Milovan D. Ivanović

The synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of 4-methyl fentanyl

The synthesis of 4-methyl fentanyl, a prototype of a novel class of fentanyl analogues has been effected in 5 steps, starting from N-ethoxycarbonyl-4-piperidone (approximately 20% overall yield). In the key step, N-phenylation of secondary aliphatic amide intermediare was achieved by a novel reaction, using diphenyliodonium chloride for the phenyl group transfer. Preliminary pharmacological results indicate that 4-methyl fentanyl is a super potent narcotic analgesic, about four times more potent than fentanyl.

Fentanyl Analogs: Structure-Activity-Relationship Study

Fentanyl is the prototype of the 4-anilidopiperidine class of synthetic opioid analgesics. This study was aimed to review the structure-activity-relationship (SAR) of fentanyl analogs substituted in the position 3, or 4 of the piperidine ring. Pharmacological results show that the groups in position 3 of the piperidine ring, which are larger than methyl, severely reduce the analgesic potency compared to fentanyl. It is likely that the steric factor alone (i.e. voluminosity of the group and cis/trans isomerism), rather than the polarity and/or chemical reactivity, plays a crucial role in the analgesic potency of this series. Although the duration of action, in general, does not depend on the stereochemistry, longer action of the most potent 3-alkyl fentanyl analogs such as cis-3-methyl- and cis-3-ethyl fentanyl, is more likely influenced by pharmacodynamic, rather than pharmacokinetic variables. Also, it is possible that the introduction of a functional group such as 3-carbomethoxy reduces the duration of action by altering pharmacokinetic properties. SAR findings obtained by evaluating the neurotoxic effects of fentanyl analogs substituted in the position 3 of the piperidine ring parallel the SAR findings on analgesia in regard to potency and duration of action. This might suggest that similar receptors are involved in producing both antinociceptive and neurotoxic effects of these drugs. It appears that both the potency and the duration of action in the series of fentanyl analogs substituted in position 4 of the piperidine ring is influenced only by the steric requirement and not by the chemical nature of the substituent.

One-Step Conversion of Ketones to Conjugated Acids Using Bromoform

Abstract Phase-transfer-catalyzed (PTC) reactions of ketones with bromoform and aqueous lithium hydroxide in alcoholic solvent result in the formation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids. The reaction was performed at room temperature for 24 h. The corresponding conjugated acids were obtained from cyclic or aromatic ketones, whereas bromo acids were obtained from 4-oxo-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (13) and 4-oxo-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (14).

The synthesis of lactam analogues of fentanyl

Fentanyl, sufentanil and alfentanil are clinically widely used anaesthetics and are structurally related to drugs with entirely different pharmacological activity such as droperidol, loperamide and lorcainide, etc. Therefore, in order to test their pharmacological activity, lactam analogues of fentanyl, a novel class of compounds, have been synthesized. In the first step, various primary amines have been selectively added to 1 equiv. of α,β-unsaturated esters, to afford the β-amino esters. N-Acylation of these intermediates with dimethyl malonate yields the amido esters, which have been further subjected to Dieckmann-type cyclization, to produce the corresponding 3-methoxycarbonylpiperidine-2,4-diones. The cyclization has been effected under phase-transfer conditions, utilizing potassium carbonate as base and 18-crown-6 as catalyst. This eliminates the need for strong and hazardous bases such as molten sodium or NaH. In the next step, acid hydrolysis and decarboxylation furnish the substituted piperidine-2,4-diones in good yields, as pure products. Alkylation of the N-phenethylpiperidine-2,4-dione with methyl iodide and potassium carbonate in DMSO gives the 3,3-dimethyl derivative. The alkylation procedure is also applicable to other alkylating agents. Reductive amination of the prepared piperidine-2,4-diones with aniline and NaBH3CN in buffered methanol gives the corresponding pure 4-anilino-2-piperidones. The lactam function can be readily reduced (NaBH4–BF3·Et2O), as exemplified with the 3,3-dimethyl derivative, thus providing access to additional fentanyl analogues, not readily accessible by other routes. The synthesis is completed by N-acylation of the anilines with propionyl chloride using triethylamine as base. The prepared 4-propionanilido-2-piperidones and 4-propionanilidopiperidines are expected to provide useful structure-activity relationship data in the pharmacological studies.

A comparison of the antinociceptive and temperature responses to morphine and fentanyl derivatives in rats

In addition to producing antinociception, opioids exert profound effects on body temperature. This study aimed at comparing antinociceptive and hyperthermic responses between two groups of μ-opioid receptor agonists: fentanyl (4-anilinopiperidine-type) and morphine (phenanthrene-type) derivatives in rats. Analgesic activity was assessed by tail immersion test and the body temperature by insertion of a thermometer probe into the colon. Fentanyl (F), (±)-cis-3-methyl fentanyl (CM), (±)-cis-3-carbomethoxy fentanyl (C), (±)trans-3-carbomethoxy fentanyl (T) and (±)-cis-3 butyl fentanyl (B) produced dose-dependent increase in antinociception and hyperthermia. The relative order of analgesic potency was: CM(11.27)>F(1)>C(0.35)≥T(0.11)≥B(0.056). Similar to this, the relative order of hyperthermic potency was: CM(8.43)>F(1)>C(0.46)≥T(0.11)≥B(0.076). Morphine (M), oxycodone (O), thebacon (T) and 6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-methanol, 4,5-epoxy-6-fluoro-3-hydroxy-α,α,17-trimethyl-, (5α,7α) (E) also produced dose-dependent increase in antinociception and hyperthermia. Among morphine derivatives the relative order of analgesic potency was: E(56)>O(5)≥T(2.6)>M(1), and similar to this, the relative order of hyperthermic potency was: E(37)>O(3)≥T(2.3)>M(1). Morphine (phenanthrene-type) and fentanyl (4-anilinopiperidine-type) derivatives produced hyperthermia in rats at doses about 2 times lower, and 6–11 times higher, than their median antinociceptive doses, respectively. This study is first to identify difference between these two classes of opioid drugs in their potencies in producing hyperthermia. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of these findings.

