New (RS)-benzoxazepin-purines with antitumour activity: The chiral switch from (RS)-2,6-dichloro-9-[1-(p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepin-3-yl]-9H-purine

Completing an SAR study, a series of (RS)-6-substituted-7- or 9-(1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepine-3-yl)-7H or 9H-purines has been prepared under microwave-assisted conditions. Their antiproliferative activities on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancerous cell lines are presented, being the majority of the IC₅₀ values below 1 μM. The most active compound (RS)-2,6-dichloro-9-[1-(p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepin-3-yl]-9H-purine (14) presents an IC₅₀ of 0.166 μM against the human cancerous cell line MDA-MB-231. Compound 14 was the most selective against the human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines (Therapeutic Indexes, TIs = 5.1 and 11.0, respectively) in relation to the normal one MCF-10A. (RS)-14 was resolved into its enantiomers. Both enantiomers are equally potent, but more potent than the corresponding racemic mixture. (R)-14 induces apoptosis against MCF-7 up to 52.50% of cell population after 48 h, being more potent than the clinical-used drug paclitaxel (43%). (RS)-14 induces no acute toxicity in mice after two weeks of treatment.     

Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of 2-amino-3-cyano-6-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4-phenylpyridine derivatives in vitro

A series of novel 2-amino-3-cyano-6-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4-phenylpyridine derivatives were synthesized and their cytotoxic activity against A549, H460, HT-29 and SMMC-7721 cell lines was evaluated in vitro. Among them, ten compounds (10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31) displayed excellent anti-tumor activity against different cell lines. The most promising compound 27 showed strong anti-tumor activity against A549, H460, HT-29 and SMMC-7721 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 22, 0.23, 0.65 and 0.77 nM, which were 2.6-, 83-, 1.1 × 10³- and 2.0 × 10³- fold more active than MX-58151 (IC₅₀ values of 0.058, 0.019, 0.70 and 1.53 μM), respectively.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity of (RS)-9-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxaheteroin-2-ylmethyl)-9H-purines

Herein are reported the synthesis and anticancer activity against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 of a series of substituted (RS)-9-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxathiin-2-ylmethyl)-9H-purine derivatives and (RS)-9-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-ylmethyl)-9H-purine derivatives. When the Mitsunobu reaction was carried out between (RS)-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxathiin-3-methanol and the heterocyclic bases 6-chloro-, 2,6-dichloro, and 6-bromo-purines under microwave-assisted conditions, a formal 1,4-sulfur migration takes place through two consecutive oxyranium and episulfonium rings, giving rise to the corresponding (RS)-9-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-3-ylmethyl)-9H-purine derivatives, previously reported by us. The most active compound (RS)-2,6-dichloro-9-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxathiin-2-ylmethyl)-9H-purine shows an IC₅₀ = 2.75 ± 0.02 μM. When the cancerous cells were treated with this compound, a significant increase of apoptotic cells (70.08 ± 0.33%) was obtained in relation to the control ones. The induction of the G₂/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by the three most active compounds is associated with increased phosphorylation of eIF2α in human breast cancer cells.     

Discovery of novel SCD1 inhibitors: 5-alkyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-spiro[1,5-benzoxazepine-2,4'-piperidine] analogs

Expansion of the 6-membered ring and subsequent fine-tuning of the newly obtained 7-membered spiropiperidine structure resulted in the discovery of a series of novel and potent SCD1 inhibitors. Preliminary SAR was explored by modifying an alkyl chain on the azepine nitrogen and resulted in the identification of a highly potent SCD1 inhibitor: 6-[5-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-1′H,3H-spiro[1,5-benzoxazepine-2,4′-piperidin]-1′-yl]-N-(2-hydroxy-2-pyridin-3-ylethyl)pyridazine-3-carboxamide (9). Compound 9 exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 0.01 μM against human SCD1.     

Synthesis, evaluation against Leishmania amazonensis and cytotoxicity assays in macrophages of sixteen new congeners Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts

We report the design, synthesis, in vitro evaluation against Leishmania amazonensis (IC₅₀), cytotoxicity assays in macrophages (CC₅₀), and selectivity index (SICC₅₀/IC₅₀) of sixteen new congeners aromatic Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts 1-16. The 1-16 were prepared in good to excellent yields (58%-97%) from the “one pot” Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction between the aldehydes 29-36 and the acrylates 27 or 28 under DABCO as promoter. The MBHA 2-[Hydroxy(2-nitrophenyl)propyl] propanoate (1, IC₅₀ = 7.52 μg/mL or 28.38 μM; CC₅₀ = 35.77 μg/mL or 134.98 μM; SI = 4.75) and 2-[Hydroxy(2-nitrophenyl)hydroxyethyl] propanoate (9, IC₅₀ = 5.48 μg/mL or 20.52 μM; CC₅₀ = 29.81 μg/mL or 111.64c μM and, SI = 5.43) were the most effective and safe evaluated compounds.     

