Synthesis and evaluation of 1,2,8, 8a-Tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]pyrrolo[3,2-e]indol-4(5H)-one, the parent alkylation subunit of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins: impact of the alkylation subunit substituents and its implications for DNA alkylation catalysis

The synthesis of 1,2,8,8a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]pyrrolo[3, 2-e]indol-4(5H)-one (CPI), the parent CC-1065 and duocarmycin SA alkylation subunit, is detailed. The parent CPI alkylation subunit lacks the C7 methyl substituent of the CC-1065 alkylation subunit and the C6 methoxycarbonyl group of duocarmycin SA, and their examination permitted the establishment of the impact of these natural product substituents. The studies revealed a CPI stability comparable to the CC-1065 alkylation subunit but which was 6x more reactive than the (+)-duocarmycin SA alkylation subunit, and it displayed the inherent reaction regioselectivity (4:1) of the natural products. The single-crystal X-ray structure of (+)-N-BOC-CPI depicts a near identical stereoelectronic alignment of the cyclopropane accounting for the identical reaction regioselectivity and a slightly diminished vinylogous amide conjugation relative to (+)-N-BOC-DSA suggesting that the stability distinctions stem in part from this difference in the vinylogous amide as well as alterations in the electronic nature of the fused pyrrole. Establishment of the DNA binding properties revealed that the CPI-based agents retain the identical DNA alkylation selectivities of the natural products. More importantly, the C6 methoxycarbonyl group of duocarmycin SA was found to increase the rate (12-13x) and efficiency (10x) of DNA alkylation despite its intrinsic lower reactivity while the CC-1065 C7 methyl group was found to slow the DNA alkylation rate (4x) and lower the alkylation efficiency (ca. 4x). The greater DNA alkylation rate and efficiency for duocarmycin SA and related analogues containing the C6 methoxycarbonyl is proposed to be derived from the extended length that the rigid C6 methoxycarbonyl provides and the resulting increase in the DNA binding-induced conformational change which serves to deconjugate the vinylogous amide and activate the alkylation subunit for nucleophilic attack. The diminished properties resulting from the CC-1065 C7 methyl group may be attributed to the steric impediment this substituent introduces to DNA minor groove binding and alkylation. Consistent with this behavior, the duocarmycin SA C6 methoxycarbonyl group increases biological potency while the CC-1065 C7 methyl group diminishes it.     

Synthesis and evaluation of duocarmycin and CC-1065 analogues incorporating the 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]-3-azaindol-4-one (CBA) alkylation subunit

An efficient eight-step synthesis (53% overall) and the evaluation of 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]-3-azaindol-4-one (CBA) and its derivatives containing an aza variant of the CC-1065/duocarmycin alkylation subunit are detailed. This unique deep-seated aza modification provided an unprecedented 2-aza-4,4-spirocyclopropacyclohexadienone that was characterized chemically and structurally (X-ray). CBA proved structurally identical with CBI, the carbon analogue, including the stereoelectronic alignment of the key cyclopropane, its bond lengths, and the bond length of the diagnostic C3a-N2 bond, reflecting the extent of vinylogous amide (amidine) conjugation. Despite these structural similarities, CBA and its derivatives were found to be much more reactive toward solvolysis and hydrolysis, much less effective DNA alkylating agents (1000-fold), and biologically much less potent (100- to 1000-fold) than the corresponding CBI derivatives.     

Fluorimetric detection of Mg2+ and DNA with 9-(alkoxyphenyl)benzo[b]quinolizinium derivatives

A benzo[b]quinolizinium-benzo-15-crown-5 ether conjugate 2a is presented that enables the fluorimetric detection of Mg(2+) and DNA by a significant light-up effect, along with a change of the emission wavelength with different analytes (Mg(2+): 495 nm; DNA: 550 nm). The mechanism of the excited-state deactivation of 2a was investigated by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy in media of varied viscosity and compared with the photophysical properties of methoxyphenyl-substituted benzo[b]quinolizinium 2b (m,p-diOMe), 2c (m-OMe), and 2d (p-OMe) as reference compounds. Compounds 2a-c, which share the m-alkoxyphenyl substituent as the common feature, have low emission quantum yields (Φ(F) < 10(-2) in water) but exhibit a significant increase of their fluorescence intensity in viscous glycerol solutions. In contrast, the viscosity of the medium does not influence the emission properties of the parent phenyl-substituted benzo[b]quinolizinium 2e and of the p-methoxyphenyl-substituted derivative 2d. Based on these observations it is concluded that the excited-state deactivation in 2a-c is mainly due to the rotation of the m-alkoxy group about the C(ar)-O bond. The interaction of 2a-c with DNA or Mg(2+) ions was studied by spectrophotometric titrations and CD spectroscopy. Notably, the association of 2a or 2b with DNA or 2a with Mg(2+) ions induces a strong fluorescence enhancement (15- and 40-fold for DNA, 450-fold for Mg(2+)), which is rationalized by the suppression of the torsional-relaxation of the alkoxy-substituent in the excited state. Additionally, the cation-induced light-up effect of 2a is selective towards Mg(2+) ions as compared with other cations such as NH(4)(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+) and Ba(2+).     

