Synthesis of Novel Uracil Non-Nucleoside Derivatives as Potential Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors of HIV-1

Novel emivirine and TNK-651 analogues 5a – d were synthesized by reaction of chloromethyl ethyl ether and / or benzyl chloromethyl ether, respectively, with uracils having 5-ethyl and 6-(4-methylbenzyl) or 6-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) substituents. A series of new uracil non-nucleosides substituted at N-1 with cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl 9a – d , 2-phenylethyloxymethyl 9e – h , and 3-phenylprop-1-yloxymethyl 9i – l were prepared on treatment of the corresponding uracils with the appropriate acetals 8a – c . Some of the tested compounds showed good activity against HIV-1 wild type. Among them, 1-cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl-5-ethyl-6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil 9c and 5-ethyl-6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-1-(2-phenylethyloxymethyl)uracil 9g showed inhibitory potency equally to emivirine against HIV-1 wild type. Furthermore, compounds 9c and 9g showed marginal better activity against NNRTI resistant mutants than emivirine.     

Synthesis of novel MKC-442 analogues with potent activities against HIV-1

Bis(alken-1-yloxy)methanes 2 were synthesized by reacting 2-cyclohexenol, 3-cyclohexenylmethanol, cinnamyl alcohol and its alpha-methyl analogue with dibromomethane. Condensation of 2 with 5, 6-disubstituted uracil derivatives 1 resulted in the desired MKC-442 analogues 3-6. The most active compounds, N-1 cinnamyloxymethyl- and N-1 2-methyl-3-phenylallyloxymethyl substituted 5-ethyl-6-(3, 5-dimethylbenzyl)uracils (5b and 6b), showed activity against wild-type HIV-1 in the nanomolar range, and against Y181C andY181C+K103N, mutant strains known to be resistant to MKC-442, in the micromolar range.     

Synthesis and anti-HIV-1 activity of new fluoro-HEPT analogues: an investigation on fluoro versus hydroxy substituents

Coupling of 6-benzyl-5-hydroxymethyluracil (1) with formaldehyde acetals followed by fluorination using (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride (DAST) afforded 1-alkenyloxymethyl and 1-propargyloxymethyl 5-fluoromethyl-6-benzyluracils 3a-c. 6-(3,5-Dimethylbenzyl)-5-ethyl-1-[(2-fluoroethoxy)methyl]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (6) was synthesized by fluorination of the corresponding hydroxy derivative 5. Sonogoshira reaction was performed on 6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-ethyl-1-(4-iodobenzyl)uracil (7) with propargyl alcohol to afford 8 which was fluorinated to give the fluoro propargyl derivative 9. Compound 7 was synthesized by N1-alkylation of the corresponding uracil. Significant activity was found against HIV-1 except for compounds with 5-hydroxymethyl and 5-fluoromethyl substituents.     

Synthesis and antiviral and cytostatic evaluations of the new C-5 substituted pyrimidine and furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 4',5'-didehydro-L-ascorbic acid derivatives

The novel C-5 alkynyl substituted pyrimidine (1-11) and furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives (12-22) of l-ascorbic acid were synthesized by coupling of 5-iodouracil-4',5'-didehydro-5',6'-dideoxy-l-ascorbic acid with terminal alkynes by using Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction conditions. The new compounds were evaluated for their cytostatic and antiviral activities. Among all evaluated compounds, the octynyl-substituted uracil derivative of l-ascorbic acid (3) exhibited the most pronounced cytostatic activities against all examined tumor cell lines (IC50 = 2-12 microM). Pyrimidine derivatives of l-ascorbic acid containing p-substituted phenylacetylene groups (8-11) displayed also a rather pronounced (IC50 = 3-37 microM) inhibitory effect toward all tumor cell lines. From the bicyclic series of compounds, 6-butylfuro[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative (12) and 6-p-bromophenylfuro[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative (19) showed the highest cytostatic activity (IC50 = 4.5-20 microM), particularly against malignant leukemia (L1210) and T-lymphocyte (Molt4/C8 and CEM) cells. Compounds 3 and 9 showed specific albeit moderate activity against cytomegalovirus (CMV, Davis strain, EC50 = 1.8 and 3.8 microM, respectively, for compounds 3 and 9) at a approximately 5-fold lower concentration than that required to show cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and antiviral activity of certain 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides related to toyocamycin and sangivamycin

