). Twenty-six benzotriazepin-2-ones were synthesized by acylation of anthranilate-derived amino ketones with an aza-glycine equivalent, chemoselective nitrogen functionalization, and ring closure. Several mimics exhibited selective modulatory effects on hUII- and URP-associated vasoconstriction in an ex vivo rat aortic ring bioassay. The C5 p-hydroxyphenethenyl benzotriazepin-2-one 20g decreased hUII potency and efficacy without changing URP induced vasoconstriction. Its saturated phenethyl counterpart 23g decreased URP potency without influencing hUII-mediated contraction. To our knowledge, 20g and 23g represent the first achiral molecules that modulate selectively hUII and URP biological activities. Effectively synthesized, benzotriaepin-2-one turn mimics offer the potential to differentiate the respective roles, signaling pathways, and phenotypic outcomes of hUII and URP in the UT system.

Replacement of benzylic hydroxy group by vinyl or hydroxymethyl moiety at the 3-benzazepine scaffold retaining GluN2B affinity.

Since overactivation of NMDA receptors is associated with neurodegenerative disorders, the design and development of subunit-selective NMDA receptor antagonists are of great interest. In order to avoid the formation of quinone-like intermediates as starting point for degradation the benzylic OH group of the lead compounds 2 was replaced by an electron rich vinyl or homologous hydroxymethyl moiety. The Bi(OTf)3 catalyzed intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation of 9a represents the key step in the synthesis of 1-vinyl substituted tetrahydro-3-benzazepine 10. Ozonolysis of 10 and subsequent reduction led to the hydroxymethyl derivative 14. The GluN2B affinities of the methyl ethers 2a, 3a and 4a and phenols 2b and 3b are very similar, respectively. It can be concluded that the ifenprodil binding site of GluN2B subunit containing NMDA receptors well tolerates a vinyl or hydroxymethyl moiety instead of the benzylic OH group. However, the selectivity has to improved, since the σ1 affinity of the new ligands is higher than their GluN2B affinity.