Sodium channel binding and anticonvulsant activities of hydantoins containing conformationally constrained 5-phenyl substituents

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of β-Carboline Analogues Containing Hydantoin, Thiohydantoin, and Urea Moieties

A series of novel β-carboline derivatives was designed by combining the anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) lead compound tetrahydro-β-carboline ester with the hydantoin, thiohydantoin, and urea motifs. These derivatives were synthesized from tetrahydro-β-carboline ester via a structural diversity-oriented synthesis in one step, and their biological activities were evaluated. Most of the derivatives exhibited anti-TMV activity higher than that of commercial plant virucide ribavirin, such as compounds 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 15, 16, 19, and 21. Compared with the lead compounds, some of these derivatives showed good insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella and Culex pipiens pallens. At the same time, these derivatives also showed broad-spectrum fungicidal activity. The systematic study provides strong evidence that the hydantoin, thiohydantoin, and urea motifs of these molecules can improve and modulate the activities of the analogues of natural products.

Solvent effects on the structure-property relationship of anticonvulsant hydantoin derivatives: A solvatochromic analysis

Considering the pharmaceutical importance of hydantoins, a set of 25 derivatives of phenytoin, nirvanol and 5-methyl-5-phenylhydantoin, the lipophilicities of which were gradually increased by the introduction of different alkyl, cycloalkyl and alkenyl groups in position N3, was synthesized. Their properties under consideration were either estimated empirically, by UV/Vis spectroscopy, or calculated using established medicinal chemistry software. The UV absorption spectra of the investigated compounds were recorded in the region from 200 to 400 nm, in selected solvents of different polarities. The effects of solvent dipolarity/polarizability and solvent-solute hydrogen bonding interactions were analyzed by means of the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) concept proposed by Kamlet and Taft. Furthermore, the relationships between solvent-solute interactions and selected structural features of the solutes, which are believed to markedly affect the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMETox), were discussed. Satisfactory correlations were found between hydrogen bonding properties and solute size and the in silico calculated bioactivity descriptors, in particular %Abs. (human intestinal absorption), log BB (blood-brain barrier permeation) and log k_A (protein binding affinities) parameters. In view of the results of this study, the investigated hydantoin derivatives met the pharmacokinetic criteria for pre-selection as drug candidates and qualified them for the pharmacodynamic phase of antiepileptic drug development.

Succinimides: Synthesis, properties and anticonvulsant activity

Succinimide is a cycle imide of succinic acid that is present in numerous biologically active compounds including anticonvulsants, antitremor, anti-Parkinson`s agents. This paper describes different ways of synthesis of succinimide-derivatives their physical properties and reactivity. Also, the most widely used succinimide anticonvulsants and the analysis of structure-activity relationships of anticonvulsant drugs in terms of lipophilicity and hydrogen bonding are presented here.

Hydantoins: Synthesis, properties and anticonvulsant activity

Hydantoin is a five-membered cyclic ureide that is present in numerous biologically active compounds including antiarrhytmics, anticonvulsants and antitumor agents. This paper describes different ways of synthesis of hydantoin-derivatives, their physical properties and reactivity. Also, the most widely used hydantoin anticonvulsants and the analysis of structureactivity relationships of anticonvulsant drugs in terms of lipophilicity and hydrogen bonding are presented here.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of Tic-hydantoin derivatives as selective sigma1 ligands. Part 1

Herein is described a new class of selective sigma1 ligands consisting of tetrahydroisoquinoline-hydantoin (Tic-hydantoin) derivatives. Compound 3a has high affinity (IC50 = 16 nM) for the sigma1 receptor and is selective in a large panel of therapeutic targets. This first study presents structural changes around the Tic-hydantoin core, leading to a Tic-hydantoin analogue with a higher sigma1 affinity (IC50 approximately 1 nM).

Synthesis, structure-activity relationship of some new anti-arrhythmic 5-arylidene imidazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives

The synthesis of unsubstituted and halogen substituted 5-arylidene basic amide derivatives of imidazolidine-2,4-dione is described. Structural elucidation based on X-ray analysis was performed for four representative compounds. The effect of the studied compounds on the electrocardiogram was examined in vitro in the non-working heart perfusion test and that of an anti-arrhythmic activity in the rat coronary artery ligation-reperfusion model. The most active compound: (5Z)-(3-chloro)benzylidene-3-{2-[4-(hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl}imidazolidine-2,4-dione has shown properties of the compounds belonging to class Ia, according to the Vaughan Williams classification. Chosen compounds evaluated in vivo were devoid of anticonvulsant and neurotoxical activity.

