New disaccharide blocks for OSW-1 and its analogs

A new disaccharide block for OSW-1 natural steroidal antitumor agent was described. Regioisomeric 2- and 3-O-p-methoxybenzoyl derivatives of phenyl 1-thio-??-d-xylopyranoside and phenyl 2-O-acetyl-1-thio-??-l-arabinopyranoside derivatives blocked at positions 3 and 4 by R₃Si groups were synthesized with a view to use them in the preparation of OSW-1 analogs modified at the disaccharide fragment.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 6a,7-dihydro-6H,13H-pyrazino[1,2-a;4,5-a′]diindole analogs as melatonin receptor ligands

The synthesis of two melatonin-derived analogs of the novel 6a,7-dihydro-6H,13H-pyrazino[1,2-a;4,5-a′]diindole ring system is described. The non-methoxy and methoxy analogs, 4a and 4b were prepared in seven steps starting from indoline-2-carboxylic acid 5a and 5-methoxyindoline-2-carboxylic acid 5b, respectively. While 4a exhibited micromolar affinities for both melatonin receptors, the methoxy analog 4b displayed moderate affinity for MT₂ receptors (K_i=0.41 μM) being 4.4-fold higher than for the MT₁ subtype.     

Synthesis and antitumor activities of a new series of 4,5-dihydro-1H-thiochromeno[4,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives

A new series of 4,5-dihydro-1H-thiochromeno[4,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives have been designed and synthesized.The antitumor activities of the target compounds have been evaluated in vitro against two human cancer cell lines including A549 (human alveolar adenocarcinoma cell) and H460 (human lung cancer) by MTT assay.Most of the target compounds exhibited significant antitumor activities against A549 and H460 cancer cell lines.The most potent compound 4-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol5-yl)-8,9-difluoro-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-thiochromeno[4,3-d]pyrimidine (CH05) (IC50=0.44 M,3.07 M) was 2.0 and 8.4 times more active than gefitinib (IC50=0.89 M,16.81 M) against A549 and H460 cell lines,respectively.     

Studies on antineoplastic effect by adjusting ratios of targeted-ligand and antitumor drug

A series of drug delivery systems based on a sodium alginate derivative were prepared by mixing glycyrrhetinic acid(GA) and doxorubicin(DOX) conjugates at different ratios. GA(a liver-targeting ligand) and DOX(an antitumor drug) were both conjugated to oligomeric glycol monomethyl ether-modified sodium alginate(ALG-mOEG) for prolonged duration of action. These NP-based delivery systems exhibited active cell uptake and cytotoxicity in vitro and liver-targeted distribution and anti-tumor activity in vivo. In addition, nanoparticles with a 1:1(W:W) ratio of GA-ALG-mOEG and DOXALG-mOEG(NPs-3) showed the highest cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in vitro and liver-targeted distribution and antitumor activity in vivo. Specifically, when mixed nanoparticles defined as NPs-3 were injected in mice, liver DOX concentration reached 61.9 μg/g 3 h after injection, and AUC0-∞ and t1/2 of DOX in liver reached 4744.9 μg·h/g and 49.5 h, respectively. In addition, mice receiving a single injection of NPs-3 exhibited much slower tumor growth(88.37% reduction in tumor weight) 16 days after injection compared with placebo. These results indicate that effective cancer treatment may be developed using mixed NP delivery systems with appropriate ratio of targeted ligand and drug.     

Exploring the N-terminus region: Synthesis,bioactivity and 3D-QSAR of allatostatin analogs as novel insect growth regulators

Two series of peptidomimetic analogs with different substituents on the N-terminus region were designed and synthesized to explore the relationship between the structure and the inhibition activity in vitro. In addition, 3D-QSAR study was performed to highlight the structural requirements of AST analogs.     

Synthesis of substituted tryptanthrin via aryl halides and amines as antitumor and anti-MRSA agents

The natural alkaloid, tryptanthrin (indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione), and its analogues are found to exhibit potent antitumor and anti-MRSA activities. An efficient and convenient method has been developed for the synthesis of tryptanthrin D-ring derivatives through the reaction of substituted tryptanthrins and secondary amines in moderate to good yields. Some of the new compounds exhibited antitumor activities against the human tumor cell lines A549, HCT116 and MDA-MB-231, with mean IC₅₀ values at low micromolar levels. In addition, some of the compounds showed excellent anti-MRSA activities and were more effective than vancomycin, with MIC values of 0.31–1.25 μg/mL for Mu50,RN4220, and Newman strains.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity screening of derivatives of the simplified ecteinascidin pentacyclic skeleton as anticancer agents

A series of new ecteinascidin pentacyclic-derived compounds bearing aryl carboxylic amide side chains at C-22 have been designed and synthesized. The cytotoxicity evaluation confirmed their potent antitumor activity by use of eight different cell lines. Studies on the structure-activity relationship of them showed that the chemical structure of C-22 pendants have great effects on the tumor-killing activity. Notably, Compounds 6, 7 and 8 with benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide pendants exhibited excellent broad-spectrum antitumor activity with the low IC₅₀ values of 10^?7?M.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 2-(m-substituted-benzoyl)baccatin III analogs from taxinine

2-m-Azidobenzoyl and 2-m-chlorobenzoyl baccatin III analogs were prepared from taxinine, a major component in Japanese yew leaves. In this study, a novel acetyl migration from 13- to 4-hydroxyl group was observed. The antitumor activity of these compounds was evaluated.     

