H-Phosphonate Chemistry in the Synthesis of Electrically Neutral and Charged Antiviral and Anticancer Pronucleotides.

In this review a short account of our work on the synthesis and biological activity of electrically neutral and charged anti-HIV and anticancer pronucleotides, presented on the background of the contemporary research in this area, is given.

Aryl H-phosphonates. 19. New anti-HIV pronucleotide phosphoramidate diesters containing amino- and hydroxypyridine auxiliaries.

We have designed a new type of AZT and ddU phosphoramidate diesters containing various combinations of 2-, 3-, 4-aminopyridine and 2-, 3-, 4-hydroxypyridine moieties attached to the phosphorus center, as potential anti-HIV pronucleotides. Depending on the pKa values of the aminopyridines and the hydroxypyridines used, alternative synthetic strategies based on H-phosphonate chemistry were developed for their preparation. Synthetic aspects of these transformations and the biological activity of the synthesized compounds are discussed.

New antiglioma zwitterionic pronucleotides with an FdUMP framework.

We have designed and synthesized new 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-phosphate pronucleotides which can function as potential agents against the glioblastoma multiforme tumor. Their anti-malignant potency has been tested against T98G, U-118 MG, U-87 MG gliomas, HeLa, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines, using MRC-5 healthy cells as a reference. Five of the sixteen compounds (4c, 4f-i) exhibited significant anticancer potency and high selectivity indices (SI 12-66). It is likely that these zwitterionic pronucleotides may function in a similar manner to zwitterionic phospholipids, by inducing cell membrane charge disorder, making the cell permeable to bioactive agents. The most promising therapeutic pronucleotides 4c, 4f-h, have high intestinal-blood uptake potency (Caco-2 cell line), and may be considered as potential, orally administrated, anticancer drugs.

Searching for anti-glioma activity. Ribonucleoside analogues with modifications in nucleobase and sugar moieties.

Several ribonucleoside analogues with modifications in the nucleobase and sugar moiety have been screened for anti-glioma activity in the T98G glioma cell line using cervical (HeLa) cell line as reference human malignant cells, and lung fibroblast (MCR-5) cell line as non-cancerous reference cells. Among the investigated compounds, ribonucleosides containing 6-chloropurine (3), 7-guanine (5) and a pyrrolopyrimidine (18) as nucleobases, show promising anti-glioma activity with good selectivity indices, and can be considered as lead structures for further anti-cancer studies.

New 3'-O-aromatic acyl-5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

New aromatic and aliphatic 3'-O-acyl-5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as candidates for prodrugs against various cancer cell lines. As the most promising candidate for antimalignant therapeutics was found a dual-acting acyl derivative 7h, which apparently released not only the known anticancer nucleoside, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdU), but also an additional active metabolite, acetylsalicylic acid, reinforcing thus therapeutic effect of FdU. Promising therapeutic indices showed also some aromatic dicarboxylic acids derivatives decorated with FdU esters (11 and 12).

Aryl H-Phosphonates 18. Synthesis, properties, and biological activity of 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside (N-heteroaryl)phosphoramidates of increased lipophilicity.

Recently, AZT (N-pyridyl)phosphoramidates were reported as a new type of potential anti-HIV therapeutics. In continuation of that work, here we present new (N-heteroaryl)phosphoramidate derivatives of antiviral 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides containing other types of N-heteroaryl moieties, particularly those with higher lipophilicity. The present studies comprise mechanistic investigations using (31)P NMR correlation analysis, which permitted improvements in the synthetic procedures. The obtained compounds were tested in biological systems to establish their cytotoxicity and anti-HIV activity. The results were analyzed with respect to possible correlations between biological and physico-chemical properties of the phosphoramidates studied, to get some insight into their antiviral mode of action.

Novel reactivity of Fhit proteins: catalysts for fluorolysis of nucleoside 5'-phosphoramidates and nucleoside 5'-phosphosulfates to generate nucleoside 5'-phosphorofluoridates.

Fragile histidine triad (HIT) proteins (Fhits) occur in all eukaryotes but their function is largely unknown. Human Fhit is presumed to function as a tumour suppressor. Previously, we demonstrated that Fhits catalyse hydrolysis of not only dinucleoside triphosphates but also natural adenosine 5'-phosphoramidate (NH2-pA) and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (SO4-pA) as well as synthetic adenosine 5'-phosphorofluoridate (F-pA). In the present study, we describe an Fhit-catalysed displacement of the amino group of nucleoside 5'-phosphoramidates (NH2-pNs) or the sulfate moiety of nucleoside 5'-phosphosulfates (SO4-pNs) by fluoride anion. This results in transient accumulation of the corresponding nucleoside 5'-phosphorofluoridates (F-pNs). Substrate specificity and kinetic characterization of the fluorolytic reactions catalysed by the human Fhit and other examples of involvement of fluoride in the biochemistry of nucleotides are described. Among other HIT proteins, human histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein (Hint1) catalysed fluorolysis of NH2-pA 20 times and human Hint2 40 times more slowly than human Fhit.