Synthesis and biological activity of 7H-benzo[4,5]indolo[2,3-b]-quinoxaline derivatives

New 7-(2-aminoethyl)-7H-benzo[4,5]indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines (13-20) were synthesized with high yields starting from 3H-benzo[e]indole-1,2-dione. These compounds were screened for the cytotoxicity, anti-viral activity, interferon inducing ability and DNA affinity compared with the corresponding 6-(2-aminoethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline derivatives (1-12). It was shown, that compounds 13-20 bind to DNA stronger (lg К_a = 6.23-6.87) than compounds 1-12 (lg К_a = 5.57-5.89). Anti-viral activity is significantly reduced with annulations of benzene ring in Indoloquinoxaline moiety 13-20.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-(4'-Indolyl and 6'-Quinolinyl) indoles as a new class of potent anticancer agents

A novel series of the biheterocycles-based compounds with core structure distinguished from combretastatin A-4 (1) and colchicine (5) have been synthesized and evaluated as potent anti-mitotic agents. Compound 1-(4′-Indolyl and 6′-quinolinyl)-4,5,6-trimethoxyindoles 13 and 19 showed substantial anti-proliferative activity against various human cancer cell lines, regardless to the tissue origin and the expression of multiple-drug resistance MDR1, with a mean IC₅₀ value of 38 and 24 nM respectively. Compound 13 (IC₅₀ = 1.7 μM) also exhibited similar anti-tubulin activities to 1 (IC₅₀ = 1.8 μM) and displayed strong binding property to the colchicine binding site on the microtubules. Computational modeling analysis revealed that the binding mechanism of compound 13 is similar to that of CA4.     

Design, synthesis, and antiproliferative activity of new 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives against melanoma cell lines

Synthesis of a new series of diarylureas and diarylamides having 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine scaffold is described. Their in vitro antiproliferative activity against A375P human melanoma cell line was tested and the effect of substituents on pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine nucleus was investigated. The newly synthesized compounds, except three N-tolyl derivatives (8f, 9f, and 9h), generally showed superior activity against A375P to Sorafenib. Among all of these derivatives, compounds 8b, 8g, and 9a-e showed the highest potency against A375P with IC₅₀ in nanomolar range. In addition, compounds 8d, 8e, 8h, 9g, 9i, and 9j were more potent than Sorafenib but with IC₅₀ in micromolar range. Compounds 8b, 8g, 9b-d, and 9i demonstrated higher selectivity towards A375P compared with NIH3T3 fibroblasts. The most potent diarylurea 8g and diarylamide 9d were further tested and showed high potency over nine melanoma cell lines at the NCI.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of the heptaphylline and 7-methoxyheptaphylline series

Nineteen carbazole alkaloids modified from heptaphylline (I) and 7-methoxyheptaphylline (II) isolated from Clausena harmandiana were synthesized. Among these derivatives, Ih and IIi showed cytotoxicity against the NCI-H187 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 0.02 and 0.66 μM, respectively, which are about 138 and 4 fold stronger than the ellipticine standard. In addition, oxime Ih displayed cytotoxicity against KB cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.17 μM which is about 10 times stronger than the ellipticine. This compound demonstrated weak cytotoxicity against Vero cells (IC₅₀ = 66.01 μM). The results show convincingly that Ih may be a promising lead for the development of cytotoxic agents.     

Conjugates of 3α-methoxyserrat-14-en-21β-ol (PJ-1) and 3β-methoxyserrat-14-en-21β-ol (PJ-2) as cancer chemopreventive agents

3α-Methoxyserrat-14-en-21β-ol (PJ-1) and 3β-methoxyserrat-14-en-21β-ol (PJ-2) were conjugated with well-known phenolic compounds, narigenin, hesperetin, genistein, and daidzein (1-8). Other conjugates of PJ-2-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (9), PJ-2-pyrogallol (10), and derivatives of PJ-1, PJ-2-3,3-dimethyl-succinates (11, 12), PJ-1, PJ-2-succinates (13, 14), PJ-2-glycine (15), PJ-2-piperidine acetic acid (16), and PJ-1 epoxy-3,3-dimethyl-succinate (17) were tested for their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The inhibitory effects of 11 (IC₅₀ = 251), 12 (IC₅₀ = 248), and 17 (IC₅₀ = 230 mol ratio/32 pmol/TPA), were 2-fold stronger than those of the other compounds such as oleanolic acid (IC₅₀ = 449). Compounds 10, 11, and 17 inhibited mouse skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis model. The in vivo two-stage mouse-skin carcinogenesis test employed 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as an initiator and TPA as a promoter.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Synthesis, molecular structures, and inhibition of the human cytosolic isozymes I and II and transmembrane isozymes IX, XII (cancer-associated) and XIV with novel 3-pyridinesulfonamide derivatives

