Efficient synthesis of 2,9-disubstituted 8-hydroxyadenine derivatives.

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.

Discovery of 8-hydroxyadenines as a novel type of interferon inducer.

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.