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.     

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, cytotoxicity, and antiviral activity of some acyclic analogues of the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside antibiotics tubercidin, toyocamycin, and sangivamycin

A number of 7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3d-d]pyrimidine derivatives that are structurally related to toyocamycin and sangivamycin and the seco nucleosides of tubercidin, 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 with 1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-2-propoxymethyl chloride afforded compound 3, which without isolation was debrominated to obtain 4-amino-5-cyano-7-[[1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-2- propoxy]methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine. Although catalytic hydrogenolysis failed, the benzyl ether functionalities of 4 were successfully cleaved by boron trichloride to afford 4-amino-5-cyano-7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2- propoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine. Conventional functional group transformation of the cyano group of 6 provided a number of novel 5-substituted derivatives. Tubercidin (8a), toyocamycin (8b), and sangivamycin (8c) were treated separately with sodium metaperiodate and then with sodium borohydride to afford the 2',3'-seco derivatives 9a-c, respectively. The acyclic nucleoside 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7-[[1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-2- propoxy]methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine was aminated, desulfurized with Raney Ni, and then debenzylated to provide the tubercidin analogue 11. Cytotoxicity evaluation against L1210 murine leukemic cells in vitro showed that although the parent compounds tubercidin (8a), toyocamycin (8b), and sangivamycin (8c) were very potent growth inhibitors, the acyclic derivatives 6, 7a-c, and 9a-c had only slight growth-inhibitory activity. Evaluation of compounds 6, 7a, 7b, 7c, 9a, 9b, 9c, 11 for cytoxicity and activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) revealed that only the carboxamide (7a) and the thioamide (7c) were active. Compound 7c was the more potent of the two, inhibiting HCMV but not HSV-1 at concentrations producing little cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of some 7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogues of sangivamycin and toyocamycin

The sodium salt of 4-amino-3-cyanopyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (1) was condensed with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (2) to provide the corresponding protected acyclic nucleoside, 4-amino-3-cyano-1-[(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimid ine (3). Treatment of 3 with sodium methoxide in methanol provided a good yield of methyl 4-amino-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3- formimidate (4). Treatment of the imidate (4) with sodium hydrogen sulfide gave the thiocarboxamide derivative 5. Aqueous base transformed 4 into 4-amino-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-3- carboxamide (6) in good yield. Treatment of 5 with mercuric chloride furnished the toyocamycin analogue 7. Evaluation of compounds 1, 3-7 revealed that only the heterocycle (1) and the thiocarboxamide acyclic nucleoside (5) were active. Compound 5 was the more potent with activity against human cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 1.     

Synthesis of classical, three-carbon-bridged 5-substituted furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine analogues as antifolates

Bridge homologation of the previously reported classical two-carbon-bridged antifolates, a 5-substituted 2,4-diaminofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidine (1) [which is a 6-regioisomer of LY231514 (Alimta)] and a 6-subsituted 2-amino-4-oxopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine, afforded the three-carbon-bridged antifolates analogues 4 and 5, with enhanced inhibitory activity against tumor cells in culture (EC(50) values in the 10(-8)-10(-7) M range or less). These two analogues were synthesized via a 10-step synthetic sequence starting from methyl 4-bromobenzoate (14), which was elaborated to the alpha-chloromethyl ketone (8) followed by condensation with 2,6-diamino-pyrimidin-4-one (7) to afford the substituted furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 9 and the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 10. Subsequent coupling of each regioisomer with diethyl-l-glutamate followed by saponification afforded 4 and 5. The biological results indicate that elongation of the C8-C9 bridge of the classical 5-substituted 2,4-diaminofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidine and 6-substituted 2-amino-4-oxopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine are highly conducive to antitumor activity in vitro, despite a lack of increase in inhibitory activity against the target enzymes. This supports our original hypothesis that truncation of the B-ring of a highly potent 6-6 ring system to a 6-5 ring system can be compensated by bridge homologation to restore the overall length of the molecule.     

