ABSTRACT
An efficient and general method for the synthesis of 2,9-disubstituted 8-hydroxyadenines, which are expected to have various biological activities, was realized. 5-Amino-4-cyano-2-hydroxyimidazoles(1) were prepared from aminomalononitrile and isocyanates as key intermediates. The condensation of 1a with amidines, imidates, guanidine, urea and thioureas afforded 8-hydroxyadenines (2-6) possessing various substituents at the 2-position. Furthermore, selective alkylation of 2-amino- and 2-hydroxyadenines (4 and 6) successively proceeded to give the corresponding 2-alkylamino- and 2-alkoxyadenines (5 and 7), respectively. 2-Alkylthioadenines (15) were prepared by an analogous reaction of 1a with benzoyl isothiocyanate and subsequent S-alkylation. The imidazoles 1 are most useful intermediates for the synthesis of 8-hydroxyadenine derivatives.
ABSTRACT
Recently, we have identified 9-benzyl-8-hydroxyadenines bearing an appropriate substituent (a butoxy, propylthio or butylamino group) at the 2-position as potent interferon (IFN)-inducers. Herein we report the design, synthesis, and IFN-inducing activity of 8-substituted 9-benzyladenines possessing such an appropriate substituent at the 2-position. Introduction of the appropriate substituent into the 2-position of the adenine nucleus gave rise to expression of the activity even in 9-benzyladenines bearing no hydroxyl group at the 8-position. An amino group at the 6-position and a hydroxyl or thiol group carrying an acidic proton at the 8-position are required to express excellent IFN-inducing activity. 9-Benzyl-2-butoxy-8-mercaptoadenine (9) indicated the most potent activity with MEC of 0.001 microM.
Subject(s)
Adenine/analogs & derivatives , Adenine/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/chemical synthesis , Interferons/agonists , Adenine/chemical synthesis , Animals , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Drug Design , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Hepatitis C/drug therapy , Immunotherapy/methods , Interferons/biosynthesis , Mice , Spleen/cytology , Spleen/metabolism , Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus/drug effectsABSTRACT
Various 6-substituted 9-benzyl-8-hydroxypurines were synthesized in order to investigate the structure-activity relationship at the 6-position of 9-benzyl-8-hydroxyadenine (1), which is a lead compound for the screening of interferon (IFN)-inducing activity. 6-Unsubstituted, mercapto-, methylthio- and hydroxy-9-benzyl-8-hydroxypurines (2-5) were prepared from 5-amino-1-benzyl-4-cyano-2-hydroxyimidazole (9). Synthesis of a 6-methoxy analog (6) was conducted from 5-amino-4-benzylamino-6-chloropyrimidine (13). 6-Alkylamino and acylaminopurines (7 and 8) were also prepared by alkylation and acylation of 1, respectively. Since these compounds (2-8) indicated no activity, it was found that a free amino group of 1 is required for the expression of IFN-inducing activity.
Subject(s)
Benzyl Compounds/chemical synthesis , Interferon Inducers/chemical synthesis , Interferon Inducers/pharmacology , Purines/chemical synthesis , Animals , Benzyl Compounds/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Indicators and Reagents , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Mass Spectrometry , Mice , Mice, Inbred C3H , Purines/pharmacology , Spectrophotometry, Infrared , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet , Spleen/cytology , Spleen/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
9-Benzyl-8-hydroxyadenine (6) was found to possess interferon-inducing activity in vitro as a lead compound. Although replacement of the 9-benzyl group of 6 did not improve the activity, the introduction of a substituent such as alkyl, alkylthio, alkylamino, and alkoxy groups into the 2-position of the adenine ring resulted in a remarkable increase in the activity. The 2-alkylthio (30-32), 2-butylamino (41), and 2-butoxy (47) analogues indicated the highest activities by oral administration to mice.