Synthesis and biotests of 2-aryl-5-arylmethylidene-substituted 1,3-oxazol-5(4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyl-3,5-dihydro-4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazol-4-ones as combretastatin A-4 analogs

A series of 2-aryl-5-arylmethylidene-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones and 2-aryl-5-arylmethylidene-N-methyl-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-ones was synthesized as structural analogs of combret- astatin A-4 (a compound possessing antitumor activity). (5Z)-5-[(4-Methoxyphenyl)methyl-idene]-3-methyl-2-(4-methylphenyl)-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one was found to exhibit the highest cytotoxicity against cells of human A549 lung carcinoma line (EC₅₀ = 6±0.8 μmol L^?1).     

2-methylindole analogs as cholinesterases and glutathione S-transferase inhibitors: Synthesis,biological evaluation,molecular docking,and pharmacokinetic studies

In this study, we aimed to (i) synthesize new 2-methylindole analogs containing various amino structures, pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, and substituted phenyl groups through structural and molecular modifications, (ii) evaluate the pharmaceutical potential of 2-methylindole analogs via assessing enzyme inhibitory activity against glutathione S-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), (iii) predict ADMET and pharmacokinetic properties of the synthesized 2-methylindole analogs, (iv) reveal the possible interactions between the synthesized 2-methylindole analogs with GST, AChE, and BChE enzymes using several molecular docking software. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays showed that the synthesized indole analogs exhibited moderate to good inhibitory activities against GST, AChE, and BChE enzymes. Briefly, the inhibitory activities of the analogs 4b and 4i against AChE, 4a and 4b against BChE, and analogs 1 and 4i against GST were detected to be higher or close to the standard inhibitor compounds. The analog 4b was detected to have the best inhibitory activity against both AChE and BChE enzymes with the lowest IC₅₀ values as 0.648 µM for AChE and 0.745 µM for BChE. The analyses of enzyme inhibition relationship with the synthesized analogs could help to design new analogs for the inhibitors of cholinergic and glutathione pathways based on the indole derivatives.     

Method to build 2,4-substituted selenazole from β-azido diselenide and carboxylic acid: A formal synthesis of selenazofurin

A novel approach for the synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted selenazoles using carboxylic acids (or anhydrides) and β-azido diselenide was achieved via a one-pot cascade formation of selenazoline (Staudinger reduction/diselenide cleavage/selenocarbonylation/aza-Wittig reaction) and a following MnO₂-promoted oxidation. This method offers excellent substrate flexibility, and its valuable application is exemplified by an efficient total synthesis of Selenazofurin which exhibited good antitumor activities against K562 and A549?cells.     

5-Phenoxy Primaquine Analogs and the Tetraoxane Hybrid as Antimalarial Agents

The rapid emergence of drug resistance to the current antimalarial agents has led to the urgent need for the discovery of new and effective compounds. In this work, a series of 5-phenoxy primaquine analogs with 8-aminoquinoline core (7a–7h) was synthesized and investigated for their antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Most analogs showed improved blood antimalarial activity compared to the original primaquine. To further explore a drug hybrid strategy, a conjugate compound between tetraoxane and the representative 5-phenoxy-primaquine analog 7a was synthesized. In our work, the hybrid compound 12 exhibited almost a 30-fold increase in the blood antimalarial activity (IC₅₀ = 0.38 ± 0.11 μM) compared to that of primaquine, with relatively low toxicity against mammalian cells (SI = 45.61). Furthermore, we found that these 5-phenoxy primaquine analogs and the hybrid exhibit significant heme polymerization inhibition, an activity similar to that of chloroquine, which could contribute to their improved antimalarial activity. The 5-phenoxy primaquine analogs and the tetraoxane hybrid could serve as promising candidates for the further development of antimalarial agents.     

Design and synthesis of novel water-soluble amino acid derivatives of chlorin p6 ethers as photosensitizer

Eight new water-soluble amino acid derivatives of chlorin p₆ ethers 6a-h were designed and synthesized using purpurin-18 (2) as key intermediate. All target compounds exhibited better phototoxicity than talaporfin and the most phototoxic compound 6d showed IC₅₀ values of 0.20 μmol/L against A549 cell and 0.41 μmol/L against B16-F10 cell, which represented 31- and 24-fold increase of PDT antitumor efficacy compared to talaporfin.     

Synthesis and biological activities of lipid A analogs: modification of a glycosidically bound group with chemically stable polar acidic groups and lipophilic groups on the disaccharide backbone with tetradecanoyl or N-dodecanoylglycyl groups.

