Ralph Holl

Dancing of the Second Aromatic Residue around the 6,8-Diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane Framework: Influence on σ Receptor Affinity and Cytotoxicity

A series of 6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane derivatives bearing two aromatic moieties was prepared, the affinity toward sigma(1) and sigma(2) receptors was investigated, and the growth inhibition of six human tumor cell lines was determined. The enantiopure bicyclic ketones 5a ((+)-(1S,5S)-6-allyl-8-(4-methoxybenzyl)-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-2,7,9-trione) and 5b ((+)-(1S,5S)-6-allyl-8-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-2,7,9-trione) as well as their enantiomers ent-5a and ent-5b served as chiral building blocks, which were derived from (S)- and (R)-glutamate, respectively. Structure-affinity relationships revealed that 11a (K(i) = 154 nM), ent-11a (K(i) = 91 nM), and ent-17a (K(i) = 104 nM) are the most potent sigma(1) ligands. High sigma(2) affinity was achieved with 17b (K(i) = 159 nM) and 8b (K(i) = 400 nM). The bicyclic sigma ligands showed a selective growth inhibition of the small cell lung cancer cell line A-427 with the benzyl ethers 11 and the benzylidene derivatives 17 being the most potent compounds. 11a has a cytotoxic potency (IC(50) = 0.92 muM), which exceeds the activity of cisplatin and interacts considerably with both sigma(1) and sigma(2) receptors.

Design and stereoselective synthesis of a C-aryl furanoside as a conformationally constrained CHIR-090 analogue.

The UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a promising target for the development of novel antibiotic substances against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The C-aryl glycoside 3 was designed as conformationally constrained analogue of the potent LpxC-inhibitor CHIR-090. The chiral pool synthesis of 3 started with D-mannose. The C-aryl glycoside 8 was synthesized stereoselectively by nucleophilic attack of 4-iodine-substituted phenyllithium and subsequent reduction with Et(3)SiH. The ester 10 was obtained in a one-pot diol cleavage, CrO(3) oxidation, and esterification. A Sonogashira reaction of the aryl iodide 11 led to the alkyne 17 which was transformed with H(2)NOH into the hydroxamic acid 3.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of SNC80 Analogues with a Bridged Piperazine Ring

To discover novel δ‐opioid receptor ligands derived from SNC80 (1), a series of 6,8‐diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane derivatives bearing two aromatic moieties was prepared, and the affinity toward δ, μ, and κ receptors, as well as σ receptors, was investigated. After removal of the 4‐methoxybenzyl and 2,4‐dimethoxybenzyl protecting groups, the pharmacophoric N,N‐diethylcarbamoylbenzyl residue was attached to the 6,8‐diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane framework to yield the designed δ receptor ligands. In a first series of compounds the benzhydryl moiety of SNC80 was dissected, and one phenyl ring was attached to the bicyclic framework. In a second series of δ ligands the complete benzhydryl moiety was introduced into the bicyclic scaffold. The determined δ receptor affinities show that compounds based on an (R)‐glutamate‐derived bicyclic scaffold possess higher δ receptor affinity than their (S)‐glutamate‐derived counterparts. Furthermore, an intact benzhydryl moiety leads to δ receptor ligands that are more potent than compounds with two separated aromatic moieties. Compound 24, with the same spatial arrangement of substituents around the benzhydryl stereocenter as SNC80, shows the highest δ receptor affinity of this series: Ki=24 nM. Whereas the highly potent δ ligands reveal good selectivity against μ and κ receptors, the σ1 and/or σ2 affinities of some compounds are almost in the same range as their δ receptor affinities, such as compound 25 (σ2: Ki=83 nM; δ: Ki=75 nM). In [35S]GTPγS assays the most potent δ ligands 24 and 25 showed almost the same intrinsic activity as the full agonist SNC80, proving the agonistic activity of 24 and 25. The enantiomeric 4‐benzylidene derivatives 15 and ent‐15 showed selective cytotoxicity toward the 5637 (bladder) and A‐427 (small‐cell lung) human tumor cell lines.