A number of 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives related to the nucleoside antibiotics toyocamycin and sangivamycin were prepared and tested for their biological activity. Treatment of the sodium salt of 4-amino-6-bromo-5-cyanopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (1) with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (2) afforded a mixture of 4-amino-6-bromo-5-cyano-7-[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine (3) and the corresponding N1 isomer. Debromination of this mixture gave the corresponding 4-amino-5-cyano-7-[(2-acetoxyethoxy)-methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidi ne (4) and 4-amino-5-cyano-1-[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin e (5). Deacetylation of 4 and 5 furnished 4-amino-5-cyano-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (6) and the corresponding N1 isomer (7), respectively. The sites of attachment for the acyclic moiety for 6 and 7 were assigned on the basis of UV spectral studies as well as 13C NMR spectroscopy. Conventional functional group transformation of 6 provided a number of novel 5-substituted derivatives (8-10), including the sangivamycin derivative 8. The methyl formimidate derivative 10 was converted to the thioamide derivative 11 and the carbohydrazide derivative 12. Compounds 6 and 8-12 were tested for cytotoxicity to L1210 murine leukemic cells in vitro. None of these compounds caused significant inhibition of cell growth. Evaluation of compounds 4 and 6-12 for activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) revealed that only the thioamide (11) was active. It inhibited HCMV but not HSV-1 at concentrations producing only slight cytotoxicity in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF cells) and KB cells.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of certain 4- and 4,5-disubstituted 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

In vitro evaluation of a series of previously prepared tubercidin analogues revealed that certain 5-halogen-substituted analogues were active against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) at concentrations lower than those that produced comparable cytotoxicity in uninfected cells. In contrast, tubercidin was cytotoxic at all antiviral concentrations. Even though the antiviral selectivity of the 5-substituted compounds was slight, this observation led us to prepare a series of acyclic analogues. Treatment of the sodium salt of 4-chloropyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (2) with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (2a) provided the acyclic nucleoside 4-chloro-7-[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (3). A nucleophilic displacement of the 4-chloro group with methoxide, methylamine, and dimethylamine yielded the corresponding 4-substituted compounds 4, 5, and 6, respectively, in good yield. Electrophilic substitution (chlorination, bromination, and iodination) was effected at the C-5 position of compound 3 with N-chlorosuccinimide, N-bromosuccinimide, and iodine monochloride, respectively, in methylene chloride. Removal of the acetyl group from these intermediates (7a-9a) with methanolic ammonia at room temperature afforded the 5-chloro (7b), 5-bromo (8b), and 5-iodo (9b) derivatives of 4-chloro-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine. Treatment of compounds 7b-9b with methanolic ammonia at an elevated temperature produced the corresponding 5-halotubercidin analogues 10, 11, and 12, respectively. An alternate procedure for the preparation of these 4,5-disubstituted 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines involved an electrophilic substitution prior to the condensation of the heterocycle with 2a. Treatment of 2 with N-chlorosuccinimide and N-bromosuccinimide gave compounds 13a and 13b, respectively. The condensation of 13a and 13b with 2a and subsequent treatment with methylamine and ethylamine furnished the corresponding 5-halo-4-substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, respectively. Evaluation of the target compounds (4-6, 7b-9b, 10-12, and 14a-14d) for cytotoxicity and activity against HCMV and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) revealed that all compounds except the 5-halogen-substituted compounds 10, 11, and 12 were inactive. Compounds 10, 11, and 12 were active against both viruses at noncytotoxic concentrations. The activity of compound 11 was particularly noteworthy, being at least 10-fold more potent than acyclovir.     

Antitumor agents. 5. synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and biological evaluation of dimethyl-5H-pyridophenoxazin-5-ones, tetrahydro-5h-benzopyridophenoxazin-5-ones, and 5h-benzopyridophenoxazin-5-ones with potent antiproliferative activity

New antiproliferative compounds, dimethyl-5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-ones (1-6), tetrahydro-5H-benzopyrido[2,3-j]phenoxazin-5-ones (7-9), and 5H-benzopyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazin-5-ones (10-12) were synthesized and evaluated against representative human neoplastic cell lines. Dimethyl derivatives 1-6 were more active against carcinoma than leukemia cell lines. The tetrahydrobenzo derivatives 7-9 were scarcely active, whereas the corresponding benzo derivatives 10-12 showed notable cytotoxicity against a majority of the tested cell lines. Molecular modeling studies indicated that the high potency of 10 and 11, the most cytotoxic compounds of the whole series, could be due to the position of the condensed benzene ring, which favors pi-pi stacking interactions with purine and pyrimidine bases in the DNA active site. Biological studies suggested that 10-12 have no effect on human topoisomerases I and II and that they induce arrest at the G2/M phase.     

Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and antitumor agents: synthesis and biological activities of 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-[(monosubstituted anilino)methyl] pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines.

Thirteen 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-[(monosubstituted anilino)methyl]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 5-17 were synthesized as potential Pneumocystis carinii (pc) and Toxoplasma gondii (tg) dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors and as antitumor agents. Compounds 5-17 were designed to investigate the structure-activity relationship of monomethoxy and monohalide substitution in the phenyl ring and N10-methylation of the C9-N10 bridge. The synthetic route to compounds 5-12 involved the reductive amination of a common intermediate, 2,4-diamino-5-methylpyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (18), with the appropriate anilines. N10-Methylation was achieved by reductive methylation. In contrast to previous reports of trimethoprim, the removal of methoxy and chloro groups from the phenyl ring in the 2, 4-diamino-5-methyl-6-[(substituted anilino)methyl]pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine series generally did not decrease DHFR inhibitory activity. The monosubstituted phenyl analogues 5-12 were as potent against pcDHFR and tgDHFR as the previously reported disubstituted phenyl analogues. N10-Methylation generally resulted in a marginal increase in potency against both pcDHFR and tgDHFR. Compounds 5, 7, and 9 were evaluated and shown to inhibit the growth of T. gondii cells in culture at nanomolar concentrations. Compounds 6-8, 9, 11, and 16 were selected by the National Cancer Institute for evaluation in an in vitro preclinical antitumor screening program. All six compounds showed GI50 values in the 10(-7)-10(-9) M range in more than 20 cell lines.     

Synthesis of 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxy-hexofuranose nucleosides with potential anti-viral activity.

Michael type addition of DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene) phthalimide salt to 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-aldehydo-D-erythro-trans-hex-2-enos e 2 and concomitant acetyl shift give an anomeric mixture of arabino and ribo isomers of 5,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-phthalimido-D-hexofuranose 3 which after acetylation at the anomeric hydroxy group is separated to give 4 and 5. Subsequent reaction with 5'-substituted silylated uracil in the presence of TMS-triflate results in three different 5',6'-di-O-acetyl-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-phthalimido-D-hexofuranose nucleosides 7, 9, and 10 which were deprotected to give the corresponding 3'-amino nucleosides 8, 11, and 12. The compounds 7-12 were investigated for their activity against HSV-1 and HIV-1.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of novel acyclic nucleoside analogues of 5-(1-azido-2-haloethyl)uracils.

We present the discovery of a novel category of 5-substituted acyclic pyrimidine nucleosides as potent antiviral agents. A series of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl] (5-7), 1-[(2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl] (8-10), and 1-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1-butyl] (11-13) derivatives of 5-(1-azido-2-haloethyl)uracil were synthesized and evaluated for their biological activity in cell culture. 1-[4-Hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1-butyl]-5-(1-azido-2-chloroethyl)uracil (12) was the most effective antiviral agent in the in vitro assays against DHBV (EC(50) = 0.31-1.55 microM) and HCMV (EC(50) = 3.1 microM). None of the compounds investigated showed any detectable toxicity to several stationary and proliferating host cells.     

2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-[(3,4,5-trimethoxyanilino)methyl]quinazoline (tmq), a potent non-classical folate antagonist inhibitor--I effect on dihydrofolate reductase and growth of rodent tumors in vitro and in vivo.

Seventeen non-classical 2,4-diamino-6-[(anilino)methyl]quinazoline antifolates were tested as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase from L1210 leukemia cells and from human leukemia cells (acute lymphocytic leukemia). Several potent inhibitors of this enzyme were found, some with I₅₀ values of 10^?9 M, thus displaying activity comparable to that of methotrexate. In general, the potency of dihydrofolate reductase inhibition correlated with the inhibition of cell growth in vitro against L1210 cells. Two of these compounds, compound 14 (2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-[(3,4,5-trimethoxyanilino)methyl]quinazoline; TMQ, JB-11, NSC 249008) and compound 3 (2,4-diamino-5-chloro-6-[(3,4-dichloroanilino)methyl]quinazoline; NSC 208652), were further evaluated against murine tumors in vivo and both showed a broad spectrum of antitumor effects. The results of these studies encourage further evaluation of these compounds, in particular compound 14, as possible anti-neoplastic agents in the treatment of human disease.     

