1,3-Dialkyl-8-(p-sulfophenyl)xanthines: potent water-soluble antagonists for A1- and A2-adenosine receptors

A series of 8-(substituted phenyl) derivatives of theophylline and other 1,3-dialkylxanthines were evaluated for potency and selectivity as antagonists at A1- and A2-adenosine receptors in brain tissue. Theophylline has a similar potency (Ki = 14 microM) at both A1 and A2 receptors. 8-Phenyltheophylline is 25-35-fold more potent as an adenosine receptor antagonist than theophylline, while 8-phenylcaffeine is only 2-3-fold more potent than caffeine. A p-hydroxyaryl substituent enhances the potency of 8-phenyltheophylline as an adenosine antagonist. p-Carboxy- and p-sulfoaryl substituents reduce potency of 8-phenyltheophylline, yielding water-soluble adenosine antagonists, which are some 2-5-fold more potent than theophylline at adenosine receptors. None of the 8-(substituted phenyl)theophyllines are particularly selective as antagonists toward A1- and A2-adenosine receptors. 1,3-Dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine represents a potent and somewhat selective A1-receptor antagonist about 23-fold more potent at A1 receptors than at A2 receptors. A p-hydroxyaryl substituent further enhances potency of the 1,3-dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine at both A1 and A2 receptors. The 8-(2-amino-4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine is a very potent and selective antagonist for A1 receptors, being nearly 400-fold more potent at A1 than at A2 receptors. The water-soluble 8-(p-sulfophenyl)- and 8-(p-carboxyphenyl)-1,3-propylxanthines no longer exhibit marked selectivity. Both compounds are much more potent as adenosine antagonists than theophylline. The striking selectivity of 1-isoamyl-3-isobutylxanthine as an A1 antagonist is retained in the 8-phenyl derivative but is virtually lost in the 8-p-sulfophenyl derivative.     

Effects of 8-phenyl and 8-cycloalkyl substituents on the activity of mono-, di-, and trisubstituted alkylxanthines with substitution at the 1-, 3-, and 7-positions

The effects of 8-phenyl and 8-cycloalkyl substituents on the activity of theophylline, caffeine, 1,3-dipropylxanthine, 1,3-dipropyl-7-methylxanthine, 3-propylxanthine, and 1-propylxanthine at A1 adenosine receptors of rat brain and fat cells and at A2 adenosine receptors of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and human platelets are compared. An 8-phenyl substituent has little effect on the activity of caffeine or 1,3-dipropyl-7-methylxanthine at adenosine receptors, while markedly increasing activity of theophylline, 1,3-dipropylxanthine, 1-isoamyl-3-isobutylxanthine, 1-methylxanthine, and 3-propylxanthine. 8-Phenyl-1-propylxanthine is potent (Ki = 20-70 nM) at all receptors. A p-carboxy or p-sulfo substituent, which is introduced on the 8-phenyl ring to increase water solubility, in most cases decreases the activity and selectivity for the A1 receptor. Among the 8-p-sulfo analogues, only 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline and 1,3-dipropyl-8-(p-sulfophenyl)xanthine are selective for the A1 receptors. 8-p-Sulfophenyl derivatives of caffeine, 1,3-dipropyl-7-methylxanthine, and 3-propylxanthine are somewhat selective for the A2 receptors. 8-Cycloalkyl substituents (cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl) markedly increase activity of caffeine and 1,3-dipropyl-7-methylxanthine at the A2 receptor. 8-Cyclohexylcaffeine is potent (Ki = 190 nM) and very selective for the human platelet A2 receptors, but is not as selective for the rat PC12 cell A2 receptor. Such A2 selectivity is in contrast to the marked A1 selectivity of 8-cycloalkyltheophyllines and 8-cycloalkyl-1,3-dipropulxanthines. The apparent selectivity of certain xanthines is dependent on the assay systems that are compared.     