Recent advances in H-phosphonate chemistry. Part 2. Synthesis of C-phosphonate derivatives.

This chapter provides an overview of recent advances in the development of new methods and protocols for the formation of the P-C bond using H-phosphonate diesters as starting materials. Various chemical and stereochemical aspects of the transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling and organocatalyst-promoted reactions which are relevant to the synthesis of structurally diverse C-phosphonate derivatives are surveyed.

Recent advances in H-phosphonate chemistry. Part 1. H-phosphonate esters: synthesis and basic reactions.

This review covers recent progress in the preparation of H-phosphonate mono- and diesters, basic studies on mechanistic and stereochemical aspects of this class of phosphorus compounds, and their fundamental chemistry in terms of transformation of P-H bonds into P-heteroatom bonds. Selected recent applications of H-phosphonate derivatives in basic organic phosphorus chemistry and in the synthesis of biologically important phosphorus compounds are also discussed.

The case of triethylammonium cation loss during purification of certain nucleotide analogues: a cautionary note.

Nucleotides, their analogues, and other phosphate esters and phosphoramidates often contain the triethylammonium cation as a counterion. We found that this may be lost during chromatographic purification or concentration of solutions, yielding products in acidic forms or containing sub-stoichiometric amounts of the counterion. This in turn may be detrimental, e.g., due to possible decomposition of a compound or inaccurate sample preparation. Correlations between the structure of studied compounds and their susceptibility for cation loss were analyzed. Modifications in preparative techniques were developed to obtain the studied compounds with stoichiometric anion to cation ratios.

Nucleoside 3',5'-cyclic H-phosphonates, new useful precursors for the synthesis of nucleoside 3',5'-cyclic phosphates and their analogues.

Nucleoside H-phosphonates activated with a condensing agent spontaneously formed nucleoside 3',5'-cyclic H-phosphonates. The cyclization was stereoselective and produced one of the P-diastereomers in preponderance (de ca. 80%). Nucleoside 3',5'-cyclic H-phosphonates were stereochemically unstable and underwent epimerization affording the thermodynamically more stable diastereomer as a major product (de ca. 80%). They were susceptible to hydrolysis, transesterification, and oxidation and by changing oxidation protocols nucleoside 3',5'-cyclic phosphate analogues, e.g. phosphodiesters, phosphorothioate diesters, and phosphotriesters, were obtained.

Aryl H-phosphonates 17: (N-aryl)phosphoramidates of pyrimidine nucleoside analogues and their synthesis, selected properties, and anti-HIV activity.

New synthetic protocol for the preparation of nucleoside 5'-(N-aryl)phosphoramidate monoesters 4 was developed. It consisted of a condensation of the corresponding nucleoside 5'-H-phosphonates with aromatic- or heteroaromatic amines promoted by diphenyl phosphorochloridate, followed by oxidation of the produced H-phosphonamidates with iodine/water. 5'-(N-Aryl)phosphoramidate monoesters derived from 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) or 2',3'-dideoxyuridine (ddU) nucleosides and various aromatic and heteroaromatic amines were evaluated as potential anti-HIV drugs. It was found that these compounds act most likely as pronucleotides and that some of them have therapeutic indices superior to those of the reference AZT.

Stereochemistry of internucleotide bond formation by the H-phosphonate method. 5. The role of Brønsted and H-bonding base catalysis in ribonucleoside H-phosphonate condensation-chemical and stereochemical consequences.

Efficiency and stereoselectivity of condensations of ribonucleoside 3'-H-phosphonates with ethanol promoted by pivaloyl chloride were investigated as a function of tertiary amines used. Side reactions leading to an increased demand for the condensing agent were identified as derived from an attack of the pivalate anion at carbonyl centers of reactive pivaloyl derivatives. The conditions that secured quantitative yields of H-phosphonate diester condensations were assessed. Several tertiary amines promoted condensations with stereoselectivity higher than that observed for pyridine derivatives. A correlation between diastereoselectivity of the product formation and Brønsted and H-bonding basicities of the amine used was found.

Aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates. Part 16: synthesis and anti-HIV-1 activity of di-aryl nucleoside phosphotriesters.

Di-aryl nucleoside phosphotriesters have been explored as a new type of pronucleotides for the purpose of anti-HIV-1 therapy and efficient synthetic protocols, based on H-phosphonate chemistry, have been developed for the preparation of this class of compounds. It was found that anti-HIV-1 activity of the phosphotriesters bearing an antiviral nucleoside moiety (AZT, ddA) and also ddU was due, at least partially, to intracellular conversion into the corresponding nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, and their efficiency correlated well with the pK(a) values of the aryloxy groups present.

