Synthesis and evaluation of (E)-2-(acrylamido)cyclohex-1-enecarboxylic acid derivatives as HCA1, HCA2, and HCA3 receptor agonists.

2-(3-(Naphthalen-2-yl)propanamido)cyclohex-1-enecarboxylic acid and its 6-hydroxynaphthalen-2-yl analogue are well-known hydroxyl-carboxylic acid (HCA) receptor HCA2 agonists. A series of novel aryl derivatives of 2-amidocyclohex-1-ene carboxylic acid that contained rigidity elements, such as an E-double bond, triple bond, and trans or cis-substituted cyclopropane rings, instead of the saturated ethane linker in the amide part of the molecules were designed and synthesized, and the derivatives' potency for the activation of HCA1, HCA2, and HCA3 receptors by 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) assay were evaluated. The SAR studies revealed that the rigidifying of appropriate molecules enabled modulation of the potency and selectivity of the HCA2 receptor activation.

Novel amide derivatives as inhibitors of histone deacetylase: design, synthesis and SAR.

Enzymatic inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity is emerging as an innovative and effective approach for the treatment of cancer. A series of novel amide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit human HDACs. Multiple compounds were identified as potent HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), with IC(50) values in the low nanomolar (nM) range against enzyme activity in HeLa cell extracts and sub-microM for their in vitro anti-proliferative effect on cell lines. The introduction of an unsaturated linking group between the terminal aryl ring and the amide moiety was the key to obtain good potency. This approach yielded compounds such as (E)-N-[6-(hydroxyamino)-6-oxohexyl]-3-(7-quinolinyl)-2-propenamide (27) (HDAC IC(50) 8 nM) which showed potent in vivo activity in the P388 mouse leukemia syngeneic model (an increased lifespan (ILS) of 111% was obtained).