Synthesis and biological activity of certain 6-substituted and 2,6-disubstituted 2'-deoxytubercidins prepared via the stereospecific sodium salt glycosylation procedure

A number of 6-substituted and 2,6-disubstituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were prepared by the direct stereospecific sodium salt glycosylation procedure. Reaction of the sodium salt of 4-chloro-6-methyl-2-(methylthio)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (6a) or 4,6-dichloro-2-(methylthio)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (6b) with 1-chloro-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranose (9) provided the corresponding N7 2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl blocked derivatives (8a and 8c) which, on ammonolysis, gave 4-amino-6-methyl-2-(methylthio)-7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl )pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (11a) and 4-amino-6-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl )pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (11b), respectively. Dethiation of 11a and 11b afforded 6-methyl-2'-deoxytubercidin (10a) and 6-chloro-2'-deoxytubercidin (10b), respectively. Dehalogenation of 10b provided an alternate route to the reported 2'-deoxytubercidin (3a). Application of this glycosylation procedure to 4,6-dichloro and 4,6-dichloro-2-methyl derivatives of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (15a and 15b) gave the corresponding blocked 2'-deoxyribonucleosides (18a and 18b), which on ammonolysis furnished 10b and 4-amino-6-chloro-2-methyl-7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro- pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (17), respectively. This stereospecific attachment of the 2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl moiety appears to be due to a Walden inversion at the C1 carbon by the anionic heterocyclic nitrogen. Controlled deacylation of 4-chloro-7-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl) pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (20a) gave 4-chloro-7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine (20b). Dehalogenation of 20b gave the 2'-deoxynebularin analogue 7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (19), and reaction of 20b with thiourea gave 7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4(3H)- thione (21). All of these compounds were tested in vitro against certain viruses and tumor cells. Only compounds 12a, 20b, and 21 showed significant activity against measles in vitro, and the activity is comparable to that of ribavirin. Although compounds 3a and 12b are slightly more active than ribavirin against HSV-2 in vitro, they are relatively more toxic to Vero cells. Compounds 3a and 20b exhibited moderate cytostatic activity against L1210 and P388 leukemia in vitro but are considerably less active than 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (1).     

抗病毒药物4-取代吡咯[2,3-d]嘧啶开环核苷衍生物的合成

天然吡咯[2,3-d]嘧啶核苷及其5-位取代衍生物为既有抗肿瘤活性又有抗病毒作用的抗生素,然毒性过高,未能成为药物。为降低此类化合物的毒性,并考察其构效关系,以4-氯-吡咯[2,3-d]嘧啶为原料,用钠盐直接甙化法与2-氯甲基-1,3-双苄基-丙三醇缩合,得关键中间体Ⅸ,经氨化、氢解,合成了一系列4-取代吡咯[2,3-d]嘧啶开环核苷衍生物。所得新化合物均经抗病毒活性筛选(HSV-1,Cox B6),只有化合物Ⅺ₆,Ⅺ₇,Ⅺ₉对Cox B6有一定的抑制作用。     

Synthesis, antiproliferative, and antiviral activity of certain 4-substituted and 4,5-disubstituted 7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

The sodium salts of 4-chloro- and several 4-chloro-5-substituted-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines were treated with [1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-2-propoxy]methyl chloride (6) to provide the corresponding 4-chloro- and 4-chloro-5-substituted-7-[[1,3-bis(benzyloxy)-2-propoxy]methyl]pyrrolo [2,3-d]pyrimidines (7-11). Debenzylation with boron trichloride at -78 degrees C furnished 4-chloro- and several 4-chloro-5-substituted-7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidines (12.16). Subsequent amination of 12-16 yielded the 4-amino-5-substituted-7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidines (17-21). Treatment of 14 with methylamine and 13 and 14 with ethylamine yielded the 4-(alkylamino)-5-halo-7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2- propoxy)methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (22-24). Treatment of 12-15 with hydroxylamine in refluxing 2-propanol yielded the 5-substituted-4-(hydroxyamino)-7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]pyrrol o [2,3-d]pyrimidines (25-28). Treatment of compound 12 with Pd/C under a hydrogen atmosphere has furnished the nebularine analogue 31. The antiproliferative activity of compounds 17-28 and 31 was studied using L1210 cells in vitro. The 4-amino- and 4-(hydroxyamino)-5-halogenated derivatives (compounds 18-20, 26-28) inhibited cell growth. Although the effect of compounds 18-20 and 27 on final growth rate was pronounced (IC50 = 2.3, 0.7, 2.8, and 3.7 microM, respectively), cells underwent at least one doubling before cell division stopped. The remaining compounds were less cytotoxic, with IC50's greater than 30 microM for 21, 23, 26, and 28, whereas no inhibition of L1210 cell growth was observed with compounds 17, 22, 24, 25, and 31 at 100 microM. The antiviral activity of these compounds also was tested. Compounds 18-20 and 26-28 were active against human cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex type 1. The 4-amino derivatives (18-20) were more active than the 4-hydroxyamino derivatives (26-28), the 4-amino-5-bromo and 4-amino-5-iodo derivatives produced more than five log reductions in virus titer at concentrations of 10-100 microM. Although some cytotoxicity was observed at these concentrations, compound 19 was active against murine cytomegalovirus in vivo. At 5.6 mg/kg, 14/15 animals survived compared to 10/15 treated with 5.6 mg/kg of ganciclovir or 1/15 treated with placebo.     

