Synthesis by radical cyclization and cytotoxicity of highly potent bioreductive alicyclic ring fused [1,2-a]benzimidazolequinones

The key step in the synthesis of new five, six and seven-membered alicyclic ring [1,2-a]-fused bioreductive benzimidazolequinones was radical cyclisation. Six and seven-membered tributyltin hydride-mediated homolytic aromatic substitutions of nucleophilic N-alkyl radicals onto the benzimidazole-2-position occurred in high yields (63-70 %) when quaternising the pyridine-like 3-N of imidazole with camphorsulfonic acid and using large excesses of the azo-initiator, 1,1'-azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile), to supplement the non-chain reaction. Elaboration of benzimidazoles to the benzimidazolequinones occurred in excellent yields. The IC50 values for the cytotoxicity of benzimidazolequinones towards the human skin fibroblast cell line GM00637 were in the nanomolar range, as determined by using the MTT assay. The benzimidazolequinones were much more cytotoxic than indolequinone analogues. 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-6,9-dione was the most potent compound prepared being more than 300 times more cytotoxic than the clinically used bioreductive drug, mitomycin C. The latter benzimidazolequinone was more potent under hypoxic conditions (associated with solid tumors), being 4.4 times more cytotoxic than under aerobic conditions, while mitomycin C was 1.8 times more selective towards hypoxia. The cyclopropane fused pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazolequinone, 1a,2,3,9b-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole-5,8-dione was less cytotoxic and selective than the five-membered ring analogue, 1,1a,8,8a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[3,4]pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole-3,6-dione. Modifying the structure of the most potent pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazolequinone by attaching methyl substituents onto the quinone moiety increased reductive potentials and decreased cytotoxicity and selectivity towards hypoxia.     

Research in the imidazole series

The reduction of pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole-2-one and pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives, which leads to the formation of 2,3-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole derivatives and derivatives of the previously unknown 1,2,3,3a-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole, was studied. A method was developed for the preparation of 5- and 7-amino derivatives of pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole by reduction of the corresponding nitroso- and arylazo-substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]-imidazoles.See [1] for communication XCI.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 225–228, February, 1977.     

Chemistry of pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole- and pyrido[1,2-a]indole-based quinone methides. Mechanistic explanations for differences in cytostatic/cytotoxic properties

In the present study we investigate pyrido[1,2-a]indole- and pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-based quinones capable of forming quinone methide and vinyl quinone species upon reduction and leaving group elimination. Our goals were to determine the influence of the 6-membered pyrido and the 5-membered pyrrolo fused rings on quinone methide and vinyl quinone formation and fate as well as on cytostatic and cytotoxic activity. We used the technique of Spectral Global Fitting to study the fleeting quinone methide intermediate directly. Conclusions regarding quinone methide reactivity are that carbonyl O-protonation is required for nucleophile trapping and that the pKa value of this protonated species is near neutrality. The abnormally high protonated carbonyl pKa values are due to the formation of an aromatic carbocation species upon protonation. The fused pyrido ring promotes quinone methide and vinyl quinone formation but slows nucleophile trapping compared to the fused pyrrolo ring. These findings are explained by the presence of axial hydrogen atoms in the fused pyrido ring resulting in more steric congestion compared to the relatively flat fused pyrrolo ring. Consequently, pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-based quinones exhibit more cytostatic activity than the pyrido[1,2-a]indole analogues due to their greater nucleophile trapping capability.     

First synthesis of N-[(aziridin-2-yl)methyl]benzimidazolequinone and analysis of toxicity towards normal and Fanconi anemia cells

A diazole is N-substituted with 1-trityl-2-methylaziridine and demethylated and oxidised with NBS under acidic conditions to give a benzimidazolequinone; this novel anti-tumour agent is marginally more cytotoxic than mitomycin C (MMC) towards the normal human fibroblast cell line GM00637, while the MMC-hypersensitive human Fanconi anaemia (FA) cell line, PD20i, lacking the FANCD2 protein, is also hypersensitive to the benzimidazolequinone, with expression of FANCD2 protein decreasing sensitivity to both MMC and the benzimidazolequinone.     

