Identification of phenylisoxazolines as novel and viable antibacterial agents active against Gram-positive pathogens

Oxazolidinone: A promising scaffold for the development of antibacterial drugs

Due to the long-term and widespread use of antibiotics in clinic, the problem of bacterial resistance is increasingly serious, and the development of new drugs to treat drug-resistant bacteria has gradually become the mainstream direction of antibiotic research. The oxazolidinone-containing drugs linezolid, tedizolid phosphate and contezolid have been approved to the market, which are effective against a variety of Gram-positive bacterium infections. Moreover, there are also many antibiotics containing oxazolidinone fragment under clinical investigation that show good pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties with unique mechanism of action against resistant bacteria. In this review, we summarized the oxazolidinone-based antibiotics already on the market or in clinical trials and the representative bioactive molecules, and mainly focused on their structural optimizations, development strategies and structure-activity relationships in hope of insight into the reasonable design for medical chemists to develop new oxazolidinone antibiotics with highly potency and fewer side effects.

An Isoxazole Strategy for Molybdenum-Mediated Synthesis of 5-Mono- and 4,5-Disubstituted 1H-Pyrrole-2,3-diones

The synthesis of 5-aryl- and 4-aryl/hetaryl/cyclopropyl/alkynyl-5-aryl-1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones by formal isomerization of isoxazole-5-carbaldehydes mediated Mo(CO)₆ in wet MeCN has been developed. The resulting 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones are good precursors for substituted 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines.

Anionic Chiral Co(III) Complexes Mediated Asymmetric Halocyclization─Synthesis of 5-Halomethyl Pyrazolines and Isoxazolines

An asymmetric synthesis of 5-halomethyl pyrazolines and isoxazolines which bear a tertiary stereocenter by catalytic halocyclization of β,γ-unsaturated hydrazones and ketoximes is described. By using Brønsted acids of anionic chiral Co(III) complexes as catalysts, a variety of chiral 5-halomethyl pyrazolines and isoxazolines were obtained in good yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, 97:3 er). Preliminary bioassay results indicated that several isoxazoline derivatives exhibited significant antifungal activities.

Synthesis of 5-Vinyl-2-isoxazolines by Palladium-Catalyzed Intramolecular O-Allylation of Ketoximes

An efficient method for the synthesis of 5-vinyl-2-isoxazolines by Pd-catalyzed intramolecular O-allylation of ketoximes has been developed. The reaction involves Pd(0)-catalyzed π-allyl formation via leaving group ionization or Pd(II)-catalyzed allylic C-H activation followed by intramolecular nucleophilic oxime oxygen attack. This methodology has been elaborated to various value-added products by epoxidation, Wacker oxidation, cross-metathesis, hydroboration-oxidation, dihydroxylation, and catalytic hydrogenation.

[2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition of N-tosylhydrazones, tert-butyl nitrite and alkenes: a general and practical access to isoxazolines

N-Tosylhydrazones have proven to be versatile synthons over the past several decades. However, to our knowledge, the construction of isoxazolines based on N-tosylhydrazones has not been examined. Herein, we report the first demonstrations of [2 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition reactions that allow the facile synthesis of isoxazolines, employing N-tosylhydrazones, tert-butyl nitrite (TBN) and alkenes as reactants. This process represents a new type of cycloaddition reaction with a distinct mechanism that does not involve the participation of nitrile oxides. This approach is both general and practical and exhibits a wide substrate scope, nearly universal functional group compatibility, tolerance of moisture and air, the potential for functionalization of complex bioactive molecules and is readily scaled up. Both control experiments and theoretical calculations indicate that this transformation proceeds via the in situ generation of a nitronate from the coupling of N-tosylhydrazone and TBN, followed by cycloaddition with an alkene and subsequent elimination of a tert-butyloxy group to give the desired isoxazoline.

Synthesis of 2-Isoxazoline N-Oxides by Copper-Mediated Radical Annulation of Alkenes with α-Nitrobenzyl Bromides

Copper-mediated [3 + 2] annulation of alkenes with α-nitrobenzyl bromides has been developed. The reaction is promoted simply by a copper salt to produce the corresponding 2-isoxazoline N-oxides with perfect regioselectivity. The present method can be conducted under mild conditions, affording a diverse array of 2-isoxazoline N-oxides. The obtained products can readily be converted to the related heterocycles such as 2-isoxazoline and isoxazole. A radical-polar crossover pathway initiated by single-electron transfer from nitronate to a copper salt is proposed.