Voltage-gated sodium channels in epilepsy

Animal experiments, and particularly functional investigations on human chronically epileptic tissue as well as genetic studies in epilepsy patients and their families strongly suggest that some forms of epilepsy may share a pathogenetic mechanism: an alteration of voltage-gated sodium channels. This review summarizes recent data on changes of sodium channel expression, molecular structure and function associated with epilepsy, as well as on the interaction of new and established antiepileptic drugs with sodium currents. Although it remains to be determined precisely how and to what extent altered sodium-channel functions play a role in different epilepsy syndromes, future promising therapy approaches may include drugs modulating sodium currents, and particularly substances changing their inactivation characteristics.

[Development and application of enantioselective Lewis acid-Lewis base bifunctional catalyst]

The design, synthesis, and application of a new bifunctional enantioselective catalyst containing both Lewis acidity and Lewis basicity are described. Recent developments of chiral quaternary stereocenter synthesis through catalytic enantioselective Reissert-type reaction and cyanosilylation of ketones forming the S-enantiomer are chiefly reviewed. The catalysts are composed of a Lewis acid metal (aluminum, titanium, or lanthanide) and a Lewis base (the oxygen atom of a phosphine oxide), of which positions are defined by 2,2'-binaphthol (BINOL) or a carbohydrate scaffold. Utilizing these catalysts, we have developed a variety of enantioselective cyanation reactions, such as cyanosilylation of aldehydes and ketones, Strecker-type reaction, and Reissert-type reaction. These reactions showed a broad substrate generality. Investigations toward the elucidation of the reaction mechanism, involving kinetic studies, comparison of the results by control catalysts, and absolute configurations of the products, revealed that these reactions are catalyzed by a dual activation of a substrate and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) by the Lewis acid and the Lewis base of these catalysts. Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of several drug lead compounds, such as anti-cancer epothilones, potent N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, phenytoin analogs, salsolinol carboxylic acid, and anti-cancer camptothecin was achieved, using these reactions as key steps.

Preparation of a 990-member chemical compound library of hydantoin- and isoxazoline-containing heterocycles using multipin technology

The development of a useful chemistry for the construction of polyfunctional heterocycles--first through solution and solid phase (resins) and then library production via SynPhase crowns--is reported. Bead-based synthetic work was done on Merrifield resin where treatment with benzylamine in the presence of DBU followed by reaction with 4-chloromethylbenzoyl chloride afforded amide-linked resin 9. Finally, TFA.NH2-polystyrene macro crowns were derivatized with 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzoic acid to afford pin 14 which was coupled with Boc-protected amino acid 2 in the presence of DIC to deliver pin 15. Deprotection and reaction with phenyl isocyanate afforded urea functionalized pin 17 which underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to give pin 19. Finally, compound 20 was obtained with moderate diastereoselectivity (20:21::8:1) by the reaction of pin 19 with a catalytic amount of Et3N.

Diastereoselective synthesis of hydantoin- and isoxazoline-substituted dispirocyclobutanoids

Synthetic strategies for constructing novel achiral cyclobutanoid isoxazolidinoimidazolidinedione heterocycles, with a generalized structure of II, have been developed via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and carbanilide cyclization transformations from methylenecyclobutane 13. The exo methylene cyclobutane system has made the realization of some diasteroselectivity possible, such that the H-bond (Boc-NH) directed product (i.e., 14) was obtained with 3:1 selectivity relative to the non-H-bond directed product (i.e., 15).

