Neurosteroid analogues. 11. Alternative ring system scaffolds: gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor modulation and anesthetic actions of benz[f]indenes

Benz[f]indenes are tricyclic compounds with a linear 6-6-5 fused carbocyclic ring system. When properly substituted, benz[f]indenes can satisfy the pharmacophore requirements of the critical hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor groups found in neuroactive steroids that modulate gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor function. Thus, the benz[f]indene ring system provides an opportunity to extend the previously well-studied GABAA receptor structure-activity relationships (SAR) of neuroactive steroids to a different ring system. Depending on whether the stereochemistry of the 6-6-5 ring fusions are trans-trans or cis-trans, either planar or nonplanar benz[f]indenes are obtained. We found that the planar trans-trans benz[f]indenes are active, but less active than the steroids they were designed to mimic, whereas the nonplanar cis-trans compounds have little, if any, activity. The results provide new insight into the importance of the steroid framework for the actions of neuroactive steroids at GABAA receptors.     

Neurosteroid analogues. 9. Conformationally constrained pregnanes: structure-activity studies of 13,24-cyclo-18,21-dinorcholane analogues of the GABA modulatory and anesthetic steroids (3alpha,5alpha)- and (3alpha,5beta)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one

The hydrogen-bond-acceptor properties of the carbonyl moiety in the 17beta-acetyl group on the D-ring of the anesthetic steroids (3alpha,5alpha)- and (3alpha,5beta)-3-hydroxypregan-20-one form an important part of the anesthetic steroid pharmacophore. 13,24-Cyclo-18,21-dinorcholanes containing a ketone or conjugated ketone group at C-20, C-22, C-23, or C-24 were prepared as conformationally constrained analogues of these anesthetic steroids and were used to probe for alternate locations for the D-ring hydrogen-bond-accepting carbonyl group. The analogues were evaluated (1). in [(35)S]-tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding experiments, (2). in electrophysiological experiments using rat alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2L) GABA(A) receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and (3). as tadpole anesthetics. In the binding assay, the relative order of potencies for the analogues in the 5alpha- and 5beta-series is identical. For the ketones, the order is 24-one >or= 23-one > 20-one > 22-one. Likewise, for the enones, the order is delta(22)-24-one > delta(20(22))-23-one > delta(22)-20-one > delta(23)-22-one. Similar relative orders of potencies are also found in the other two bioassays. The activities of the 24-one and delta(22)-24-one compounds were expected to be very low, because the carbonyl group in these compounds is located over the steroid C-ring and oriented toward C-8. Instead, these compounds have the highest activities in their respective series, with the delta(22)-24-one compounds having activities comparable to those of the reference anesthetic steroids. The electrophysiology results obtained with the 24-oxo-cyclosteroids suggest that rat alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2L) GABA(A) receptors contain more than one donor for the hydrogen-bond-acceptor group of anesthetic steroids. The family of cyclosteroids should be useful for future structure-activity relationship studies of steroid modulation of other GABA(A) receptor subtypes.     

Neurosteroid analogues. 10. The effect of methyl group substitution at the C-6 and C-7 positions on the GABA modulatory and anesthetic actions of (3alpha,5alpha)- and (3alpha,5beta)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one

The planar 5alpha-reduced steroid (3alpha,5alpha)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one and the nonplanar 5beta-reduced steroid (3alpha,5beta)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one act at GABA(A) receptors to induce general anesthesia. The structural features of the binding sites for these anesthetic steroids on GABA(A) receptors have not been determined. To determine how structural modifications at the steroid C-6 and C-7 positions effect the actions of these anesthetic steroids, an axial or equatorial methyl group was introduced at these positions. The analogues were evaluated (1) in [(35)S]-tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding experiments, (2) in electrophysiological experiments using rat alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2L) GABA(A) receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and (3) as tadpole anesthetics. The effects of methyl group substitution in the 5alpha- and 5beta-reduced series of compounds were strikingly similar. In both series, a 6beta-Me group gave compounds with actions similar to or greater than those of the parent steroids. A 6alpha-, 7beta- or 7alpha-Me substituent resulted in reduced potency for inhibition of radioligand binding, GABA(A) receptor modulation and tadpole anesthesia. Because of the similar effects of methyl group substitution in the two series of compounds and previous results from other studies showing that structural modifications in the steroid D ring/side chain region produce similar effects regardless of the stereochemistry of the A,B-ring fusion, we propose that either the 3alpha-hydroxyl groups of planar and nonplanar anesthetic steroids hydrogen bond to different amino acids on GABA(A) receptors or that this critical hydrogen bonding group interacts with membrane lipids instead of the receptor.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of certain guanosine analogues in the thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine ring system.

