Recent Advances in the Development of Pyrazolopyridines as Anticancer Agents

Regioselective synthesis of 5-azaindazoles based on the intramolecular amination reaction of 5-acyl-4-pyridones with hydrazines

The labile tautomerism of N-unsubstituted 5-acyl-4-pyridones, which exist in the form of 4-pyridone or 4-hydroxypyridine depending on the solvent, has been demonstrated. This equilibrium determines the reactivity of pyridones and their ability to undergo substitution reactions of the OH group. A regioselective and convenient method for the construction of functionalized pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridines (30-93%) based on the intramolecular amination reaction of 4-pyridones with hydrazines has been developed. The heterocyclization of N-alkyl-4-pyridones is accompanied by a dealkylation reaction. The reaction with hydroxylamine as a nucleophile can be used for the construction of the isoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridine core. Methods have been developed for further modification of the 5-azaindazole fragment via alkylation and decarboxylation. The antiproliferative properties of the prepared 5-azaindazoles were studied in relation to cancer (Hep-2, MCF) and normal cell lines (FH and Vero), and the compounds demonstrated relevant biological activity for further design of new molecules for antitumor therapy.

Pyrazole/pyrazoline as an excellent pharmacophore in the design of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (2018-2022)

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the interconversion between carbon dioxide and water and dissociated ions of carbonic acid. In addition, CA performs various other functions in animals and plants, depending on the part of the living being. CAs have been found in almost all organisms. Besides, CAs are associated with several diseases, such as glaucoma, obesity, epilepsy, cancer, and so on. CAs are also involved in tumor cell growth and angiogenesis. Thus, inhibition of CA may be an attractive way of control of such diseases. Hence, CA inhibitors have been designed and developed to cure CA-associated diseases. Some examples of approved CA inhibitors are dorzolamide, methazolamide, brinzolamide, and dichlorphenamide. Furthermore, various heterocyclic scaffolds were utilized for the design of CA inhibitors. Among those, pyrazole/pyrazoline derivatives have exhibited greater potency toward CA inhibition. Hence, research that took place in the field of drug design and discovery of CA inhibition has been systematically reviewed and collated. Alongside, the structure-activity relationship has been described, followed by a description of the most potent molecules and their structural features.

Pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine Sulfonamides as Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: Synthesis, Biological and In Silico Studies

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) catalyze the essential reaction of CO2 hydration in all living organisms, being actively involved in the regulation of a plethora of patho-/physiological conditions. A series of chromene-based sulfonamides were synthesized and tested as possible CA inhibitors. On the other hand, in microorganisms, the β- and γ- classes are expressed in addition to the α- class, showing substantial structural differences to the human isoforms. In this scenario, not only human but also bacterial CAs are of particular interest as new antibacterial agents with an alternative mechanism of action for fighting the emerging problem of extensive drug resistance afflicting most countries worldwide. Pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine sulfonamides were synthesized using methods of organic chemistry. Their inhibitory activity, assessed against the cytosolic human isoforms hCA I and hCA II, the transmembrane hCA IX and XII, and β- and γ-CAs from three different bacterial strains, was evaluated by a stopped-flow CO2 hydrase assay. Several of the investigated derivatives showed interesting inhibition activity towards the cytosolic associate isoforms hCA I and hCA II, as well as the 3β- and 3γ-CAs. Furthermore, computational procedures were used to investigate the binding mode of this class of compounds within the active site of hCA IX. Four compounds (1f, 1g, 1h and 1k) were more potent than AAZ against hCA I. Furthermore, compound 1f also showed better activity than AAZ against the hCA II isoform. Moreover, ten compounds out of eleven appeared to be very potent against the γ-CA from E.coli, with a Ki much lower than that of the reference drug. Most of the compounds showed better activity than AAZ against hCA I as well as the γ-CA from E.coli and the β-CA from Burkholderia pseudomallei (BpsCAβ). Compounds 1f and 1k showed a good selectivity index against hCA I and hCA XII, while 1b was selective against all 3β-CA isoforms from E.coli, BpsCA, and VhCA and all 3γ-CA isoforms from E.coli, BpsCA and PgiCA.