Calmodulin discriminates between the two enantiomers of the receptor-operated calcium channel blocker SK&F 96365: a study using 1H-NMR and chiral HPLC.

1H nuclear magnetic resonance at 360 MHz shows that SK&F 96365 (1-(beta-[3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-propyloxy]-p-methoxyphenethyl)-1H- imidazole hydrochloride), an antagonist of mammalian receptor-operated calcium channels, interacts with the calcium-binding regulatory protein calmodulin (CaM). This may be inferred by a number of chemical shift changes in the spectrum of the calcium-saturated protein induced by addition of the compound. Moreover, two well-resolved singlets corresponding to the 2-proton of the SK&F 96365 imidazolium moiety are observed in the spectrum over a wide range of protein:compound ratios. Separation of rac SK&F 96365 into its two enantiomers by high-performance liquid chromatography on a cellulose tris (4-methylbenzoate) column enabled us to show that the doubling of this NMR signal in the presence of CaM is due to a propensity of the protein to distinguish between the two optical isomers of the compound.

2-[[(4-Amino-2-pyridyl)methyl]sulfinyl]benzimidazole H+/K+-ATPase inhibitors. The relationship between pyridine basicity, stability, and activity.

The benzimidazole sulfoxide class of antisecretory H+/K+-ATPase inhibitors need to possess high stability under neutral physiological conditions yet rearrange rapidly at low pH to the active sulfenamide 2. Since the initial reaction involves internal nucleophilic attack by the pyridine nitrogen, control of the pyridine pKa is critical. In this paper we show that by utilizing the powerful electron-donating effect of a 4-amino substituent on the pyridine, moderated by the electron-withdrawing effect of a 3- or 5-halogen substituent, a combination of high potency (as inhibitors of histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion) and good stability under physiological conditions can be obtained. Furthermore, the role of the steric interaction between the 3/5-substituents and the 4-substituent in modifying the electron-donating ability of the 4-amino group is exemplified, and additional factors affecting stability are identified. One compound, in particular, 2-[[(3-chloro-4-morpholino-2- pyridyl)methyl]sulfinyl]-5-methoxy-(1H)-benzimidazole (3a, SK&F 95601), was chosen for further development and evaluation in man.