Characterization and interconversions of 2-S-ethyl-2-thio-D-mannose diethyl dithioacetal and the facile epimerization of 2-thio-D-mannopyranose derivatives.

3,4,5,6-Tetra-O-benzoyl-D-glucose diethyl dithioacetal (2) reacts with ethanethiol under acidic conditions to afford 3,4,5,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-2-S-ethyl-2-thio-D-mannose (3), the stereochemistry at C-2 of which has been assigned by chemical conversions on its debenzoylated derivative, the crystalline 2-S-ethyl-2-thio-D-mannose diethyl dithioacetal (4). In the presence of mercuric chloride (1.1 molar equiv), 4 is converted into crystalline ethyl 2-S-ethyl-1,2-dithio-alpha-D-mannofuranoside (5). Complete demercaptalation of 4 affords syrup 2-S-ethyl-2-thio-D-mannopyranose (6), which was characterized as its phenylhydrazone 7 and the crystalline alpha-pyranose tetraacetate 9. Extended treatment of 4 with mercuric chloride and aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate resulted in isolation of 6, along with its crystalline 2-epimer, 2-S-ethyl-2-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose (10). Remercaptalation of 6 affords the manno diethyl dithioacetal 4 as the major product, whereas similar treatment of 10 yields ethyl 2-S-ethyl-1,2-dithio-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (13). The mechanism of conversion of 2 into 3, as well as the unusually facile interconversion of 2-S-ethyl-2-thio-D-mannose (6) and its D-gluco epimer 10, has been investigated.

[3H]1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, a novel probe for strychnine- insensitive glycine receptors.

[3H]1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACPC) exhibits high affinity, specific binding to strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors. In extensively washed rat forebrain membranes, the specific binding of [3H]ACPC was optimal at 25 degrees C in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2. Comparable levels of specific [3H]ACPC binding were obtained using centrifugation and filtration for separation of bound from free radioligand. [3H]ACPC labels two sites with Kdl and Bmax1 values of 129 +/- 34 nM and 2.30 +/- 0.37 pmol/mg protein and Kd2 and Bmax2 values of 7.26 +/- 1.69 microM and 20.6 +/- 2.2 pmol/mg protein for the high and low affinity sites, respectively. The Kd of [3H]ACPC (66 nM) estimated under non-equilibrium conditions (koff = 8.91 +/- 0.78 x 10(-3) s-1; kon = 1.35 x 10(-4) nM-1 s-1) was similar to the value obtained for the high affinity site obtained by equilibrium binding. The Kd1 of[3H]ACPC is in good agreement with the previously reported Ki values of ACPC to inhibit the binding of other glycinergic ligands including [3H]glycine, [3H]5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (5,7-DCKA) and [3H]L-689,560 ((+/-)-4-(trans)-2-carboxy-5,7-dichloro-4- phenylaminocarbonylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline). Moreover, the potencies of a series of glycine site ligands, including glycine. ACPC, 1-aminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid (ACBC), 5,7-DCKA, 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CKA), R(+)-3-amino-1-hydroxy-2- pyrrolidine (HA-966) and D-serine, to inhibit [3H]ACPC binding were highly correlated with their potencies to inhibit [3H]glycine and [3H]5,7-DCKA binding (r2 = 0.98-0.51). These results demonstrate that [3H]ACPC is a useful tool for examining the neurochemical and pharmacological properties of strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors.

4,5-Disubstituted primaquine analogues as potential antimalarial agents.

Three 4,5-disubstituted primaquine analogues were synthesized and evaluated for radical curative activity against Plasmodium cynomolgi in rhesus monkeys. One of the compounds showed moderate activity; however, none of the three compounds were as active as the lead compounds 5-methoxy-4-methylprimaquine and 4-(methoxy-methyl)-5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine.

Sulfur-interrupted 8-amino side chain analogues of 4-methyl-5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine as potential antimalarial agents.