Six novel lipid A analogs were synthesized. The first two analogs, 4 and 5, have an alpha-glycosidically bound carboxymethyl or 1,3-dicarboxyisopropyl group on the disaccharide backbone with four tetradecanoyl groups. The next three analogs, 6, 7 and 8, have two or four N-dodecanoylglycyl groups on the 1-alpha-O-phosphonooxyethylated disaccharide backbone. Analog 6 bears N-dodecanoylglycyl groups on the hydroxyl functions at positions 3 and 3', and tetradecanoyl groups on the amino functions at positions 2 and 2'. Analog 7 is a 2, 3, 2' and 3'-tetrakis(N-dodecanoylglycyl) derivative, and analog 8 resembles compound 6, but the binding of the N-dodecanoylglycyl and tetradecanoyl groups at positions 2, 2' and 3, 3' are reversed. The third analog, 9, has the same acyl group configuration as compound 6, but has a 1,3-dicarboxyisopropyl group at position C-1. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited definite antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma, indicating that the phosphate group at the C-1 position in lipid A could be replaced by the carboxylic acid without reducing the antitumor activity. In rabbits, compounds 6 and 9 exhibited potent antitumor activity, but their toxicity was extremely low. On the other hand, compounds 7 and 8 showed no antitumor activity. The levels of antitumor activity of 6 and 9 were similar to those of the natural-type lipid A. The antitumor activities of analogs with a N-dodecanoylglycyl group on the disaccharide backbone depended on the connecting sites of the acyl groups.     

Structure–activity relationship of novel juvenile hormone,JHSB3, isolated from the stink bug,Plautia stali

The structure–activity relationship of JHSB₃ isolated from the pentatomid bug, Plautia stali, was studied. Various synthetic analogs were synthesized and subjected to the juvenilizing activity tests using the last instar nymphs of P. stali. These studies indicated that the coexistence of the ester carbonyl group, two epoxides at C2,3 and C10,11 were proved to be crucial for the potent juvenilizing activity. Among the tested analogs, we found highly potent analogs in which the C6,7 double bond of JHSB₃ was saturated (0.1 μg/insect). The methoxy analogs in which the epoxide moiety at C10,11 was substituted with a methoxy group exerted a moderate juvenilizing activity.     

Efficient Synthesis and Antitumor Activities of Indioside E Analogs

An efficient synthesis of seven analogs of a naturally occurring saponin, indioside E, is described. The synthesis used a 3,4,6-O-protected D-galactopyranosyl thioglycoside as the key intermediate to enable regioselective glycosylation and one-pot multistep reactions. Antitumor activities of the synthetic saponins against a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 and a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 were evaluated by means of the CCK-8 assay. Analogs carrying trisaccharides with the D-xylopyranose in indioside E substituted with a D-ribopyranose and an L-arabinopyranose or with its diosgenin aglycon replaced with tigogenin exhibited similar antitumor activities as indioside E, but not other analogs.     

Bleomycin analogs. Synthesis and proton nmr spectral assignments of thiazole amides related to bleomycin a2

The synthesis of a series of 2-substituted thiazole-4-carboxamides of 3-aminopropyldimethylsulfonium chloride is described and the proton nmr spectral assignments of these derivatives are made. The compounds, which are fragments and analogs of the DNA-binding portion of the antitumor antibiotic bleomycin A₂, will serve as probes of structure-activity relationships in this family of drugs.     

Synthesis, properties, and hepatic metabolism of strongly fluorescent fluorodipyrrinones

From non-fluorescent 8-H fluorophenyldipyrrinones, highly fluorescent (?_F 0.4-0.6) analogs have been synthesized by reaction with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole to bridge the dipyrrinone nitrogens and form an N,N′-carbonyldipyrrinone (3H,5H-dipyrrolo[1,2-c:2′,1′-f]pyrimidine-3,5-dione). Amphiphilic, water-soluble 8-sulfonic acid derivatives are then obtained by reaction with concd H₂SO₄. The resulting fluorinated and sulfonated N,N′-carbonyl-bridged dipyrrinones, isolated as their sodium salts, are potential cholephilic fluorescence and ¹⁹F MRI imaging agents for use in probing liver and biliary metabolism. After intravenous injection in the rat they were excreted rapidly and largely unchanged in bile. ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy of a pentafluorophenyl-tosylpyrrolinone synthetic precursor exhibited rarely seen diastereotopicity.     

Synthesis of new gramine-type analogs of CC-1065

Preparation of two new analogs 5 and 6 of the antitumor antibiotic CC-1065 1 are described. These compounds represent structural modifications of the active analogs 3 and 2 respectively, in which the dienone A-unit has been replaced by the tricyclic achiral gramine unit 4 . Modest cytotoxicity was exhibited by compounds 5 and 6 .     

Synthesis and biological activity of 23-hydroxybetulinic Acid C-28 ester derivatives as antitumor agent candidates

23-Hydroxybetulinic acid (1) served as the precursor for the synthesis of C-28 ester derivatives. The target compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antitumor activities against five cell lines (A549, BEL-7402, SF-763, B16 and HL-60). Among the obtained compounds, 6i had the most potent antitumor activity, with the IC₅₀ values of 8.35 μM in HL-60 cells and showed similar antitumor activity as cyclophosphamide in H22 liver tumor and as 5-fluorouracil in B16 melanoma in vivo.