A proposal for a convenient notation for P-chiral nucleotide analogues. Part 4. A relationship between the Dp/Lp notation and stereochemistry of reactions.

Recently, we have proposed a new D(P)/L(P) stereochemical notation for P-chiral dinucleoside monophosphate analogues based on a structural relationship between compounds. As an extension of this work, we present here applications of the D(P)/L(P) notation for tracking stereochemistry of reaction pathways involving H-phosphonate, phosphoramidite, phosphorotriester, and other intermediates frequently met in the nucleotide chemistry.

A convenient stereochemical notation for p-chiral nucleotide analogs.

The D(P)/L(P) convention is a stereochemical notation for P-chiral nucleotide analogs and related compounds. In contrast to the absolute R(P)/S(P) notation, the D(P)/L(P) system is based on a geometrical relationship between substituents in a dinucleoside monophosphate skeleton. The D(P)/L(P) notation is a convenient alternative to the R(P)/S(P) notation for stereochemical correlation analysis of physical, chemical, and biological properties of nucleotide and oligonucleotide analogs bearing any type of tri- or tetra-coordinated phosphorus moiety.

A proposal for a convenient notation for P-chiral nucleotide analogues. Part 2. Dinucleoside monophosphate analogues.

A configuration of ligands around a phosphorus atom in P-chiral dinucleoside monophosphate analogues can be described using DP/LP stereochemical notation, which allows immediate correlation between the notation of configuration and the actual spatial arrangement of the phosphorus ligands. The area of applications of this new stereochemical nomenclature covers dinucleoside units bridged by virtually any type of tri-and tetra-coordinated phosphorus moieties, that is, phosphorothioates, phosphoramidates, phosphoramidites, boranephosphates, methanephosphonates, H-phosphonates, and many others.

A proposal for a convenient notation for P-chiral nucleotide analogues. Part 3. Compounds with one nucleoside residue and nonnucleosidic derivatives.

Recently, we have proposed a new DP/LP stereochemical notation for P-chiral dinucleoside monophosphate analogues that permits simple correlation between spatial arrangement of the substituents and the configuration at the phosphorus center. As an extension of this work, we present here applications of the DP/LP notation to derivatives containing only one nucleoside unit (e.g., alkyl nucleoside phosphodiesters, nucleoside phosphomonoesters, cyclic phosphate derivatives, nucleoside di-, and triphosphates) and to nonnucleosidic phosphorus compounds.

Different nucleobase orientations in two cyclic 2',3'-phosphates of purine ribonucleosides: Et(3)NH(2',3'-cAMP) and Et(3)NH(2',3'-cGMP)xH(2)O.

The crystal structures of triethylammonium adenosine cyclic 2',3'-phosphate {systematic name: triethylammonium 4-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-6-hydroxymethyl-2-oxido-2-oxoperhydrofurano[3,4-c][1,3,2]dioxaphosphole}, Et(3)NH(2',3'-cAMP) or C(6)H(16)N(+).C(10)H(11)N(5)O(6)P(-), (I), and guanosine cyclic 2',3'-phosphate monohydrate {systematic name: triethylammonium 6-hydroxymethyl-2-oxido-2-oxo-4-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropurin-9-yl)perhydrofurano[3,4-c][1,3,2]dioxaphosphole monohydrate}, [Et(3)NH(2',3'-cGMP)].H(2)O or C(6)H(16)N(+).C(10)H(11)N(5)O(7)P(-).H(2)O, (II), reveal different nucleobase orientations, viz. anti in (I) and syn in (II). These are stabilized by different inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The structures also exhibit different ribose ring puckering [(4)E in (I) and (3)T(2) in (II)] and slightly different 1,3,2-dioxaphospholane ring conformations, viz. envelope in (I) and puckered in (II). Infinite ribbons of 2',3'-cAMP(-) and helical chains of 2',3'-cGMP(-) ions, both formed by O-H...O, N-H...X and C-H...X (X = O or N) hydrogen-bond contacts, characterize (I) and (II), respectively.

Aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates. Part 15: Synthesis, properties and, anti-HIV activity of aryl nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonates.

Aryl nucleoside 5'-H-phosphonates 4 bearing AZT or 2',3'-dideoxyuridine moieties were subjected to reaction with various aromatic aldehydes to produce nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives 2 as potential anti-HIV agents. Stability of the title compounds in cell culture media was investigated and three distinct decomposition pathways were identified. The anti-HIV activity of hydroxyphosphonates 2 correlates well with the type and extent of their chemical or enzymatic degradation in culture medium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS), suggesting that aryl nucleoside 5'-hydroxyphosphonates 2 act as depot forms of the parent antiviral nucleosides.