Inhibitory effects of novel 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole compounds on quorum-sensing of P. aeruginosa PAO1

Quorum sensing (QS) inhibition is an essential strategy to combat bacterial infection. Previously, we have synthesized a series of thymidine derivatives bearing isoxazole and 1,2,3-triazole rings (TITL). Herein, the inhibitory effects of TITL on QS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 were evaluated. In vitro results demonstrated that TITL effectively inhibited biofilm formation and reduced the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa PAO1. In combination with antibiotics, our TITL compounds significantly prolonged the lifespans of Caenorhabditis elegans N2 nematodes that were infected with P. aeruginosa PAO1 in vivo. In conclusion, TITL compounds are promising candidates for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa PAO1.

Copper-Catalyzed Annulation Reaction of Alkenes and N-Alkyl(aryl)-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine: an Approach for the Synthesis of Isoxazole Derivatives

A copper-catalyzed annulation reaction to access a variety of isoxazoles from alkenes and oxazete in situ generated from N-alkyl(aryl)-1-(methylthio)-2-nitroethenamine was reported. A plausible mechanism underlying the formation of the product was proposed, which represented a new approach for the construction of isoxazolines. This reaction was capable of tolerating alkenes bearing various substituents, which showed a relatively broad substrate scope with good functional group compatibility.

Synthesis of Isoxazolines and Oxazines by Electrochemical Intermolecular [2 + 1 + n] Annulation: Diazo Compounds Act as Radical Acceptors

Reported herein is an unprecedented synthesis of isoxazolines and oxazines through electrochemical intermolecular annulation of alkenes with tert-butyl nitrite, in which diazo compounds serve as radical acceptors. Notably, [2 + 1 + 2] and [2 + 1 + 3] annulations occur when styrenes and allylbenzenes are used as substrates, respectively. The latter reaction undergoes group migration to form more stable radical, manifesting radical route instead of conventional 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition occurs. Moreover, scale-up experiments suggest the potential application value of these transformations in industry.

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via various terminal acetylenes and azide and their quorum sensing inhibition

An efficient synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives was studied. 1,4-Disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles containing isoxazole and thymidine structures were synthesized in 84-96% yields starting from various terminal isoxazole ether alkynes and β-thymidine azide derivatives via a 1,3-dispolar cycloaddition using copper acetate, sodium ascorbate as the catalyst under ultrasonic assisted condition. All the target compounds were characterized by HRMS, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the quorum sensing inhibitory activities of synthesized compounds were evaluated with Chromobacterium violaceum (C. Violaceum CV026) based on their inhibition of violacein production, with compound C₁₀-HSL as a positive control. The compounds 8a, 8c and 8f exhibited considerable levels of inhibitory activity against violacein production, and IC₅₀ values were 217±19, 223±20 and 42.8±4.5μM, respectively, which highlighted the potential of these compounds as lead structures for further research towards the development of novel QS inhibitors.

Green Organocatalytic Synthesis of Isoxazolines via a One-Pot Oxidation of Allyloximes

A green, sustainable, organocatalytic, and efficient synthesis of isoxazolines from allyloximes was developed. A 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone-catalyzed oxidation of allyloximes, utilizing H₂O₂ as the green oxidant, was taken advantage of in order to introduce a cheap and environmentally friendly protocol for the synthesis of substituted isoxazolines. A variety of substitution patterns, both aromatic and aliphatic moieties, are well tolerated, leading to isoxazolines in moderate to excellent yields.

Recent Advances in the Rational Design and Optimization of Antibacterial Agents

This review discusses next-generation antibacterial agents developed using rational, or targeted, drug design strategies. The focus of this review is on small-molecule compounds that have been designed to bypass developing bacterial resistance, improve the antibacterial spectrum of activity, and/or to optimize other properties, including physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Agents are discussed that affect known antibacterial targets, such as the bacterial ribosome, nucleic acid binding proteins, and proteins involved in cell-wall biosynthesis; as well as some affecting novel bacterial targets which do not have currently marketed agents. The discussion of the agents focuses on the rational design strategies employed and the synthetic medicinal chemistry and structure-based design techniques utilized by the scientists involved in the discoveries, including such methods as ligand- and structure-based strategies, structure-activity relationship (SAR) expansion strategies, and novel synthetic organic chemistry methods. As such, the discussion is limited to small-molecule therapeutics that have confirmed macromolecular targets and encompasses only a fraction of all antibacterial agents recently approved or in late-stage clinical trials. The antibacterial agents selected have been recently approved for use on the U.S. or European markets or have shown promising results in phase 2 or phase 3 U.S.

