Synthesis and orexigenic activity of some 1-methyl-4-piperidylidene-Substituted pyrrolo[2,1-g][3] benzazepine and dibenzocycloheptene derivatives.

The synthesis and orexigenic activity of some unsubstituted and Bz-carboxylic acid substituted 1-methyl-4-piperidylidenepyrrolo[2,1-b][3]benzazepine and dibenzocycloheptene derivatives are described. 10,11-Dihydro-3-carboxycyproheptadine (7c) has been selected for clinical evaluation as a orexigenic agent based on its low threshold dose for increasing food consumption in cats (0.031 mg/kg po) and its lack of undesirable central nervous system activity. The levorotatory enantiomer of 3-carboxycyproheptadine (1d) and the 9-carboxypyrrolobenzazepine derivative 4f also possess orexigenic activity, but with these compounds such activity diminishes sharply below 0.25 mg/kg po. The unsubstituted 1-methyl-4-(5H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][3]benzazepin-11-ylidene)piperidine (4d) and its 6,11-dihydroanalogue (4a) are comparable to cyproheptadine (1a) in promoting hyperphagia in cats.

Structure and activity of hydrogenated derivatives of (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801).

Several hydrogenated derivatives of the potent NMDA antagonist 1 have been prepared and evaluated as competitive inhibitors of [3H]-1 binding. These compounds were also tested for their ability to act as noncompetitive antagonists of NMDA in vitro. These studies indicate that two aromatic rings are not strictly required for high-affinity binding or NMDA antagonism.

HIV-1 protease inhibitors based on hydroxyethylene dipeptide isosteres: an investigation into the role of the P1' side chain on structure-activity.

A systematic investigation was undertaken to determine the role of the P1' sidechain in a series of hydroxyethylene isostere based inhibitors of HIV-1 protease. Substitution and homologation of the benzyl P1' side chain of the Phe-Phe isostere based pseudo peptides 1 (L-682,679) and 2 (L-685,434) with various heteroalkyl groups leads to a series of extremely potent inhibitors of the enzyme. Several examples of the most potent inhibitors were very effective in an ex vivo cell based viral spread assay using human H9 T-lymphocytes and the IIIb isolate of HIV-1. Compound 19 is 120 times more potent than 1 and 16 times more potent than 2 in inhibiting the spread of infection in this assay.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a series of dibenzo[a,d]cycloalkenimines as N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists.

A series of 73 dibenzo[a,d]cycloalkenimines were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to displace (+)-10,11-dihydro-5-methyl-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine ([3H]-(+)-10) from its specific binding site on rat cortical membranes. A number of the more active compounds (Ki ranging from 0.006 to 0.21 microM) were evaluated for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist activity in the rat cortical slice (Kb ranging from 0.08 to 0.9 microM) and anticonvulsant activity in the mouse against NMDA induced convulsions. The ED50 values ranged from 0.22 to 7.76 mg/kg and correlated reasonably well with the Kb determination. In the dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine series, the (+)-5S,10R enantiomer displayed consistently higher levels of biological activity. While substitution at the 3-position of (+)-10 with electronegative atoms generally increased in vitro activity, a loss of potency relative to (+)-10 (MK-801) was observed in vivo for all of the compounds tested.

Synthesis of a series of 4-(arylethynyl)-6-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2(1H)-ones as novel non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

As part of an ongoing effort to prepare novel non-nucleoside inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT), a series of 4-(arylethynyl)-6-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin -2(1H)-ones 4aa-l has been prepared. Target compounds 4a-e were synthesized via addition of various 1-lithio-2-(aryl)alkyne nucleophiles to a 1-protected-4-cyclopropylquinazolin-2(1H)-one (7), followed by deprotection. The 3-methyl compound 4aa was prepared in an analogous manner, with the 3-alkylation performed prior to deprotection. Alternatively, the target compounds 4f-l were prepared by addition of 1-lithio-2-(trimethylsilyl)acetylene to 7, followed by deprotection and subsequent palladium-catalyzed coupling with various aryl halides. By incorporating an aryl group onto the end of the 4-acetylene functionality, the requirement for a metabolically labile 3-methyl group on the dihydroquinazolinone nucleus has been eliminated. A number of the target compounds were shown to be potent inhibitors of HIV-1 RT. Compound 4a, which had exhibited the most favorable overall biological profile, was resolved via a four-step procedure to provide the enantiomers 13a and 13b. Compound 13a having the (-)-4(S) configuration was shown to be the active enantiomer and was selected as a candidate for further investigation.

Synthesis and receptor binding studies relevant to the neuroleptic activities of some 1-methyl-4-piperidylidene-9-substituted-pyrrolo[2,1-b][3]benzazepine derivatives.

The synthesis of a series of 1-methyl-4-(9-substituted-11H-pyrrolo[2,1-b]benzazepin-11-ylidene)piperidines (4a-f) and 1-methyl-4-(9-substituted-6,11-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][3]benzazepin-11-ylidene)piperidines (4g-l) is described. As with th e 3-substituted cyproheptadine compounds 1b-e, atropisomerism exists in 4b-f, but unlike the enantiomers of 1b-e, the pyrrolobenzazepine enantiomers racemize at room temperature. Thus, the bromo compound (+)-4b has a half-life of 128 +/- 1 min at 25 degrees C, while the chloro compound (-)-4c has a half-life of 114 +/- 9 min at 25 degrees C. Compounds 4a-l have been examined for receptor binding affinities in assays that have been recognized as predictive for antipsychotic activity. The displacement of specifically bound tritiated ligands, comprising the dopamine antagonist [3H]spiperone, the dopamine agonist [3H]apomorphine, the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), the alpha-adrenergic antagonist [3H]prazosin, the alpha-adrenergic agonist [3H]clonidine, the serotonin-1 binding agent [3H]serotonin, and the mixed serotonin agonist-antagonist [3H]lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), by 4a-l has been measured utilizing membrane preparations of mammalian brain. Certain of the features of the receptor binding of these compounds have been shown to be common to several of the receptor sites. Data from these binding studies have been compared to corresponding data previously obtained for a series of chiral 3-substituted cyproheptadine analogues, and the receptor binding data of the two classes of compounds are discussed with respect to their molecular geometries.

L-743, 726 (DMP-266): a novel, highly potent nonnucleoside inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase.

The clinical benefit of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) is limited by the rapid selection of inhibitor-resistant viral variants. However, it may be possible to enhance the clinical utility of this inhibitor class by deriving compounds that express both high levels of antiviral activity and an augmented pharmacokinetic profile. Accordingly, we developed a new class of NNRTIs, the 1, 4-dihydro-2H-3, 1-benzoxazin-2-ones. L-743, 726 (DMP-266), a member of this class, was chosen for clinical evaluation because of its in vitro properties. The compound was a potent inhibitor of the wild-type HIV-1 RT (Ki = 2.93 nM) and exhibited a 95% inhibitory concentration of 1.5 nM for the inhibition of HIV-1 replicative spread in cell culture. In addition, L-7743, 7726 was found to be capable of inhibiting, with 95% inhibitory concentrations of < or = 1.5 microM, a panel of NNRTI-resistant mutant viruses, each of which expressed a single RT amino acid substitution. Derivation of virus with notably reduced susceptibility to the inhibitor required prolonged cell culture selection and was mediated by a combination of at least two RT amino acid substitutions. Studies of L-743, 726 in rats, monkeys, and a chimpanzee demonstrated the compound's potential for good oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics in humans.