The Triazole Ring as a Privileged Scaffold for Putative Antifungals: Synthesis and Evaluation of a Series of New Analogues.

The significant antifungal activity of a series of novel 1,2,4-triazole derivatives against different strains of Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Aspergillus fumigatus, compared to the commercial fungicides ketoconazole and itraconazole, is reported. Systemic mycosis and invasive fungal infections, whether from immunodeficiency or hospital-acquired infection, have been on an upward trend for several years. The 1,2,4-triazole ring substituted with other aromatic and heteroaromatic systems plays an important role in the field of antifungal drug discovery and development. Thus, an extensive series of 29 triazoles, substituted in different positions with a variety of aromatic rings, has been designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their fungicidal activity. Almost all the agents tested in vitro showed high activity against all examined fungal strains. It is noteworthy that, in the case of A. fumigatus, all the examined compounds achieved equal or higher antifungal activity than ketoconazole, but less activity than itraconazole. Among all the derivatives studied, the dichlorourea analogue and bromo-substituted triazole stand out as the most promising compounds. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were built for a systematic structure-activity relationship (SAR) profile to explain and potentially explore the potency characteristics of 1,2,4-triazole analogues.

Multicomponent synthesis of dihydrobenzoxazepinones, bearing four diversity points, as potential α-helix mimics.

A very short convergent synthesis of dihydrobenzoxazepinones, bearing four diverse diversity points, based on coupling the Ugi reaction with a Mitsunobu cyclization, was developed. These compounds are potential α-helix mimics, where three of the four appendages are expected to imitate the residues in i, i + 4 and i + 7 positions. A library of 22 compounds bearing lipophilic substituents, designed to interact with the hydrophobic cleft of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL, was synthesized. Preliminary biochemical tests, based on competitive binding, have already been carried out.

Multicomponent synthesis of benzoxazinones via tandem Ugi/Mitsunobu reactions: an unexpected cine-substitution.

A short (2 steps) synthesis of diverse benzoxazinones by coupling the Ugi multicomponent reaction with an intramolecular Mitsunobu substitution is reported. The cyclization step proceeds via an unexpected cine substitution.

Multicomponent synthesis of dihydrobenzoxazepinones by coupling Ugi and Mitsunobu reactions.

Various dihydrobenzo[f][1,4]oxazepin-5-ones have been convergently prepared in 2-3 steps by coupling Ugi and Mitsunobu reactions. Two alternative methodologies were used: in the first one the Ugi condensation was followed by a Mitsunobu cyclization (2 steps); in the second one an intermolecular Mitsunobu reaction was followed by a deprotection step and then by an intramolecular Ugi reaction. Also a "convertible" isocyanide was used.