Reconstructive Methodology in the Synthesis of 2-Aminopurine.

A fundamentally new synthetic approach to the synthesis of 2-aminopurine has been developed. It consists in the combination of the creation of a condensed polyazotic heterocyclic tetrazolopyrimidine structure, its transformation into triaminopyrimidine, and its subsequent cyclization into 2-aminopurine. The structure of the obtained compounds was established based on spectral characteristics, and the structure of the intermediate compound 5 was established directly by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Triazavirin-A Novel Effective Antiviral Drug.

This review outlines the data of numerous studies relating to the broad-spectrum antiviral drug Triazavirin that was launched on the Russian pharmaceutical market in 2014 as an anti-influenza drug (the international non-patented name is Riamilovir). The range of antiviral activity of Triazavirin has been significantly expanded during recent years; in particular, it has been shown that Triazavirin exhibits activity against tick-borne encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, West Nile fever, and other infections of viral etiology. This drug has been approved for treatment of influenza and acute respiratory infections by the Russian Ministry of Health on the basis of comprehensive clinical trials involving over 450 patients. Triazavirin was found to be a highly effective and well-tolerated drug, allowing its over-the-counter sale. The recently published data on the use of Triazavirin in clinical practice for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 are discussed, with special attention paid to potential biological targets for this drug.

6-(Tetrazol-5-yl)-7-aminoazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines as Novel Potent CK2 Inhibitors.

In this work, we describe the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship of 6-(tetrazol-5-yl)-7-aminoazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines as inhibitors of Casein kinase 2 (CK2). At first, we optimized the reaction conditions for the azide-nitrile cycloaddition in the series of 6-cyano-7-aminoazolopyridimines and sodium azide. The regioselectivity of this process has been shown, as the cyano group of the pyrimidine cycle was converted to tetrazole while the nitrile of the azole fragment did not react. The desired tetrazolyl-azolopyrimidines were obtained in a moderate to excellent yields (42−95%) and converted further to water soluble sodium salts by the action of sodium bicarbonate. The obtained 6-(tetrazol-5-yl)-7-aminopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 2a−k and their sodium salts 3a−c, 3g−k showed nano to low micromolar range of CK2 inhibition while corresponding [1,2,4]triazolopyrimidines 10a−k were less active (IC50 > 10 µM). The leader compound 3-phenyl-6-(tetrazol-5-yl)-7-aminopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine 2i as CK2 inhibitor showed IC50 45 nM.

Mechanochemical Approach towards Multi-Functionalized 1,2,3-Triazoles and Anti-Seizure Drug Rufinamide Analogs Using Copper Beads.

Highly regiospecific, copper-salt-free and neat conditions have been demonstrated for the 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition (AAC) reactions under mechanochemical conditions. A group of structurally challenging alkynes and heterocyclic derivatives was efficiently implemented to achieve highly functionalized 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles in good to excellent yield by using the Cu beads without generation of unwanted byproducts. Furthermore, the high-speed ball milling (HSBM) strategy has also been extended to the synthesis of the commercially available pharmaceutical agent, Rufinamide, an antiepileptic drug (AED) and its analogues. The same strategy was also applied for the synthesis of the Cl-derivative of Rufinamide. Analysis of the single crystal XRD data of the triazole was also performed for the final structural confirmation. The Cu beads are easily recoverable from the reaction mixture and used for the further reactions without any special treatment.

4-(Aryl)-Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-Carbonitrile-Based Fluorophores: Povarov Reaction-Based Synthesis, Photophysical Studies, and DFT Calculations.

A series of novel 4-(aryl)-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitriles were obtained through the Povarov (aza-Diels-Alder) and oxidation reactions, starting from benzimidazole-2-arylimines. Based on the literature data and X-ray diffraction analysis, it was discovered that during the Povarov reaction, [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangement leading to dihydrobenzimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines took place. The structures of all the obtained compounds were confirmed based on the data from 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. For all the obtained compounds, their photophysical properties were studied. In all the cases, a positive emission solvatochromism with Stokes shifts from 120 to 180 nm was recorded. Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) has been illustrated for compound 6c using different water fractions (fw) in THF. The compounds 6c and 6f demonstrated changes in emission maxima or/and intensities after mechanical stimulation.

CK2 Inhibition and Antitumor Activity of 4,7-Dihydro-6-nitroazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.

