A. Paul Krapcho

Mono-Protected Diamines. N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-α,ω-Alkanediamines from α,ω-Alkanediamines

Abstract We wish to report a convenient pathway to N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-α,ω-alkanediamines 2a-e [H2N(CH2)χNHBOC; χ=2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; (75–90% yields)] by treatment of the corresponding α,ω-alkanediamine with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate in dioxane as the solvent. Only small amounts of the bis-substituted N.N′-tert-butoxycarbonyl-α,ω-alkanediamines 3a-e were formed (2–9%) which were easily removed by an aqueous workup. The α,ω-alkane-aza-diamine 4 was also mono-protected (62% yield of 5) by the same methodology.

Comparison of aza-anthracenedione-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity in experimental tumor cells.

Aza-anthracenediones are a new class of anti-cancer drugs, which demonstrate promising in vitro and in vivo activity. Our laboratory has synthesized a variety of structural analogs in which we determined previously that the positioning of the nitrogen within the backbone, as well as sidearm modification, results in dramatic differences in the potency of cytotoxicity. We reported previously that although DNA reactivity appears to be a necessary component for mediating cell death, it is not sufficient for predicting cytotoxicity of the aza-anthracenediones. We have chosen three aza-anthracenediones (BBR 2828, BBR 2778 and BBR 2378) to investigate the importance of DNA strand breaks and/or protein-concealed DNA breaks induced by aza-anthracenediones. We determined in the present study that, while all three drugs cause DNA breaks as determined by alkaline and neutral elution, as well as KCl-SDS precipitation, these breaks do not correlate directly with their potency as cytotoxic compounds. Further, we found significant differences in the types of DNA breaks induced by these drugs. Finally, we report that the persistence of protein-DNA complexes induced by all three drugs was similar and, therefore, cannot account for differences in the potency of cytotoxicity of the aza-anthracenediones. Thus, we postulate that, while the total number of drug-induced protein-concealed DNA breaks is an important indicator of drug toxicity, it is possible that the actual nature of the breaks may differ among the aza-anthracenedione congeners, and it is these differences in the actual proteins present in the DNA breaks that differentiate between aza-anthracenediones.

Correlation of DNA reactivity and cytotoxicity of a new class of anticancer agents: aza-anthracenediones.

Doxorubicin and mitoxantrone are carboxyclic anti-cancer drugs that interact with DNA through intercalation. Our laboratory has synthesized a new series of anti-tumor agents, the aza-anthracenediones, which are structurally related to mitoxantrone but contain a heterocyclic, rather than a carbocyclic, chromophore. Both the in vivo and in vitro anti-tumor activities of these compounds were exquisitely sensitive to the positioning of the nitrogen atom within the heterocyclic backbone. Compounds having a 2-aza were 30- to 100-fold more potent than the 1-aza or the di-aza compounds against L1210 cells in vitro. When tested in vivo, the 2-aza-anthracenediones had marked anti-tumor activity, in some cases curative, whereas the 1-aza-anthracenediones had but minimal antitumor activity. To define the importance of the aza positioning on DNA reactivity, spectral shift and gel mobility assays were used. The spectral shift assay suggested that the 2-aza compounds reacted with DNA solely through intercalation whereas the 1-aza-anthracenediones, and mitoxantrone all reacted with DNA through intercalative and non-intercalative processes. The affinity of DNA binding was five to seven times greater for the 2-aza compounds compared to the 1-aza or the di-aza derivatives. The retardation of supercoiled pBR322 DNA mobility in agarose gel electrophoresis further suggested an intercalative type of DNA interaction. Differences in DNA interaction appear related to but can not completely account for differences in cytotoxicity of the aza anthracenediones.

Metal ion-mediated assembly of effective phenanthroline-based G-quadruplex ligands

Transition metal ions can drive the assembly of small planar ligands to produce structures able to efficiently recognize G-quadruplex DNA arrangements.

Syntheses of 1,3-disubstituted imidazo[l,5-a]pyridines

Abstract Facile syntheses of 1,3-disubstituted imidazo[l,5-a]pyridines have been effected by treatment of ketimines derived from di-2-pyridyl ketone with LDA and benzophenone, reactions of benzyl amine with di-2-pyridyl ketone in boron trifluoride etherate, and reaction of di-2-pyridyl methanamine imines with molecular sieves in benzene.

