Solid-phase syntheses of two 14-membered ring peptidomimetics were done to determine whether or not a beta-turn structure can facilitate macrocyclization. NMR methods, together with CD and QMD calculations, do not fully support this assumption. However, cyclizations of more ordered structures like those of compounds 2 were more efficient than those for highly strained ring systems like 1. A small library of 18-membered ring peptidomimetics that accommodate an extra amino acid residue was synthesized on resin. Their syntheses were not complicated by head-to-tail dimer impurity, unlike those for previously synthesized 14-membered systems. These larger macrocycles exhibit beta-turn structures as verified by NMR, CD and QMD techniques. Moreover, two compounds in this series (3a and 3g) were shown to have agonistic properties for TrkC in cell survival assays. Dimerization of monovalent mimics was achieved first by modifying the organic template so that monovalent mimics with requisite functional groups can be synthesized. Second, the monovalent units were dimerized using sequential nucleophilic substitutions on fluorescently labeled dichlorotriazine. Our rationale to make bivalent compounds out of monovalent ones was justified when compound 4 was shown to bind TrkA with a 20 nM affinity. Reactions of amino acids with NH4SCN under acylating conditions produced 2-thiohydantoins in which the nitrogen of the amino acid (N1) was acylated. This was proven by 2-D NMR which showed no cross-peak between the NH signal observed and the Cα±-H of the amino acid. When the compound was deacylated, a new NH signal appeared and the corresponding cross-peak with the Cα±-H was observed. Solution-phase syntheses of non-peptidic mimics were achieved by doing a double substitution on a dihalogenated nitrobenzene scaffold. Sonogashira and SNAr reactions were done to install the required side-chains to give the desired compounds. These non-peptidic compounds can be easily adapted to our DTAF-Inp dimerization protocol since the nitro groups can be easily reduced. Attempts to make a spirotetracyclic peptidomimetic with three side chain mimics were done by synthesizing the spirocyclic diketopiperazine precursor. The synthesis of the DKP was achieved by making the cyclic quaternary amino acid that was coupled to another amino acid via the HOAt-EDC method. This protocol gave dipeptides in high yields. These dipeptides were deprotected and cyclized to the DKP under mildly acidic conditions in toluene.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Medicinal Chemistry." Includes bibliographical references.

The research described in this dissertation is focused on the knowledge-based, often in silico assisted design, targeted synthesis, and biological evaluation of small molecules of interest for two translational medicinal chemistry projects. The first project (Part 1) is aimed at the identification of blood brain barrier (BBB) penetrable dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase-1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors as a potential disease modifying approach to mitigate cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's neurodegeneration. Two major series with potent activity against DYRK1A were identified in addition to a number of other chemotype sub-series that also exhibit somewhat promising activity. Extensive profiling of active analogs revealed interesting biological activity and selectivity, which led to the identification of two analogs for in vivo studies and revealed new opportunities for further investigation into other kinase targets implicated in neurodegeneration and polypharmacological approaches. The second project (Part 2) is focused on the development of compounds that inhibit PGE₂ production, while not affecting cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, as a novel approach to treat cancer. Compounds were designed with the intention of inhibiting microsomal prostaglandin E₂ synthase-1 (mPGES-1); however, biological evaluation revealed phenotypically active compounds in a cell based assay with an unknown mechanism of action. Further profiling revealed promising anticancer activity in xenograft mouse models. In addition, PGE₂ has been implicated in an immune evasion mechanism of F. tularensis, a strain of bacteria that remains an exploitable threat in biowarfare, thus a small number of analogs were evaluated in a cell model of F. tularensis infection stimulated PGE₂ production.