Nucleic acid related compounds. 47. Synthesis and biological activities of pyrimidine and purine "acyclic" nucleoside analogues

Various acyclic, i.e., (2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl and (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl, analogues of pyrimidine and purine nucleosides have been prepared and evaluated for their antiviral, antimetabolic, and cytotoxic properties. All of the pyrimidine analogues, including (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]uracil (12) and its O-acetyl derivative (13), were virtually devoid of antiviral, cytotoxic, and antimetabolic activities. However, several of the 8-substituted derivatives of 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine (acyclovir) had higher antiviral specificity in vitro than the parent drug. The 8-methyl-, 8-amino-, 8-bromo-, and 8-iodoacyclovir derivatives have activities worthy of further investigation.     

Synthesis of classical and a nonclassical 2-amino-4-oxo-6-methyl-5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolate inhibitors of thymidylate synthase.

Compounds 2-5 were designed as potential antifolate nonpolyglutamatable inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS). These analogues are structurally related to 2-amino-4-oxo-5-substituted quinazolines and 2-amino-4-oxo-5-substituted pyrrolo[2, 3-d]pyrimidines which have shown excellent inhibition of TS and, for the quinazoline, significant promise as clinically useful antitumor agents. Compounds 2-4 were synthesized by appropriate amine exchange reactions on pivaloyl-protected 5-dimethylaminomethyl-substituted 6-methyl pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 7 which in turn was obtained from the Mannich reaction of pivaloylated-6-methyl pyrrolo[2, 3-d]pyrimidine 6. In instances where the amine exchange reaction was sluggish, the Mannich base was quaternized with methyl iodide which afforded much faster exchange reaction with improved yields. For compound 5, 4-mercaptopyridine was used as the nucleophile and reacted with 7. The analogues 2-4 inhibited Lactobacillus casei (lc) TS and recombinant human (h) TS with IC50 in the 10(-4) to 10(-5) M range. Compound 5 inhibited lcTS and hTS 20% at 26 and 25 microM, respectively. In addition, compound 5 inhibited the growth of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii cells in culture by 76% at 32 x 10(-6) M and 50% at 831 x 10(-6) M, respectively.     

Synthesis and antitumor evaluation in mice of certain 7-deazapurine (pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine) and 3-deazapurine (imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine) nucleosides structurally related to sulfenosine, sulfinosine, and sulfonosine