Today, cancer is one of the most widespread and dangerous human diseases with a high mortality rate. Nevertheless, the search and application of new low-toxic and effective drugs, combined with the timely diagnosis of diseases, makes it possible to cure most types of tumors at an early stage. In this work, the range of new polysubstituted 4,7-dihydro-6-nitroazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines was extended. The structure of all the obtained compounds was confirmed by the data of 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. These compounds were evaluated against human recombinant CK2 using the ADP-GloTM assay. In addition, the IC50 parameters were calculated based on the results of the MTT test against glioblastoma (A-172), embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma (Rd), osteosarcoma (Hos), and human embryonic kidney (Hek-293) cells. Compounds 5f, 5h, and 5k showed a CK2 inhibitory activity close to the reference molecule (staurosporine). The most potential compound in the MTT test was 5m with an IC50 from 13 to 27 µM. Thus, our results demonstrate that 4,7-dihydro-6-nitroazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are promising for further investigation of their antitumor properties.

Synthetic approaches to 1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-7-ones as basic heterocyclic structures of the antiviral drug Riamilovir ("Triazavirin®") active against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Fragments of 1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-7-one are found in many compounds with various types of biological activities, including the antiviral drug Riamilovir (Triazavirin®), which shows activity against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Therefore, the development of convenient methods for the synthesis of new derivatives of 1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-7-one is always in demand. This review systematizes the information on the most common synthetic methods for constructing the 1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-7-one heterocyclic system.

Azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines and Their Condensed Analogs with Anticoagulant Activity.

Hypercytokinemia, or cytokine storm, is one of the severe complications of viral and bacterial infections, involving the release of abnormal amounts of cytokines, resulting in a massive inflammatory response. Cytokine storm is associated with COVID-19 and sepsis high mortality rate by developing epithelial dysfunction and coagulopathy, leading to thromboembolism and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Anticoagulant therapy is an important tactic to prevent thrombosis in sepsis and COVID-19, but recent data show the incompatibility of modern direct oral anticoagulants and antiviral agents. It seems relevant to develop dual-action drugs with antiviral and anticoagulant properties. At the same time, it was shown that azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are heterocycles with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. We have synthesized a new family of azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines and their condensed polycyclic analogs by cyclocondensation reactions and direct CH-functionalization and studied their anticoagulant properties. Five compounds among 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones and 5-alkyl-1,3,4-thiadiazolo[3,2-a]purin-8-ones demonstrated higher anticoagulant activity than the reference drug, dabigatran etexilate. Antithrombin activity of most active compounds was confirmed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated blood to mimic the conditions of cytokine release syndrome. The studied compounds affected only the thrombin time value, reliably increasing it 6.5-15.2 times as compared to LPS-treated blood.

Asymmetrically Functionalized 1,3-Di(2-pyridyl)benzenes: Synthesis and Photophysical Studies.

A convenient synthetic approach to asymmetrically functionalized 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzenes starting from 3-(3-bromophenyl)-1,2,4-triazines using sequential aza-Diels-Alder reactions and Stille cross-coupling is reported. Photophysical properties of the obtained compounds are studied.

Oxidative Aromatization of 4,7-Dihydro-6-nitroazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines: Synthetic Possibilities and Limitations, Mechanism of Destruction, and the Theoretical and Experimental Substantiation.

The reaction tolerance of the multicomponent process between 3-aminoazoles, 1-morpholino-2-nitroalkenes, and aldehydes was studied. The main patterns of this reaction have been established. Conditions for the oxidation of 4,7-dihydro-6-nitroazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines were selected. Previous claims that the 4,7-dihydro-6-nitroazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines could not be aromatised have now been refuted. Compounds with an electron-donor substituent at position seven undergo decomposition during oxidation. The phenomenon was explained based on experimental data, electro-chemical experiment, and quantum-chemical calculation. The mechanism of oxidative degradation has been proposed.

Redox Conversions of 5-Methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinide L-Arginine Monohydrate as a Promising Antiviral Drug.

This article presents the results of a study of electrochemical transformations in aqueous and aprotic media of 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinide l-arginine monohydrate (1a, Triazid) obtained by electrochemical methods and ESR spectroscopy. The effect of pH on the current and the reduction potential of 1a in an aqueous Britton-Robinson buffer solution was studied. It was found that 1a is irreversibly reduced in aqueous acidic media on a glassy carbon electrode in one stage with the participation of six electrons and the formation of 5-methyl-6-amino-7-oxo-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin. The electroreduction of 1a in DMF on a background of tetrabutylammonium salts proceeds in two stages, controlled by the kinetics of second-order reactions. In the first stage, the reduction of 1a is accompanied by protonation by the initial compound of the basic intermediate products formed in the electrode reaction (self-protonation mechanism). The second quasi-reversible stage of the electroreduction 1a corresponds to the formation of a dianion radical upon the reduction of the heterocyclic anion 5-methyl-6-nitro-7-oxo-4,7-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin, which is formed upon the potentials of the first peak. The ESR spectrum of the radical dianion was recorded upon electroreduction of Triazid in the presence of Bu4NOH. The effect of the formation of ion pairs on the reversibility of the second peak of the 1a transformation is shown. A change in the rate and regioselectivity of the protonation of the dianion radical in the presence of Na+ and Li+ ions is assumed. The results of studying the electroreduction of 1a by ESR spectroscopy with a TEMPO trap make it possible to assume the simultaneous formation of both a nitroxyl radical and a radical with the spin density localized on the nitrogen at the 4 position of the six-membered ring.