A series of novel 3-pyridinesulfonamide derivatives (2-5, 9-11 and 13-15) have been synthesized and investigated as inhibitors of five isoforms of zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), that is, the cytosolic ubiquitous CA I and II, and isozymes CA IX and XII (cancer-associated), and XIV. Against the human isozyme hCA I the new compounds showed K_Is in the range of 0.089-251 μM, whereas toward hCA II, K_Is = 50.5-487 nM. Isozyme hCA IX was inhibited with K_Is in the range of 5.2-18.3 nM, while hCA XII with K_Is = 6.0-16.4 nM, and hCA XIV with K_Is = 76.4-152.0 nM. All of the new compounds 2-5, 9-11 and 13-15 showed excellent hCA IX inhibitory efficacy, with K_Is = 5.2-18.3 nM, being much more effective as compared to the clinically used AAZ, MZA, EZA, DCP and IND (K_Is = 24-50 nM).     

Bismuth heterocycles based on a diphenyl sulfone scaffold: synthesis and substituent effect on the antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A series of heterocyclic organobismuth(III) compounds 2 [ClBi(5-R-C₆H₃-2-SO₂C₆H₄-1'-): R = Me, Ph, MeO, Cl, H, t-Bu, CF₃, F, Me₂N] was synthesized in order to study the relative importance of structure and specific substitutions in relation to their lipophilicity and antifungal activity against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A clear structure-activity relationship between the size of the inhibition zone and the value of ClogP was found for 2. These results suggest that the higher the lipophilicity, the lower the antifungal activity. Thus, 2e (R = H) and 2h (R = F), which had ClogP values of 1.18 and 1.45, respectively, were most active. In contrast, 2b (R = Ph) and 2f (R = t-Bu) had ClogP values of 3.06 and 3.00, respectively, and exhibited no antifungal activity. Compound 6b ClBi[5-(OH)C₆H₃-2-SO₂-5′-(OH)C₆H₃-1'-] had an estimated ClogP value of 0.81 but exhibited only low activity in spite of its low ClogP value, suggesting that such a considerable decrease in lipophilicity lowers inhibition activity. Bismuth carboxylate 7b derived from p-nitrobenzoic acid and 2e exhibited inhibition activity comparable to those of 2e and 2h despite its higher lipophilicity (ClogP = 2.68).     

Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors as antibacterial agents: synthesis, molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis of 3-aryl-4-arylaminofuran-2(5H)-ones

Thirty-five 3-aryl-4-arylaminofuran-2(5H)-one derivatives were designed, prepared and tested for their inhibitory activity against tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. Out of these compounds, 3-(3-bromophenyl)-4-(3,5-dichlorophenylamino)furan-2(5H)-one (35) was the most active with IC₅₀ of 0.09 ± 0.02 μM. The structure-activity relationship revealed that introduction of chlorine atoms at both meta positions of aniline moiety significantly increased the enzyme inhibitory activity. The results of antibacterial assay revealed that the tested compounds showed good activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with 35 being the most potent with MIC₅₀ of 0.06 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Molecular docking of 35 into S. aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase active site was also performed. The inhibitor snugly fitting the active site may well explain its excellent inhibitory activity.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and cholinesterase inhibitors from Voacanga globosa

Globospiramine (1), a new spirobisindole alkaloid possessing an Aspidosperma-Aspidosperma skeleton, together with deoxyvobtusine (2), deoxyvobtusine lactone (3), vobtusine lactone (4) and lupeol (5), were isolated and identified from Voacanga globosa through a bioassay-guided purification. The gross structure and absolute stereochemistry of 1 were established by circular dichroism spectroscopy, HR-MS and unambiguous NMR spectroscopic experiments. In addition, a new biogenetic pathway for the formation of the spiro-Aspidosperma-Aspidosperma skeleton is proposed. Alkaloid 1 showed potent antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv as evidenced in microplate Alamar blue assay (MIC = 4 μg/mL) and low-oxygen recovery assay (LORA (MIC = 5.2 μg/mL). The bisindole alkaloids also exhibited promising activity against acetylcholinesterase and, especially butyrylcholinesterase, with deoxyvobtusine (2) (IC₅₀ = 6.2 μM) as the most strongly inhibiting compound. This study extends the variety of alkaloid structural platforms which exhibit antimycobacterial and anticholinesterase activity.     

