Design and synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted-thiophene-2-amidines as potent urokinase inhibitors

Urokinase plasminogen activator as an anti-metastasis target: inhibitor design principles, recent amiloride derivatives, and issues with human/mouse species selectivity

The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a widely studied anticancer drug target with multiple classes of inhibitors reported to date. Many of these inhibitors contain amidine or guanidine groups, while others lacking these groups show improved oral bioavailability. Most of the X-ray co-crystal structures of small molecule uPA inhibitors show a key salt bridge with the side chain carboxylate of Asp189 in the S1 pocket of uPA. This review summarises the different classes of uPA inhibitors, their binding interactions and experimentally measured inhibitory potencies and highlights species selectivity issues with attention to recently described 6-substituted amiloride and 5‑N,N-(hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA) derivatives.

Synthesis of tert-butyl (substituted benzamido)phenylcarbamate derivatives: anti-inflammatory activity and docking studies

A series of new tert-butyl 2-(substituted benzamido) phenylcarbamate (4a-4j) were synthesized by the condensation of tert-butyl 2-amino phenylcarbamate (3) with various substituted carboxylic acid in the presence of EDCI and HOBt as coupling reagent, obtain in excellent yields. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were characterized spectroscopically and evaluated for in vivo anti-inflammatory activity compared to the standard drug, indomethacin, by using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema protocol. Most of the compounds exhibited a promising anti-inflammatory activity within 9 to 12 h, the percentage of inhibition values ranging from 54.239 to 39.021%. The results revealed that the compounds 4i and 4a exhibited better or equivalent anti-inflammatory activity with the percentage of inhibition of 54.239 and 54.130%, respectively, which was comparable to standard drug. In addition to experimental results, in silico docking studies was used as a tool to verify and expand the experimental outcomes.

Spectroscopic characterization of bioactive carboxyamide with trinuclear lanthanide (III) ions

Complexes of La(III), Sm(III), Eu(III) and Tb(III) with bioactive carboxyamide ligands N',N''-bis(3-caboxy-1-oxophenelenyl)2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine have been synthesized and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. Mass spectrum explains the successive degradation of the molecular species in solution and justifies ML complexes. Vibrational spectra indicate coordination of Ln(III) with amide and carboxylate oxygen of the ligand along with nitrate ions. The magnetic moment of Sm(III) and Eu(III) complexes showed slightly higher-values which originated due to low J-J separation leading to thermal population of next higher energy J levels and susceptibility due to first order Zeeman effect. The strong luminescence emitting peaks at 587 nm for Eu(III) and 543 nm for Tb(III) can be observed, which could be attributed to the ligand have an enhanced effect to the luminescence intensity of the Eu(III) and Tb(III). The thermal behaviour of complexes shows that water molecules and nitrate ion are removed in first step followed by the removal of two molecules of nitrate ions and then decomposition of the ligand molecule in subsequent step. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal data using Coats and Redferm method, which confirm first order kinetics.

Copper(II) complexes with bioactive carboxyamide: synthesis, characterization and biological activity

Complexes of Cu(II) with bioactive carboxyamide ligands N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxoprop-2-enyl)2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine, N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxopropanyl)2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine and N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxophenelenyl)2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine have been synthesized and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. Mass spectrum explains the successive degradation of the molecular species in solution and justifies ML complexes. Vibrational spectra indicate coordination of amide and carboxylate oxygen of the ligands along with water molecules. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal octahedral geometry for Cu(II) complexes. The EPR of the reported complex show g( parallel)>g( perpendicular)>2.0023 and G value within the range 2.08-4.49 are consistent with d(x2-y2) ground state in an octahedral geometry. The voltammogram of the copper(II) complex shows a quasi-reversible redox process and a simple one electron process assignable to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal data using Coats and Redfern method, which confirm first order kinetics. The bio-efficacy of the ligands and its copper complexes have been examined against the growth of bacteria and pathogenic fungi in vitro to evaluate their antimicrobial potential. The results indicate that the ligand and its metal complexes possess notable antimicrobial properties.

Cobalt(II) complexes of new biomimetic polydentate amide: spectroscopic, kinetics of thermal decomposition and XRPD studies

Complexes of Co(II) with new ligands N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxoprop-2-enyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (C(21)H(17)N(3)O(6)), N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxopropanyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (C(21)H(21)N(3)O(6)) and N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxophenelenyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (C(29)H(21)N(3)O(6)) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, vibrational spectra, electronic spectra, TOF-mass spectra, magnetic susceptibility measurements, thermal studies and X-ray powder diffraction studies. Vibrational spectra indicate coordination of amide and carboxylate oxygen of the ligands along with two water molecules giving a MO(6) weak field octahedral chromophore. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal octahedral geometry for Co(II) complexes. The elemental analyses and mass spectral data have justified the ML complexes. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal data using Coats and Redfern method, which confirm first-order kinetics. Powder diffraction determines the cell parameters of the complexes.

Synthesis and spectrothermal studies on group 12 metals coordination with novel carboxyamide ligands

Complexes of group 12 metals with new ligands N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxopropanyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (H2L) and N',N''-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxophenelenyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (H(2)L) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, vibrational spectra, electronic spectra, (1)H NMR spectra, TOF-mass spectra, thermal studies and molecular modeling studies. The infrared and (1)H NMR spectral data are in agreement with coordination of amide and carboxylate oxygen of the ligands giving a MO(4) tetrahedral chromophore. The elemental analyses and mass spectral data have justified the ML complexes. The thermal behaviour of complexes shows that water molecule is removed in first step--followed by decomposition of the rest of the molecule in the next steps. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal data using Coats and Redfern method, which confirm first order kinetics. Molecular structures of the complexes have been optimized by MM2 calculations and supported tetrahedral geometry around metal(II) ions.