Benzimidazoazapurines: Design, Synthesis, and Photophysical Study.

A highly efficient approach to a new class of polycyclic 8-azapurines, benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a][1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-e]pyrimidines (BITPs), with good photophysical characteristics is proposed. The approach comprises condensation of aminobenzimidazoles with 3-oxo-2-phenylazopropionitrile to form 3-(arylazo)benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-4-amines, which undergo oxidative cyclization by the catalytic action of copper(II) acetate, resulting in BITPs with 73-84% yield. Spectral investigations demonstrated the fluorescent properties of BITPs, exhibiting good quantum yields (up to 60%) with maxima absorption at 379-399 and emission at 471-505 nm.

Pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles: synthesis and perspective of their pharmacological use.

The review presents data on the synthesis as well as studies of biological activity of new derivatives of pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles published over the last decade. The bibliography of the review includes 136 sources.

Antiviral drug Triazavirin, selectively labeled with 2H, 13C, and 15N stable isotopes. Synthesis and properties.

Isotope-labeled antiviral drug Triazavirin containing 2H, 13C, and 15N atoms in its structure has been synthesized. 13C2H3I and KS13CN served as donors of 13C isotopes. The use of 13С-MeI containing 2H atoms made it possible to additionally incorporate deuterium labels into the structure of the compound. The 15N atoms were incorporated using 15N-enriched sodium nitrite, aminoguanidine carbonate, and ethyl nitroacetate. The resulting 2H3,13C2,15N3-Triazavirin was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10593-021-02927-1.

Methods of Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of New 4-Alkyl-3-Nitro-1,4-Dihydroazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]Triazin-4-ols.

An azo coupling reaction of α-nitro ketones with 5-diazoazoles was used to obtain 4-alkyl-3-nitro-1,4-dihydroazolo[5,1-с][1,2,4]triazines, which were characterized with respect to their antiviral activity against influenza and Coxsackie B3 viruses. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10593-021-02926-2.

Aerosol Inhalation Delivery of Triazavirin in Mice: Outlooks for Advanced Therapy Against Novel Viral Infections.

Under pandemic-caused emergency, evaluation of the potential of existing antiviral drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 is relevant. Triazavirin, an antiviral drug developed in Russia for per-oral administration, is involved in clinical trials against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This virus has affinity to epithelial cells in respiratory tract, so drug delivery directly in lungs may enhance therapeutic effect and reduce side effects for stomach, liver, kidneys. We elaborated ultrasonic method of triazavirin aerosol generation and investigated the inhalation delivery of this drug in mice. Mean particle size and number concentration of aerosol used in inhalation experiments are 560 nm and 4 × 105 cm-3, respectively. Aerosol mass concentration is 1.6 × 10-4 mg/cm3. Inhalation for 20 min in a nose-only chamber resulted in 2 mg/kg body delivered dose and 2.6 µg/mL triazavirin concentration in blood plasma. Elimination rate constant determined in aerosol administration experiments was ke = 0.077 min-1, which agrees with the value measured after intravenous delivery, but per-oral administration resulted in considerably lower apparent elimination rate constant of pseudo-first order, probably due to non-linear dependence of absorption rate on triazavirin concentration in gastrointestinal tract. The bioavailability of triazavirin aerosol is found to be 85%, which is about four times higher than for per-oral administration.

Synthesis and determination of analytical characteristics and differentiation of positional isomers in the series of N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2-(dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine using chromatography-mass spectrometry.

