Synthesis of various 3-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazole-containing chiral beta 3- and alpha-amino acids from Fmoc-protected aspartic acid

Solid-Phase Synthesis of Substrate-Based Dipeptides and Heterocyclic Pseudo-dipeptides as Potential NO Synthase Inhibitors

More than 160 arginine analogues modified on the C-terminus via either an amide bond or a heterocyclic moiety (1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole) were prepared as potential inhibitors of NO synthases (NOS). A methodology involving formation of a thiocitrulline intermediate linked through its side-chain on a solid support followed by modification of its carboxylate group was developed. Finally, the side-chain thiourea group was either let unchanged, S-alkylated (Me, Et) or guanidinylated (Me, Et) to yield respectively after TFA treatment the corresponding thiocitrulline, S-Me/Et-isothiocitrulline and N-Me/Et-arginine substrate analogues. They all were tested against three recombinant NOS isoforms. Several compounds containing a S-Et- or a S-Me-Itc moiety and mainly belonging to both the dipeptide-like and 1,2,4-oxadiazole series were shown to inhibit nNOS and iNOS with IC₅₀ in the 1-50 μM range. Spectral studies confirmed that these new compounds interacted at the heme active site. The more active compounds were found to inhibit intra-cellular iNOS expressed in RAW264.7 and INS-1 cells with similar efficiency than the reference compounds L-NIL and SEIT.

A Straightforward and High-Yielding Synthesis of 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles from Chiral N-Protected α-Amino Acids and Amidoximes in Acetone-Water: An Eco-Friendly Approach

A straightforward and high-yielding methodology for the synthesis of a high structural diversity of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles from different chiral N-protected α-amino acids and amidoximes under microwave (MW) irradiation is described herein. This greener approach gives the desired products using acetone/water as solvent in very short reaction times.

Function-Oriented Synthesis of Marine Phidianidine Derivatives as Potential PTP1B Inhibitors with Specific Selectivity

Phidianidines A and B are two novel marine indole alkaloids bearing an uncommon 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring and exhibiting various biological activities. Our previous research showed that the synthesized phidianidine analogs had the potential to inhibit the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a validated target for Type II diabetes, which indicates that these analogs are worth further structural modification. Therefore, in this paper, a series of phidianidine derivatives were designed and rapidly synthesized with a function-oriented synthesis (FOS) strategy. Their inhibitory effects on PTP1B and T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) were evaluated, and several compounds displayed significant inhibitory potency and specific selectivity over PTP1B. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking analyses are also described.

Novel benzimidazole–oxadiazole hybrid molecules as promising antimicrobial agents

In the present study, we describe the design and expeditious synthesis of novel 2-aryl-5-(3-aryl-[1,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole hybrid molecules as promising antimicrobial agents.

Synthesis of 2-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones from diaminoglyoxime-based nitrones

Various 2-[5-(aryl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]quinazolin-4(3H)-ones have been synthesized from the reaction of diaminoglyoxime-based nitrones with methyl 2-aminobenzoate or 2-aminobenzamide in the presence of acetic acid at 100 °C. The reaction was extended as a one-pot three-component approach starting from diaminoglyoxime, aldehyde and methyl 2-aminobenzoate.

A metal-free tandem approach to prepare structurally diverse N-heterocycles: synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and pyrimidinones

N-heterocycles, namely 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and 2,6 disubstituted pyrimidin-4-ones, have been synthesised in one pot via carboxamidation of amidines with aryl carboxylic acids and aryl propargylic acids under metal-free conditions.

Discovery of 3-substituted aminocyclopentanes as potent and orally bioavailable NR2B subtype-selective NMDA antagonists

A series of 3-substituted aminocyclopentanes has been identified as highly potent and selective NR2B receptor antagonists. Incorporation of a 1,2,4-oxadiazole linker and substitution of the pendant phenyl ring led to the discovery of orally bioavailable analogues that showed efficient NR2B receptor occupancy in rats. Unlike nonselective NMDA antagonists, the NR2B-selective antagonist 22 showed no adverse affects on motor coordination in the rotarod assay at high dose. Compound 22 was efficacious following oral administration in a spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain and in an acute model of Parkinson's disease in a dose dependent manner.