Mass spectra of pyrrolo [1,2-a]benzimidazole and imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives

The closeness of the electronic structures of the ions formed in the first act of disintegration of the ions is responsible for the monotypic character of the subsequent fragmentation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole and imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives. The mass-spectrometric disintegration of the investigated systems has something in common with the fragmentation of thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, 1124–1127, August, 1975.     

Design of a cyclopropyl quinone methide reductive alkylating agent. 2

A cyclopropyl quinone methide is formed by elimination of a leaving group from an appropriately functionalized hydroquinone. The presence of a carbon spacer results in the formation of a fused ring rather than the classic methide species. Discussed herein is cyclopropyl quinone methide formation from a pyrido[1,2-a]indole ring system. Both nucleophilic and electrophilic attack on the fused cyclopropane ring results in pyrido[1,2-a]indole and azepino[1,2-a]indole products. The stereoelectronic effect plays less a role in the relatively flexible pyrido[1,2-a]indole system compared to its role in the pyrrolo[1,2-a]-indole system. A 13C label on the fused cyclopropane ring permitted the rapid identification of complex rearrangement products observed in this study.     

A thermal cascade route to pyrroloisoindolone and pyrroloimidazolones

Flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of indol-1-ylacrylate derivatives 11 and 15 or the isomeric indol-3-ylacrylates 21, 22, and 24 at 925 degrees C (0.05 Torr) provides pyrrolo[1,2-a]indol-3-ones 2, 18, 28, and 29 in 53-90% yield by a cascade mechanism that involves a sigmatropic migration, elimination, electrocyclization sequence. Pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-5-ones 3 and pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-5-ones 4 were similarly obtained by FVP of corresponding 2,5-unsubstituted imidazol-1-ylacrylates (e.g., 33), with the former isomer predominating in ca. 80:20 ratio. Migration to the 2-position is therefore favored in the initial sigmatropic shift. FVP of 2-substituted imidazol-1-ylacrylates 35, 37, and 51 (825-875 degrees C) instead give pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-5-ones 56-58 only (88-91%), and that of 4,5-disubstituted imidazol-1-ylacrylates 39 and 41 (825-850 degrees C) provide pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-5-ones 59 and 60 exclusively (93-95%), and thus the selectivity of the initial shift can be controlled by the presence of substituents on the imidazole 2- and 5-positions. FVP of the benzimidazole analogues 61 and 62 at 950 degrees C gave the pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazol-1-ones 6 (71%) and 63 (36%), respectively.     

Chloral as a formylating agent for some bridge heterosystems

The interaction of condensed nitrogen-containing bridge systems with chloral has been studied and the high sensitivity of the reaction to the -excess of the initial heteroaromatic system has been established. It has been shown that chloral is a convenient formylating agent for systems with a moderate -excess —imidazo[l,2-a]imidazole, 9H-imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,2-a]naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole. Heterocycles with a high -excess (indolizine, pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole) form cyanine dyes under the action of chloral. Systems with a lowered -excess (1H-imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole, imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline, imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline, imidazo[1,2-a]perimidine, imidazo[5,1-b]benzoxazole, imidazo[1,2-a]benzothiazole, and imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine) do not react with chloral in a neutral medium. However, in a number of cases their foraylation can be carried out in an acid medium.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 528–537, April, 1980.     

