Chiral pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and pyrimido[4,5-b]indole derivatives: structure-activity relationships of potent, highly stereoselective A1-adenosine receptor antagonists.

A series of 33 novel, mostly chiral pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and pyrimido[4,5-b]indole derivatives has been synthesized and investigated in radioligand binding assays at the high-affinity adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes A1 and A2a. The compounds can be envisaged as adenine and hypoxanthine analogs lacking the nitrogen in the 7-position (7-deazaadenines and 7-deazahypoxanthines). 7-Deazaadenines were much more potent than 7-deazahypoxanthines at AR with A1AR affinities in the low-nanomolar range, extraordinarily high selectivity for the rat brain A1AR versus the A2aAR (several thousandfold), and high stereoselectivity (up to 96-fold). Pyrimido[4,5-b]indoles were more potent A1AR antagonists compared to pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines. Compound 34a (APEPI) is one of the most potent and most selective nonxanthine A1AR antagonists known to date (Ki = 2.8 nM, > 2000-fold A1-selective). A new class of very potent A1AR antagonists has been identified, namely, 2-phenyl-7-deazaadenines bearing a substituent at the exocyclic amino group (N4-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines). (R)-N- (1-Phenylethyl)-4-amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin e (DPEAP, 17a) showed a Ki value of 6.7 nM at A1AR and > 4000-fold A1 selectivity. Different binding modes are postulated for the N4-substituted 4-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (e.g., 17a) and the 7-substituted derivatives (e.g., 1a), based on a comparison of steric, electronic, and hydrophobic properties of the two classes of compounds. Water solubility and lipophilicity have been determined for selected compounds. 4-Amino-5,6-dimethyl-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (4a) showed the highest water solubility/A1AR affinity ratio of 368 in the present series, over 2000-fold A1 selectivity, and 64-fold stereoselectivity (R > S). Therefore, 4a should be an interesting compound for in vivo evaluation.

Tricyclic theophylline derivatives with high water-solubility: structure-activity relationships at adenosine receptors, phosphodiesterases, and benzodiazepine binding sites.

A series of tricyclic, highly water-soluble theophylline derivatives (pyrimido[2,1-f]-theophyllines) containing a basic side chain was investigated in rat brain A1- and A2 adenosine receptor binding assays, phosphodiesterase assays, and benzodiazepine binding studies. Among the new compounds adenosine receptor antagonists with affinities in the same range as the parent compound theophylline were identified. In addition, some compounds were selective for the A1 adenosine receptor subtype. The compounds generally exhibited lower inhibitory activity at brain phosphodiesterases than the parent theophylline. Two compounds were found to show an about 10-fold affinity for benzodiazepine binding sites compared with caffeine and theophylline.

Amino-substituted 1,8-naphthyridines and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines: new compounds with affinity for A1- and A2-adenosine receptors.

Two novel classes of adenosine receptor (AR) antagonists, 4-amino-1,8-naphthyridines and 5-aminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines, have been identified and investigated in radioligand binding assays. The compounds exhibit affinities for A1 and A2a AR of rat brain in the micromolar range. 1,8-Naphthyridines are non-selective, or somewhat selective for either A1- or A2 AR. Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines are several-fold selective for A1 AR, the most potent and selective compound being 5-n-butylamino-1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrido-[2,3-d]pyr imi dine-2,4-dione (12) with a Ki value of 1.8 microM at A1 AR and greater than 10-fold A1-selectivity.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of deazaxanthines: analogs of potent A1- and A2-adenosine receptor antagonists.

A set of 22 9-deazaxanthines (pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones) and three 7-deazaxanthines (pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones) with various substituents in the 1-, 3-, 7- or 9-, and 8-positions was synthesized and investigated in A1 and A2a adenosine receptor binding assays at rat brain cortical membranes and rat brain striatal membranes, respectively. 9-Deazaxanthines showed structure-activity relationships that were similar to those of xanthines. They were about equipotent to the corresponding xanthines at A2a adenosine receptors. 9-Deazaxanthines were generally at least 2-3-fold more potent than xanthines at A1 receptors and therefore exhibited higher A1 selectivities compared to the xanthines. 1,3-Dimethyl-8-(2-naphthyl)-9- deazaxanthine (19e) showed high affinity (Ki = 26 nM) and selectivity for A1 adenosine receptors. A hydroxyl function at N7 of 9-deazaxanthines was unfavorable for A1 and A2a receptor binding. 7-Deazaxanthines were considerably less potent compared to xanthines and to 9-deazaxanthines at both receptor subtypes.