7-Deaza (pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine) and 3-deaza (imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine) congeners of sulfenosine (5a and 9), sulfinosine (6a and 10), and sulfonosine (7a) have been prepared and evaluated for their antileukemic activity in mice. Amination of 2-amino-7-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4(3H)-th ion e (4a) and its 2'-deoxy analogue (4c) with a chloramine solution gave the corresponding 4-sulfenamides (5a and 5c, respectively), which on selective oxidation with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) gave the respective diastereomeric 2-amino-7-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-sulfinamide (7-deazasulfinosine, 6a) and its 2'-deoxy derivative (6c). A similar amination of 7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4(3H)- thione (4b) gave the corresponding 4-sulfenamide derivative (5b). Oxidation of 5b with 1 molar equiv of MCPBA furnished (R,S)-7-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine- 4- sulfinamide (6b), whereas use of excess of MCPBA afforded the corresponding sulfonamide derivative (7b). Treatment of 3-deaza-6-thioguanosine (8) with a chloramine solution gave 3-deazasulfenosine (6-amino-1-beta-D- ribofuranosylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-4-sulfenamide, 9). Controlled oxidation of 9 with MCPBA afforded 3-deazasulfinosine (10). As gauged by increases in the mean postinoculation life spans of L1210 inoculated mice, none of these nucleosides exhibited biologically significant activity (T/C greater than or equal to 125). Even so, antileukemic activity appeared to be influenced, albeit not uniformly, by structural modifications in the base and carbohydrate moieties of sulfenosine and sulfinosine. Thus, while several of the compounds were lacking in cytotoxic activity, eight others (4c, 5a, 5c, 6a, 6b, 7b, 9, and 10) were estimated to have reduced body burdens of viable L1210 cells by 16-77%.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of acyclic 3-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl] analogues of antiviral furo- and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides

The remarkably potent and specific activity against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) shown by 2'-deoxynucleosides of furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(3H)-one and related ring systems is dependent on key structural features including the length and nature of the side-chain at C6 and the structure and stereochemistry of the sugar moiety at N3. Removal of the 3'-hydroxyl group from potent anti-VZV 2'-deoxynucleosides results in loss of the VZV activity, but such 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues have shown anti-HCMV activity. We now report acyclic analogues with comparable side-chains at C6, but with the sugar moiety at N3 replaced with the (2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl group (present in the antiherpes drug acyclovir). Examples of both furo[2,3-d]- and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(3H)-one acyclic analogues were prepared and evaluated in a number of virus-infected cells and in tumor cell cultures. Certain of the long-chain analogues showed activity against VZV and HCMV. No significant activity against other DNA and RNA virus replication or against tumor cell proliferation was observed.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of 4-amino-5-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides

A number of nucleoside analogues have been either used clinically as anticancer drugs or evaluated in clinical studies, while new nucleoside analogues continue to show promise. In this article, we report synthesis and cytotoxicity of a series of new pyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides. 2-Amino-3-cyano-4-methoxypyridine was converted, in two steps, to 4-amino-5-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine. A variety of 1-O-acetylated pentose sugar derivatives were condensed with silylated 4-amino-5-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, followed by protection, to afford a series of 4-amino-5-oxopyrido[2, 3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides. Further derivatizations provided an additional group of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides. These nucleosides were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity to human prostate cancer (HTB-81) and mouse melanoma (B16) cells as well as normal human fibroblasts (NHF). A number of compounds (1a,b, 2a-c,f, 3f+4d) showed significant cytotoxicity to cancer cells, with 4-amino-5-oxo-8-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (1b) being the most potent proliferation inhibitor (EC(50): 0.06-0.08 microM) to all types of cells tested. However, a selective inhibition to the cancer cells was observed for 4-amino-5-oxo-8-(beta-D-xylofuranosyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (2b), which is a potent inhibitor of HTB-81 (EC(50): 0.73 microM) and has a favorable in vitro selectivity index (28).     

Synthesis and biological activities of 5-deaza analogues of aminopterin and folic acid

N-[p-[[(2,4-Diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6-yl)methyl] amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (1a, 5-deazaaminopterin) and the 5-methyl analogue (1b) were synthesized in 14 steps from 5-cyanouracil (4a) and 5-cyano-6-methyluracil (4b), respectively, by exploitation of the novel pyrimidine to pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring transformation reaction. The 5-cyanouracils 4 were treated with chloromethyl methyl ether to the 1,3-bis(methoxymethyl)uracils (5, which were treated with malononitrile in NaOEt/EtOH to give the pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 6. Diazotization of 6 in concentrated HCl afforded the 7-chloro derivatives 8 in high yield. After reduction of 8, the 7-unsubstituted products 9 were reduced in the presence of Ac2O and the products, 6-(acetamidomethyl)pyridopyrimidines 10, were converted into the 6-acetoxymethyl derivatives 12 via nitrosation. After removal of the N-methoxymethyl groups from 12, the 6-(acetoxymethyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 14 were converted into 2,4-diamino-6-(hydroxymethyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (15a) and its 5-methyl analogue 15b by the silylation-amination procedure. Compounds 15 were brominated to the 6-bromomethyl derivatives 16, which were treated with diethyl (p-aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamate, and the products 17 were saponified to afford 5-deazaaminopterin (1a) and its 5-methyl analogue 1b. Compound 1b was also prepared by an alternative procedure in 10 steps from cyanothioacetamide and ethyl beta-(ethoxymethylene)acetoacetate via 2,4-diamino-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (15b). 5-Deaza-5-methylfolic acid (2) was also prepared in four steps from 15b. The aminopterine analogues 1 showed significant anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo, whereas the folic acid analogue 2 did not exhibit any significant toxicity.     