N-(2-Methoxybenzyl)-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamines (NBOMes) are synthetic phenethylamine derivatives emerging on the global drug market and reported to be associated with untoward effects in people who use drugs. Its action involves agonism at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, affecting cognitive and behavioral processes. However, certain isomers of NBOMes may not show any psychoactive effects. They are not controlled by legislation and can be tested as pharmaceutical drugs. This study deals with the differentiation among positional isomers of 25H-NBOMe differing in the position of the two methoxy groups in the phenylethyl moiety of the molecule, using chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. The gas chromatography analysis showed that the isothermal mode was more efficient than the usually applied temperature-programming mode for the separation of the mentioned isomers. Electron ionization mass spectra of 25H-NBOMe isomers were highly similar, often resulting in a high probability of erroneous identification. However, mass spectra of their trifluoroacetyl or pentafluoropropanoyl derivatives were easily identified as they contained fragments with many significant differences. The proposed analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry could distinguish the isomers of 25H-NBOMe without the need for any derivatization.

Three-Component Coupling of Aromatic Aldehydes, 1-Morpholino-2-nitroalkenes, and 3-Aminoazoles via Boron Trifluoride Etherate Catalysis: Reaction Pathway and Features of the Formation of Intermediates.

4,7-Dihydro-6-nitro-7-Ar-5-R-azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines were obtained by the multicomponent reaction of aminoazoles, morpholino-nitroalkenes, and aromatic aldehydes in the catalysis of boron trifluoride etherate. The optimal reaction conditions were determined, and the formation of the target regioisomer was demonstrated. The pathway for multicomponent transformation, including the formation of azolyl-nitroalkene, was determined. Morpholino-nitroalkenes were assumed to convert into the corresponding nitroalkynes during catalysis of boron trifluoride etherate. For a multicomponent reaction with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, conditions have been proposed that exclude the formation of a side regioisomer.

Preparation of chitosan-coated liposomes as a novel carrier system for the antiviral drug Triazavirin.

Novel method for the coating of positively charged liposomes with modified chitosan was elaborated. Liposomes were prepared by stepwise extrusion through inorganic membranes (Anotop) of 0.2 and 0.1 µm pore sizes. Chitosan derivatives were synthesized via the Ugi multicomponent reaction. Several series of liposomal compositions were produced and their properties were compared in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential and stability. The effect of various additives was investigated and the optimal composition of the lipid film was determined. The addition of the uncharged fatty esters allowed the diameter of the liposomes obtained by extrusion to be reduced to 145-150 nm with a PDI of 0.13-0.15. The prepared liposomes were loaded with the novel antiviral drug Triazavirin and used to determine the release profile. Triazavirin was included into liposome layer as a salt with biocompatible choline derivatives of limiting fatty acids. The appropriate lipid composition was used for the preparation of a larger quantity of liposomes coated by modified chitosan. It was shown that an appropriate combination of liposomes and polysaccharide layer potentially extended colloidal stability by up to 3 months and exhibited broad functional capabilities for surface modification.

15N-Labelling and structure determination of adamantylated azolo-azines in solution.

Determining the accurate chemical structures of synthesized compounds is essential for biomedical studies and computer-assisted drug design. The unequivocal determination of N-adamantylation or N-arylation site(s) in nitrogen-rich heterocycles, characterized by a low density of hydrogen atoms, using NMR methods at natural isotopic abundance is difficult. In these compounds, the heterocyclic moiety is covalently attached to the carbon atom of the substituent group that has no bound hydrogen atoms, and the connection between the two moieties of the compound cannot always be established via conventional 1H-1H and 1H-13C NMR correlation experiments (COSY and HMBC, respectively) or nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY or ROESY). The selective incorporation of 15N-labelled atoms in different positions of the heterocyclic core allowed for the use of 1H-15N (JHN) and 13C-15N (JCN) coupling constants for the structure determinations of N-alkylated nitrogen-containing heterocycles in solution. This method was tested on the N-adamantylated products in a series of azolo-1,2,4-triazines and 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. The syntheses of adamantylated azolo-azines were based on the interactions of azolo-azines and 1-adamatanol in TFA solution. For azolo-1,2,4-triazinones, the formation of mixtures of N-adamantyl derivatives was observed. The JHN and JCN values were measured using amplitude-modulated 1D 1H spin-echo experiments with the selective inversion of the 15N nuclei and line-shape analysis in the 1D 13С spectra acquired with selective 15N decoupling, respectively. Additional spin-spin interactions were detected in the 15N-HMBC spectra. NMR data and DFT (density functional theory) calculations permitted to suggest a possible mechanism of isomerization for the adamantylated products of the azolo-1,2,4-triazines. The combined analysis of the JHN and JCN couplings in 15N-labelled compounds provides an efficient method for the structure determination of N-alkylated azolo-azines even in the case of isomer formation. The isomerization of adamantylated tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazin-7-ones in acidic conditions occurs through the formation of the adamantyl cation.