CLINICAL TRIALS

Chromanyl-isoxazolidines as Antibacterial agents: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship, and Molecular Docking Studies

Regio- and stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of C-(chrom-4-one-3-yl)-N-phenylnitrones (N) with different mono-substituted, disubstituted, and cyclic dipolarophiles were carried out to obtain substituted N-phenyl-3'-(chrom-4-one-3-yl)-isoxazolidines (1-40). All the synthesized compounds were assayed for their in vitro antibacterial activity and display significant inhibitory potential; in particular, compound 32 exhibited good inhibitory activity against Salmonella typhymurium-1 & Salmonella typhymurium-2 with minimum inhibitory concentration value of 1.56 μg/mL and also showed good potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration 3.12 μg/mL. Quantitative structure activity relationship investigations with stepwise multiple linear regression analysis and docking simulation studies have been performed for validation of the observed antibacterial potential of the investigated compounds for determination of the most important parameters regulating antibacterial activities.

Efficient synthesis of bis-isoxazole ethers via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition catalysed by Zn/Zn2+ and their antifungal activities

An efficient method was developed for synthesising isoxazoles. A series of novel bis-isoxazole ether compounds VI, VII and VIII were synthesised starting from different substituted aldehydes (I) via a 1,3-dispolar cycloaddition using Zn/Zn

Highly efficient and stable peracid for rapid and selective oxidation of aliphatic amines to oximes

A novel, transition-metal free, rapid approach for selective oxidation of aliphatic and benzylic amines to oximes is described.

Chiral differentiation of novel isoxazoline derivatives on “clicked” thioether and triazole bridged cyclodextrin chiral stationary phases

This work first demonstrates the complete chiral resolution of novel isoxazoline derivatives on smartly designed triazole- and thioether-bridged native cyclodextrin (CD) chiral stationary phases (CSPs).

Facile Synthesis of 3-Aryl-5-(2-Oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)- and 5-(Pyridin-4-yl)-4,5-Dihydroisoxazoles via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition under Mild Conditions

A convenient and efficient synthetic approach for the synthesis of 5-substituted 3-aryl-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles is reported. In the presence of triethylamine, a series of hydroximoyl chlorides were transformed into nitrile oxides, followed by reaction with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (or 4-vinylpyridine) by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to give novel 4,5-dihydroisoxazole derivatives.

Antitubercular nitrofuran isoxazolines with improved pharmacokinetic properties

A series of tetracyclic nitrofuran isoxazoline anti-tuberculosis agents was designed and synthesized to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of an initial lead compound, which had potent anti-tuberculosis activity but suffered from poor solubility, high protein binding and rapid metabolism. In this study, structural modifications were carried on the outer phenyl and piperidine rings to introduce solubilizing and metabolically blocking functional groups. The compounds generated were evaluated for their in vitro antitubercular activity, bacterial spectrum of activity, solubility, permeability, microsomal stability and protein binding. Pharmacokinetic profiles for the most promising candidates were then determined. Compounds with phenyl morpholine and pyridyl morpholine outer rings were found to be the most potent anti-tuberculosis agents in the series. These compounds retained a narrow antibacterial spectrum of activity, with weak anti-Gram positive and no Gram negative activity, as well as good activity against non-replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a low oxygen model. Overall, the addition of solubilizing and metabolically blocked outer rings did improve solubility and decrease protein binding as designed. However, the metabolic stability for compounds in this series was generally lower than desired. The best three compounds selected for in vivo pharmacokinetic testing all showed high oral bioavailability, with one notable compound showing a significantly longer half-life and good tolerability supporting its further advancement.

Library of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole analogs of oxazolidinone RNA-binding agents

The design and synthesis of small molecules that target RNA is immensely important in antibacterial therapy. We had previously reported on the RNA binding of a series of 4,5-disubstituted 2-oxazolidinones that bind to a highly conserved bulge region of bacterial RNA. This biological target T box antitermination system, which is found mainly in Gram-positive bacteria, regulates the expression of several amino acid related genes. In an effort to amplify our library, we have prepared a library of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole analogs that entails an isosteric replacement of the oxazolidinone nucleus. The synthesis of the new analogs was enhanced via copper(I) catalysis of an azide and alkyne cycloaddition reaction. A total of 108 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole compounds have been prepared. All compounds were evaluated as RNA binding agents.