Malaria continues to cause significant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, and existing vector control measures are being threatened by growing resistance to pyrethroid insecticides.  With the goal of developing new human-safe, resistance-breaking insecticides we have explored several classes of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.  In vitro assay studies have shown that trifluoromethyl ketones (TFK's) are potent inhibitors of An. gambiae AChE (AgAChE), that inhibit the enzyme by making a covalent adduct with the catalytic serine of the enzyme.  However research in the Carlier group has shown that trifluoromethyl ketones bearing benzene and pyrazole cores have shown very little toxicity to An. gambiae, perhaps due to hydration and rapid clearance. Focus was directed towards synthesis of oximes, oxime ethers, and hydrazones as potential prodrugs to prevent immediate hydration and reach the central nervous system.  The synthesis of various oximes, oxime ethers, and hydrazones has been shown to give cimpounds toxic to Anopheles gambiae within 3- to 4-fold of the toxicity of propoxur. However, thus far we have not been able to link the toxicity of these compounds to a cholinergic mechanism.  Pre-incubation studies suggest that significant hydrolysis of these compounds to TFKs does not occur or 22 h at pH 7.7 or 5.5.   Future work will be directed towards TFKs that have better pharmacokinetic properties.  Work will also be directed at synthesis of oxime and hydrazone TFK isosteres to determine the mechanism of action of these compounds. / Master of Science

Malaria continues to cause significant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, and existing vector control measures are being threatened by growing resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. With the goal of developing new human-safe, resistance-breaking insecticides we have explored several classes of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. In vitro assay studies demonstrate that tri- and difluoromethyl ketones can potentially inhibit An. gambiae AChE (AgAChE). These compounds inhibit the enzyme by making a covalent adduct with the catalytic serine of AChE. Trifluoromethyl ketones however are poor inhibitors of the G119S resistant mutant of AgAChE. However difluoromethyl ketones can inhibit G119S AgAChE and compound 3-10g showed an IC₅₀ value of 25.1 nM after 23h incubation time. Despite this potent inhibition of AgAChE, the tri-, di-, and (mono)fluoroketones showed very low toxicity to An. gambiae, perhaps due to hydration and rapid clearance. In an attempt to improve An. gambiae toxicity, oximes and oxime ethers of these compounds were prepared as potential prodrugs. These structures identified trifluoromethyl ketone oxime 3-2d as a potent toxin against both wild-type (G3-strain) and a multiply resistant (Akron) strain of An. gambiae. This compound is within 3-fold of the toxicity of propoxur to wild type An. gambiae (LC₅₀ values of 106 and 39 µg/mL, respectively). Most significantly, 3-2d was much more toxic than propoxur to multiply-resistant (Akron) strain An. gambiae (LC₅₀ = 112 and >5,000 µg/mL, respectively). However, thus far we have not been able to link the toxicity of these compounds to a cholinergic mechanism. Pre-incubation studies suggest that significant hydrolysis of these compounds to TFKs does not occur over 22 h at pH 7.7 or 5.5. The mechanism of action of 3-2d remains unknown. Our enzyme inhibition studies have demonstrated that 3-2d does not hydrolyze to the trifluoromethyl ketone 2-9d at pH 7.7. The high Akron toxicity of 3-2d and poor inhibition of G119S AgAChE by 2-9d argue against enzyme mediated conversion of 3-2d to 2-9d within the mosquito. Thus, we can rule out an AChE inhibition mechanism for toxicity. Additional experiments by our collaborator (Dr. Jeffrey Bloomquist, University of Florida) also rule out inhibition of mitochondrial respiration or agonism of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Future work will address other potential insecticidal modes of action. / Ph. D.