Relationships between the structure of 6-allyl-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane derivatives and their σ receptor affinity and cytotoxic activity

A series of bridged piperazine derivatives was prepared and the affinity toward sigma(1) and sigma(2) receptors by means of radioligand binding assays as well as the inhibition of the growth of six human tumor cell lines was investigated. All possible stereoisomers of the 2-hydroxy, 2-methoxy, 2,2-dimethoxy, 2-oxo, and 2-unsubstituted 6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes were prepared in a chiral pool synthesis starting with (S)- and (R)-glutamate. A Dieckmann analogous cyclization was the key step in the synthesis of the bicyclic framework. The configuration in position 2 was established by a diastereoselective LiBH(4) reduction and subsequent Mitsunobu inversion. Structure-affinity relationships demonstrate that substituents in position 2 decrease sigma(1) receptor affinity which might be due to unfavorable interactions with the sigma(1) receptor protein. Without a substituent in position 2 high sigma(1) affinity was obtained (23a ((+)-(1S,5S)-6-allyl-8-(4-methoxybenzyl)-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane): K(i)=11 nM). Experiments with six human tumor cell lines showed a weak but selective growth inhibition of the human small cell lung cancer cell line A-427 by the methyl ethers ent-16b (IC(50)=18.9 microM), 21a (IC(50)=16.4 microM), ent-21a (IC(50)=20.4 microM), and 21b (IC(50)=27.1 microM) and the unsubstituted compounds 23a and 23b (42% inhibition at 20 microM).

Synthesis of 2,5-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes by Dieckmann Analogous Cyclization

Starting with (S)-aspartate, methyl (S)-2-[1-allyl-4-(4-methoxybenzyl)-3,6-dioxopiperazin-2-yl]acetate 10 was synthesized in a four-step synthesis. Deprotonation of 10 and subsequent trapping of the first cyclization product led to the bicyclic mixed acetal 13 in 15% yield. The low yield of 13, compared with the yield of the corresponding glutamate derivatives, is explained by the higher energy (strain) of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane system and the lower conformational flexibility of the shorter acetate side chain. The formation of a six-membered Na+-chelate 12 as intermediate is responsible for the high diastereoselectivity of the cyclization step.

Relationships between the structure of 6-substituted 6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonan-2-ones and their σ receptor affinity and cytotoxic activity

A series of 2-oxo-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane derivatives was prepared and the affinity towards sigma(1) and sigma(2) receptors was investigated by means of radioligand binding assays as well as their inhibition of the growth of six human tumor cell lines was studied. Starting from the enantiopure bicyclic ketones 3 and ent-3 bridged piperazines with different residues in position 6 were synthesized. The N-6 allyl protective group was removed by a RhCl(3) catalyzed double bond isomerization and subsequent hydrolysis of the resulting enamide 8. After acetalization the secondary amide 10 was alkylated and arylated. Structure affinity relationships show that a relatively large substituent, which has not necessarily to be an aromatic one, is required in position 6 for high sigma(1) receptor affinity (e.g., 12 and ent-12 with a dimethylallyl residue: K(i)=20 nM and 17 nM). Furthermore, it was shown that substituents that reduce the basicity of N-6 led to a severe decrease in sigma(1) affinity. Growth inhibition experiments with six human tumor cell lines revealed that the allyl and benzyl substituted 6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonan-2-one derivatives 5, ent-5 and ent-14 are able to selectively inhibit the growth of the bladder cancer cell line 5637.