Functionalized congeners of 1,3-dialkylxanthines: preparation of analogues with high affinity for adenosine receptors

A series of functionalized congeners of 1,3-dialkylxanthines has been prepared as adenosine receptor antagonists. On the basis of the high potency of 8-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-dialkylxanthines, the parent compounds were 8-[4-[(carboxymethyl)oxy]phenyl] derivatives of theophylline and 1,3-dipropylxanthine. A series of analogues including esters of ethanol and N-hydroxysuccinimide, amides, a hydrazide, an acylurea, and anilides were prepared. The potency in blocking A1-adenosine receptors (inhibition of binding of N6-[3H]cyclohexyladenosine to brain membranes) and A2-adenosine receptors (inhibition of 2-chloroadenosine-elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP in brain slices) was markedly affected by structural changes distal to the primary pharmacophore (8-phenyl-1,3-dialkylxanthine). Potencies in the dipropyl series at the A1 receptor ranged from Ki values of 1.2 nM for a congener with a terminal amidoethyleneamine moiety to a Ki value of 58 nM for the parent carboxylic acid to a Ki of 96 nM for the bulky ureido congener. Certain congeners were up to 145-fold more active at A1 receptors than at A2 receptors. Various derivatives of the congeners should be useful as receptor probes and for radioiodination, avidin binding, and preparation of affinity columns.     

Structure-activity relationships of 8-cycloalkyl-1,3-dipropylxanthines as antagonists of adenosine receptors.

8-Substituted xanthines currently represent the most potent class of adenosine-receptor antagonists. A series of 8-substituted 1,3-dipropylxanthines was prepared and their potency as antagonists of A1 and A2 adenosine receptors of human platelets and rat adipocytes, respectively, were determined. No agents studied were as potent as 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine as antagonists of the A1 adenosine receptor, but 8-(2-methylcyclopropyl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine was at least 1000-fold more potent as an antagonist of A1 than of A2 adenosine receptors. While most substitutions on the 8-cycloalkyl moiety caused decreased potency to inhibit both A1 and A2 adenosine receptors, 8-[trans-4-(acetamidomethyl)cyclohexyl]-1,3-dipropylxanthine was nearly equipotent as an antagonist of the two receptors and appeared to be the most potent antagonist of A2 adenosine receptors reported to date.     

Analogues of 1,3-dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine: enhancement of selectivity at A1-adenosine receptors by aryl substituents

The effect of a variety of aryl substituents on the potency and selectivity of 19 analogues of 1,3-dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine as antagonists at A1- and A2-adenosine receptors in brain tissue was determined. The 4-sulfamoylphenyl and 4-carbamoylphenyl analogues are potent and somewhat selective for the A1 receptor. None of the dihydroxyphenyl analogues are remarkably potent, but all are selective for the A1 receptor. 1,3-Dipropyl-8-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)xanthine is the most selective A1 antagonist of the analogues with a A1/A2 potency ratio of about 90.     

Analogues of caffeine and theophylline: effect of structural alterations on affinity at adenosine receptors

A variety of analogues of caffeine and theophylline in which the 1-,3-, and 7-methyl substituents have been replaced with n-propyl, allyl, propargyl, and isobutyl and, in a few cases, with chloroethyl, hydroxyethyl, or benzyl were assessed for potency and selectivity as antagonists at A1- and A2-adenosine receptors in brain tissue. Caffeine and theophylline are nonselective for these receptors. Nearly all of the 22 analogues of caffeine are more potent than caffeine itself at adenosine receptors. Replacement of the 1-methyl moiety with n-propyl, allyl, or propargyl substituent has little effect on potency at the A1 receptor while enhancing potency about 7- to 10-fold at the A2 receptor. 3,7-Di-methyl-1-propylxanthine is only slightly (1.4-fold) more potent than caffeine at the A1 receptor while being 10-fold more potent at the A2 receptor. 1,3-Di-n-propyl-7-methylxanthine is also selective for the A2 receptor, being 8-fold more potent than caffeine at the A1 receptor and 40-fold more potent at the A2 receptor. A number of other caffeine analogues including 3,7-dimethyl-1-n-propylxanthine, 7-allyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine, and 1,3-dimethyl-7-propargylxanthine are also somewhat selective for the A2 receptor. The most potent caffeine analogue was 1,3-di-n-propyl-7-propargylxanthine, which was about 100-fold more potent than caffeine at both A1 and A2 receptors. The 10 theophylline analogues were relatively nonselective except for the 1-ethyl analogue and the 1,3-diallyl analogue, which were selective for the A2 receptor, and the 1,3-di-n-propyl, 1,3-diisobutyl, and 1,3-dibenzyl analogues, which were somewhat selective for the A1 receptor. 1,3-Di-n-propylxanthine was 20-fold more potent than theophylline at the A1 receptor and 5-fold more potent at the A2 receptor.     

