Identification of 2-hydroxymethyl-4-[5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl]-N-propionylbenzenesulfonamide sodium as a potential COX-2 inhibitor for oral and parenteral administration.

Synthesis of prodrugs of orally active COX-2 inhibitor 3 involving sulfamoyl (SO(2)NH(2)) and hydroxymethyl (CH(2)OH) groups, and their biological evaluation are described. Of these prodrugs, the N-propionyl sulfonamide sodium 3k was found to be much superior to the parent compound 3 and other marketed COX-2 inhibitors in carrageenan induced rat paw edema model of inflammation due to highly elevated drug levels in systemic circulation. This prodrug has a potential both for oral as well as parenteral administration due to impressive analgesic activity, antipyretic potency, and extraordinary water solubility.

N-acylated sulfonamide sodium salt: a prodrug of choice for the bifunctional 2-hydroxymethyl-4-(5-phenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl) benzenesulfonamide class of COX-2 inhibitors.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of possible prodrugs of COX-2 inhibitors involving sulfonamide and hydroxymethyl groups of 2-hydroxymethyl-4-(5-phenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl) benzenesulfonamides are described. Out of many options, the sodium salt of N-propionyl sulfonamide demonstrated much improved pharmacological profiles and physicochemical properties suitable for oral as well as parenteral administration.

Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of novel 3-enynyl-substituted thioflavones/flavones using a copper-free palladium-catalyzed reaction.

[reaction: see text] A variety of 3-enynyl substituted flavones/thioflavones were synthesized via a sequential one-pot procedure using copper-free palladium-catalyzed cross coupling in a simple synthetic operation. The cross coupling between 3-iodo(thio)flavone and a broad range of terminal alkynes was carried out in the presence of Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 and triethylamine to afford the corresponding 3-enynyl derivatives in a regio- and stereoselective fashion. The best results are obtained by employing 3 equiv of the terminal alkynes. The process worked well irrespective of the substituents present on the (thio)flavone ring as well as in the terminal alkynes except arylalkynes. The reaction is quite regioselective, placing the substituent of the terminal alkyne at the far end of the double bond attached with the (thio)flavone ring. The orientation of the (thio)flavonyl and acetylenic moieties across the double bond was found to be syn in the products isolated. A tandem C-C bond-forming reaction in the presence of palladium catalyst rationalized the formation of coupled product. The catalytic process apparently involves heteroarylpalladium formation, regioselective addition to the C-C triple bond of the terminal alkyne, and subsequent displacement of palladium by another mole of alkyne. The present methodology is useful for the introduction of an enynyl moiety at the C-3 position of flavones and thioflavone rings to afford novel compounds of potential biological interest. In the presence of CuI the process afforded 3-alkynyl (thio)flavones in good yields.

2-hydroxymethyl-4-[5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-trifluoromethyl-1H-1-pyrazolyl]-1-benzenesulfonamide (DRF-4367): an orally active COX-2 inhibitor identified through pharmacophoric modulation.

Analogs of 1,5-diarylpyrazoles with a novel pharmacophore at N1 were designed, synthesized and evaluated for the in-vitro cyclooxygenase (COX-1/COX-2) inhibitory activity. The variations at/around position-4 of the C-5 phenyl ring in conjunction with a CF3 and CHF2 groups at C-3 exhibited a high degree of potency and selectivity index (SI) for COX-2 inhibition. The in-vivo evaluation of these potent compounds with a few earlier ones indicated the 4-OMe-phenyl analog and the 4-NHMe-phenyl analog with a CF3, and the 4-OEt-phenyl analog with a CHF2 group at C-3 to possess superior potency than celecoxib. In addition to its impressive anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-arthritic properties, compound (DRF-4367) was found to possess an excellent pharmacokinetic profile, gastrointestinal (GI) safety in the long-term arthritis study and COX-2 potency in human whole blood assay. Thus, compound was selected as an orally active anti-inflammatory candidate for pre-clinical evaluation.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel quinazolino-beta-carboline-5-one derivatives.

A novel series of quinazolino-beta-carbolinone derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity. Many compounds have shown good in vitro activity in the range 1-8 microM concentration. Three of the compounds were further tested in nude mice bearing HT-29 colon cancer xenografts.

Aluminum chloride-induced heteroarylation of arenes and heteroarenes. 2. A new synthesis of 4-substituted phthalazin-1(2H)-ones.

We herein report the efficient syntheses of 4-(hetero)aryl-substituted 1-chlorophthalazines via heteroarylation of arenes/heteroarenes through AlCl(3)-induced C[bond]C formation reactions. A number of (hetero)arenes were reacted with 1,4-dichlorophthalazine to give aryl/heteroaryl-substituted phthalazines in good to excellent yields. Many of them were converted to the corresponding phthalazin-1(2H)-ones.

Palladium-catalyzed cleavage of O/N-propargyl protecting groups in aqueous media under a copper-free condition.

[reaction: see text] A copper-free palladium-mediated cleavage of O/N-propargyl bonds in aqueous media has been investigated, affording a mild and convenient method for the deprotection of phenols and anilines. The methodology could be utilized for the selective removal of propargyl groups from aryl ethers and amines without affecting a variety of unprotected functional groups present in the substrates. The mechanism and scope of the reaction is discussed.