Protonation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives

The protonation of a number of pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives in trifluoroacetic acid was studied by PMR spectroscopy. 1,3-Unsubstituted compounds are protonated exclusively at the C₁ atom. Under similar conditions, pyrrolobenzimidazoles that have a methyl group in the 1 position form a mixture of two protonated forms, which correspond to the addition of a proton to C₁ and C₃, respectively. The relative percentage of the C₃-protonated form decreases successively (from 81 to 18%) on passing from the 3-unsubstituted compound to the corresponding 3-phenyl and 3-methyl derivatives. The basicity constants of the pyrrolobenzimidazoles decrease symbatically with an increase in the relative percentage of this form. The relative proton-acceptor capacity of indolicine, pyrrolo[1,2-a]-imidazole, and pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole were examined on the basis of the protonation data and the reactivity indexes, calculated by the simple Hückel MO method.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskih Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1132–1137, August, 1972.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new pyrrolopyrazinone compounds as potential antitumor agents

A series of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazinone compounds(5a-9f) were synthesized,and their cytotoxic activity against SKOV-3,A549.HeLa cells in vitro were evaluated by the MTT method.Some of the compounds showed potential antitumor activity against three tumor cell lines.Among them,compounds 9c and 9d showed the most potent cytotoxic activity.The preliminary mechanism of action was discussed.     

Relative stabilities of the tautomeric forms of conjugate acids and kinetics of deuterium exchange in derivatives of indolizine,pyrrolo [1,2-a] imidazole,and pyrrolo [1,2-a]benzimidazole

The effect of the temperature and the acidicity of the medium on the ratio of the two tautomeric forms of the conjugate acids of derivatives of indolizine, pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole, and pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole was investigated by PMR spectroscopy. The change in the ratio of the forms with time was studied under fixed reaction conditions. The position of the tautomeric equilibrium in a number of the investigated systems was established. A correspondence between the relative stabilities of the protonated forms and the rate constants for electrophilic deuterium exchange in the neutral molecules was observed.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 70–75, January, 1976.     

Isoelectronic analogs of indolizine

The structure of the perchlorates of 2,3,4-trimethyl-, 1,2,4-trimethyl-, 1,2,3,4-tetramethyl-, and 1,4-dimethyl-2-phenylpyrrolo[1, 2-a]benzimidazoles in trifluoroacetic acid has been studied by the PMR method. It has been established that in all cases on salt formation the proton adds to the carbon atom in position 1. The molecular diagram of pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole has been calculated by the MO LCAO method.For part VI, see [1].     

Some novel heterocyclic systems derived from 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-8-nitro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-α]benzimidazole and the corresponding diamine

The preparation of 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-8-nitro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole from 1,4-diacetamido-2,3-dinitrobenzene is described. Reaction of this compound with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran produces 2,3-dihydro-8-nitro-7-N-pyrrolo-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole, which can be cyclised to produce two new heterocyclic ring systems, 9,10-dihydro-8H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrrolo(1′,2′:1,2]imidazo[5,4-f]quinoxaline and 9,10-dihydro-8H-pyrrolo[2,1-c]pyrrolo[1′,2′:1,2]imidazo[4,5-h][1,2,4]benzotriazine. The corresponding diamine, 7,8-diamino-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole undergoes a variety of condensation reactions to produce several new heterocyclic systems, for example, with formic acid, 1,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo-[4,5-e]pyrrolo[2,1-6]benzimidazole is formed and with diacetyl, 9,10-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-8H-pyrrolo-[1′,2′:1,2]imidazo[5,4-y]quinoxaline is obtained.     

Silver- and gold-mediated domino transformation: a strategy for synthesizing benzo[e]indolo[1,2-a]pyrrolo/pyrido[2,1-c][1,4]diazepine-3,9-diones

We reported a strategy for the synthesis of fused heterocyclic compounds benzo[e]indolo[1,2-a]pyrrolo/pyrido[2,1-c][1,4]diazepine-3,9-diones via an AgSbF(6)/gold-complex catalyzed one-pot cascade transformation. The strategy is tolerant of a broad range of substrates and affords a series of intriguing fused diazepinedione heterocycles.     

