Sebastian Demkowicz

Selected organophosphorus compounds with biological activity. Applications in medicine

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the latest applications of organophosphorus compounds (OPs) that exhibit biological activity. A large family of OPs have become popular in recent years. The practical application of OPs in modern medicine has been attributed to their unique properties. In this article, the methods used to select these compounds will be emphasized. This paper will first outline the findings of a literature review on OPs, including anticancer and antiviral agents, bisphosphonates, phosphorus analogues of amino acids and peptides, and organophosphorus metal complexes, and secondly, it will classify the compounds according to their biological activity and applications in the treatment of diseases.

Phosphate tricyclic coumarin analogs as steroid sulfatase inhibitors: synthesis and biological activity

In the present work, we report convenient methods for the synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphate tricyclic coumarin derivatives as potential steroid sulfatase inhibitors. The described synthesis includes the straightforward preparation of 7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]chromen-4-one, 3-hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one and 3-hydroxy-8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-7H-cyclohepta[c]chromen-6-one modified with various phosphate moieties. The inhibitory effects of the synthesized compounds were tested on STS isolated from human placenta as well as the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435S cancer cell lines. Most of the new STS inhibitors possessed IC50 values between 21 to 159 μM. In the course of our investigation, the largest inhibitory effects in the STS enzyme assays were observed for the three compounds 9p, 9r and 9s, with IC50 values of 36.4, 37.8 and 21.5 μM, respectively (IC50 value of 1.0 μM for the 665-COUMATE used as a reference). The compound 9r, exhibited the highest potency against MCF-7, an estrogen receptor positive (ER+) cell line, with a GI50 value of 24.7 μM. The structure-activity relationships of the synthesized coumarin derivatives with the STS enzyme are discussed.

Towards β-selectivity in functional estrogen receptor antagonists

Based on the benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]furan and benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene frameworks, a series of ligands with different basic side chains (BSCs) has been synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated. Also, their binding modes have been modelled using docking techniques. It was found that the introduction of a BSC in these systems brings about a decrease of affinity for both estrogen receptors α and β in an in vitro competitive binding assay. However, two full antagonists of the estrogen receptor β (9c and 9f) have been discovered, with potency in the low micromolar concentration in a cell-based luciferase reporter assay, and completely devoid of activity against the α receptor at the same concentration range. Differences in the ERα/ERβ binding modes have also been rationalized with the help of molecular modelling techniques. This interesting functional profile could be used to elucidate the physiological role of each ER subtype.

Synthesis and steroid sulfatase inhibitory activities of N-alkanoyl tyramine phosphates and thiophosphates†

A series of phosphate and thiophosphate analogs based on the frameworks of N-alkanoyl tyramines have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. Their binding modes have been modeled using docking techniques. The inhibitory effects of the synthesized compounds were tested on STS isolated from the human placenta as well as the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SkBr3 cancer cell lines. Most of the new STS inhibitors possessed potent activity against STS. In the course of our investigation, 4-(2-dodecanoylamino-ethyl)-phenyl dimethyl phosphate 4a demonstrated the greatest inhibitory effect, with IC50 values of 0.39 μM (IC50 value of 15.44 μM for the 4-(2-dodecanoylamino-ethyl)-phenyl sulfamate used as a reference). The compound 4a exhibited the highest potency against the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SkBr3 cancer cell lines, with a GI50 values of 8.80, 6.48 and 5.76 μM, respectively. The structure–activity relationships of the synthesized phosphate- and thiophosphate-based tyramine derivatives with the STS enzyme are discussed.

Phosphate and thiophosphate biphenyl analogs as steroid sulfatase inhibitors.

Preclinical Research

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Fluorinated 3-Phenylcoumarin-7-O-Sulfamate Derivatives as Steroid Sulfatase Inhibitors

In the present work, we report the initial results of our study on a series of 3‐phenylcoumarin sulfamate‐based compounds containing C‐F bonds as novel inhibitors of steroid sulfatase. The new compounds are potent steroid sulfatase inhibitors, possessing more than 10 times higher inhibitory potency than coumarin‐7‐O‐sulfamate. In the course of our investigation, compounds 2b and 2c demonstrated the highest inhibitory effect on the enzymatic steroid sulfatase assay; both had IC50 values of 0.27 μm (the IC50 value of coumarin‐7‐O‐sulfamate is 3.5 μm, used as a reference).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiophosphate tricyclic coumarin derivatives as steroid sulfatase inhibitors.

Steroid sulfatase (STS) enzyme inhibition is an important approach to the management of hormone-dependent breast cancer. In this paper, we report convenient methods for the synthesis and biological evaluation of thiophosphate tricyclic coumarin analogs exhibiting STS activity. The described methods are based on the straightforward preparation of 7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]chromen-2-one, 3-hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one, and 3-hydroxy-8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-7H-cyclohepta[c]chromen-6-one and their further modification by the introduction of various thiophosphate moieties. The inhibition properties of the synthesized compounds were tested toward STS isolated from human placenta. Most of the new STS inhibitors possessed good to moderate activity toward STS. During the course of our investigation, the largest inhibitory effects in the STS enzyme assays were observed for the two compounds 3f and 4r, with IC50 values of 13.3 and 30.3 μM, respectively (the IC50 value of 1 μM for the 665-COUMATE was used as a reference). The structure–activity relationships of the synthesized coumarin derivatives toward STS enzymes are discussed.

Steroid Sulfatase Inhibitors Based on Phosphate and Thiophosphate Flavone Analogs.

Preclinical Research

Geometry optimization of steroid sulfatase inhibitors - the influence on the free binding energy with STS

In the paper we review the application of two techniques (molecular mechanics and quantum mechanics) to study the influence of geometry optimization of the steroid sulfatase inhibitors on the values of descriptors coded their chemical structure and their free binding energy with the STS protein. We selected 22 STS-inhibitors and compared their structures optimized with MM+, PM7 and DFT B3LYP/6–31++G* approaches considering separately the bond lengths, angles, dihedral angles and total energies. We proved that different minimum energy conformers could be generated depending on the choice of the optimization method. However, the results indicated that selection of the geometry optimization method did not affect the optimal STS inhibitor coordinates, and hence the values of molecular descriptors which describe the 3D structure of the molecule. To study the interaction pattern of the STS inhibitors (optimized using different methods) with the target receptor we applied two strategies: AutoDock and PathDock. The docking studies point out that selection of software to docking simulation is one of the crucial factors determining the binding mode of STS inhibitors with their molecular target. Other factor is related to the ligand orientation in the binding pocket. Finally, obtained results indicate that MM+ and PM7 methods (faster and less expensive) could be successfully employed to geometry optimization of the STS inhibitors before their docking procedure as well as for molecular descriptors calculations.

Convenient and efficient synthesis of functionalized unsymmetrical alkynyl sulfides

We developed a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of functionalized unsymmetrical alkynyl sulfides under mild conditions in good yields. The designed method is based on the reaction of 5,5-dimethyl-2-thioxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-disulfanyl derivatives with lithium acetylides. The developed method allows the preparation of unsymmetrical alkynyl sulfides bearing additional hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amino functionalities.