Metal cation complexation and activation of reversed CPyI analogues of CC-1065 and duocarmycin SA: partitioning the effects of binding and catalysis

The synthesis and examination of a novel class of reversed CPyI analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins are described. Capable of a unique metal cation activation of DNA alkylation, these agents allowed the effects of the DNA binding domain (10(4)-fold increase in DNA alkylation rate and efficiency) to be partitioned into two components: that derived from enhanced DNA binding affinity and selectivity (10-80-fold) and that derived from a contribution to catalysis (250-5000-fold). In addition, the reversed enantiomeric selectivity of these sequence selective DNA alkylating agents provides further strong support for a previously disclosed model where it is the noncovalent binding selectivity of the compounds, and not the alkylation subunit or the source of catalysis, that controls the DNA alkylation selectivity.     

Synthesis and Properties of Substituted CBI Analogs of CC-1065 and the Duocarmycins Incorporating the 7-Methoxy-1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]indol-4-one (MCBI) Alkylation Subunit: Magnitude of Electronic Effects on the Functional Reactivity

The synthesis of 7-methoxy-1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]indol-4-one (MCBI), a substituted CBI derivative bearing a C7 methoxy group para to the C4 carbonyl, is described in efforts that establish the magnitude of potential electronic effects on the chemical and functional reactivity of the agents. The core structure of the MCBI alkylation subunit was prepared by a modified Stobbe condensation/Friedel-Crafts acylation for generation of the appropriately functionalized naphthalene precursors (15 and 20) followed by 5-exo-trig aryl radical-alkene cyclization (24 --> 25, 32 --> 33) for completion of the synthesis of the 1,2-dihydro-3H-benz[e]indole skeleton and final Ar-3' alkylation of 28 for introduction of the activated cyclopropane. Two approaches to the implementation of the key 5-exo-trig free radical cyclization are detailed with the former proceeding with closure of 24 to provide 25 in which the required product functionalization was introduced prior to cyclization and the latter with Tempo trap of the cyclization product of the unfunctionalized alkene substrate 32 to provide 33. The latter concise approach provided the MCBI subunit and its immediate precursor in 12-13 steps in superb overall conversions (27-30%). Resolution of an immediate MCBI precursor and its incorporation into both enantiomers of 39-46, analogs of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins, are detailed. A study of the solvolysis reactivity and regioselectivity of N-BOC-MCBI (29) revealed that introduction of the C7 methoxy group accelerates the rate of solvolysis by only 1.2-1.06x. This remarkably modest effect is inconsistent with C4 carbonyl protonation as the slow and rate-determining step of solvolysis or acid-catalyzed nucleophilic addition but is consistent with a mechanism in which protonation is rapid and reversible followed by slow and rate-determining nucleophilic addition to the cyclopropane requiring both the presence and assistance of a nucleophile (S(N)2 mechanism). No doubt this contributes to the DNA alkylation selectivity of this class of agents and suggests that the positioning of an accessible nucleophile (adenine N3) and not C4 carbonyl protonation is the rate-determining step controlling the sequence selectivity of the DNA alkylation reaction. This small electronic effect on the solvolysis rate had no impact on the solvolysis regioselectivity, and stereoelectronically-controlled nucleophilic addition to the least substituted carbon of the activated cyclopropane was observed exclusively. For the natural enantiomers, this unusually small electronic effect on functional reactivity had little or no perceptible effect on their DNA alkylation selectivity, efficiency, and relative rates or on their biological properties. Perceptible effects of the C7 methoxy substituent on the unnatural enantiomers were observed and they proved to be 4-40x more effective than the corresponding CBI-based unnatural enantiomers and comparable in cytotoxic potency with the MCBI natural enantiomers. This effect is most consistently rationalized not by a C7 methoxy substituent effect on functional reactivity but rather through introduction of additional stabilizing noncovalent interactions which increase the unnatural enantiomer DNA alkylation efficiency and further stabilize its inherently reversible DNA alkylation reaction.     

Rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of key analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins

The design, synthesis, and evaluation of a predictably more potent analogue of CC-1065 entailing the substitution replacement of a single skeleton atom in the alkylation subunit are disclosed and were conducted on the basis of design principles that emerged from a fundamental parabolic relationship between chemical reactivity and cytotoxic potency. Consistent with projections, the 7-methyl-1,2,8,8a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]thieno[3,2-e]indol-4-one (MeCTI) alkylation subunit and its isomer 6-methyl-1,2,8,8a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]thieno[2,3-e]indol-4-one (iso-MeCTI) were found to be 5-6 times more stable than the MeCPI alkylation subunit found in CC-1065 and slightly more stable than even the DSA alkylation subunit found in duocarmycin SA, placing it at the point of optimally balanced stability and reactivity for this class of antitumor agents. Their incorporation into the key analogues of the natural products provided derivatives that surpassed the potency of MeCPI derivatives (3-10-fold), matching or slightly exceeding the potency of the corresponding DSA derivatives, consistent with projections made on the basis of the parabolic relationship. Notable of these, MeCTI-TMI proved to be as potent as or slightly more potent than the natural product duocarmycin SA (DSA-TMI, IC50 = 5 vs 8 pM), and MeCTI-PDE2 proved to be 3-fold more potent than the natural product CC-1065 (MeCPI-PDE2, IC50 = 7 vs 20 pM). Both exhibited efficiencies of DNA alkylation that correlate with this enhanced potency without impacting the intrinsic selectivity characteristic of this class of antitumor agents.     

Selective metal cation activation of a DNA alkylating agent: synthesis and evaluation of methyl 1,2,9, 9a-Tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]pyrido[3,2-e]indol-4-one-7-carboxylate (CPyI)

The synthesis of methyl 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]pyrido[3, 2-e]indol-4-one-7-carboxylate (CPyI) containing a one carbon expansion of the C ring pyrrole found in the duocarmycin SA alkylation subunit and its incorporation into analogues of the natural product are detailed. The unique 8-ketoquinoline structure of CPyI was expected to provide a tunable means to effect activation via selective metal cation complexation. The synthesis of CPyI was based on a modified Skraup quinoline synthesis followed by a 5-exo-trig aryl radical cyclization onto an unactivated alkene with subsequent TEMPO trap or 5-exo-trig aryl radical cyclization onto a vinyl chloride for synthesis of the immediate precursor. Closure of the activated cyclopropane, accomplished by an Ar-3' spirocyclization, provided the CPyI nucleus in 10 steps and excellent overall conversion (29%). The evaluation of the CPyI-based agents revealed an intrinsic stability comparable to that of CC-1065 and duocarmycin A but that it is more reactive than duocarmycin SA and the CBI-based agents (3-4x). A pH-rate profile of the addition of nucleophiles to CPyI demonstrated that an acid-catalyzed reaction is observed below pH 4 and that an uncatalyzed reaction predominates above pH 4. The expected predictable activation of CPyI by metal cations toward nucleophilic addition was found to directly correspond to established stabilities of the metal complexes with the addition product (Cu(2+) > Ni(2+) > Zn(2+) > Mn(2+) > Mg(2+)) and provides the opportunity to selectively activate the agents upon addition of the appropriate Lewis acid. This tunable metal cation activation of CPyI constitutes the first example of a new approach to in situ activation of a DNA binding agent complementary to the well-recognized methods of reductive, oxidative, or photochemical activation. Resolution and synthesis of a full set of natural product analogues and subsequent evaluation of their DNA alkylation properties revealed that the CPyI analogues retain identical DNA alkylation sequence selectivity and near-identical DNA alkylation efficiencies compared to the natural products. Consistent with past studies and even with the deep-seated structural change in the alkylation subunit, the agents were found to exhibit potent cytotoxic activity that directly correlates with their inherent reactivity.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benzo[e]indol-4-one (CBI)

A short, asymmetric synthesis of the 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benzo[e]indol-4-one (CBI) analogue of the CC-1065 and duocarmycin DNA alkylation subunits is described. Treatment of iodo-epoxide 5, prepared by late-stage alkylation of 4 with (S)-glycidal-3-nosylate, with EtMgBr at room temperature directly provides the optically pure alcohol 6 in 87% yield (99% ee) derived from selective metal-halogen exchange and subsequent regioselective intramolecular 6-endo-tet cyclization. The use of MeMgBr or i-PrMgBr also provides the product in high yields (82-87%), but requires larger amounts of the Grignard reagent to effect metal-halogen exchange and cyclization. Direct transannular spirocyclization of 7 following O-debenzylation of 6 provides N-Boc-CBI. This approach represents the most efficient (9-steps, 31% overall) and effective (99% ee) route to the optically pure CBI alkylation subunit yet described.     