Ultrasound-promoted synthesis of 3-trichloromethyl-5-alkyl(aryl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

The alternative synthesis of 12 1,2,4-oxadiazoles using ultrasound irradiation from trichloroacetoamidoxime and acyl chlorides is reported. Seven of them are novel compounds. The 3-trichloromethyl-5alkyl(aryl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles have been synthesised in better yields and shorter reaction times compared to the conventional method. This protocol can be applicable for preparation of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles containing aryl or alkyl groups attached at their C-5 side-chain.

Synthesis of novel 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and analogues as potential anticancer agents

A library of 3,5-disubstituted-1,2,4-oxadiazoles 7-9 and their bioisosters, 1,3,4-oxadiazole 14 and 1,3,4-thiadiazole 16, were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anticancer potential against a panel of six human cancer cell lines. The key step in the synthesis of oxadiazoles 7-9 involve coupling of amidoxime 6 with an appropriate carboxylic acid followed by thermal cyclization. The bioisosteres, 1,3,4-oxadiazole 14 and 1,3,4-thiadiazole 16 were prepared from the reaction of a common precursor diacylhydrazine 13 with thionyl chloride and Lawesson's reagent, respectively. The anticancer studies on the synthesized compounds revealed that presence of a cyclopentyloxy or n-butyloxy on the C-3 aryl ring and piperdin-4-yl or trichloromethyl at the C-5 position of 1,2,4-oxadiazole is essential for good activity. In particular, 1,2,4-oxadiazole 7i and analogue 1,3,4-thiadiazole 16 exhibited significant activity against DU145 (IC(50): 9.3 μM) and MDA-MB-231 (IC(50): 9.2 μM) cell lines, respectively.

Discovery of NBI-77860/GSK561679, a potent corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF1) receptor antagonist with improved pharmacokinetic properties

Antagonists of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neuropeptide may prove effective in treating stress and anxiety related disorders. In an effort to identify antagonists with improved physico-chemical properties a new series of CRF(1) antagonists were designed to substitute the propyl groups at the C7 position of the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine core of 1 with heterocycles. Compound (S)-8d was identified as a high affinity ligand with a pK(i) value of 8.2 and a functional CRF(1) antagonist with pIC(50) value of 7.0 in the in vitro CRF ACTH production assay.

Thiazole, oxadiazole, and carboxamide derivatives of artemisinin are highly selective and potent inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii

We have prepared 23 new dehydroartemisinin (DART) trioxane derivatives (11 thiazoles, 2 oxadiazoles, and 10 carboxamides) and have screened them for in vitro activity in the Toxoplasma lytic cycle. Fifteen (65%) of the derivatives were noncytotoxic to host cells (TD(50) > or = 320 microM). Eight thiazole derivatives and two carboxamide derivatives displayed effective inhibition of Toxoplasma growth (IC(50) = 0.25-0.42 microM), comparable in potency to artemether (IC(50) = 0.31 microM) and >100 times more inhibitory than the currently employed front-line drug trimethoprim (IC(50) = 46 microM). The thiazoles as a group were more effective than the other derivatives at inhibiting growth of extracellular as well as intracellular parasites. Unexpectedly, two thiazole trioxanes (5 and 6) were parasiticidal; both inhibited parasite replication irreversibly after parasite exposure to 10 microM of drug for 24 h, whereas the standard trioxane drugs artemisinin and artemether were not parasiticidal. Some of the new derivatives of artemisinin described here represent effective anti-Toxoplasma trioxanes as well as molecular probes for elucidating the mechanism of action of the DART class of artemisinin derivatives.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of sphingosine kinase substrates as sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor prodrugs

