Inhibitors of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. 4. Synthesis and evaluation of potential prodrugs of lixazinone (N-cyclohexyl-N-methyl-4-[(1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-2- oxoimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-7-yl)-oxy]butyramide, RS-82856).

The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP PDE) inhibitor and cardiotonic agent lixazinone (N-cyclohexyl-N-methyl-4-[(1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-2- oxoimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-7-yl)oxy]butyramide, RS-82856, 1) and its acid and base addition salts were found to be insufficiently soluble in formulations suitable for intravenous administration. These results prompted an investigation into potential prodrugs with enhanced aqueous solubility designed to deliver 1 by three distinct mechanisms: (1) decarboxylation of alpha-carboxamides; (2) hydrolytic loss of a solubilizing N-1-(acyloxy)methyl or (N,N-dialkylamino)methyl moiety; or (3) intramolecular closure of a guanidino ester or amide. The target compounds were evaluated as delivery systems for 1 by three criteria: (1) chemical conversion rate to 1 under physiological conditions; (2) inhibition of type IV cAMP PDE at a fixed time point; and (3) in vivo inotropic activity in anesthetized dogs by both intravenous and oral administration. Release of 1 from 4a (series 1) was found to be too slow to be of value as a prodrug of 1, since decarboxylation could be induced only by strong acid, conditions under which hydrolytic ring opening was found to severely compete. Conversely, 1 was released too readily on exposure of (N,N-dialkylamino)methyl derivatives such as 8d (series 2) to physiological conditions, although no large increase in aqueous solubility was realized. Finally, both the physicochemical and in vitro studies indicated that ring closure of the guanidinium esters and amides 17a-k (series 3) to 1 was quantitative and pH- and time-dependent, suggesting the possibility of delivery of the open, water-soluble prodrug form, followed by closure to 1 in plasma. Detailed examination of these agents in vivo, however, demonstrated that only those compounds that rapidly cyclized to 1, as measured by plasma levels of 1, exhibited inotropic activity, indicating that the open prodrug form was not efficiently absorbed upon oral administration.

Synthesis and gastric antisecretory properties of allenic 16-phenoxy-omega-tetranor prostaglandin E analogs.

In order to improve the modest oral activity of PGE2 as an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, analogs were prepared and tested orally in histamine-challenged rats. Insertion of a double bond at C-4, resulting in the 4,5-allene analog of PGE1, gave a small increase in activity. Introduction of the omega-tetranor-16-phenoxy lower sidechain, a modification known to enhance activity in the PGF series, gave an eight-fold increase in activity. The analog having both modifications (enprostil, 2) showed a six hundred-fold increase in oral antisecretory activity over PGE2, which may reflect a potentiation effect. Modification of enprostil at C-1 (various esters) and at C-11 (11-methyl, 11-deoxy) generally resulted in compounds of high activity while modifications at other sites generally resulted in significant reductions in activity.

Synthesis and antiallergic activity of some mono- and disubstituted xanthone-2-carboxylic acids.

A series of xanthone-2-carboxylic acids, substituted mainly with electron-withdrawing groups, has been synthesized and assayed for antiallergic activity, using the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in the rat. The effect of substituent type and substitution pattern on PCA neutralizing capacity is presented.

Methyl 5(6)-phenylsulfinyl-2-benzimidazolecarbamate, a new, potent anthelmintic.

1. Human hepatic "acid" beta-galactosidase preparations, which had been purified approximately 250-fold, were examined for activities toward 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-galactosylceramide, lactosylceramide, galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-glucosylceramide(GM1-ganglioside) and galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-galactosyl-glucosylceramide (asialo GM1-ganglioside). 2. The enzyme was active toward the synthetic substrate, GM1-ganglioside and asialo GM1-ganglioside but was inactive toward galactosylceramide. Under our assay conditions, optimized for lactosylceramidase II, the preparations were as active toward lactosylceramide as toward GM1-ganglioside or its asialo derivative. The apparent Km values for the three natural substrates were similar. When determined by the assay system of Wehger, D.A., Sattler, M., Clark, C. and McKelvey, H. (1974) Clin. Chim Acta 56, 199-206, lactosylceramide-cleaving activity was 0.2% of that determined by our assay system. This confirmed our previous suggestion that the Wenger assay system determines exclusively the activity of lactosylceramidase I, which is probably identical with galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase. 3. Crude sodium taurocholate was far more effective than pure taurocholate in stimulating hydrolysis of the three glycosphingolipids by the beta-galactosidase. However, crude taurocholate could largely be replaced by smaller amounts of sodium taurodeoxycholate, suggesting that the unique activating capacity of the crude taurocholate might be due to taurodeoxycholate present as the major impurity. 4. Cl- was generally stimulatory for hydrolysis of the natural glycosphingolipids by our enzyme preparation. Effects of additional oleic acid and Triton X-100 were generally minor in either direction. 5. When the enzyme preparation was diluted with water, activity toward the synthetic substrate declined rapidly while those toward the natural substrates were essentially stable. Activity toward the synthetic substrate remained much more stable when the enzyme was diluted with 0.1 M sodium citrate/phosphate buffer, pH 5.0. 6. These observations provide insight into the complex relationship among the human hepatic beta-galactosidases.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of some 1,6-methano[10]annuleneacetic acids.

Some new approaches to the 1,6-methano[10]annulene system are described. The routes were used to prepare 1,6-methano[10]annulene-3-acetic acid and the alpha-methyl analog. The compounds showed antinflammatory and analgesic activity, though less than that of corresponding naphthalene compounds; the possible effect of the chirality of the annulene on the observed biological activity is discussed.

Synthesis of prostaglandin models and prostaglandins by conjugate addition of a functionalized organocopper reagent.

PIP: 2 methods are described for the preparation of an oxygen functionalized vinylcopper reagent. Reactions of this reagent with cyclic and acyclic enones give products of 1,4 addition. The labile methoxyisopropyl group was used as an alcohol protecting group for ease of formation and removal. The influence of reaction conditions such as solvents and temperature on the mode of addition and yield is discussed. (S)-1-Iodo-trans-1-octen-3-ol (16a) was prepared from (S)-1-octyn-3-ol (17). The optically pure iodovinylcarbinol was converted to the cuprate 2 and 1,4 addition to the hydroxy-protected cyclopentenone 14c afforded (-)-PGE1 (18b).^ieng