Insight into the Structural Requirements of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors Based on 3D QSAR CoMFA/CoMSIA Models

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), a trypsin-like serine protease, has been implicated in large number of malignancies, tumor cell invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis; hence, the potent and selective inhibitors of uPA may therefore be therapeutically useful drugs for treatment of various forms of cancer. A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D QSAR) study was performed on five different chemical series reported as selective uPA inhibitors employing comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA)/comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) techniques to investigate the structural requirements for substrates and derive a predictive model that may be used for the design of novel uPA inhibitors. ClogP has been used as an additional descriptor in the CoMFA analysis to study the effects of lipophilic parameters on activity. Inclusion of ClogP did not improve the models significantly and exhibited comparable correlation coefficients with CoMFA steric and electrostatic models. 3D QSAR models were derived for 2-pyridinylguanidines (training set N = 25, test set N = 8), 4-aminoarylguanidines and 4-aminoarylbenzamidines (training set N = 29, test set N = 8), thiophene-2-carboxamindines (training set N = 64, test set N = 19), 2-naphthamidines (training set N = 32, test set N = 8), and 1-isoquinolinylguanidines (training set N = 29, test set N = 7). The CoMFA models with steric and electrostatic fields exhibited r(2)(cv) 0.452-0.722, r(2)(ncv) 0.812-0.986, r(2)(pred) 0.597-0.870, whereas CoMFA ClogP models showed r(2)(cv) 0.420-0.707, r(2)(ncv) 0.849-0.957, r(2)(pred) 0.600-0.870. The CoMSIA models displayed r(2)(cv) 0.663-0.729, r(2)(ncv) 0.909-0.998, r(2)(pred) 0.554-0.855. 3D contour maps generated from these models were analyzed individually, which provides the regions in space where interactive fields may influence the activity. The superimposition of contour maps on the active site of serine proteases additionally helps in understanding the structural requirements of these inhibitors. Further, the predictive ability of 3D QSAR models was affirmed by predicting the activity of novel 2-naphthamidines. 3D QSAR models developed may be used in designing and predicting the uPA inhibitory activity of novel molecules.

Design, synthesis, and characterization of urokinase plasminogen-activator-sensitive near-infrared reporter

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) plays a critical role in malignancies, and its overexpression has been linked to poor clinical prognosis in breast cancer. The ability to noninvasively and serially map uPA expression as a biomarker would thus have significant potential in improving novel cancer therapies. Here, we describe the development of a selective uPA activatable near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging probe. The probe consists of multiple peptide motifs, GGSGRSANAKC-NH2, terminally capped with different NIR fluorochromes (Cy5.5 or Cy7) and a pegylated poly-L-lysine graft copolymer. Upon addition of recombinant human uPA to the probe, significant fluorescence amplification was observed, up to 680% with the optimized preparation. No activation with negative control compounds and uPA inhibitors could be measured. These data indicate that the optimized preparation should be useful for imaging uPA in cancer.

Identification of Novel Binding Interactions in the Development of Potent, Selective 2-Naphthamidine Inhibitors of Urokinase. Synthesis, Structural Analysis, and SAR of N-Phenyl Amide 6-Substitution

The preparation and assessment of biological activity of 6-substituted 2-naphthamidine inhibitors of the serine protease urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA, or urokinase) is described. 2-Naphthamidine was chosen as a starting point based on synthetic considerations and on modeling of substituent vectors. Phenyl amides at the 6-position were found to improve binding; replacement of the amide with other two-atom linkers proved ineffective. The phenyl group itself is situated near the S1' subsite; substitutions off of the phenyl group accessed S1' and other distant binding regions. Three new points of interaction were defined and explored through ring substitution. A solvent-exposed salt bridge with the Asp60A carboxylate was formed using a 4-alkylamino group, improving affinity to K(i) = 40 nM. Inhibitors also accessed two hydrophobic regions. One interaction is characterized by a tight hydrophobic fit made with a small dimple largely defined by His57 and His99; a weaker, less specific interaction involves alkyl groups reaching into the broad prime-side protein binding region near Val41 and the Cys42-Cys58 disulfide, displacing water molecules and leading to small gains in activity. Many inhibitors accessed two of these three regions. Affinities range as low as K(i) = 6 nM, and many compounds had K(i) < 100 nM, while moderate to excellent selectivity was gained versus four of five members of a panel of relevant serine proteases. Also, some selectivity against trypsin was generated via the interaction with Asp60A. X-ray structures of many of these compounds were used to inform our inhibitor design and to increase our understanding of key interactions. In combination with our exploration of 8-substitution patterns, we have identified a number of novel binding interactions for uPA inhibitors.

Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of some new substituted amidino-benzimidazolyl-furyl-phenyl-acrylates and naphtho[2,1-b]furan-carboxylates

The multistep synthesis of a series of substituted amidino-benzimidazolyl-furyl-phenyl-acrylic acid's esters and substituted amidino-benzimidazolyl-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-carboxylic acid's esters is described starting from corresponding 3-(2-furyl)-2-phenyl-acrylic acids. The new compounds were tested on the cytostatic activities against malignant cell lines: pancreatic carcinoma (MiaPaCa2), breast carcinoma (MCF7), cervical carcinoma (HeLa), laryngeal carcinoma (Hep2), colon carcinoma (HT 29), melanoma (HBL), and human fibroblasts cell line (WI38). All compounds inhibited the proliferation of tumor cell lines. Inhibitory effect of examined compounds depended on concentration, but without significant difference among the type of tumor cells. The compounds 2 and 5 exerted very low inhibitory effect on the growth of human fibroblasts. Unsubstituted derivative 8 has not inhibited any tested cell lines.