Benzoxazolamines and benzothiazolamines: potent, enantioselective inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis with a novel mechanism of action.

A series of benzoxazolamine and benzothiazolamine analogs that inhibit leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis are described. The initial lead, (S)-N-(benzothiazol-2- yl)phenylalanine ethyl ester (5a), was discovered in a screening program for inhibition of Ca-ionophore-A23187-induced LTB4 release in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (IC50 0.23 microM). Through structural modification, it was determined that hydrophobic substituents in the 5-position and replacement of the phenyl ring of phenylalanine with a cyclohexyl group greatly enhance potency. Several ester bioisosteres that retain potency and enantiomeric selectivity are described. Lead optimization culminated in (S)-N-[2-cyclohexyl-1-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]-5-methyl-2-benzoxazolamine+ ++ (43b), IC50 0.001 microM. The compounds described are not inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase but, rather, act at the level of arachidonic acid release.