Potent adenosine receptor antagonists that are selective for the A1 receptor subtype

The xanthines currently represent the most potent class of adenosine receptor antagonists. However, known derivatives of xanthine show little difference in antagonist potency between the two putative adenosine receptor subtypes, A1 and A2. We conducted a systematic study of xanthine structure-activity relationships that compared antagonist potency at the A1 receptor of adipocytes with potency at the A2 receptor of platelets. Since adenosine receptors are coupled to adenylate cyclase in these tissues, inhibition of adenylate cyclase via A1 receptors and stimulation via A2 receptors were used as models of receptor activation. Antagonist potency was quantitated by Schild analysis, which yields an estimate of affinity (Ki) for the drug-receptor interaction. Ki values of a series of xanthine analogues enabled us to identify structural modifications than enhanced antagonist selectivity for one receptor subtype over the other. We found that changes in the substituent at position 8 of the xanthine nucleus influenced antagonist potency at the A1 adenosine receptor more than at the A2 receptor. In particular, an 8-cyclohexyl or 8-cyclopentyl substituent promoted antagonist selectivity for the A1 receptor subtype. Thus, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine had comparatively high affinity (Ki = 0.47 +/- 2 nM) at the A1 receptor, and was roughly 150-fold more potent as an antagonist of the A1- than of the A2-adenosine receptor subtype. In addition, the cycloalkylxanthines were relatively ineffective as inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases when used at concentrations that produced marked adenosine receptor antagonism.     

Functionalized congeners of adenosine: preparation of analogues with high affinity for A1-adenosine receptors

A series of functionalized congeners of adenosine based on N6-phenyladenosine, a potent A1-adenosine receptor against, was synthesized. Derivatives of the various congeners should be useful as receptor and histochemical probes and for the preparation of radioligands and affinity columns or as targeted drugs. N6-[4-(Carboxymethyl)phenyl]adenosine served as the starting point for synthesis of the methyl ester, the methyl amide, the ethyl glycinate, and various substituted anilides. One of the latter, N6-[4-[[[4-(carbomethoxymethyl)anilino]carbonyl]methyl]phenyl] adenosine, served as the starting point for the synthesis of another series of congeners including the methyl amide, the hydrazide, and the aminoethyl amide. The terminal amino function of the last congener was acylated to provide further analogues. The various congeners were potent competitive antagonists of binding of N6-[3H]cyclohexyladenosine to A1-adenosine receptors in rat cerebral cortical membranes. The affinity of the congener for the A1 receptor was highly dependent on the nature of the spacer group and the terminal moiety with Ki values ranging 1-100 nM. A biotinylated analogue had a Ki value of 11 nM. A conjugate derived from the Bolton-Hunter reagent had a Ki value of 4.5 nM. The most potent congener contained a terminal [(aminoethyl)amino]carbonyl function and had a Ki value of less than 1 nM.     

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 112. 2-(1-Hexyn-1-yl)adenosine-5'-uronamides: a new entry of selective A2 adenosine receptor agonists with potent antihypertensive activity.

Chemical modifications of the potent A2 adenosine receptor agonist 2-(1-hexyn-1-yl)adenosine (7, 2-HA) at the 5'-position have been carried out to find more potent and selective A2 agonists. These analogues were evaluated for adenosine A1 and A2 receptor binding affinity in rat brain tissues and antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Among the series of compounds, 2-(1-hexyn-1-yl)adenosine-5'-N-cyclopropyluronamide (16d) had the most potent affinity to the A2 receptor with a Ki of 2.6 nM, which is essentially the same as that of the parent agonist, 2-HA. However, the most selective agonist for the A2 receptor was 2-(1-hexyn-1-yl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (16b) with a Ki of 11 nM and a 162-fold selectivity. The N-alkyl substituents of 5'-uronamide derivatives did not seem to potentiate the A2 binding affinity but drastically reduced the A1 affinity compared with the parent 2-HA. Therefore, the A1/A2 selectivity was consequently increased. Other 5'-deoxy-5'-substituted derivatives of 2-HA such as the chloro (20), carboxamide (27, 28), sulfonamide (29), urea (30), and thiourea (22) analogues were also prepared. Among these nucleosides, no active compounds with potent or selective affinities to both receptors were found except 20. Although glycosyl conformations and sugar-puckering of these nucleosides were studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy, there were no positive correlations between active and inactive agonists. 2-(1-Hexyn-1-yl)adenosine-5'-uronamide (16a) and 16d had a potent hypotensive effect at ED30 values of 0.18 and 0.17 micrograms/kg, respectively, upon iv administration to anesthetized SHR.     