New catechol derivatives of safrole and their antiproliferative activity towards breast cancer cells

Catechols were synthesized from safrole. Nine derivatives were prepared and assessed for antiproliferative effects using different human cell lines. The in vitro growth inhibition assay was based on the sulphorhodamine dye to quantify cell viability. The derivatives 4-allylbenzene-1,2-diol (3), 4 4-[3-(acetyloxy)propyl]-1,2-phenylene diacetate (6) and 4-[3-(acetyloxy)propyl]-5-nitro-1,2-phenylene diacetate (10) showed higher cytotoxicity than the parent compound 2 in tests performed on two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The IC?? values of 40.2 ± 6.9 μM, 5.9 ± 0.8 μM and 33.8 ± 4.9 μM, respectively, were obtained without toxicity towards dermal human fibroblast (DHF cells).     

Synthesis of isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

The isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines 11a,b and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 12a,b were selectively synthesized from the 2-substituted 6-chloroquinoxaline 4-oxides 10a,b . The pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 12a,b were clarified to be produced by the ring transformation of the isoxazolo[2,3-a]quinoxalines 11a,b . The pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines 14a,b were obtained from both 2,6-dichloroquinoxaline 4-oxide 9 and compounds 12a,b .     

Studies on the ring opening reactions of 3-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones. Synthesis of aminomethyl oxazolidinones and aziridinyl ureas

The reaction of fused ring aziridines, 3-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ones, with amine nucleophiles can provide either an aminomethyl oxazolidinone or an aziridinyl urea. The amine, reaction solvent, and aziridine substitution have been examined with the aid of computational studies to identify reaction conditions that provide a single product. Polar solvents provided only the aminomethyl oxazolidinone products. Formation of aziridinyl ureas required control of aziridine substitution, solvent, and reactant stoichiometry.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity against human tumor cells of heterocyclic systems derived from 2-thioxo-1,2-dihydro-4H-3,1-benzothazin-4-one

The title compound was prepared and converted to 2-hydrazinyl-1,2-dihydro-4H-benzo[d][1,3]thiazin-4-one which was utilized to synthesize fused heterocyclic systems, namely benzotriazolothiazinone derivatives, as well as, nonfused heterocyclic systems such as pyrazolyl-benzothiazinones, benzothiazinylpyridazine and imidazolylbenzothiazinone derivatives via reaction with formamide, acetic acid, ethyl cyanoacetate, maleic anhydride and benzaldehyde followed by treatment with glycine, respectively. All compounds have been structurally characterized by means of IR, MS, and ¹H-NMR spectra. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity against HePG-2 and MCF-7 cell lines. 2H-Benzo[d][1,3]thiazine-2,4(1H)-dithione and 2-thioxo-1,2-dihydro-4H-benzo[d][1,3]thiazin-4-one were the most potent against the two cancer cells compared to that of the reference compound doxorubicin. Most of the synthesized compounds also exhibited good cytotoxic activity.     

A new method for the synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines and pyrrolo[1,2-a] quinoxalines

A new method is proposed for the synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines and pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoxalines. By the alkylation of sodium derivatives of 2-acylpyrroles with -bromo carbonyl compounds or their acetals and subsequent treatment of the reaction products with ammonium acetate in acetic acid, a number of derivatives of pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine, including the first member of the class, pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine itself, have been obtained. Similarly, from 2-benzoylpyrrole and the dimethyl ketal of -bromocyclohexanone was obtained 4-phenyltetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline, which readily dehydrogenates in the presence of Raney nickel to form 4-phenylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, Vol. 6, No. 8, pp.1048–1050, August, 1970.     

1-(Trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydropyrrolo-[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>] pyrazines: synthesis and reactions with O- and N-nucleophiles

The method of synthesis has been developed and reactions of 1-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydro-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines with O- and N-nucleophiles have been studied. It was found that reactions of nucleophiles with 1-(trifluoro-methyl)pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines transforms the trifluoromethyl group to amide and amidine groups together with aromatization of the pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine system as a result of the formal elimination of a molecule of hydrogen fluoride.