Novel pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates: synthesis and antitumor activities.

New antifolates, characterized by a 6-5 fused ring system, a pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring, and a trimethylene bridge at position 5 (12a,b and 13a,b) were designed and efficiently synthesized. The synthetic method included (1) construction of the key intermediary acyclic skeleton, 5-[4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl]- 2-(dicyanomethyl)pentanoates (6a,b), (2) cyclization with guanidine, followed by reduction to the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives (8a,b and 9a,b), and (3) subsequent glutamate coupling and saponification. These antifolates were more growth-inhibitory by about 1 order of magnitude than methotrexate (MTX) against KB human epidermoid carcinoma cells and A549 human nonsmall cell lung carcinoma cells in in vitro culture. Growth inhibitory IC50 values for N-[4-[3-(2,4-diamino-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5- yl)propyl]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (12a) against KB and A549 were 0.27 and 4.5 ng/mL, while those for MTX were 5.0 and 35 ng/mL, respectively. Other members of this class of antifolates, 12b and 13a,b, showed good activities nearly equal to that of 12a.     

Adenosine deaminase inhibitors. Synthesis and biological evaluation of (+/-)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5-d] [1,3]diazepin-8-ol and some selected C-5 homologues of pentostatin

The synthesis of several analogues of (8R)-3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro- pentofuranosyl)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol (pentostatin, 1a) is described. Ring closure of 2-amino-1-(5-amino-1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethanone dihydrochloride (3) with triethyl orthoacetate or triethyl orthopropionate gave the C-5 methyl and ethyl ketoaglycons, 6,7-dihydro-5-methylimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (4b) and 5-ethyl-6,7-dihydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (4c), respectively. Stannic chloride catalyzed condensation of the pertrimethylsilyl derivatives of 4b and 4c with a protected glycosyl halide afforded anomeric mixtures of ketonucleosides 3-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-beta- and -alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-6,7-dihydro-5-methylimidazo[4,5-d] [1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (5b and 6b) and 3-(2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl)-beta- and -alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5-ethyl-6,7-dihydroimidazo[4,5-d]- [1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (5c and 6c), respectively. Subsequent separation of the anomers, followed by deprotection and reduction of 5b, 6b, and 5c, afforded the respective 8R and 8S isomers. Stannic chloride catalyzed condensation of pertrimethylsilyl ketoaglycon 4a with 2-(chloromethoxy)-1-(p-toluoyloxy) ethane to give ketonucleoside 6,7-dihydro-3-[[2-(p-toluoyloxy)ethoxy] methyl]imidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (9a) was followed by deprotection to 6,7-dihydro-3[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5-d][1,3] diazepin-8(3H)-one (9b) and then reduction to the racemic acyclic pentostatin analogue (+/-)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-[ (2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]imidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol (2). Ki values for the in vitro adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4; type I; calf intestinal mucosa) inhibitory activities of 1b, 1c, and 2 were determined to be 1.6 X 10(-8), 1.5 X 10(-6), and 9.8 X 10(-8) M, respectively. When compounds 2 and 9b were tested in combination with vidarabine against herpes simplex virus, type 1, in an HEp-2 plaque reduction assay, only compound 2 was able to potentiate the antiviral activity of vidarabine.     

Pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides, 1-[(2-Hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrimidines as candidate antivirals

A number of pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides were synthesized and tested for activity against herpes simplex virus type 1. Synthesis of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]cytosine (8) and 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]uracil (14) was accomplished in two or three steps from 2,4-diethoxypyrimidine and 2-(benzoyloxy)ethoxymethyl chloride. The 5-methyl (20), 5-(trifluoromethyl) (21), and 5-fluoro (22) analogues of 14 were available in two steps form the appropriate bis(trimethylsilyl)ated 5-substituted uracil and 2-(acetoxymethoxy)ethyl acetate or 2-(benzoyloxy)ethoxymethyl chloride. Bromination of 8 and 14 or iodination of 14 gave the 5-halogeno-1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrimidines 9, 23, and 24. These pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides exhibited little or no activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 or against a range of other DNA and RNA viruses. This is compatible with their lack of substrate properties toward herpes simplex virus induced thymidine kinase.     

Synthesis and antiallergy activity of 10-oxo-10H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines and 10-oxo-10H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3,4-d]pyrimidines

Synthesis and antiallergy activity of 10-oxo-10H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines (2 and 3) and 10-oxo-10H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3,4-d]pyrimidines (4 and 5) are described. The activity, shown by these compounds in the rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test, is compared to the PCA data previously reported for a series of 4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines. 10-Oxo-N-1H-tetrazol-5-yl-10H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3,4-d]pyri midine (2b), 10-oxo-7-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-10H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3,4-d]py rimidine (4e), and 3,10-dihydro-10-oxo-7-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[3, 4-d] pyrimidine (7e) gave a 100% inhibition in the rat PCA test at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The activity displayed by these compounds is comparable to that of the most active compounds in the 4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine series.     

Synthesis and discovery of high affinity folate receptor-specific glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase inhibitors with antitumor activity

6-Substituted classical pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with a three- to six-carbon bridge between the heterocycle and the benzoyl-L-glutamate (compounds 2-5, respectively) were synthesized starting from methyl 4-formylbenzoate and a Wittig reaction with the appropriate triphenylphosphonium bromide, followed by reduction and conversion to the alpha-bromomethylketones. Cyclocondensation of 2,4-diamino-4-oxopyrimidine with the alpha-bromoketones, coupling with diethyl-L-glutamate, and saponification afforded 2-5. Compounds 2-5 had negligible substrate activity for RFC but showed variably potent (nanomolar) and selective inhibitory activities toward Chinese hamster ovary cells that expressed FRalpha or FRbeta and toward FRalpha-expressing KB and IGROV1 human tumor cells. Inhibition of KB cell colony formation was also observed. Glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase (GARFTase) was identified as the primary intracellular target of the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines. The combined properties of selective FR targeting, lack of RFC transport, and GARFTase inhibition resulting in potent antitumor activity are unprecedented and warrant development of these analogues as antitumor agents.     

Nucleic acid related compounds. 51. Synthesis and biological properties of sugar-modified analogues of the nucleoside antibiotics tubercidin, toyocamycin, sangivamycin, and formycin

Treatment of 7-amino-3-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine (formycin) with alpha-acetoxyisobutyryl bromide followed by deprotection of the resulting trans-vicinal acetoxy bromides and hydrogenolysis of the separated bromohydrins gave 2'-deoxy-(23%) and 3'-deoxyformycin (32%) after complete deprotection and purification of their hydrochloride salts. An analogous sequence gave 3'-deoxytoyocamycin and/or 3'-deoxysangivamycin in approximately 80% yields from toyocamycin. Antiviral, antineoplastic, and antimetabolic effects were evaluated for the formycin compounds and 4-amino-7-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (tubercidin), its 5-cyano- (toyocamycin), and 5-carbamoyl-(sangivamycin) antibiotic congeners in comparison with their 2'-deoxy, 3'-deoxy, and arabino analogues. In all cases, the modified-sugar compounds were less cytotoxic than the parent antibiotics. The majority also exhibited lower antiviral potency. However, the xylo-tubercidin analogue retained potent antiherpes 1 and 2 activity with decreased cytotoxicity. Labeled metabolite studies suggested that effects of these compounds on RNA and/or protein synthesis might be more significant than interference with DNA synthesis.