Anticancer anilinoacridines. A process synthesis of the disubstituted amsacrine analog CI-921

An improved process for the synthesis of bulk quantities of the clinical amsacrine analog CI-921 is reported. Described also are detailed analytical and spectroscopic data for this agent.     

A structure-based 3D-QSAR study of anthrapyrazole analogues of the anticancer agents losoxantrone and piroxantrone

A series of 13 anthrapyrazole compounds that are analogues of piroxantrone and losoxantrone were synthesized, and their cell growth inhibitory effects, DNA binding, topoisomerase IIalpha mediated (EC 5.99.1.3) cleavage of DNA, and inhibition of DNA topoisomerase IIalpha decatenation catalytic activities were determined. Cell growth inhibitory activity was well-correlated with DNA binding, suggesting that these compounds may act by targeting DNA. However, cell growth inhibition was not well-correlated with the inhibition of topoisomerase IIalpha catalytic activity, suggesting that these anthrapyrazoles did not act solely by inhibiting the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II. Most of the analogues were able to induce DNA cleavage, and thus, it was concluded that they acted, at least in part, as topoisomerase II poisons. Structure-based three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity analyses (3D-QSAR) were carried out on the aligned structures of the anthrapyrazoles docked into DNA using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity index (CoMSIA) analyses in order to determine the structural features responsible for their activity. Both CoMFA and CoMSIA yielded statistically significant models upon partial least-squares analyses. The 3D-QSAR analyses showed that hydrogen-bond donor interactions and electrostatic interactions with the protonated amino side chains of the anthrapyrazoles led to high cell growth inhibitory activity.     

Anticancer anthrapyrazoles. The synthesis of 2-substituted 5-nitro and 5-aminoanthra[1,9-cd]pyrazol-6(2H)-ones

Synthetic methodologies for the preparation of substituted 5-nitro- and 5-aminoanthra[1,9-cd]-pyrazol-6(2H)-ones, 4 and 5 respectively, substituted with a basic side at N-2 and dioxy substitution in the A-ring, are reported. These compounds are essentially devoid of activity against in vitro L1210 leukemia and in vivo murine P388 leukemia.     

Improved syntheses of some monochloro- and monobromo-8-quinolinols

Summary Procedures were developed for the preparation of the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-monosubstituted chloro and bromo 8-quinolinols which afforded greater yields and/or reduced the number of steps in the preparation. 100 MHz¹H-NMR spectra for the 12 possible monochloro and monobromo analogues are given.

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Verbesserte Synthese von Monochlor- und Monobrom-8-chinolinolen

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Verfahren entwickelt, um 2-, 3-, 4- und 6-Chlor bzw. -Brom-8-chinolinole in besseren Ausbeuten und/oder bei reduzierter Anzahl von Synthesestufen herzustellen. Die¹H-NMR-Spektren der 12 möglichen Monochlor- und Monobromverbindungen werden angegeben.

     

Improved chemical syntheses of 1- and 5-deazariboflavin

The cofactor flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is required for the catalytic activity of a large class of enzymes known as flavoenzymes. Because flavin cofactors participate in catalysis via a number of different mechanisms, isoalloxazine analogues are valuable for mechanistic studies. We report improved chemical syntheses for the preparation of the two key analogues, 5-deazariboflavin and 1-deazariboflavin.     

Improved and new syntheses of potential molecular electronics devices

New syntheses of ethyl and nitro substituted oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s (OPEs) have been developed. To further explore whether the presence of nitro functionality in OPEs leads to switching and memory capabilities, new nitro substituted OPEs have been designed and synthesized. An isatogen-based system, a structure that is isomeric to the nitro OPE, has been synthesized. Additionally, pyridine-based and chromium-based compounds have been synthesized. We surmise that redox reactions of these candidates may impart switching capabilities and electrochemical studies are shown. U-shaped OPEs were synthesized to inhibit leakage of metals deposited during formation of top contacts on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The OPEs contain either thiol-based moieties or isonitrile groups to enable formation of SAMs on metal substrates.     

