Daniel-Henri Caignard

Novel antitumor artemisinin derivatives targeting G1 phase of the cell cycle

Modification of artemisinin structure led us to the discovery of a novel class of antitumor compounds. These artemisinin derivatives containing cyano and aryl groups showed potent antiproliferative effect in vitro against P388 and A549 cells. This activity was reflected in P388 murine leukemia by an accumulation of cells in G1 phase, and induction of apoptosis.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of artemisinin derivatives containing cyanoarylmethyl group.

A series of 12alpha-deoxoartemisinyl cyanoarylmethyl dicarboxylates (4a-4o), dicarboxylic acids 12alpha-deoxoartemisinyl ester cyanoarylmethyl amide (5a-5k), and dicarboxylic acids 12alpha-deoxoartemisinyl ester N-methylcyanoarylmethyl amide (6a-6l), showing moderate cytotoxicity against P388 and L1210 cells were prepared. They induced the significant accumulation of L1210 and P388 cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This mechanism of action was quite different from that of the majority of cytotoxic compounds used in the chemotherapy of cancer. Compound 4b possessed better cytotoxicity than the other compounds.

Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activity of tripentones: A new series of antitubulin agents

Structure-activity relationship studies of a new series of tripentones (thieno[2,3-b]pyrrolizin-8-ones), led us to prepare several derivatives with antiproliferative activities. The most promising 3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)thieno[2,3-b]pyrrolizin-8-one 20 (leukemia L1210, IC(50)=15 nM) was shown to be a potent inhibitor of tubulin polymerization.

Synthesis and structure–activity relationships of novel naphthalenic and bioisosteric related amidic derivatives as melatonin receptor ligands

A series of N-naphthylethyl amide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as melatonin receptor ligands. The affinity of each compound for the melatonin receptor was determined by binding studies using [2-125I]iodomelatonin on ovine pars tuberalis membrane homogenates. Structure-activity relationships led to the conclusion that naphthalene is a bioisostere of the indole moiety of melatonin. Moreover it appears that the affinity is strongly affected by the size of the substituent of the nitrogen of the amidic function. Many of these ligands give biphasic dose-response curves which suggests that there may be two melatonin receptor subtypes within the ovine pars tuberalis cells. The replacement of naphthalene by benzofuran or benzothiophene did not strongly alter the affinity for the melatonin receptor. In contrast, the benzimidazole analogue was a poor ligand. Compound 7, the naphthalenic analogue of melatonin, a selective ligand of the melatonin receptor and an agonist derivative, has been selected for clinical development.

4,4-Dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-based PPARα/γ agonists. Part I: Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation

Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance in the liver and peripheral tissues accompanied by a defect in pancreatic beta-cell. Since their discovery three subtypes of Peroxisomes Proliferators Activated Receptors were identified namely PPARalpha, PPARgamma and PPARbeta/(delta). We were interested in designing novel PPARgamma selective agonists and/or dual PPARalpha/gamma agonists. Based on the typical topology of synthetic PPAR agonists, we focused our design approach on 4,4-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline as novel cyclic tail.

New Fluorinated 1,2,4-Benzothiadiazine 1,1-Dioxides: Discovery of an Orally Active Cognitive Enhancer Acting through Potentiation of the 2-Amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionic Acid Receptors

In the search of a potent cognitive enhancer, a series of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides have been synthesized and evaluated as positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA receptors. In the present work, we focused our efforts on the insertion of mono- or polyfluoro-substituted alkyl chains at the 4-position of the thiadiazine ring in an attempt to enhance the pharmacokinetic behavior of previously described compounds. Among all the described compounds, 7-chloro-4-(2-fluoroethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide, 12b, was shown to exert a strong activity on AMPA receptors in vitro and a marked cognitive-enhancing effect in vivo after oral administration to Wistar rats. Considering its in vivo activity, the metabolic degradation of 12b was studied and compared to that of its nonfluorinated analogue 9b. Taken together, results of this study clearly validated the positive impact of the fluorine atom on the alkyl chain at the 4-position of benzothiadiazine dioxides on activity and metabolic stability.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 7-azaindolocarbazoles

Abstract In the course of a program aimed at designing antitumor agents containing an indolocarbazole framework, an efficient synthetic scheme based on the use of 3,4-dibromo- N -methylmaleimide and 7-azaindole has been developed to elaborate a series of mono- and di-aza derivatives of arcyriaflavin. The procedure was further exploited to introduce a hydroxyl group at different positions on the indole moiety of the non-symmetrical compounds. The DNA binding capacity and cytotoxic potential of these 7-azaindolocarbazole derivatives was evaluated.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of dihydroartemisinin ethers containing cyanoarylmethyl group

A new type of ether of dihydroartemisinin containing cyano and aryl groups was prepared and tested for cytotoxicity to A549, P388, L1210 and HT29 cells using the MTT assay. 12k and 12l were the most cytotoxic compounds. 13 lacking the peroxy group showed a 1000-fold less potency than 12l. Similarly, the inactive compound 14 indicated that the position of cyano groups was also important. Flow cytometry data showed that the compounds caused an accumulation of P388 cells in the G(1)-phase of the cell cycle.

Novel N-Acetyl Bioisosteres of Melatonin: Melatonergic Receptor Pharmacology, Physicochemical Studies, and Phenotypic Assessment of Their Neurogenic Potential

Herein we present a new family of melatonin-based compounds, in which the acetamido group of melatonin has been bioisosterically replaced by a series of reversed amides and azoles, such as oxazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, and 1,3,4-oxadiazole, as well as other related five-membered heterocycles, namely, 1,3,4-oxadiazol(thio)ones, 1,3,4-triazol(thio)ones, and an 1,3,4-thiadiazole. New compounds were fully characterized at melatonin receptors (MT1R and MT2R), and results were rationalized by superimposition studies of their structures to the bioactive conformation of melatonin. We also found that several of these melatonin-based compounds promoted differentiation of rat neural stem cells to a neuronal phenotype in vitro, in some cases to a higher extent than melatonin. This unique profile constitutes the starting point for further pharmacological studies to assess the mechanistic pathways and the relevance of neurogenesis induced by melatonin-related structures.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a second generation of pyridothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides acting as AMPA potentiators.

Taking into account structure-activity relationships obtained with our previous series, new diversely substituted 1,2,4-pyridothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides were designed to obtain novel AMPA potentiators. The aim of this work was focused on the improvement of lipophilicity, which is well known as a critical parameter to obtain in vivo active central nervous system agents. For this purpose, two positions on the pyridine ring were privileged to insert selected groups. Among the synthesized compounds emerged 7-chloro-4-ethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrido[2,3-e]-[1,2,4]-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (12d), which was evaluated in two memory tests in Wistar rats and showed cognition enhancing effects after intraperitoneal injection at doses as low as 0.3mg/kg.