ABSTRACT
The 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) derivatives 4-fluoro- and 7-fluoro-5,6-DHTs (26a,b) and 4,7-difluoro-5,6-DHT (26c) were synthesized from 3-fluoroanisole (1) and 1,4-difluoro-2,3-dimethoxybenzene (13), respectively. Efficient methods were developed for the conversion of 1 to 4-fluoro- and 7-fluoro-5,6-bis(benzyloxy)indoles (12a,b, respectively), and 13 to 4,7-difluoro-5,6-[( diphenylmethylene)dioxy]indole (19) via reductive cyclization of 2-nitro-beta-(dialkylamino)styrenes prepared in situ from 2-nitrotoluenes. Indoles 12a,b and 19 were then converted to 26a-c via the corresponding indole-3-acetonitriles. The fluorine-substituted 5,6-DHTs displayed increased phenol acidities, determined spectrophotometrically, and decreased inherent potential to undergo oxidation as determined by cyclic voltammetry. Fluorine substitution did not have a significant adverse effect on the cytotoxic potential as judged from the IC50 values of 117, 125, 135, and 92 microM for 26a,c and 5,6-DHT, respectively, for the inhibition of incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the DNA of neuroblastoma clone N-2a cells in culture. Surprisingly, 26a-c exhibited 32-, 23-, and 13-fold higher affinities, respectively, compared to 5,6-DHT for the serotonergic uptake system of N-2a cells as measured by the ability of 26a-c and 5,6-DHT to antagonize the uptake of [3H]5-HT into the N-2a cells. These desirable chemical and biological properties of 26a-c should make them useful tools for the study of the molecular mechanism of neurodegenerative action of 5,6-DHT.
Subject(s)
5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine/analogs & derivatives , 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine/chemical synthesis , 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine/metabolism , 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine/pharmacology , Cell Survival/drug effects , Chemical Phenomena , Chemistry , Electrochemistry , Fluorine , Molecular Structure , Neuroblastoma , Neurons/drug effects , Neurons/metabolism , Oxidation-Reduction , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
The major mechanism by which the serotonin neurotoxin 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) expresses its neurodegenerative action may involve alkylation of biological nucleophiles by the electrophilic quinoid autoxidation products. To determine the relative importance of various sites on these autoxidation products toward alkylation we have rationally designed and synthesized 4-Me-5,6-DHT (16a), 7-Me-5,6-DHT (16b), and 4,7-Me2-5,6-DHT (16c). The indole nucleus of these analogues was constructed by the reductive cyclization of the corresponding 2, beta-dinitrostyrenes, and the aminoethyl side chain was introduced via gramine methiodides. Redox data showed that all the analogues are more readily oxidized compared to 5,6-DHT. The biological activity was evaluated in differentiated neuroblastoma N-2a cells in culture. The order of inhibitory potency, as determined by measuring the inhibition of incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, was 16c much greater than 16a greater than 5,6-DHT approximately equal to 16b. The order of affinity (expressed as IC50 values in microM) for serotonergic uptake as determined by measuring their inhibition of [3H]-5-HT uptake was 5,6-DHT (4) greater than 16c (20) greater than 16a (23) greater than 16b (52). The results of these studies established that these rationally designed C-methylated analogues of 5,6-DHT are suitable probes for elucidating the molecular mechanism of action of 5,6-DHT.