Synthesis and properties of some derivatives of 2-thionoindeno [1,2-d]-pyrimidine and indeno [1,2-d] [3,1] thiazine

Derivatives of 2-thiono-5-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-d] pyrimidine and 5-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydroindeno [1,2-d] [3,1] thiazine are formed in the cyclocondensation of 2-arylideneindan-1,3-diones with thiourea and N-monomethylthiourea, while only derivatives of indeno [1,2-d]-pyrimidine are formed in the reaction with N,N-di-methylthiourea. S- and N(₃)-Alkylation occur in the alkylation of 2-thiono-4-pheny1-5-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-d]pyrimidine, while only the N-methyl derivative is formed in the alkylation of 2,5-dioxo-4-phenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrahydroindeno [1,2-d] [3,1]thiazine.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1136–1141, August, 1988.     

An efficient synthesis of benzo[b]benzofurano[2,3-e]-[1,6]naphthyridine-8-ones

An efficient method for the synthesis of benzo[b]benzofurano[2,3-e][1,6]naphthyridine-8-one derivatives has been developed via Pictet-Spengler reaction of 4-(3-aminobenzofuran-2-yl)quinoline-2-ones,which could be obtained from alkylation of 4-bromomethylquinoline-2-ones with salicylonitrile and subsequent Thorpe-Ziegier isomerization,with aromatic aldehydes under p-TsOH as catalyst in good yields.     

Synthesis and Properties of Derivatives of the new Heterocyclic System Benz[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrido[3',2';4,5]thieno[2,3-e]pyrimidine

Derivatives of a new heterocyclic system - benz[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrido[3',2';4,5]thieno[2,3-e]pyrimidine have been obtained by successive reactions in three stages - alkylation of 3-cyanopyridine-2(1H)-thiones with 2-chloromethylbenzylimidazole to give 2-benzimidazolylmethylthio-3-cyanopyridines, closing the thiophene ring in the latter to form 3-amino-2-(benzimidazolyl-2)thieno[2,3-b]pyridines, and cyclization of the pyrimidine ring by acylation with carboxylic acid anhydrides or chlorides.     

An efficient synthesis of novel benzo[b]pyrido[3',2':4,5] thieno[2,3-e][1,6]naphthy-ridine-8-ones

An efficient method for the synthesis of novel benzo[b]pyrido[3',2':4,5] thieno[2,3-e][1,6] naphthyridine-8-one derivatives has been developed using a Pictet-Spengler reaction between 4-(3-aminothieno[2,3-b]pyridin-2-yl)quinoline-2-ones, which could be obtained from the alkylation of 4-bromomethylquinoline-2-ones with 3-cyanopyridine-2-thione followed by a Thorpe-Ziegler isomerization, and aromatic aldehydes under p-TsOH as catalysis in good yields.     

DNA binding and antiproliferative activity toward human carcinoma cells of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of a 2,5-diphenyl[1,3,4]oxadiazole derivative

The interaction of calf thymus DNA with [CuL(ClO(4))]ClO(4)·H(2)O (1) and [ZnLBr]Br·H(2)O (2) (L = 9,12,15,18,27,28-hexaaza-29-oxatetracyclo[24.2.1.0(2,7).0(20,25)]enneicosa-2,4,6,20,22,24,26,28(1)-octaene) dicationic complexes in aqueous solution at neutral pH, was investigated by variable-temperature UV-vis absorption, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. The values of the DNA-binding constants of these complexes, determined by competitive binding spectrofluorimetric titrations of ethidium bromide (EB)-DNA solutions, are (6.7 ± 0.5) × 10(6) M(-1) for CuL(2+) and (4.7 ± 0.5) × 10(5) M(-1) for ZnL(2+). These data together with a through analysis of the spectroscopic behaviour consistently suggest that both compounds are effective DNA binders. Interestingly, the DNA-binding strength of these complexes has been found to be correlated to their in vitro cytotoxic activity toward human breast carcinoma cells, although the complex with lower DNA-binding affinity is more active. In fact, biological studies showed that when the compounds are delivered through the cell membrane by a lipidic carrier, the cell survival is sensibly reduced, up to 58% with 1 and to 31% with 2.     