Two isomeric sulfur-interrupted 8-amino side chain analogues of 4-methyl-5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine (2) were prepared and tested for antimalarial activity. The compounds were evaluated for blood schizonticidal activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice and radical curative activity against Plasmodium cynomolgi in rhesus monkeys. In addition, they were evaluated for causal prophylactic activity against Plasmodium berghei yoelii in mice. Both compounds were more active and less toxic than primaquine in the P. berghei screen. One of the compounds showed radical curative activity similar to primaquine but was less active than 2. One of the compounds was active at 160 mg/kg in the P. berghei yoelii screen; the other was not active.

4-substituted 5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine analogues as potential antimalarial agents.

Five 4-substituted 5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine analogues were synthesized and tested for radical curative activity against Plasmodium cynomolgi in Rhesus monkeys and for blood schizonticidal antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice. In addition, they were evaluated for causal prophylactic antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei yoelii in mice. One compound, 4-ethyl-5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine (2b), showed radical curative activity equivalent to 4-methyl-5-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]primaquine (2a). A second compound showed radical curative activity slightly less than 2a and 2b; the remaining three compounds were not active against P. cynomolgi. All five compounds showed much higher blood schizonticidal activity and less toxicity than primaquine; however, none of the compounds were as active as 2a. Three of four compounds tested showed high activity against P. berghei yoelii.

Synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted 6-methoxy-8-aminoquinoline analogues as potential antiparasitics.

A series of 2,4-disubstituted 8-aminoquinoline analogues were synthesized and evaluated against Plasmodium berghei in mice and Leishmania donovani in hamsters. 8-[[6-(Diethylamino)hexyl]amino]-2-ethyl-6-methoxy-4-methylquinoline (8a) possessed significant activity against L. donovani. 2-Ethyl-4-methylprimaquine (7a) was evaluated against Plasmodium cynomolgi in rhesus monkey and found to have activity equal to that of primaquine.

Synthesis of 4-alkyl and 4-(beta-alkylvinyl) derivatives of primaquine as potential antimalarials.

4(beta-Alkylvinyl)-6-methoxy-8-nitroquinolines (6) were prepared from 6-methoxy-8-nitroquinoline-4-carboxaldehyde (5) via a Wittig reaction. Stannous chloride reduction of 6 gave 4-(beta-alkylvinyl)-8-amino-6-methoxyquinolines (8), whereas catalytic reduction of 6 using Raney nickel catalyst gave 4-alkyl-8-amino-6-methoxyquinolines (7). Alkylation of 7 and 8 with 4-iodo-1-phthalimidopentane, followed by removal of the phthaloyl-protecting group with hydrazine, gave 4-alkyl and 4-(beta-alkylvinyl) derivatives of primiquine, respectively. These compounds were evaluated for antimalarial activity against P. berghei and P. berghei yoelii in mice and against P. cynomolgi in rhesus monkeys. Several of the compounds were active in the P. bergheii yoelii screen. None of the compounds showed significant activity in the other two screens.

Synthesis of some 4-substituted 8-amino-6-methoxyquinolines as potential antimalarials.

The 4-vinyl, 4-ethyl, and three 4-[beta-(arylthio)ethyl] derivatives of primaquine and other 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial agents were prepared for antimalarial evaluation. 8-[(4'-Amino-1'-methylbutyl)amino]-4-ethyl-6-methoxyquinoline (4-ethylprimaquine), which showed activity approximately equal to that of primaquine against Plasmodia cynomolgi in Rhesus monkey, was the most active of the compounds tested. 4-Ethylprimaquine was also less toxic than primaquine, as measured in the Rane mouse screen.

Resolution of antimalarial agents via complex formation with alpha-(2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenylideneaminooxy) propionic acid.

The resolution of several antimalarial agents via pi-complex formation with alpha-(2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenylideneaminooxy) propionic acid (TAPA) is reported. Since this represents the first use of this agent for the resolution of amines, some details of the separations are presented. The method proved successful for resolving weakly alkaline amines that did not form stable salts with common resolving acids, highly insoluble amines that did not form soluble salts with usual resolving acids, and amines that did not form crystalline salts with commonly available resolving acids. The optical isomers of several antimalarial agents were evaluated against Plasmodium berghei in the mouse. None of the optically active forms showed any significant differences. The curative activity of (+)- and (-)-primaquine against Plasmodium cynomolgi in the rhesus monkey was essentially identical; however, significant differences in toxicity were noted.