Comparative molecular field analysis of hydantoin binding to the neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel

Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), a 3-D QSAR technique, is widely used to correlate biological activity with observed differences in steric and electrostatic fields. In this study, CoMFA was employed to generate a model, based upon 14 structurally diverse 5-phenylhydantoin analogues, to delineate structural and electrostatic features important for enhanced sodium channel binding. Correlation by partial least squares (PLS) analysis of in vitro sodium channel binding activity (expressed as log IC50) and the CoMFA descriptor column generated a final non-cross-validated model with R2 = 0.988 for the training set. The final CoMFA model explained the data better than a simpler correlation with log P (R2 = 0.801) for the same training set. The CoMFA steric and electrostatic maps described two general features that result in enhanced binding to the sodium channel. These include a preferred 5-phenyl ring orientation and a favorable steric effect resulting from the C5-alkyl chain. This model was then utilized to accurately predict literature sodium channel activities for hydantoins 14-20, which were not included in the training set. Finally the hydantoin CoMFA model was used to design the structurally novel alpha-hydroxy-alpha-phenylamide 21. Synthesis and subsequent sodium channel evaluation of compound 21 (predicted IC50 = 9 microM, actual IC50 = 9 microM), a good binder to the sodium channel, established that the intact hydantion ring is not necessary for efficient binding to this site. Thus alpha-hydroxy-alpha-phenylamides may represent a new class of ligands that bind with increased potency to the sodium channel.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopentanoids with Hydantoin and Isoxazoline Substituents

Exploiting 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and urea --> hydantoin cyclization transformations, novel spiro[cyclopenta[d]isoxazole-4',5-imidazolindine] heterocycles of generalized structure I have been prepared. The 1-amino-3-cyclopentenecarboxylate precursor II was prepared from a suitably activated/protected derivative of glycine and the bis-alkylating agent cis-1,4-dichloro-2-butene.

Synthesis, anticonvulsant activity, and structure-activity relationships of sodium channel blocking 3-aminopyrroles

Starting from the corresponding acetophenone and glycine derivatives, a series of new 3-aminopyrroles was synthesized in few steps. Using this procedure with hydrazine and hydroxylamine instead of the glycinates provides access to 3-aminopyrazoles and 5-amino 1,2-oxazoles. The various derivatives were tested for anticonvulsant activity in a variety of test models. Several compounds exhibit considerable activity with a remarkable lack of neurotoxicity. 4-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-morpholinopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, 3, proved to be the most active compound. It was protective in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test in rats with an oral ED50 of 2.5 mg/kg with no neurotoxicity noted at doses up to 500 mg/kg. Compound 3 blocks sodium channels in a frequency-dependent manner. The essential structural features which could be responsible for an interaction with an active site of the voltage-dependent sodium channel are established within a suggested pharmacophore model.

Effects of log P and phenyl ring conformation on the binding of 5-phenylhydantoins to the voltage-dependent sodium channel

Binding to the neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel (NVSC) was evaluated for 12 5-phenylhydantoins which systematically varied either log P and/or 5-phenyl ring orientation. The linear correlation of log P with in vitro sodium channel binding activity (log IC50) for hydantoins 1-12 and diphenylhydantoin (DPH) (r2 = 0.638) suggested that simple partitioning into the lipid phase is important but not sufficient to account for the effects of hydantoins on the NVSC. Comparisons among different hydantoins with the same log P but different low-energy phenyl ring orientations revealed that, in addition to log P, the correct 5-phenyl orientation is important for efficient binding.

Effect of chronic administration of phenytoin on regional monoamine levels in rat brain

Phenytoin (DPH) is a widely used anticonvulsant drug but a conclusive mode of action is not yet clear. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of chronic administration of DPH on monoamine levels. DPH (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered to adult male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections for 45 days and the regional brain levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) were assayed using high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The experimental rats revealed no behavioral deficits of any kind nor body and brain weight deficits were observed. Increased NE levels were observed after DPH administration in motor cortex (P < 0.05), striatum-accumbens (P < 0.01) and hippocampus (P < 0.01), whereas, NE level was decreased in brain stem (P < 0.05). DA levels were increased in striatum-accumbens (P < 0.05), hypothalamus (P < 0.001) and cerebellum (P < 0.001) but decreased in brainstem (P < 0.01). In DPH treated rats, 5-HT levels were increased in motor cortex (P < 0.001) but decreased in cerebellum (P < 0.001) when compared to control group of rats. The present study suggest that chronic administration of DPH induces alterations in monoamine levels in specific brain regions. DPH seems to mediate its anticonvulsant action by selectively altering the monoamine levels in different brain regions.