Synthesis of [1,3]benzoxazino[2,3-k-and [2,4]benzodiazepino[3,2-k]-carbazole derivatives

Alkylation of 4a-methyl-, 4a,6-dimethyl- and 6-bromo-4a-methyl-2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-1H-carbazoles using 2-chloromethyl-4-nitrophenol gives [1,3]benzoxazino[2,3-k]carbazoles. Derivatives of [2,4]benzodiazepino[3,2-k]carbazole have been synthesized by alkylation of the indicated carbazolenines using 2-bromomethylbenzonitrile followed by hydrolysis of the nitrile group of the 9-(2-cyanobenzyl)-carbazolium salts obtained to amide.Kaunas Technological University, Kaunas, LT-3028, Lithuania Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklichenskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 818–821, June, 1999.     

Synthesis and Transformations of Oxy Amides Derived from Cycloalka[c]- and Pyrano[3,4-c]pyridines

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - The alkylation of 3-hyroxycycloalka[c]- and 6-hydroxypyrano[3,4-c]pyridines with ethyl chloroacetate and ethyl 4-chlorobutanoate gave the corresponding oxy...     

Synthesis and transformations of 2-(2-furyl)-and 2-[β-(2-furyl)vinyl]imidazo[4,5-b]phenazines

The corresponding 2-(2-furyl)- and 2-[-(2-furyl)vinyl]imidazo[4,5-b]phenazines were obtained by the condensation of 2,3-diaminophenazine with furfural and 2-furylacrolein and with their 5-bromo and 5-nitro derivatives. The phenazines were also synthesized by the reaction of 2-methylimidazo[4,5-b]phenazine with furfural and 5-bromo- and 5-nitrofurfural. The alkylation, acetylation, and nitration of the compounds obtained, as well as replacement of the halogen in the furan ring by a nitro group, were studied.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1425–1428, October, 1971.     

Synthesis and properties of novel dibenz[b,f]azocines

5-Acetyl- and 5-trifluoroacetyl-12-hydroxy-11-cyano-5,6-dihydrodibenz[b,f]azocines have been synthesized by intramolecular cyclocondensation of ethyl N-acetyl and N-trifluoroacetyl-N-[1-(cyanomethyl)benzyl]-anthranilates. Spectral data show that the hydroxyl group in 5-acetyl-12-hydroxy-11-cyano-5,6-dihydrodibenz[b,f]azocine takes part in transannular hydrogen bond formation with the acetamide group carbonyl oxygen. A study of the chemical properties of this compound has shown that its alkylation by p, -dibromoacetophenone is accompanied by a Thorpe reaction to form 11-amino-5-acetyl-12-(p-bromo-bemoyl)-5,6-dihydro[b,f]dibenzofuro[2,3-d]azocine.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 109–113, January, 1991.     

Synthesis and Properties of Functionalized Schiff Bases of 5α,10α-Di（4-hydroxylphenyl）calix[4]pyrrole and 5α,15β-Di（4-hydroxylphenyl）calix｜4] pyrrole

A series of calix[4]pyrrole meso-substituted Schiff bases was synthesized with 5α,10α-di（4- hydroxylphenyl）calix[4]pyrrole or 5α,15β-di（4-hydroxylphenyl）calix[4]pyrrole as starting materials. The synthetic routes included alkylation with methyl a-chlroroaceate, ammonolysis with alkylene diamine, and condensation with salieylladehyde or 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde. The crystal structures of the new calix[4]pyrroles and their Schiff bases were determined by X-ray diffraction. The coordination properties of the representative ealix[4]pyrrole Sehiff bases to transition metal ions were also investigated by UV-Vis spectra.     

Asymmetric synthesis of L-2-amino[3-11C]butyric acid, L-[3-11C]norvaline and L-[3-11C]valine

The short-lived radionuclide 11C (t1/2 = 20.4 min) has been used in the asymmetric synthesis of L-2-amino[3-11C]butyric acid, L-[3-11C]-norvaline and L-[3-11C]valine. The syntheses were performed by alkylation of [(+)-2-hydroxypinanyl-3-idene]-glycine tert-butyl ester under anhydrous conditions in tetrahydrofuran/1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2-pyrimidinone with lithiated 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine as base, using the appropriate 11C-alkyl iodides prepared in a one-pot reactor from [11C]carbon dioxide. Following removal of the protecting groups, the -[3-11C]amino acids were obtained in 80-82% enantiomeric excess and in 9-25% radiochemical yields, decay corrected and calculated on the basis of the amount of [11C]carbon dioxide at the start of the syntheses within 50-55 min.