Several sugar-modified nucleoside derivatives of the purine analogue 5-amino-3-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,7-dione (1) were synthesized. Phosphorylation of 1 using POCl3 resulted in 5'-monophosphate 2, which was subsequently converted to 3',5'-cyclic phosphate 3, by reported methods. 5'-Sulfamoyl derivative 4 was synthesized by treatment of the 2,3-O-isopropylidene derivative of 1 with chlorosulfonamide followed by acid deprotection. Compounds 5-7, the 5'-deoxy, the tri-O-acetyl, and the 2'-deoxy derivatives of 1, respectively, were synthesized by glycosylation of 5-aminothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,7-dione, the aglycon of 1, with the appropriate sugar moieties, utilizing the Vorbruggen procedure. Oxidative cleavage of the C2'-C3' bond in 1 followed by reduction with sodium borohydride led to "seco" analogue 8. Nucleosides 2-8 were evaluated for antiviral activity in vivo against the Semliki Forest virus. The activity of compounds 2, 5, and 7 were similar to that of 1. Cyclic phosphate 3 was toxic at the high dose and weakly active at the lower dose. Compounds 4, 6, and 8 were inactive in this system.     

Biological actions in vivo and in vitro of two gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogues: beta-chloro GABA and beta-phenyl GABA

1 The synthesis of two analogues of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), beta-chloro GABA and beta-phenyl GABA is described.2 The activity of brain GABA aminotransferase was inhibited by beta-chloro GABA (5.7 x 10(-5)M) and beta-phenyl GABA (4.6 x 10(-3)M) in a competitive manner with GABA.3 beta-Chloro GABA exhibited 50% of the inhibitory activity of GABA in blocking the discharge of the crayfish stretch receptor neurone; beta-phenyl GABA had no detectable effect.4 Injection of beta-phenyl GABA (200 mg/kg) into normal or epileptic cats (cobalt) caused the appearance of synchronized slow-wave EEG activity.5 Administration of beta-chloro GABA (200 mg/kg) to epileptic cats (cobalt) produced a temporary diminution or abolition of epileptic discharges while causing no alteration in normal EEG activity.6 beta-Chloro GABA and beta-phenyl GABA had no effect on the concentrations of catecholamines or of amino acids in mouse brain.7 The results suggest that both beta-chloro GABA and beta-phenyl GABA may pass the blood-brain barrier.     

GABA preincubation of rat brain sections increases [3H]GABA binding to the GABAA receptor and compromises the modulatory interactions

Receptor autoradiography has been employed to investigate the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) preincubation on the interaction of the GABAA receptor with its ligands. [3H]GABA (50 nM) binding to the GABAA receptors is increased by 60% compared to control sections after GABA (100 microM) preincubation. Receptor autoradiography shows that the increase is more pronounced in certain brain areas. The allosteric interactions between the GABA and benzodiazepine recognition sites were also examined. An increase in [3H]GABA (50 nM) binding to rat brain sections by co-incubation with the benzodiazepine, flunitrazepam (FNZ) has been observed autoradiographically. This effect has been quantitated in several brain regions; the overall brain increase in [3H]GABA binding induced by 1 microM FNZ was 20%. The increase in [3H]FNZ (1 nM) binding by co-incubation with GABA has also been observed autoradiographically, and the effect quantitated in four brain regions. The overall brain increase in [3H]FNZ binding induced by 100 microM GABA was 34%. After GABA preincubation these allosteric responses are significantly reduced in size. The increase in the [3H]GABAA binding as a consequence of GABA preincubation appears to reflect an increase in receptor affinity for [3H]GABA with no significant change in the maximum number of binding sites. We suggest that GABA preincubation converts the GABAA receptor to a higher affinity desensitised receptor conformation.     

Local anesthetics. 99. Synthesis and local anesthetic actions of alkoxyphenylcarbamates]

Within the framework of studying the influence of alterations of the connecting chain in the group of local anaesthetics a series of 24 compounds of 1-propoxymethyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl), 2-(1-piperidino)-, and 2-(1-perhydroazepinyl)-ethyl esters of o- and m-alkoxyphenylcarbamic acid were prepared. Studied compounds show a high index of relative local anaesthetic activity as compared to the standards cocaine and procaine, at a relatively low acute toxicity.     

Allylglycine: intranigral effects and reappraisal of actions on the GABA system.

The interaction of allylglycine (administered intraperitoneally, intraventricularly and intranigrally) with the γ-aminobutyric acid system was studied in a number of rat brain regions. The effects of allylglycine appeared to result from reduced availability of brain γ-aminobutyric acid through inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase activity. Allylglycine was a more effective inhibitor of glutamate decarboxylase in vivo than in vitro, and could be metabolized to 2-keto-pent-4-enoic acid. Sublethal doses of intraventricular allylglycine had no effect on γ-aminobutyric acid metabolism. Intranigral allylglycine initially produced contralateral circling behaviour accompanied by elevated dopamine turnover in the ipsilateral striatum— seizure activity was subsequently noted. Observed actions of allylglycine probably result from the combined actions of the parent amino acid and the keto-acid metabolite.     