Synthesis and structure of new bicopper(II) complexes bridged by N-(2- aminopropyl)-N'-(2-oxidophenyl)oxamide: the effects of terminal ligands on structures, anticancer activities and DNA-binding properties

A novel dissymmetrical N,N′-bis(substituted)oxamide ligand, N-(2-aminopropyl)-N′-(2-oxido- phenyl)oxamide (H₃apopoxd) (L), and its three bicopper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(apopoxd)(bpy)]- (ClO₄)·H₂O (1), [Cu₂(apopoxd)(dabt)](ClO₄)·2H₂O (2), and [Cu₂(apopoxd)(phen)₂](ClO₄) (3) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; dabt = 2,2′-diamino-4,4′-bithiazole; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of the three bicopper(II) complexes have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. In complexes 1 and 2, the cis-apopoxd³⁻ ligands bridge two copper(II) ions in square-planar geometries with the corresponding separations of 5.1868(3) and 5.2016(4) Å, respectively. While in complex 3, the apopoxd³⁻ ligand adopting a trans conformation bridges the two copper(II) ions in distorted square-pyramid environments with a Cu···Cu distance of 5.2508(7) Å. The anticancer activities and DNA-binding properties of L and the three complexes were investigated.     

Synthesis and anticancer activities of some novel 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-8-substituted-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3(5H)-ones

A series of 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-8-substituted-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3(5H)-ones (3a-g) have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against four human cancer cell lines: MDA-MB-435 (breast), HL-60 (leukemia), HCT-8 (colon) and SF-295 (central nervous system). The results showed that the compounds 3b (2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-8-methyl-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3(5H)-one) and 3c (2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-8-bromo-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3(5H)-one) exhibited good cytotoxicity for three cell lines with IC₅₀ values lower than 5 μg/mL. Analysis of theoretical toxicity risks have shown medium tumorigenic and irritant risks related to 3b and 3c in contrast to doxorubicin, the positive control.     

Anti-breast cancer activity of some novel 1,2-dihydropyridine, thiophene and thiazole derivatives

A variety of novel 1,2-dihydropyridines 10-17, thiophenes 18-21 and thiazole 22 having a biologically active sulfone moiety were obtained via the reaction of 2-cyano-N′-[1-(4-(piperidin-1-ylsulfonyl) phenyl) ethylidene] acetohydrazide 3 with a variety of reagents. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectral data. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in-vitro anticancer activity against human breast cancer cell line (MCF7). Compounds 15 and 11 with IC₅₀ values (20.6, 25.5 μM) exhibited better activity than Doxorubicin as a reference drug with IC₅₀ value (32.02 μM), while compound 14 is nearly as active as Doxorubicin as positive control.     

Novel 4-aryl-pyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidines with dual SSRI and 5-HT(1A) activity. part 3

A number of 4-aryl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine with 3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridin-4-yl)-1H-indole or 2-methyl-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridin-4-yl)-1H-indole residues were synthesized for further investigation of SAR in a group of pyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine derivatives with dual 5-HT_1A/SERT activity. Compounds 8a-8p were found to be potent ligands for both 5-HT_1A and SERT with K_i ranging from 28,3 to 642 nM and 42,4 nM-1,8 μM, respectively. Moreover compounds 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e and 8g were found to be selective agonists, while 8i as an antagonist of 5-HT_1A presynaptic receptors in the inducible hypothermia test in mice.     

Synthesis of 3-heteroarylthioquinoline derivatives and their in vitro antituberculosis and cytotoxicity studies

A series of 3-heteroarylthioquinoline derivatives has been synthesized by the Friedlander annulation of 2-[(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]-1-aryl-1-ethanone/2-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-aryl-1-ethanone/1-aryl-2-[(2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3,4-tetraazol-5-yl)sulfanyl]-1-ethanone with 2-aminobenzophenone in good yields using YbCl₃ as the catalyst. These compounds have been screened for their in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) and among the 21 compounds screened, 2-[2-(4-bromophenyl)-4-phenyl-3-quinolyl]sulfanyl-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (5d) and 2-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-phenyl-3-quinolyl]sulfanyl-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (5c) were found to be the most active compounds with MIC of 3.2 and 3.5 μM respectively against MTB. The cytotoxic effects against mouse fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) in vitro were evaluated for 5c and 5d, which displayed no toxic effects (IC₅₀ > 1000 μM) against the mouse fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3.