Synthesis and molecular modeling of novel tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory and anticancer properties

New derivatives based upon the tetrahydro-β-carboline-hydantoin and tetrahydro-β-carboline-piperazinedione scaffolds were synthesized. All compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit PDE5 in vitro, and numerous compounds with IC(50) values in the low nanomolar range were identified including compounds derived from l-tryptophan. Compounds with high potency versus PDE5 were then evaluated for inhibitory activity against other PDEs to assess isozyme selectivity. Compound 5R,11aS-5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-ethyl-5,6,11,11a-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[1',5':1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,3(2H)dione 14 showed a selectivity index of >200 for cGMP hydrolysis by PDE5 versus PDE11. Meanwhile, 6R,12aR-6-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-ethyl-2,3,6,7,12,12a-hexahydropyrazino[1',2':1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,4dione 45 demonstrated strong potency for inhibition of PDE11 with an IC(50) value of 11 nM, representing the most potent PDE11 inhibitor thus far reported. Docking experiments differentiated between active and inactive analogues and revealing the conformational, steric, and lipophilic necessities for potent PDE5 inhibition. Many derivatives, including potent PDE5 inhibitors, were able to inhibit the growth of the MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cell line with low micromolar potency.     

Reactions with pyrrolidine-2,4-diones, Part 4: Synthesis of some 3-substituted 1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,4-diones as potential antimicrobial, anti-HIV-1 and antineoplastic agents.

The condensation of 1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,4-dione (1) with ethyl orthoformate yielded 3-ethoxymethylene-1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,4-dione (2). Reaction of the latter with hydrazine hydrate, secondary amines 7a-c or urea afforded the corresponding 3-substituted aminomethylene-1,5-diphenylpyrrolidene-2,4-diones 3, 8a-c or 9. On the other hand, condensation of 3 with veratraldehyde (5a) yielded 3-[(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)hydrazinomethylene]-1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine- 2,4-dione (6). Whereas, cyclization of 9 with the reactive malonate ester 11 produced 3-[(5-butyl-4-hydroxy-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-yl) methylene]-1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,4-dione (12). The condensation of some selected aromatic aldehydes 5a-c and addition of morpholine (7c) or piperidine (7d) to some of the resulting 3-arylidene-1,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,4-diones 13b, c gave the respective 3-substituted methyl-4-hydroxy-1,5-diphenyl-delta 3-pyrrolin-2-ones 14a-c. Selected members of the new series were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial, anti-HIV-1 and antineoplastic activities. Two compounds 14a, b showed pronounced inhibitory activities against Gram-positive bacteria; whereas, in the in vitro anti-HIV-1 screening, only one compound 13c displayed a moderate activity. However, in the antineoplastic screening protocol, the tested compounds were devoid of activity.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of certain 4-substituted and 2,4-disubstituted 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

Treatment of the sodium salt of 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (2) with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (3) has provided 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (4). Ammonolysis of 4 at room temperature gave 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (5). However, ammonolysis of 5 at 130 degrees C furnished 4-amino-2-(methylthio)-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (6), which on desulfurization with Raney Ni yielded 4-amino-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (7) (acyclic analogue of tubercidin). The oxidation of 6 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid provided the sulfone derivative 8. A nucleophilic displacement of the 2-methylsulfonyl group from 8 with methoxide anion provided 4-amino-2-methoxy-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (9). Demethylation of 9 with iodotrimethylsilane gave 4-amino-2-hydroxy-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (10). Treatment of 2,4-dichloropyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (11) with 3 gave the protected acyclic compound 12, which on deacetylation and ammonolysis under controlled reaction conditions gave 2,4-dichloro-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (13) and 4-amino-2-chloro-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine (14), respectively. The condensation of 2-acetamido-4-chloropyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (15) with 3 gave the protected acyclic compound 16, which on concomitant deacetylation and ammonolysis with methanolic ammonia at an elevated temperature yielded 2,4-diamino-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (17) in moderate yield. In tests involving human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), only slight activity and cytotoxicity were observed. The most active compounds (12 and 13) were slightly more active against HCMV than acyclovir, but both compounds were inactive against HSV-1. The activity against HCMV, however, was not well separated from cytotoxicity leading to the conclusion that these compounds did not merit further study.     