[14C]Dimethyltitanocene and [14C]Methyl(methyltrimethylsilyl) titanocene–Reagents for the [14C]olefination of carbonyl compounds: synthesis of [14C]Aprepitant

A neurokinin (NK‐1) receptor antagonist, [¹⁴C]Aprepitant, was synthesized using two labeled olefination reagents: [¹⁴C]dimethyltitanocene 1 and [¹⁴C]methyl (methyltrimethylsilyl)titanocene 7. Both reagents can be readily prepared from [¹⁴C]methyllithium and have been shown to convert a variety of carbonyls to [¹⁴C]methylenes in good radiochemical yields. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure-activity relationships and mechanism of action of antitumor benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one acronycine analogues

The cytotoxic and antitumor activities of cis-1,2-diacyloxy-6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-1,2,3,14-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one derivatives 3, 6-9 were strongly correlated with their ability to give covalent adducts with purified, as well as genomic, DNA. Such adducts involve reaction between the exocyclic N-2 amino group of guanines exposed in the minor groove of double helical DNA and the leaving ester group at the benzylic position 1 of the drug. A transesterification process of the ester group from position 2 to position 1 in aqueous medium accounted for the intense activity of the cis-1-hydroxy-2-acyloxy-6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-1,2,3,14-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one derivatives 10-13. Compounds without acyloxy or hydroxy group at position 1, such as 15, 17, 18, and 22, were inert with respect to DNA and almost devoid of significant cytotoxic activity. Condensation of 5-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene (26) with 3-bromo-2-naphthoic acid (27), followed by cyclization, gave access to 6-demethoxy analogues. Diacetate 32 and cyclic carbonate 33, both belonging to the latter series, were less reactive toward DNA and less cytotoxic than their 6-methoxy counterparts 3 and 34. DNA alkylation appears thus to play an important role in the antitumor properties of benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one derivatives.     

A novel pyridazino-fused ring system: synthesis of pyridazino[3,4-b]diazepam

As an analogue of pyridazino-fused ring systems with pharmacological activities, the novel pyridazinol[3,4-b][1,5]diazepine ring system was prepared. The synthetic pathway includes three steps from 4 5-(N-benzyl-N-3-hydroxypropyl)amino derivative which is easily available through nucleophilic substitution reaction of the known 4,5-dichloro-2-methyl-6-nitro-3(2H)-pyridazinone (2) with N-benzyl-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)amine. In the first step, compound 4 was treated with thionyl chloride to give the chloropropyl derivative 5. In the second step, a Bechamp reduction was carried out with Fe in acetic acid to obtain the amino compound 6, and finally the ring closure reaction of 6 was performed in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of potassium carbonate at 110 degrees C for 40 hours. In this way the bicyclic compound 7 could be isolated in 48% yield.     

Derivatives of the new ring system indolo[1,2-c]benzo[1,2,3]triazine with potent antitumor and antimicrobial activity.

Derivatives of the new ring system indolo[1,2-c]benzo[1,2,3]triazine 5 were synthesized by diazotization of substituted 2-(2-aminophenyl)indoles followed by an intramolecular coupling reaction of the diazonium group with the indole nitrogen. To obtain the indolobenzotriazine system it was necessary to protect the 3 position of the indole nucleus to avoid cyclization into the indolo[3,2-c]cinnoline system 4. Indolobenzotriazines 5a-g were evaluated in vitro for antitumor activity against a panel of leukemia-, lymphoma-, carcinoma-, and neuroblastoma-derived cell lines. Some compounds inhibited the proliferation of T and B cell lines at submicromolar concentrations, whereas their activity against solid tumor cell lines was in the micromolar range. When evaluated for their antifungal potential 5a,d inhibited some of the fungi tested, although at concentrations very close to those inhibiting the proliferation of human cells. On the contrary, all indolobenzotriazines proved fairly potent and selective inhibitors of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. In particular 5b,c,g were up to 80 times more potent than the reference drug streptomycin and inhibited the growth of the above Gram-positive bacteria at concentrations far lower than those cytotoxic for animal cells.     

Epoxide ring opening and related reactivities of cyclopenta polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: quantum mechanical studies.