Anilide derivatives of an 8-phenylxanthine carboxylic congener are highly potent and selective antagonists at human A(2B) adenosine receptors

No highly selective antagonists of the A(2B) adenosine receptor (AR) have been reported; however such antagonists have therapeutic potential as antiasthmatic agents. Here we report the synthesis of potent and selective A(2B) receptor antagonists. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of 8-phenyl-1, 3-di-(n-propyl)xanthine derivatives in binding to recombinant human A(2B) ARs in HEK-293 cells (HEK-A(2B)) and at other AR subtypes were explored. Various amide derivatives of 8-[4-[[carboxymethyl]oxy]phenyl]-1,3-di-(n-propyl)xanthine, 4a, were synthesized. A comparison of aryl, alkyl, and aralkyl amides demonstrated that simple anilides, particularly those substituted in the para-position with electron-withdrawing groups, such as nitro, cyano, and acetyl, bind selectively to human A(2B) receptors in the range of 1-3 nM. The unsubstituted anilide 12 had a K(i) value at A(2B) receptors of 1.48 nM but was only moderately selective versus human A(1)/A(2A) receptors and nonselective versus rat A(1) receptors. Highly potent and selective A(2B) antagonists were a p-aminoacetophenone derivative 20 (K(i) value 1.39 nM) and ap-cyanoanilide 27 (K(i) value 1.97 nM). Compound 27 was 400-, 245-, and 123-fold selective for human A(2B) receptors versus human A(1)/A(2A)/A(3) receptors, respectively, and 8.5- and 310-fold selective versus rat A(1)/A(2A) receptors, respectively. Substitution of the 1,3-dipropyl groups with 1,3-diethyl offered no disadvantage for selectivity, and high affinities at A(2B) receptors were maintained. Substitution of the p-carboxymethyloxy group of 4a and its amides with acrylic acid decreased affinity at A(2B) receptors while increasing affinity at A(1) receptors. 1, 3-Di(cyclohexylmethyl) groups greatly reduced affinity at ARs, although the p-carboxymethyloxy derivative 9 was moderately selective for A(2B) receptors. Several selective A(2B) antagonists inhibited NECA-stimulated calcium mobilization in HEK-A(2B) cells.     

1,8-disubstituted xanthine derivatives: synthesis of potent A2B-selective adenosine receptor antagonists

3-Unsubstituted xanthine derivatives bearing a cyclopentyl or a phenyl residue in the 8-position were synthesized and developed as A2B adenosine receptor antagonists. Compounds bearing polar substituents were prepared to obtain water-soluble derivatives. 1-Alkyl-8-phenylxanthine derivatives were found to exhibit high affinity for A2B adenosine receptors (ARs). 1,8-disubstituted xanthine derivatives were equipotent to or more potent than 1,3,8-trisubstituted xanthines at A2B ARs, but generally less potent at A1 and A2A, and much less potent at A3 ARs. Thus, the new compounds exhibited increased A2B selectivity versus all other AR subtypes. 9-Deazaxanthines (pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidindiones) appeared to be less potent at A2B ARs than the corresponding xanthine derivatives. 1-Propyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine (17) was the most selective compound of the present series, exhibiting a K(i) value of 53 nM at human A2B ARs and showing greater than 180-fold selectivity versus human A1 ARs. Compound 17 was also highly selective versus rat A1 ARs (41-fold) and versus the other human AR subtypes (A2A > 400-fold and A3 > 180-fold). The compound is highly water-soluble due to its sulfonate function. 1-Butyl-8-p-carboxyphenylxanthine (10), another polar analogue bearing a carboxylate function, exhibited a K(i) value of 24 nM for A2B ARs, 49-fold selectivity versus human and 20-fold selectivity versus rat A1 ARs, and greater than 150-fold selectivity versus human A2A and A3 ARs. 8-[4-(2-Hydroxyethylamino)-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl]-1-propylxanthine (29) and 1-butyl-8-[4-(4-benzyl)piperazino-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl]xanthine (35) were among the most potent A2B antagonists showing K(i) values at A2B ARs of 1 nM, 57-fold (29) and 94-fold (35) selectivity versus human A1, ca. 30-fold selectivity versus rat A1, and greater than 400-fold selectivity versus human A2A and A3 ARs. The new potent, selective, water-soluble A2B antagonists may be useful research tools for investigating A2B receptor function.     