1—[2—（N—甲基—N—取代苄基）氨基—2—（2,4—二氯苯基）乙基]—1H—1,2,4—三唑类化合物的合成及抗真菌活性

根据氮唑粝和苄胺类抗真菌化合物的构效关系和作用机理,合成了22个1-[2-(N-甲基-N-取代苄基）氨基-2-(2,4-二氯苯基）乙基]-1H-1,2,4-三唑类新化合物,所有化合物经元素分析,红外光谱和核磁共振谱确证结构。初步抑菌试验结果表明,所有化合物对9种致病真菌具有不同程度的抑制作用。化合物2,5,6,9,10,12,13,14和18对红色毛癣菌显示较强活性,化合物1,2,5,10,15和18对羊毛样小孢子菌抑制作用较强,它们对该两种真菌的作用优于或相当于益康唑,而化合物2和5对多种真菌均显示较强活性。     

Inhibitors of Bacillus subtilis DNA polymerase III. 6-(arylalkylamino)uracils and 6-anilinouracils.

6-(Benzylamino)uracils and substituted 6-anilinouracils have been found to be potent inhibitors of Bacillus subtilis DNA polymerase III by a mechanism identical with that of 6-(phenylhydrazino)uracils. Higher phenylalkylamino homologues are progressively weaker inhibitors of the enzyme. Examination of the effects of substituents on the activity of 6-(benzylamino)uracils against wild-type and mutant enzymes and preliminary results for 6-anilinouracils have permitted further dissection of the mechanism of inhibition. The experimental results indicate that (1) the polymerase inhibitor binding site is compact, accommodating only small alterations in the distance between the uracil and phenyl rings, (2) the phenyl ring, which provides the major contribution to inhibitor-enzyme binding, adopts a specific active conformation, and (3) an enzyme site which interacts with substituents in the phenyl ring forms a part of the active site of DNA polymerase III.     

Effect of various pyrimidines possessing the 1-[(2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl] moiety, able to mimic natural 2'-deoxyribose, on wild-type and mutant hepatitis B virus replication

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Development of drug resistance against clinical anti-HBV drug lamivudine due to long-term use and rebound of viral DNA after cessation of treatment has been a major setback of the current therapy. We have synthesized a series of pyrimidine nucleosides possessing a variety of substituents at the C-5 position, and a 1-[(2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl] flexible acyclic glycosyl moiety at the N-1 position, that have the ability to mimic the natural 2'-deoxyribosyl moiety. Some of these potential antiviral compounds included variations at both C-5 and C-6 positions of the uracil base. Other variations of the uracil derivatives were the 6-aza congeners. 4-Amino and 4-methoxy pyrimidine derivatives were also made. Compounds in which the base moiety was substituted by 5-chloro- (25), 5-(2-bromovinyl)- (32), or 5-bromo-6-methyl- (37) groups possess significant activity against duck-HBV, wild-type human HBV (2.2.15 cells), and lamivudine-resistant HBV containing single and double mutations. No cytotoxicity was seen in host HepG2 and Vero cells, up to the highest concentration tested. The anti-HBV activity exhibited by compounds 25, 32, and 37 was superior for human HBV and comparable for DHBV to that of the corresponding purine nucleoside, ganciclovir. Further, they were only 10-15-fold less inhibitory against human HBV in 2.2.15 cells than the reference drug, lamivudine. Other compounds in the series were moderately inhibitory against DHBV and wild-type human HBV. The size of the halogen and the electronegativity of the substituents at the 5- and 6-positions are important for antiviral activity toward HBV. These compounds were also evaluated for their antiviral activity for West Nile virus, respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-coronavirus, and hepatitis C virus. They were generally inactive in these antiviral assay systems (at concentrations up to 100 microg/mL). 1-[(2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethoxy)methyl]-5-fluorocytosine (34) showed some inhibitory activity against hepatitis C virus. Taken together, these data support our previous observations that the 5-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides containing acyclic glycosyl moieties have potential to serve as a new generation of potent, selective, and nontoxic anti-HBV agents for wild-type and lamivudine-resistant mutant HBV.     