A series of 13 cyclopenta polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been studied using quantum mechanical methods. The three-dimensional molecular structure of each carbocation that might result from the opening of a protonated epoxide ring formed between the carbon atoms completing the cyclopenta ring was computed with AM1. AM1 and ab initio calculations, using a split valence basis set, were then used to predict the direction of ring opening and obtain information about the reactivity of the carbocation. These calculations have shown that for all carbocations studied the cationic charge is well distributed throughout the molecule. The largest CH group charges are approximately 0.3 electron. If the protonated epoxide ring can open so that the nominal charge is on a CH group that is attached to the central ring of an anthracenic core, that carbocation will be greatly favored. For carbocations of this type, the unoccupied alpha' position (the CH group opposite the position of attachment to the anthracenic core) has as much or more of the cation charge as the nominally charged CH position. The group charges, and other properties related to electrostatic reactivity, clearly favor addition of nucleophiles at the unoccupied alpha' position over addition at the nominally charged position. However, when the addition of small nucleophiles at both of these positions is modeled for two such examples, the results favor addition at the nominally charged position in one case and are equivocal in the other case. The group charges and other reactivities considered characterize the electrostatic part of the interaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Microsomal metabolism of cyclopenta[cd]pyrene. Characterization of new metabolites and their mechanism of formation.

Oxidation of cyclopenta[cd]pyrene (CPP) by mouse and human liver microsomes was used to produce several previously undescribed metabolites, which were separated and isolated by reversed-phase HPLC. Three of these, 3,4-dihydroCPP-c-3,4-diol, 4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroCPP, and 4-oxo-3,4-dihydroCPP, were fully characterized by GC-MS and UV spectroscopic analysis as well as by total synthesis. Two additional pairs of metabolites were identified as isomeric tetrahydrotetrols and dihydrotriols by GC-MS analysis of their trimethylsilyl derivatives. Their UV spectra were recorded and found to agree with the structure assignments. The tetrahydrotetrols were further characterized by the fact that either 3,4- or 9,10-trans-dihydrodiol could serve as their precursor, indicating that they are the two diastomeric 3,4,9,10-tetrahydroCPP-t-3,4-t-9,10-tetrols. The dihydrotriols were shown to possess t-3,4-dihydrodiol functionality. As found previously using rat liver microsomes, the most abundant metabolite was 3,4-dihydroCPP-t-3,4-diol. It was produced with one enantiomer in severalfold excess over the other, and the major enantiomer was shown to have 3R,4R configuration by exciton chirality circular dichroism. Microsomal oxidation of [4-2H]CPP, which was synthesized for this study, was used to determine the mechanisms of formation of 4-oxo- and 4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroCPP. The ketone was produced without detectable retention of deuterium label, eliminating the NIH shift as a possible mechanism. The alcohol was shown to arise by NADPH-dependent reduction of both the ketone and another intermediate presumed to be the 3,4-epoxide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Synthesis and cytotoxic and antitumor activity of benzo[b]pyrano[3, 2-h]acridin-7-one analogues of acronycine

Benzo?b?cronycine (6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-3, 14-dihydro-7H-benzo?bpyrano?3,2-h?cridin-7-one, 4), an acronycine analogue with an additional aromatic ring linearly fused on the natural alkaloid basic skeleton, was synthesized in three steps, starting from 3-amino-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (5). Eight 1, 2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrobenzo?b?cronycine esters and diesters (17-24) were obtained by catalytic osmic oxidation, followed by acylation. All these compounds were significantly more cytotoxic than acronycine, when tested against L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. The potency of the cyclic carbonate 24 was in the range of the most active drugs currently used in cancer chemotherapy. Two selected diesters (17 and 24) were evaluated in vivo against P388 leukemia and colon 38 adenocarcinoma implanted in mice. Both compounds were markedly active at doses 16-fold lower than the dose of acronycine itself. Against colon 38 adenocarcinoma, compounds 17 and 24 were highly efficient, inhibiting tumor growth by more than 80%. Diacetate 17 was the most active, inhibiting tumor growth by 96% at 6.25 mg/kg, with two of seven mice being tumor-free on day 43.     

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. 2. Derivatives/analogues of dibenz[b,e]oxepin-3-acetic acid

6,11-Dhydro-11-oxodibenz[b,e]oxepins and some related compounds have been synthesized and evaluated for antiinflammatory effect according to the carrageenan paw edema method in rats. The structure-activity relationships have been discussed among acetic acid, carboxylic acid, alcohol, and tetrazole derivatives of dibenzoxepins and acetic acid derivatives of thienobenzoxepins and of the corresponding thiepins. The 3-isopropyl alcohol 9 and 11-deoxo-3-propionic acid (49) were more active than indomethacin but not as active as the title compound (i.e., 43). Carboxylic acids, tetrazoles, esters, amides, and ketones were less active than the corresponding acetic acids. Three compounds (31, 33, and 34) were evaluated for ulcerogenicity and lethality but none surpassed 6,11-dihydro-11-oxodibenz[b,e]oxepin-3-acetic acid (41) in therapeutic ratio.