Anticancer and antimicrobial metallopharmaceutical agents based on palladium, gold, and silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

Complete synthetic, structural, and biomedical studies of two Pd complexes as well as Au and Ag complexes of 1-benzyl-3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene are reported. Specifically, trans-[1-benzyl-3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Cl2 (1a) was synthesized from the reaction of 1-benzyl-3-tert-butylimidazolium chloride (1) with PdCl2 in the presence of K2CO3 as a base. The other palladium complex, [1-benzyl-3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene]2PdCl2 (1b), and a gold complex, [1-benzyl-3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene]AuCl (1c), were synthesized by following a transmetallation route from the silver complex, [1-benzyl-3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene]AgCl (1d), by treatment with (COD)PdCl2 and (SMe2)AuCl, respectively. The silver complex 1d in turn was synthesized by the reaction of 1 with Ag2O. The molecular structures of 1a-d have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Biomedical studies revealed that, while the palladium complexes 1a and 1b displayed potent anticancer activity, the gold (1c) and silver (1d) complexes exhibited significant antimicrobial properties. Specifically, 1b showed strong antiproliferative activity against three types of human tumor cells, namely, cervical cancer (HeLa), breast cancer (MCF-7), and colon adenocarcinoma (HCT 116), in culture. The antiproliferative activity of 1b was found to be considerably stronger than that of cisplatin. The 1b complex inhibited tumor cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle progression at the G2 phase, preventing the mitotic entry of the cell. We present evidence suggesting that the treated cells underwent programmed cell death through a p53-dependent pathway. Though both the gold (1c) and silver (1d) complexes showed antimicrobial activity toward Bacillus subtilis, 1c was found to be ca. 2 times more potent than 1d.     

Biosynthesis, total syntheses, and antitumor activity of tanshinones and their analogs as potential therapeutic agents

Tanshinones are a series of abietane diterpenes, isolated exclusively from Salvia miltiorrhiza and related species. More than 40 tanshinones and their analogs have been isolated since the 1930s. Their biosynthetic pathway correlates with the MEP/DOXP pathway, and many key enzymes, such as mCPS, are responsible for establishing their molecular scaffolds and stereospeci?city. Because of their unique structural characteristics and promising biological activities, total syntheses of various tanshinones have attracted the interest of many synthetic chemists, including R. H. Thomson, H. Kakisawa, R. L. Danheiser, Y. Inouye and J. K. Snyder. Tanshinones and their analogs exhibit interesting and broad antitumor activity in various cell and animal models. Most recently, the tanshinone analog neo-tanshinlactone has shown potent and selective activity against breast cancer. This review will discuss the biosynthesis, total syntheses, and antitumor activities of tanshinones,especially neo-tanshinlactone and its analogs.     

Improved scalable syntheses of mono- and bis-urethane derivatives of ornithine

In the search for a practical route to ornithine bisurethane derivatives useful for peptide synthesis, we elaborated the simple and efficient (86% yield) synthesis of N(epsilon)-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-ornithine copper(II) complex (1). This served as substrate for obtaining N(epsilon)-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-ornithine (2), N(alpha)-benzyloxycarbonyl-N(epsilon)-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-ornithine (3) and N(alpha)-(9-fluorenyl)methoxycarbonyl-N(epsilon)-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-ornithine (4). These were synthesized in 94-95% yields and with a purity above 99%.     

New heterocyclic syntheses from hydrazidoyl halides. Convenient syntheses of fused pyrimidines,pyridazines, and quinazolines

Aminocyanopyrazole derivatives and pyrazolo[2,3-a]quinazolones were obtained in good yields from hydrazidoyl halides and malononitrile. Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine and pyridazo[4′,5′: 1,2]pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline derivatives were synthesized in quantitative yields by reaction of hydrazine hydrate with 2 and 16 , respectively. A novel ring system, a 3-substituted tetrahydro derivative of 7-oxo-6H,8H-pyridazo[3′,4′,5′-c'd']-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine was prepared by reaction of 6 with dimethyl carbonate. Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4,6-dithiones were obtained in good yields by reaction of 2 with carbon disulfide. The structures of the products were assigned and confirmed on the basis of their elemental analyses, spectral data, and alternate synthesis wherever possible. The structures of the parent fused heterocyclic systems discussed in this work are summarized in Scheme 1 .     