No description available.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a highly complex and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the systemic collapse of cognitive function and formation of dense amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). AD pathology is derived from the cholinergic, amyloid and tau hypotheses, respectively. Current pharmacotherapy with known anti-cholinesterases, such as Aricept ® and Exelon ®, only offer symptomatic relief without any disease-modifying effects (DMEs). It is now clear that in order to prevent the rapid progression of AD, new therapeutic treatments should target multiple AD pathways as opposed to the traditional “one drug, one target” approach. This research project employed medicinal chemistry tools to develop multifunctional small organic molecules against three key targets of AD pathology – the cholinesterases (AChE and BuChE), AChE-induced and self-induced Aβ1-40 aggregation and generation (β-secretase). A chemical library composed of 112 derivatives was generated to gather structure-activity relationship (SAR) data. The derivatives were based on a novel, non-fused, 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidine ring (2,4-DPR) template with substituents at the C-2 and C-4 position varying in size, steric and electronic properties. Molecular modeling was utilized to investigate their binding modes within the target enzymes and along with the acquired SAR, the chemical library was screened to identify lead multifunctional candidates.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Medicinal Chemistry." Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-113).

Fluorinated arenes are considered valuable in organic chemistry. They display different types of reactivity and physicochemical properties compared to their hydrogen analogues. In this project, our medicinal chemistry programme focused on developing rapidly accessible and modifiable heterocyclic scaffolds. Different classes of fluorinated heteroatom-containing organic compounds including benzothiophenes, (aza)phenoxazines and benzaldehyde phenylhydrazones were synthesised from highly fluorinated aromatic compounds with a diverse range of functional groups appropriate for medicinal chemistry development. Mechanistic studies for heterocyclic scaffold synthesis were discussed in the project. The mechanisms of the ring-forming reactions were elaborated in detail in each chapter. A range of substituents were introduced flexibly into the aromatic heterocycles, which were designed to meet the requirements for biological screening programmes. New compounds were characterized by 1H, 19F and 13C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The X-ray crystal structures of a fluorinated benzothiophene and two benzopyridooxazine derivatives were obtained confirming the structure and substitution pattern. From the heterocyclic scaffolds prepared, 6-benzimidazol-1-yl-benzothiophene derivatives (91), 3-imidazol-1-yl-pyridobenzoxazine derivatives (130) and 4-1-methylpiperazinyl-benzaldehyde phenylhydrazone derivatives (195) acted as hit compounds and demonstrated significant trypanocidal activities. SAR studies were employed in structural modifications on these samples to search for the best activities with highest selectivity.

O limoneno é um produto natural da classe dos terpenos, encontrado abundantemente em plantas cítricas e relatado na literatura como um composto com atividades farmacológicas interessantes, entre elas antibacteriana, antifúngica, antileishmania, nociceptiva e citotóxica. A presente tese relata a funcionalização do limoneno utilizando a Síntese Orgânica em Fase Sólida e a Síntese Orgânica Clássica (em solução). A partir da síntese orgânica em solução, especialmente através das reações de hidroformilação e hidroaminometilação, obtiveram-se vinte compostos. Os compostos foram testados para várias atividades farmacológicas in vitro, a saber: antibacteriana, antifúngica, anti-tripanossoma e anti-leishmania. Destes, dezessete foram testados para a atividade anti-leishmania in vitro contra formas promastigotas de L. (V.) braziliensis e sete apresentaram atividade superior ao fármaco pentamidina, utilizado como padrão no teste, com valores de IC50 entre 11,5 e 35,6 μM. / Limonene is a natural product from the terpene family, found in great proportions in citrical plants, being reported in the literature as having interesting pharmacological activities, such as antibacterial, antifungical, antileishmanial, nociceptive and citotoxic. This thesis reports the funcionalization of limonene via Solid-Phase Organic Synthesis and classical solution-phase synthesis. Twenty products were obtained from the solution-phase protocols, especially from reactions such as hydroformylation and hydroaminomethylation. The compounds were tested for several pharmacological activities, e.g.: antibacterial, antifungical, anti-tripanossomal and anti-leishmanial. Seventeen of those compounds were tested against in vitro promastigote strains of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and seven compounds were found to have greater anti-leishmanial activity than pentamidine, the standard drug used in this test, presenting IC50 values ranging from 11,5 to 35,6 μM.

