Highly reactive zinc metal was prepared by electrolysis of a N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution containing naphthalene and a supporting electrolyte in a one-compartment cell fitted with a platinum cathode and a zinc anode. This highly reactive electrogenerated zinc (EGZn/Naph) was used for transformation of ethyl 2-bromoacrylate into the corresponding organozinc compound, which can not be achieved by the use of usual zinc metals. Reaction of the organozinc compounds thus prepared with various aryl halides in the presence of 5 mol% of palladium catalyst gave the corresponding cross-coupling products in high yields. These cross-coupling reactions were successfully applied to a synthesis of the precursor of anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen, naproxen, cicloprofen and suprofen.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/*chemical synthesis ; Catalysis ; Electrolysis ; Ibuprofen/chemical synthesis ; Naphthalenes ; Naproxen/chemical synthesis ; Prodrugs/*chemical synthesis ; Propionic Acids/chemical synthesis ; Suprofen/chemical synthesis ; Zinc/*pharmacology

We produced (S)-4-cyano-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-butyrate by highly stereoselective biocatalyst in this study. A nitrilase-producing strain, named Gibberella intermedia WX12, was isolated by 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-glutaronitrile as substrate in the screening with phenol-sodium hypochlorite method. The fermentation conditions and catalytic properties of this strain were investigated. The preferred carbon and nitrogen sources for nitrilase production were lactose (30 g/L) and peptone (20 g/L). After being cultivated for 96 h, the cells were collected for use in biotransformation. The hydrolysis of 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-glutaronitrile was performed at 30 degrees C in phosphate buffer (pH 8.0, 50 mmol/L) for 24 h to give (S)-4-cyano-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-butyric acid with 90% yield and > 99% of ee, which can be used for the synthesis of (R)- and (S)-baclofen. The configuration of product was determined by chemically converting it to baclofen and comparison with the authentic sample by chiral HPLC analysis.
Aminohydrolases ; metabolism ; Baclofen ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Biocatalysis ; Chlorophenols ; chemistry ; Gibberella ; enzymology ; Hydrolysis ; Nitriles ; chemistry ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

To design and synthesis a series of novel L-amino acid esters prodrugs of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates with more potent anti-HBV activity, adefovir dipivoxil was used as lead compound, according to the results of enhanced oral bioavailability and antiviral activities of nucleoside L-amino acid ester prodrugs. Eleven novel L-amino acid ester prodrugs of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates were designed and synthesized, their anti-HBV activities were evaluated in HepG2 2.2.15 cells. Eight compounds exhibited antiviral activity, and compound 11 showed the most potent anti-HBV activity and highest selective index in vitro (EC50 0.0952 micromol x L(-1), SI 69523). Moreover, by analyzing the primary structure and activity relationship of these compounds, it could be suggested that L-amino acid ester strategy has significant potential in the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates prodrug design.
Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Antiviral Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Nucleosides ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Organophosphonates ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

The curcumin prodrugs, which could be selectively activated in tumor cells, were prepared to establish a basis for the targeted chemotherapy for cancer. On the basis of the molecular structure of curcumin, the N-maleoyl-L-valine-curcumin (NVC), N-maleoyl- glycine-curcumin (NGC) were chemically synthesized and identified by IR and NMR spectroscopy. After treatment with these two prodrugs for 6 - 24 h, the rates of growth inhibition on human bladder cancer EJ cells and renal tubular epithelial (HKC) cells were detected by MTT colorimetry. Our results showed that after the treatment with 20 micromol/L - 40 micromol/L NVC and NGC for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibitory effects on EJ cells were 6.71% - 65.13% (P < 0.05), 10.96% - 73.01% (P < 0.05), respectively, in both dose- and time-dependent manners. When compared with the curcumin of same concentrations, the growth inhibitory effects of these two prodrugs on HKC cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). It is concluded that activation of curcumin prodrugs via hydrolysis functions of cellular esterase could inhibit the growth activities of tumor cells, and reduce the side effects on normal diploid cells. This provided a novel strategy for further exploration of tumor-targeted chemotherapeutic drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*pharmacology ; Curcumin/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Prodrugs/*chemical synthesis ; Prodrugs/*pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*pathology

Based on the character of the molecular structure, the prodrugs of phosphates and phosphonates were divided into two categories. The first is the drug which contained the phosphate group, introducing protected groups to increase lipophilicity and improve bioavailability. The other one is the drug which had no phosphate group, introducing the phosphate group into molecules to enhance the solubility, regulate the distribution coefficient and enhance the drug-like property. This review focuses on the application of phosphates and phosphonates in drug research and development based on improvement of physico-chemical property, drug safety and the pharmacokinetics.
Animals ; Biological Availability ; Drug Design ; Drug Stability ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Organophosphonates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Phosphates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; classification ; pharmacokinetics ; Solubility ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tissue Distribution