Pharmacological Evaluation of 3-Carbomethoxy Fentanyl in Mice

In many animal species, as well as in humans, high doses of fentanyl (F) produce marked neurotoxic effects, such as muscular rigidity and respiratory depression. The antinociception (hot-plate test), impairment of motor coordination (rotarod test) and acute toxicity of intraperitoneal newly synthesized analogs, (±)cis-3-carbomethoxy- fentanyl (C) and (±)trans-3-carbomethoxyfentanyl (T) were evaluated in mice. The compounds tested induced antinociception, impairment of performance on the rotarod, and lethality in a dose-dependent manner. The relative order of antinociceptive potency was similar to motor impairment potency, as well as lethality: F > C > T. Naloxone hydrochloride (1 mg/kg; sc) abolished all the effects observed, suggesting that they are mediated via opioid receptors, most probably of μ type. There were no significant differences between the therapeutic indices of F, C and T. It is concluded, the introduction of 3-carbomethoxy group in the piperidine ring of the fentanyl skeleton reduced the potency, but did not affect tolerability and safety of the compound.

Preparation of secondary amines by reductive amination with metallic magnesium

A novel and efficient method for the preparation of secondary amines by reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with primary amines has been developed. The reduction, effected with metallic magnesium in methanol, utilizing triethylamine–acetic acid as a buffer, gave pure secondary amines, mostly in good yields (65–80%). No formation of tertiary amines or alcohols was observed. Use of ammonium acetate as an amino component gave primary amines in modest yields (ca. 50%), together with variable amounts of secondary amines. Enamines failed to undergo reduction. The method is inexpensive, relatively rapid, operationally simple and suitable for large-scale preparations. In addition, a simple method for separation of primary amines from secondary ones has been developed.

α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity and cytotoxic effects of some cyclic urea and carbamate derivatives

Abstract The inhibitory activities of selected cyclic urea and carbamate derivatives (1–13) toward α-glucosidase (α-Gls) in in vitro assay were examined in this study. All examined compounds showed higher inhibitory activity (IC50) against α-Gls compared to standard antidiabetic drug acarbose. The most potent was benzyl (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)carbamate (12) with IC50 = 49.85 ± 0.10 µM. In vitro cytotoxicity of the investigated compounds was tested on three human cancer cell lines HeLa, A549 and MDA-MB-453 using MTT assay. The best antitumour activity was achieved with compound 2 (trans-5-phenethyl-1-phenylhexahydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2(3H)-one) against MDA-MB-453 human breast cancer cell line (IC50 = 83.41 ± 1.60 µM). Cyclic ureas and carbamates showed promising anti-α-glucosidase activity and should be further tested as potential antidiabetic drugs. The PLS model of preliminary QSAR study indicated that, in planing the future synthesis of more potent compounds, the newly designed should have the substituents capable of polar interactions with receptor sites in various positions, while avoiding the increase of their lipophilicity.

High-yielding method for preparation of carbocyclic or N-containing heterocyclic β-keto esters using in situ activated sodium hydride in dimethyl sulphoxide

ABSTRACT It was found that NaH suspension in DMSO was highly activated when reacted with an alcohol. The in situ generated NaH/alkoxide mixture permitted very rapid and complete deprotonation and acylation of various cyclic ketones with alkyl carbonates at ambient temperature. Activated NaH/alkoxide in DMSO is particularly effective in Dieckmann condensations, where it affords 5- and 6-membered carbocyclic or N-containing heterocyclic β-keto esters in high yields. A heterocyclic Dieckmann condensation was performed on a molar scale, demonstrating the scalability of the procedure. Besides, DMSO is non-toxic, relatively inexpensive and environmentally benign solvent. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Modelling of ORL1 receptor-ligand interactions

An opioid receptor like (ORL1) receptor is one of a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR); it represents a new pharmaceutical target with extensive therapeutic potential for the regulation of important biological functions such as nociception, mood disorders, drug abuse, learning or cardiovascular control. Although the crystal structure of the inactive form of the ORL1 receptor has been determined, little is known about its activation. By using X-ray structures of the β2-adrenegic receptor in its inactive (2RH1) and active (3P0G) states as templates, inactive and active homology models of the ORL1 receptor were constructed. Structurally diverse sets of strongly binding antagonists and agonists were docked with both ORL1 receptor forms. The major receptor-ligand interactions responsible for antagonist and agonist binding were identified. Although both sets of ligands, agonists and antagonists, bind to the same region of the receptor, they occupy partially different binding pockets. Agonists bind to the inactive receptor in a slightly different manner than antagonists. This difference is more pronounced in binding to the active ORL1 receptor model and points to the amino acids at the extracellular end of TM6, suggesting that this region is important for receptor-activation.