Aza-indoles—III

3,7-Dideazaneplanocin: Synthesis and antiviral analysis

Objective

To synthesize 3,7-dideazaneplanocin and evaluate its antiviral potential.

Methods

The target 3,7-dideazaneplanocin has been prepared in five steps from a readily available cyclopentenol. A thorough in vitro antiviral analysis was conducted versus both DNA and RNA viruses.

Results

A rational synthesis of 3,7-dideazaneplanocin was conceived and successfully pursued in such a way that it can be adapted to various analogs of 3,7-dideazaneplanocin. Using standard antiviral assays, no activity for 3,7-dideazaneplanocn was found.

Conclusion

Two structural features are necessary for adenine-based carbocyclic nucleosides (like neplanocin) for potential antiviral properties: (i) inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and/or (ii) C-5′ activation via the mono-nucleotide. These two requisite adenine structural features to fit these criteria are not present in in the target 3,7-dideazaneplanocin: (i) an N-7 is necessary for inhibition of the hydrolase and the N-3 is claimed to be essential for phosphorylation at C-5′. Thus, it is not surprising that 3,7-dideazaneplaoncin lacked antiviral properties.

The synthesis of low molecular weight pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-7-one scaffold

A facile method for the synthesis of substituted pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-7-ones is developed that applies an acid-promoted intramolecular cyclization of 2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid amidoacetals as key step. The synthesis is easily scaled up to 1.5 mol quantity with no yield decrease. The alkylation/arylation reaction of the pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-7-ones proceeds regioselectively giving N6-substituted derivatives.