O limoneno é um produto natural da classe dos terpenos, encontrado abundantemente em plantas cítricas e relatado na literatura como um composto com atividades farmacológicas interessantes, entre elas antibacteriana, antifúngica, antileishmania, nociceptiva e citotóxica. A presente tese relata a funcionalização do limoneno utilizando a Síntese Orgânica em Fase Sólida e a Síntese Orgânica Clássica (em solução). A partir da síntese orgânica em solução, especialmente através das reações de hidroformilação e hidroaminometilação, obtiveram-se vinte compostos. Os compostos foram testados para várias atividades farmacológicas in vitro, a saber: antibacteriana, antifúngica, anti-tripanossoma e anti-leishmania. Destes, dezessete foram testados para a atividade anti-leishmania in vitro contra formas promastigotas de L. (V.) braziliensis e sete apresentaram atividade superior ao fármaco pentamidina, utilizado como padrão no teste, com valores de IC50 entre 11,5 e 35,6 μM. / Limonene is a natural product from the terpene family, found in great proportions in citrical plants, being reported in the literature as having interesting pharmacological activities, such as antibacterial, antifungical, antileishmanial, nociceptive and citotoxic. This thesis reports the funcionalization of limonene via Solid-Phase Organic Synthesis and classical solution-phase synthesis. Twenty products were obtained from the solution-phase protocols, especially from reactions such as hydroformylation and hydroaminomethylation. The compounds were tested for several pharmacological activities, e.g.: antibacterial, antifungical, anti-tripanossomal and anti-leishmanial. Seventeen of those compounds were tested against in vitro promastigote strains of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and seven compounds were found to have greater anti-leishmanial activity than pentamidine, the standard drug used in this test, presenting IC50 values ranging from 11,5 to 35,6 μM.

As ferramentas computacionais de modelagem molecular e de QSAR estão integradas ao processo de planejamento de fármacos na busca inesgotável por novas moléculas bioativas de elevado interesse terapêutico. O trabalho em Química Medicinal realizado nesta dissertação de mestrado envolveu o estudo das relações entre a estrutura e atividade de inibidores da enzima purina nucleosídeo fosforilase (PNP) bovina e de Schistosoma mansoni. A potência de uma série de inibidores da PNP de S. mansoni foi determinada experimentalmente através da medida de valores de 1C50, empregando um ensaio cinético padronizado e validado. Conjuntos de dados padrões para inibidores da enzima PNP bovina e de S. mansoni foram organizados, contendo os dados de estrutura e atividade correspondentes. Estes conjuntos formaram a base científica para o desenvolvimento dos modelos preditivos de QSAR 2D, empregando o método holograma QSAR. Os modelos finais de HQSAR desenvolvidos possuem alta consistência interna e externa, apresentando bom poder preditivo. Estes modelos, em conjunto com as informações obtidas dos mapas de contribuição de HQSAR, são guias químico-medicinais importantes no planejamento de inibidores mais potentes e seletivos, candidatos a protótipos de novos fármacos na quimioterapia segura das doenças alvo deste trabalho / Computational tools for molecular modeling and QSAR are well-integrated into the drug design process in the search for new bioactive molecules of significant therapeutic interest. The Medicinal Chemistry work done in this dissertation involved structure-activity studies of inhibitors of bovine and Shistosoma mansoni purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). The potency of a series of S. mansoni inhibitors was experimentally determined through measurements of IC50 values, employing a standard validated kinetic assay. Data sets for bovine and S. mansoni PNP were organized, encompassing the structural information and corresponding biological data. These data sets established the scientific basis for the development of the predictive QSAR models using the hologram QSAR method. The final HQSAR models generated possess both good internal and external consistency with good correlative and predictive power. These models and the information obtained from the HQSAR contribution maps should be useful in guiding future medicinal chemistry efforts designed to discover novel potent and selective inhibitors as drug candidates for the chemotherapy of the target diseases of this work