LpxC inhibitors: a patent review (2010-2016)

ABSTRACT Introduction: The Zn2+-dependent deacetylase LpxC is an essential enzyme of lipid A biosynthesis in Gram-negative bacteria and a promising target for the development of antibiotics selectively combating Gram-negative pathogens. Researchers from industry and academia have synthesized structurally diverse LpxC inhibitors, exhibiting different LpxC inhibitory and antibacterial activities. Areas covered: A brief introduction into the structure and function of LpxC, showing its suitability as antibacterial target, along with the structures of several reported LpxC inhibitors, is given. The article reviews patents (reported between 2010 and 2016) and related research publications on novel small-molecule LpxC inhibitors. Emphasis is placed on structure-activity relationships within the reported series of LpxC inhibitors. Expert opinion: The performed analysis of patents revealed that the current search for novel LpxC inhibitors is focused on small molecules, sharing common structural features like a Zn2+-chelating group as well as a highly lipophilic side-chain. However, despite the promising preclinical data of many of the reported compounds, besides the recently withdrawn clinical candidate ACHN-975, no other LpxC inhibitor has entered clinical trials. The lack of clinical candidates might be related with undesired effects caused by the common structural elements of the LpxC inhibitors.

Insights into the Zinc-Dependent Deacetylase LpxC: Biochemical Properties and Inhibitor Design.

The bacterial enzyme UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC), catalyzing the first committed step of lipid A biosynthesis, represents a promising target in the development of novel antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria. Structure, catalytic reaction mechanism and regulation of the Zn2+-dependent metalloamidase have been intensively investigated. The enzyme is required for growth and viability of Gram-negative bacteria, displays no sequence homology with any mammalian protein, but is highly conserved in Gram-negative bacteria, thus permitting the development of Gram-negative selective antibacterial agents with limited off-target effects. Several smallmolecule LpxC inhibitors have been developed, like the substrate analog TU-514 (12a), the aryloxazoline L-161,240 (13w), the sulfonamide BB-78485 (23a), the N-aroyl-L-threonine derivative CHIR-090 (24a), the sulfone-containing pyridone LpxC-3 (43e), and the uridine-based inhibitor 1-68A (47a), displaying diverse inhibitory and antibacterial activities. Most of these compounds share a Zn2+-binding hydroxamate moiety attached to a structural element addressing the hydrophobic tunnel or the UDP binding site. The butadiynyl derivative ACHN-975 (28) is the first LpxC inhibitor entering clinical trials.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of benzyloxyacetohydroxamic acids as LpxC inhibitors.

The inhibition of the UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) represents a promising strategy to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In order to elucidate the functional groups being important for the inhibition of LpxC, the structure of our previously reported hydroxamic acid 4 should be systematically varied. Therefore, a series of benzyloxyacetohydroxamic acids was prepared, of which the diphenylacetylene derivatives 28 (Ki=95nM) and 21 (Ki=66nM) were the most potent inhibitors of Escherichia coli LpxC. These compounds could be synthesized in a stereoselective manner employing a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and a Sonogashira coupling in the key steps. The obtained structure-activity relationships could be rationalized by molecular docking studies.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of four diastereomeric C-aryl manno- and talofuranosides.

In a chiral-pool synthesis starting from D-mannono-1,4-lactone 1a, the four diastereomeric C-aryl furanosides (1S,4R)-4a, (1S,4S)-4b, (1R,4R)-4c, and (1R,4S)-4d were obtained in a stereocontrolled manner. The key steps of the synthetic pathway comprise a stereoselective reduction of the diastereomeric hemiketals (4R)-2a and (4S)-2b as well as a stereospecific cycloetherification of the resulting diols (1R,4R)-5a, (1S,4R)-5c, and (1S,4S)-5d. This ring closure which led to the desired C-glycosides was achieved by a Mitsunobu reaction or by preparing the 1-O-benzoyl-4-O-methylsulfonyl derivative 7 which was then treated with sodium methoxide. Final hydrolysis of the 5,6-O-isopropylidene protecting group led to the diastereomeric diols (1S,4R)-4a, (1S,4S)-4b, (1R,4R)-4c, and (1R,4S)-4d, representing versatile building blocks for further synthetic transformations.