Perylene side chains modulate G-quadruplex conformation in biologically relevant DNA sequences

The stabilisation of different G-quadruplex intra- and intermolecular structures by a number of perylene derivatives characterised by side chains ending with linear or cyclic amines was investigated by electrophoretic (EMSA) and spectroscopic (CD) techniques. The G-rich sequences included the biologically relevant human telomeric TTAGGG runs and the NHE region of the c-myc oncogene. The test compounds could be subdivided into two families: derivatives carrying a cyclic amine in the side chains, which show a reduced binding to the G-quadruplex form, and linear amine congeners, exhibiting enhanced affinity. The latter efficiently induce pairing of multiple DNA chains, while the former are not able to overcome the original folding of the nucleic acid sequence which is preserved in the complex. Remarkably, addition of the perylenes to G-rich sequences paired in a double helical form results in G-quadruplex induction by weak binders only. This is likely related to the ability of strong G-quadruplex binders, but not of weak G-quadruplex binders, to efficiently intercalate into the double-stranded arrangement, which becomes stabilised and is not prone to undergo denaturation and subsequent G-quadruplex folding essentially for kinetic reasons. Hence, two apparently conflicting requirements emerge from this work. In fact, linear alkylamino terminals in the perylene side chains are capable of strong and selective G-quadruplex recognition, but only cyclic amine end groups favour duplex-quadruplex transitions that are likely crucial to produce biological and pharmacological effects in living systems.

Effect of G-Quadruplex Polymorphism on the Recognition of Telomeric DNA by a Metal Complex

The physiological role(s) played by G-quadruplexes renders these ‘non-canonical’ DNA secondary structures interesting new targets for therapeutic intervention. In particular, the search for ligands for selective recognition and stabilization of G-quadruplex arrangements has led to a number of novel targeted agents. An interesting approach is represented by the use of metal-complexes, their binding to DNA being modulated by ligand and metal ion nature, and by complex stoichiometry. In this work we characterized thermodynamically and stereochemically the interactions of a Ni(II) bis-phenanthroline derivative with telomeric G-quadruplex sequences using calorimetric, chiroptical and NMR techniques. We employed three strictly related sequences based on the human telomeric repeat, namely Tel22, Tel26 and wtTel26, which assume distinct conformations in potassium containing solutions. We were able to monitor specific enthalpy/entropy changes according to the structural features of the target telomeric sequence and to dissect the binding process into distinct events. Interestingly, temperature effects turned out to be prominent both in terms of binding stoichiometry and ΔH/ΔS contributions, while the final G-quadruplex-metal complex architecture tended to merge for the examined sequences. These results underline the critical choice of experimental conditions and DNA sequence for practical use of thermodynamic data in the rational development of effective G-quadruplex binders.

Sodium Trimethyl Silanoate. A Hydroxyl Synthon for Fluoride SNAr Type Displacements from Anthracene-9,10-diones, Benz[g]isoquinoline-5–10-diones and Nitrobenzenes

Abstract Treatment of fluoroanthracene-9,10-diones, fluorobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones and 1- or 4-fluoronitrobenzenes with sodium trimethylsilanoate in THF followed by acidification readily yields the corresponding hydroxyl analogues.

The Synthesis of 1,4-Difluoro-5,8-Dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-Dione and Ipso Substitutions of the Fluorides by Diamines Leading to 1,4-Bis-[(Aminoalkyl)Amino]-5,8-Dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-Diones

Abstract Two synthetic pathways to 1,4-difluoro-5,8-dihydroxy-anthracene-9,10-dione (2) are described. The ipso substitution of the fluorides of 2 by diamines is a valuable preparative route to 1, 4-bis[(antinoalkyl) antino] -5, 8-dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-diones related to 1.

Ni2+ and Cu2+ complexes of a phenanthroline-based ligand bind to G-quadruplexes at non-overlapping sites

Transition metal complexes allow fine tuning of DNA binding affinity and selectivity. Here we report on the nucleic acid recognition properties of a phenanthroline-based ligand coordinated to Ni(2+) or Cu(2+). The resulting complexes clearly bind to telomeric G-quadruplexes at different sites according to the nature of the bound metal ion.