Mapping the xanthine C8-region of the adenosine A1 receptor with computer graphics

Substitution at the 8-position of 1,3-dipropylxanthines can lead to very potent and selective adenosine A1 antagonists. The xanthine C8-region was investigated in this study, using CAMM (computer-assisted molecular modeling). This region can be divided into two subregions with a considerable overlap in volume: a phenyl region which binds the flat substituents and a cycloalkyl region which binds the other substituents. The 8-phenyl-substituted derivatives bind with an N9-C8-Cl'-C2' dihedral angle of 220 degrees; this dihedral angle is 330 degrees for the 8-cycloalkyl-substituted derivatives. The lower affinity of C8-substituted 7-methyl-1,3-dipropylxanthines can be explained quantitatively with steric hindrance, which C8-substituents experience from the 7-methyl group in these conformations. The substitution pattern determines the affinity for 8-phenyl-substituted compounds for which the energy cost to reach the dihedral angle of 220 degrees is low, but has little influence otherwise. The affinity of the 8-cycloalkyl-1,3-dipropylxanthines is mainly volume dependent, because of a forbidden area near the cycloalkyl region.     

8-Substituted analogues of 3-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxy-benzyl)-8-isopropyl-adenine: highly potent and selective PDE4 inhibitors

3-(3-Cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxy-benzyl)-8-isopropyl-adenine V11294 (1) has been identified as a lead structure, which selectively inhibits human lung PDE4 (436 nM) and is also active in a number of in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation. Here we describe the synthesis and pharmacology of a series of highly potent 8-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-substituted analogues, with potencies in the range 10-300 nM. In addition, several compounds showed interesting PDE4 subtype specificities, for example, the 3-thienyl derivative 5v, which showed 6-10 nM potency at PDE4B, D3, and D5 and a 20- to 200-fold selectivity over A and D2, respectively.     

Potent and orally bioavailable 8-bicyclo[2.2.2]octylxanthines as adenosine A1 receptor antagonists

In the search for a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist with greater aqueous solubility than the compounds currently in clinical trials as diuretics, a series of 1,4-substituted 8-cyclohexyl and 8-bicyclo[2.2.2]octylxanthines were investigated. The binding affinities of a variety of cyclohexyl and bicyclo[2.2.2]octylxanthines for the rat and human adenosine A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors are presented. Bicyclo[2.2.2]octylxanthine 16 exhibited good pharmaceutical properties and in vivo activity in a rat diuresis model (ED50=0.3 mg/kg po). Optimization of the bridgehead substituent led to propionic acid 29 (BG9928), which retained high potency (hA1, Ki=7 nM) and selectivity for the adenosine A1 receptor (915-fold versus adenosine A2A receptor; 12-fold versus adenosine A2B receptor) with improved oral efficacy in the rat diuresis model (ED50=0.01 mg/kg) as well as high oral bioavailability in rat, dog, and cynomolgus monkey.     

Xanthine functionalized congeners as potent ligands at A2-adenosine receptors

Amide derivatives of a carboxylic acid congener of 1,3-dialkylxanthine, having a 4-[(carboxymethyl)oxy]phenyl substituent at the 8-position, have been synthesized in order to identify potent antagonists at A2-adenosine receptors stimulatory to adenylate cyclase in platelets. Distal structural features of amide-linked chains and the size of the 1,3-dialkyl groups have been varied. 1,3-Diethyl groups, more than 1,3-dimethyl or 1,3-dipropyl groups, favor A2 potency, even in the presence of extended chains attached at the 8-(p-substituted-phenyl) position. Polar groups, such as amines, on the chain simultaneously enhance water solubility and A2 potency. Among the most potent A2 ligands are an amine congener, 8-[4-[[[[(2-aminoethyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]oxy]phenyl]- 1,3-diethylxanthine, and its D-lysyl conjugate, which have KB values of 21 and 23 nM, respectively, for the antagonism of N-ethyl-adenosine-5'-uronamide-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in human platelet membranes. Strategies for the selection and tritiation of new radioligands for use in competitive binding assays at A2-adenosine receptors have been considered.     

