Milan Mesic

Antimalarial activity of 9a-N substituted 15-membered azalides with improved in vitro and in vivo activity over azithromycin.

Novel classes of antimalarial drugs are needed due to emerging drug resistance. Azithromycin, the first macrolide investigated for malaria treatment and prophylaxis, failed as a single agent and thus novel analogues were envisaged as the next generation with improved activity. We synthesized 42 new 9a-N substituted 15-membered azalides with amide and amine functionalities via simple and inexpensive chemical procedures using easily available building blocks. These compounds exhibited marked advances over azithromycin in vitro in terms of potency against Plasmodium falciparum (over 100-fold) and high selectivity for the parasite and were characterized by moderate oral bioavailability in vivo. Two amines and one amide derivative showed improved in vivo potency in comparison to azithromycin when tested in a mouse efficacy model. Results obtained for compound 6u, including improved in vitro potency, good pharmacokinetic parameters, and in vivo efficacy higher than azithromycin and comparable to chloroquine, warrant its further development for malaria treatment and prophylaxis.

2,8-dithia-dibenzo〔e,h〕azulenes and their 8-oxa analogs: synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity

Synthesis of 2, 8-dithia-dibenzo[e, h]azulenes (III, X = S) and their 8-oxa analogs (III, X = O), 1 two novel classes of fused heterocyclic compounds, is described. Starting 11H-dibenzo[b, f]thiepin-10-one, 11H-dibenzo[b, f]oxepin- 10-one and its 2-chloro derivative (1a-c) were oxidized to 1, 2-diketones (2a-c) which subsequently reacted with 2, 2’ -dimethyl thiodiglycolate to form fused thiophene ring by Hinsberg cyclization reaction. Substituents at positions C(1) and C(3) were then further transformed in order to obtain aminoalkoxy derivatives 8-11. Structures of regioisomers 6c and 6d were elucidated using two-dimensional NMR techniques. All compounds with tetracyclic skeleton were tested in vitro for their anti-inflammatory activity.

Macrolactonolides: a novel class of anti- inflammatory compounds

A new concept in design of safe glucocorticoid therapy was introduced by conjugating potent glucocorticoid steroids with macrolides (macrolactonolides). These compounds were synthesized from various steroid 17β-carboxylic acids and 9a-N-(3-aminoalkyl) derivatives of 9-deokso-9a-aza-9a-homoeritromicin A and 3-descladinosyl-9-deokso-9a-aza-9a-homoeritromicin A using stable alkyl chain. Combining property of macrolides to preferentially accumulate in immune cells, especially in phagocyte cells, with anti-inflammatory activity of classic steroids, we designed molecules which showed good anti-inflammatory activity in ovalbumin (OVA) induced asthma in rats. The synthesis, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of this novel class of compounds are described.

Determination of aqueous stability and degradation products of series of coumarin dimers

The stability in aqueous solution of five classes of coumarin dimers (I-V, compounds 1-29) was studied by HPLC-MS/MS at various pH values. The relationship between chemical structure and stability is discussed. It was found that dimeric compounds with strong electron withdrawing groups (EWGs) on the α-carbon to the bridging C-atom are stable at all pH values, whereas other derivatives undergo retro-Michael addition at rates which are also affected by the substituents on the aromatic rings. In some cases formation of stable isomers or oxidation products was observed. In order to evaluate their developability and potential for progression to in vivo studies, representative compounds were tested in an in vitro microsomal stability assay.

Conformational properties and chiral separation of dibenzo[b,f]thieno[3,4-d]-fused oxepines and thiepines

The dynamic properties of planar chiral 1-hydroxymethyl-substituted dibenzo[b,f]thieno[3,4-d]-fused oxepine and thiepine derivatives have been investigated by use of variable-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with line-shape analysis, chiral column chromatography, and molecular modelling. NMR data and computational studies revealed the height of the energy barrier for ring inversion in thiepine derivatives was sufficient to enable the existence of a pair of conformational enantiomers at ambient temperature. Their resolution was achieved by chiral column high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The absolute conformation of the enantiomers is proposed. This is the first chromatographic separation of planar chiral enantiomers of [b,d,f]-fused thiepine derivatives.Graphical Abstract

Synthesis of naphtho〔2,3-b〕- and naphtho〔1,2-b〕-fused thieno〔2,3-d〕〔1〕benzoxepins and thieno〔2,3-d〕〔1〕benzothiepins

Synthesis of four novel classes of structurally related fused hetero-pentacyclic compounds, naphtho[2,3-b]thieno[2,3-d][1]benzothiepins (Ia), naphtho[1,2-b]thieno[2,3-d][1]benzothiepins (IIa), naphtho[2,3-b]thieno[2,3-d][1]benzoxepins (Ib,c) and naphtho[1,2-b]thieno[2,3-d][1]benzoxepins (IIb,c), is described. The key intermediates were the tetracyclic ketones, benzo[b]-naphtho[f]-fused thiepinones 1a,b and oxepinones 1c-f, formed by intramolecular cyclization of the corresponding 2-naphthalenylthio- (2a,b) and 2-naphthalenyloxy-substituted (2c-f) phenylacetic acid derivatives. Reaction of ketones 1a-f with Vilsmeier reagent provided β-chlorovinyl aldehydes 10a-f that readily cyclized with ethyl 2-mercaptoacetate to form thieno[2,3-d]-fused derivatives of benzo-naphtho-thiepins 11a,b and benzo-naphtho-oxepins 11c-f. Reduction of ester group of 11a-f afforded final hydroxymethyl derivatives 12a-f.