In the search for bioactive sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor ligands, a series of 2-amino-2-heterocyclic-propanols were synthesized. These molecules were discovered to be substrates of human-sphingosine kinases 1 and 2 (SPHK1 and SPHK2). When phosphorylated, the resultant phosphates showed varied activities at the five sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors (S1P(1-5)). Agonism at S1P(1) was displayed in vivo by induction of lymphopenia. A stereochemical preference of the quaternary carbon was crucial for phosphorylation by the kinases and alters binding affinities at the S1P receptors. Oxazole and oxadiazole compounds are superior kinase substrates to FTY720, the prototypical prodrug immunomodulator, fingolimod (FTY720). The oxazole-derived structure was the most active for human SPHK2. Imidazole analogues were less active substrates for SPHKs, but more potent and selective agonists of the S1P(1) receptor; additionally, the imidazole class of compounds rendered mice lymphopenic.

Dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxamides as novel potent and selective HIV integrase inhibitors

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) integrase, one of the three constitutive viral enzymes required for replication, is a rational target for chemotherapeutic intervention in the treatment of AIDS that has also recently been confirmed in the clinical setting. We report here on the design and synthesis of N-benzyl-5,6-dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxamides as a class of agents which exhibits potent inhibition of the HIV-integrase-catalyzed strand transfer process. In the current study, structural modifications on these molecules were made in order to examine effects on HIV-integrase inhibitory potencies. One of the most interesting compounds for this series is 2-[1-(dimethylamino)-1-methylethyl]-N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5,6-dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxamide 38, with a CIC95 of 78 nM in the cell-based assay in the presence of serum proteins. The compound has favorable pharmacokinetic properties in preclinical species (rats, dogs, and monkeys) and shows no liabilities in several counterscreening assays, highlighting its potential as a clinically useful antiviral agent.

Microwave-Assisted Preparations of Amidrazones and Amidoximes

In an operationally straightforward and efficient method, amidrazones and amidoximes are prepared in yields of 65-87% from imidoylbenzotriazoles by microwave heating for 5-20 min with the appropriate hydrazine or hydroxylamine.

Synthesis of aminoacyl thiaolidones as potential antitumour agents

In the scope of a research program aiming to perform the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel possible antitumour prototype compounds, we report in this paper the synthesis of new peptidyl derivatives from 4-thiazolidone nucleus. The synthesis reactions have been performed based in peptide synthesis as strategies. The characterisation of this new class of compounds was performed with IR and (1)H-NMR spectroscopy. In vivo, antitumour activity tests showed that some of these compounds were able to inhibit significantly sarcoma S-180 tumour growth in mice, revealing itself as a new potential class of drugs in cancer chemotherapy.

Multiple Component Approaches to C-Glycosyl β-Amino Acids by Complementary One-Pot Mannich-Type and Reformatsky-Type Reactions

The development of new methods for the preparation of C-glycosyl beta-amino acid libraries with chemical and stereochemical diversity levels was investigated and the results are described herein. Two complementary one-pot three-component Mannich-type and Reformatsky-type synthetic strategies have been developed for the construction of chiral 3-amino propanoate fragments (eventually bis-substituted at C-2) directly linked to the anomeric carbon of pyranose and furanose residues. Both methods involved as the initial step the coupling of a sugar aldehyde to p-methoxybenzylamine but differed in the nucleophile (a d(2) synthon equivalent) which was successively added: a ketene silyl acetal (Mannich route) or a bromozinc enolate (Reformatsky route). Individual C-glycosyl beta-amino esters were isolated as single 3R diastereoisomers in fair to excellent yield (60-90%) and their structure assigned by NMR spectroscopy (Riguera protocol) supported by X-ray crystallography. A tentative explanation of the observed stereochemical outcome based on transition-state models is provided. A preliminary study on the synthesis of alpha,alpha-difluoro C-glycosyl beta-amino acids via a more traditional Reformatsky route is also reported.