7-Deaza-2-phenyladenines: structure-activity relationships of potent A1 selective adenosine receptor antagonists

A series of derivatives of 7-deazapurines with varying substituents in the 2-, 6-, and 9-position was synthesized in an attempt to improve the adenosine receptor affinity and A1 or A2 selectivity. The adenosine receptor affinities were assessed by measuring the inhibition of [3H]-(R)-N6-(phenylisopropyl) adenosine (R-PIA) binding to rat brain A1 and inhibition of [3H]-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA) binding to rat striatum A2 adenosine receptors. A selected set of compounds representing the main structural variations was further examined in adenosine receptor coupled adenylate cyclase assays. All tested compounds antagonized the inhibition of adenylate cyclase elicited by interaction of R-PIA with A1 receptors in rat fat cell membranes and the activation of adenylate cyclase elicited by interaction of NECA with A2 receptors of pheochromocytoma PC12 cell membranes. The results indicate that 7-deazahypoxanthines have a potential for A2 selectivity, while all 7-deazaadenines are A1 selective. Introduction of a phenyl residue in the 2-position of 7-deazaadenines increases A1 activity tremendously. 2-(p-Chlorophenyl)-7,8-dimethyl-9-phenyl-7-deazaadenine (29) is potent and specific for the A1 receptors of rat brain (Ki = 122 nM), having no affinity for the A2 receptors of rat striatum. The compound has low activity at the A2 receptors of rat PC12 cell membranes where it appears to act as a noncompetitive inhibitor. A 1-phenylethyl substituent at the 9-position was found to be superior to a phenyl residue in terms of A1 affinity. The most potent A1 antagonist in the present series is the highly A1 selective (790-fold) (R)-7,8-dimethyl-2-phenyl-9-(1-phenylethyl)-7-deazaadenine (31, Ki = 4.7 nM), which is 30-35 times more potent at A1 receptors than its S enantiomer. The solubility of six of the potent 7-deaza-2-phenyladenines was determined by means of an A1 binding assay. Chloro substitution of the 2-phenyl ring appeared to improve the solubility as well as the solubility over A1 affinity ratio of 9-phenyl- and 9-(1-phenylethyl)-substituted 7-deazadenines.     

Development of spin-labeled probes for adenosine receptors

Functionalized xanthine derivatives bearing a nitroxide moiety at the 3- or 8-position were synthesized as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) probes. The 8-cyclopentyl-1-propylxanthine derivative 4, spin-labeled at N3 by substitution with a nitroxide-bearing dihydropyrrole moiety, was a potent and selective A(1) adenosine receptor antagonist (K(i) for A(1) 5.5 nM, 1600-fold selectivity vs A(2A), >200-fold vs A(2B), and 310-fold vs A(3) adenosine receptors). 8-(1-Oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine 10 (K(i) for A(1) 8.2 nM) was similarly potent and selective, while 8-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine 11 (K(i) for A(1) 160 nM) exhibited significantly lower affinity for A(1) adenosine receptors. 8-[4-(((1-Oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)amino)-2-oxoethoxy)phenyl]-1-propylxanthine14, a 3-unsubstituted xanthine derivative, was found to be a potent A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonist (K(i) for A(2B) 48 nM) but also exhibited high affinity for A(1) receptors (K(i) for A(1) 15.7 nM). An X-ray structure of compound 10 was obtained, confirming the proposed structure. The novel spin-labeled A(1)-selective or A(1)/A(2B)-nonselective adenosine receptor antagonists may become useful probes for biophysicochemical investigations of adenosine receptors in their membrane environment.     

Synthesis, specificity, and antifungal activity of inhibitors of the Candida albicans delta 24-sterol methyltransferase.