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work describes firstly an efficient and regioselective method for the synthesis of a new series of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[4-methoxy-spiro(2H-chromen-2,1 -cycloalkan)-3-yl]ethanones from the Kabbe adducts (spiro[chroman-2,1 -cycloalkan]-4-ones). Yields of 38 % to 61 % were obtained when trifluoroacetylation reactions of mixtures of enolethers and/or acetals derived from four spiro ketones (Kabbe adducts) were performed at a temperature of 45 oC and employing anhydrous chloroform as the solvent. Subsequently, when the respective trifluoroacetylated Kabbe adducts reacted with phenylhydrazine and methylhydrazine at a 1:1 molar ratio in refluxing ethanol for 24 hours, a new series of seven examples of a novel spiro-condensed heterocyclic system, namely 1(2)-methyl(phenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1,4(2,4)-dihydro-spiro(chromen[4,3-c]pyrazole-4,n -cycloalkanes) where cycloalkanes are cyclopentane, cyclohexane and cycloheptane (n = 1) and tetrahydro-2H-pyran (n = 2) were isolated at yields of between 35 % and 51 %. NMR and X-ray diffraction techniques demonstrated clearly that reactions from methylhydrazine and phenylhydrazine were regioselective and allowed to isolate separately the 1,3- and 2,3-trifluoromethylated isomers, respectively. Subsequently, two examples of new 3-hydroxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)-3,3a-dihydro-4H-spiro(chromen[4,3-c]isoxazole-4,1 -cycloalkanes), derivated from cyclopentanone and cyclopentanone, were obtained from the reaction of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[4-methoxy-spiro(2H-chromen-2,1 -cycloalkan)-3-yl]ethanones with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in yields of 42% and 58%, respectively. Finally, the structures of new spiro heterocycles were determined with the aid and simultaneous application of 1H-, 13C{1H}- and 19F-NMR, X-ray monocrystal diffraction, Mass Spectrometry and DFT calculation techniques and their purity were proved by elemental analysis or High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS). / O presente trabalho descreve inicialmente um método eficiente e regiosseletivo para a síntese de uma nova série de 2,2,2-triflúor-1-[4-metóxi-espiro(2H-cromen-2,1 -cicloalcan)-3-il]etanonas a partir de adutos de Kabbe (espiro[croman-2,1 -cicloalcan]-4-onas). Rendimentos de 38% a 61% foram obtidos quando reações de trifluoracetilação de misturas de enoléteres e/ou acetais derivados de quatro espiro cetonas (adutos de Kabbe) foram realizadas a 45 ºC usando clorofórmio anidro como solvente. Subsequentemente, quando os respectivos adutos de Kabbe trifluoracetilados foram reagidos com fenilhidrazina ou metilhidrazina, em relação molar de 1:1, sob refluxo de etanol por 24 horas, uma série de sete exemplares de um novo sistema heterocíclico espiro-condensado, denominado 1(2)-metil(fenil)-3-(trifluormetil)-1,4(2,4)-diidro-espiro(chromen[4,3-c]pirazol-4,n -cicloalcanos) onde os cicloalcanos são ciclopentano, ciclohexano e cicloheptano (n = 1) e tetraidro-2H-pirano (n = 2), foi isolada em rendimentos entre 35 % e 51 %. Técnicas de RMN e de difração de raios-X demonstraram claramente que as reações a partir da metilhidrazina e da fenilhidrazina foram regiosseletivas e permitiram isolar separadamente os isômeros trifluormetilados 1,3 e 2,3, respectivamente. Em sequência, dois exemplares de novas 3-hidróxi-3-(trifluormetil)-3,3a-diidro-4H-espiro(cromen[4,3-c]isoxazol-4,1 -cicloalcanos), derivados da ciclopentanona e ciclohexanona, foram obtidos a partir da reação de 2,2,2-triflúor-1-[4-metóxi-espiro(2H-cromen-2,1 -cicloalcan)-3-il]etanonas com cloridrato de hidroxilamina em rendimentos de 42% e 58%, respectivamente. Finalmente, as estruturas dos novos espiro heterociclos foram determinadas com o auxílio e aplicação simultânea de experimentos de RMN de 1H, 13C{1H}, 19F, difração de raios-X em monocristais, Espectrometria de Massas e cálculos DFT e, a sua pureza comprovada por Análise Elementar ou por Espectrometria de Massas de Alta Resolução (HRMS).