Hydroxyoxazolidines as alpha-aminoacetaldehye equivalents: novel inhibitors of calpain.

The synthesis of [1-[(5-hydroxy-4-(phenylmethyl)-3-oxazolidinyl)carbonyl]-2-ethylpropy lcarbamic acid phenylmethyl ester (2; MDL 104,903), a potent inhibitor of calpain, is described. Synthesis of related compounds, which offer insights into the mechanism of action for 2, are also described, as is an O-acetyl prodrug derivative of 2.

The synthesis of ketomethylene pseudopeptide analogues of dipeptide aldehyde inhibitors of calpain.

The ketomethylene phenylalanal and alanal analogues of Cbz-Val-Phe-H and Cbz-Val-Ala-H have been prepared and the Ki values versus chicken gizzard smooth muscle calpain were determined. The ketomethylene isosteres were significantly less potent than the corresponding dipeptide aldehydes, and this loss in activity is attributed to the absence of a critical interaction between the P1-P2 amide bond and the peptide binding region of calpain.

Evaluation of proposed modes of binding of (2S)-2-[4-[[(3S)-1-acetimidoyl-3-pyrrolidinyl]oxy]phenyl]-3-(7-am idino- 2- naphthyl)propanoic acid hydrochloride and some analogs to factor Xa using a comparative molecular field analysis.

The binding mode of (2S)-2-[4-[[(3S)-1-acetimidoyl-3-pyrrolidinyl]oxy]phenyl]-3-(7-ami dino-2- naphthyl)propanoic acid hydrochloride (DX-9065a, 4) to Factor Xa is examined using inhibition data for a series of analogs that have a hydrophobic group as well as basic or dibasic functionality. Comparative molecular field analysis is utilized on a series of DX-9065a analogs in a series of proposed alternative binding modes. A quantitative measure is provided that distinguishes between the proposed binding modes that describes 'how well' the binding mode explains the structure-activity relationship or the best 3D QSAR agrees with the crystallographically determined binding mode. The best model is in agreement with recently available data [Brandstetter et al., J. Biol. Chem., 271 (1996) 29988]. The highest statistical correlation occurs with the second basic group accommodated in the vicinity of Glu97 and a hydrophobic group accommodated in the pocket defined by Phe174, Tyr99 and Trp215. Also, the best model arises when the conformation of the Glu97 side chain is modified such that an H-bond interaction is maintained with the inhibitor if possible. The model also shows a tightening of the S1 pocket as is shown in the recent data described above.