A series of side chain modified analogues of cholesterol and lanosterol (1-10) have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the Candida albicans delta 24-sterol methyltransferase. Two sterol substrate analogues 1 and 2 which contained a 24-thia substituent were relatively modest inhibitors of the enzyme (Ki = 1.5-72 microM). Compounds which mimic the carbocation intermediates proposed for the methyltransferase reaction, including sulfonium salts 4-6, amidines 7 and 8, and imidazoles 9 and 10 were substantially more potent inhibitors (Ki = 5-500 nM). All of the sterol analogues examined displayed less than 10-fold selectivity for inhibition of the methyltransferase versus the rat liver delta 24-sterol reductase. The sterol analogues were tested for in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Torulopsis glabrata. The minimum inhibitory concentrations versus C. albicans correlated well with the Ki values for methyltransferase inhibition, and the potency of several compounds approached that of amphotericin B, although only modest fungicidal activity was observed.     

Synthesis and dopamine receptor affinities of N-alkyl-11-hydroxy-2-methoxynoraporphines: N-alkyl substituents determine D1 versus D2 receptor selectivity

We developed a procedure to synthesize a series of N-alkyl-2-methoxy-11-hydroxynoraporphines from thebaine and evaluated their binding affinities at dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in rat forebrain tissue. At D2 receptors, the most potent 10,11-catechol-aporphine was (R)-(-)-2-methoxy-N-n-propylnorapomorphine (D2, Ki = 1.3 nM; D1, Ki = 6450 nM), and the most selective and potent 11-monohydroxy aporphine was (R)-(-)-2-methoxy-11-hydroxy-N-n-propylnoraporphine (D2, Ki = 44 nM; D1, Ki = 1690 nM). In contrast, the N-methyl congeners (R)-(-)-2-methoxy-11-hydroxy-N-methyl-aporphine (D1 vs D2, Ki = 46 vs 235 nM) showed higher D1 than D2 affinity, indicating that N-alkyl substituents have major effects on D2 affinity and D2/D1 selectivity in such 2-methoxy-11-monohydroxy-substituted aporphines.     

Synthesis, CoMFA analysis, and receptor docking of 3,5-diacyl-2, 4-dialkylpyridine derivatives as selective A3 adenosine receptor antagonists

3,5-Diacyl-2,4-dialkyl-6-phenylpyridine derivatives have been found to be selective antagonists at both human and rat A3 adenosine receptors (Li et al. J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 3186-3201). In the present study, ring-constrained, fluoro, hydroxy, and other derivatives in this series have been synthesized and tested for affinity at adenosine receptors in radioligand binding assays. Ki values at recombinant human and rat A3 adenosine receptors were determined using [125I]AB-MECA (N6-(4-amino-3-iodobenzyl)-5'-N-methylcarbamoyladenosine). Selectivity for A3 adenosine receptors was determined vs radioligand binding at rat brain A1 and A2A receptors, and structure-activity relationships at various positions of the pyridine ring (the 3- and 5-acyl substituents and the 2- and 4-alkyl substituents) were probed. At the 5-position inclusion of a beta-fluoroethyl (7) or a gamma-fluoropropyl ester (26) was favorable for human A3 receptor affinity, resulting in Ki values of 4.2 and 9.7 nM, respectively, while the pentafluoropropyl analogue was clearly less potent at human A3 receptors. At the 2-, 3-, and 4-positions, fluoro or hydroxy substitution failed to enhance potency and selectivity at human A3 receptors. Several analogues were nearly equipotent at rat and human A3 receptors. To further define the pharmacophore conformationally, a lactam, a lactone, and thiolactones were tested in adenosine receptor binding. The most potent analogue in this group was compound 34, in which a thiolactone was formed between 3- and 4-positions and which had a Ki value of 248 nM at human A3 receptors. Using affinity data and a general pharmacophore model for A3 adenosine receptor antagonists recently proposed, we applied comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) to obtain a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship for pyridine derivatives, having good predictability (r2pred = 0.873) for compounds in the test set. A rhodopsin-based model of the human A3 receptor was built, and the pyridine reference ligand 2,3,4, 5-tetraethyl-6-phenyl-pyridine-3-thiocarboxylate-5-carboxylate (MRS 1476) was docked in the putative ligand binding site. Interactions between receptor transmembrane domains and the steric and the electrostatic contour plots obtained from the CoMFA analysis were analyzed.