Development of practical syntheses of the marine anticancer agents discodermolide and dictyostatin

Initially isolated in trace quantities from deep-sea sponges, the structurally related polyketides discodermolide and dictyostatin share the same microtubule-stabilizing antimitotic mechanism as Taxol. Discodermolide has been the focus of intense research activity in order to develop a practical supply route, and these efforts ultimately allowed its large-scale synthesis and the initiation of clinical trials as a novel anticancer drug. Similarly, the re-isolation and synthesis of dictyostatin continues to stimulate the biological and chemical communities in their quest for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents. This comprehensive review chronicles the synthetic endeavours undertaken over the last 15 years towards the development and realization of practical chemical syntheses of discodermolide and, more recently, dictyostatin, focusing on the methods and strategies employed for achieving overall stereocontrol and key fragment unions, as well as the design and synthesis of novel hybrid structures.     

Improved syntheses of bis(beta-cyclodextrin) derivatives, new carriers for gadolinium complexes

In the last decade a number of reports have been published on the synthesis and characterization of bridged cyclodextrin dimers (bis-CDs) connected with linkers of different lengths and structures. These dimers, having two hydrophobic cavities in close proximity, display much higher binding affinities and molecular selectivities than parent CDs, forming stable supramolecular adducts. We describe new synthetic protocols for the preparation of bis(beta-CDs) bearing 2-2', 3-3' and 6-6' bridges. Some of the critical steps were carried out either under high-intensity ultrasound (US) or microwave (MW) irradiation. Bis(beta-CDs) containing 6-6' ureido- and thioureido-bridges were prepared in high yields by a MW-promoted aza-Wittig reaction using polymer-bound triphenylphosphine, while those containing 2,2' and 3,3' bridges were prepared from mono-alkenyl beta-CDs by the cross-metathesis reaction (homodimerization) in the presence of 2(nd)-generation Grubbs catalyst under sonochemical conditions. By these improved protocols CD dimers could be obtained in gram amounts to prepare stable adducts of bis-CDs with contrast agents (CAs) containing gadolinium(iii) chelates. In the case of Gd(iii) chleate "G-1" the inclusion complexes were found to be 2 to 3 orders of magnitude more stable than that formed by beta-CD (K(ass) = 4.3 x 10(4) M(-1)vs 8.0 x 10(2) M(-1)). Relaxivity increased as well by factors of 3 and 4, viz. from 9.1 mM(-1) s(-1) (beta-CD) to 27.7 and 35 mM(-1) s(-1).     

Design,Preparation, and Evaluation of Osthol Poly-Butyl-Cyanoacrylate Nanoparticles with Improved In Vitro Anticancer Activity in Neuroblastoma Treatment

Osthol (osthole), known as a neuroprotective drug, has shown potent anticancer activity. However, the potential clinical application of osthol is limited due to its low water solubility and low bioavailability. Polybutyl cyanoacrylate (PBCA) has been widely used to improve the solubility of drugs with poor water solubility. In this study, an orthogonal experimental design (OED) was applied to design the preparation process of PBCA nanoparticles (NPs). Then, nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated in terms of physicochemical properties, in vitro release, and cellular uptake, etc. Further, the anti-cancer activity of osthol-PBCA NPs was demonstrated in SH-SY5Y cells. The pharmacokinetics and area under the curve (AUC) were investigated. The obtained osthol-NPs presented a spherical shape with a particle size of 110 ± 6.7 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.126, and a zeta potential of −13 ± 0.32 mV. Compared with the free osthol, the drugs in osthol-NPs presented better stability and sustained release pattern activity. In vitro analysis using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells showed that osthol-loaded nanoparticles displayed a significantly enhanced intracellular absorption process (three times) and cytotoxicity compared with free osthol (p < 0.05, increased 10–20%). The in vivo pharmacokinetic study revealed that the AUC of osthol-NPs was 3.3-fold higher than that of free osthol. In conclusion, osthol-PBCA NPs can enhance the bioactivity of osthol, being proposed as a novel, promising vehicle for drug delivery.