Chemical synthesis and biological activities of 5-deazaaminopterin analogues bearing substituent(s) at the 5- and/or 7-position(s)

Condensation of cyanothioacetamide (4) with ethyl alpha-(ethoxymethylene)acetoacetate (5b), ethyl 4-ethoxy-2-(ethoxymethylene)-3-oxobutanoate (5c), ethyl 2-(ethoxymethylene)-3-oxo-4-phenylpropanoate (5d) afforded exclusively the corresponding 6-substituted pyridines (6b-d). Cyclization of 4 with 3-carbethoxybutane-2,4-dione (5e) gave 3-cyano-5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-4,6-dimethylpyridine-2(1H)-thione (6e), whereas reaction of 4 with 3-carbethoxy-1-phenylpropane-1,3-dione (5f) yielded two products, 3-cyano-5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-4-methyl-6-phenylpyridine-2(1H)-thione (6f) and the 6-methyl-4-phenyl isomer 6g. The structural assignments for 6f and 6g are made on the basis of 1H and 13C NMR spectral analyses of the 2-(methylthio)nicotinates (7f,g) prepared from 6f and 6g by treatment with MeI/K2CO3. Nicotinates 7b,d-g were converted into their corresponding 2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 12b,d-g in five steps, via reduction, protection, oxidation, condensation with guanidine, and deprotection. The 7-mono- and 5,7-disubstituted-5-deazaaminopterins (1b,d-g) were prepared from the respective pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 12b,d-g. Preliminary biological studies showed that 7-methyl and 5,7-dimethyl analogues (1b and 1e) were less active than methotrexate against human leukemic HL-60 and murine L-1210 cells in tissue culture. Compound 1e produced an ILS of 71% at 100 mg/kg per day X 5 (ip) in BDF mice inoculated ip with 10(6) L-1210 cells.     

5-Cinnamoyl-6-aminouracil derivatives as novel anticancer agents. Synthesis, biological evaluation, and structure-activity relationships

A biological evaluation in the series of 5-cinnamoyl-6-aminouracils has been undertaken. These compounds have been found to be in an extended planar conformation fitting well with a possible stacking interaction between the nucleic bases of DNA; thus an eventual anticancer activity by intercalation could be hoped. 1,3-Dimethyl-5-cinnamoyl-6-aminouracil was found to be active when administered ip against ip-implanted P388 leukemia in vivo (percent T/C = 124). Two other compounds, 1,3-dimethyl-5-cinnamoyl-6-[(2-morpholinoethyl)amino]uracil and 1,3-dimethyl-5-cinnamoyl-6-[(2-piperidinoethyl)amino]uracil, bearing a hydrophilic side chain on the 6-amino group, have exhibited cytoxic activity in vitro against L1210 leukemia. Structure-activity relationships have been determined from these results and from studies of biological interactions with DNA.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,4-diamino-6-(arylaminomethyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines as inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase and as antiopportunistic infection and antitumor agents

A series of 2,4-diamino-6-(arylaminomethyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii (pc), Toxoplasma gondii (tg), and rat liver (rl) dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and as inhibitors of the growth of tumor cell lines in culture. Compounds 4-15 were designed as part of a continuing effort to examine the effects of substitutions at the 5-position, in the two-atom bridge, and in the side chain phenyl ring on structure-activity/selectivity relationships of 2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines against a variety of DHFRs. Reductive amination of the common intermediate 2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile 16 with the appropriate anilines afforded the target compounds 4-12. Nucleophilic substitution or reductive methylation afforded the N10-methyl target compounds 13-15. As predicted, compounds 4-15 were, in general, less potent against all three DHFRs compared to the corresponding 2,4-diamino-5-methyl analogues previously reported; however, the greater decrease in potency against rlDHFR compared to pcDHFR and tgDHFR resulted in appreciable selectivity toward pathogenic DHFRs from different pathogens. The 2',5'-dichloro analogue 8 showed selectivity ratios (IC(50) against rlDHFR/IC(50) against pcDHFR or tgDHFR) of 15.7 and 23 for pcDHFR and tgDHFR, respectively. Thus, the selectivity of 8 for pcDHFR is higher than the first line clinical agent trimethoprim (TMP). In a P. carinii cell culture study, analogue 8 exhibited 88% cell growth inhibition at a concentration of 10 muM and afforded marginal effects in an in vivo study in the T. gondii mouse model. Selected compounds were evaluated in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in vitro preclinical antitumor screening program and inhibited the growth of tumor cells in culture at micromolar to submicromolar concentrations and were selected for evaluation in a NCI in vivo hollow fiber assay.