In this research, phosphate and thiophosphate prodrugs 3a, 3b of anti-HIV agent AZT were synthesized, and their anti-HIV activities and cytotoxicities were investigated in vitro. Results showed that the prodrugs 3a and 3b with an IC50 value of 11.0 and 4.0 micromol x L(-1), respectively, were less toxic than AZT (1.0 micromol x L(-1)). Although the EC50 values of both 3a (0.04 micromol x (L(-1) and 3b (0.16 micromol x L(-1)) were lower than that of AZT (0.01 micromol x L(-1)), the therapeutic index (IC50/EC50) of prodrug 3a (275) was much higher than that of both AZT (100) and prodrug 3b (25). This indicated that the prodrug 3a merited further investigation as an anti-HIV agent.
Anti-HIV Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Zidovudine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

To design and synthesize the hepatic targeting anticancer prodrug with norcantharidin (NCTD-Gal) conjugating structure, galactosylated NCTD derivatives were synthesized from NCTD analogues modified by a series of amino acids via acylation, hydrolysis, glycosylation and deacetylation. Seven new compounds were synthesized as beta-O-glycosides and characterized by IR, MS, NMR and element analysis. The compound 4a was chosen for the inchoate antitumor experiments on mice. The result showed that the antitumor inhibition rate of 4a groups with medium and high dose are clearly higher than that of NCTD group, which suggests that anticancer effect of NCTD is improved at a certain degree by galactosylation.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Galactose ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

To design and synthesize a series of novel scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid prodrugs with more potent anti-oxidative activity and improved physicochemical properties. Scutellarein was used as lead compound, according to successful experience of improving bioavailability of oral administration drugs by active transport mechanism, principle of hybridization was used to introducing L-amino acid structural fragments at 4'-position of scutellarein to design and synthesize target scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid prodrugs. The synthetic compounds were tested on their physicochemical properties and in vitro anti-oxidative activity against H202 induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells. Five compounds were found to have more potent anti-oxidative activity than positive control VE. Moreover the physicochemical properties of synthesized compounds were evaluated, and the results revealed that L-amino acid ether derivatives are more stable (t1/2 9-92 h) than their corresponding ester derivatives (t1/2 0.5 h). Water solubility of scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid ester and ether derivatives were 1 796-4 100 microg.mL-1 and 27.7-81.1 microg.mL-1 respectively, in comparison with scutellarin, the solubility of compounds 18, 19 and 22, 24-27 increased about 120-280 fold and 2-6 fold respectively. All these results suggested that L-amino acid prodrug strategy has significant potential in scutellarein prodrug design.
Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Apigenin ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Biological Availability ; Drug Design ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Rats

A series of adefovir mono-L-amino acid esters, mono non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs carboxylic ester prodrugs with more potent anti-HBV activity and lower nephrotoxicity were designed and synthesized. Adefovir bis (L-amino acid) ester was used as lead compound, according to pathological and pharmacological findings that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can effectively inhibit the organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1)-mediated adefovir phosphonic acid pairs of anion transport across tubular basement membrane thereby reducing the nephrotoxicity of adefovir. Flatten design principle was used to introducing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs structural fragments to design and synthesize target adefovir mixture ester prodrugs. HepG2 2.2.15 cell line was used as in vitro anti-HBV activity evaluation model. Five compounds exhibited antiviral activity, and compound 18 showed the most potent anti-HBV activity and relatively high selective index (EC50 3.92 micromol L(-1), SI 9.97). HK-2 cell line was used as in vitro model to evaluate nephrotoxicity. Results suggested the target compounds have lower cytotoxicity than the positive control. Moreover, by analyzing the primary structure and activity relationship of these compounds, it could suggest that mono-L-amino acid ester, mono non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs carboxylic ester prodrugs strategy has significant potential in the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates prodrug design.
Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Amino Acids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Carboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Hep G2 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Organophosphonates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

AIMTo synthesize acylated prodrug of tacrine hydrochloride (THA) to improve the infiltration ability across the blood brain barrier (BBB).

METHODSA series of prodrugs were prepared by acylation of the 7-amino group of THA. The degradation of prodrugs was investigated under different conditions. Biodistribution studies of N-butyramide-THA (BTHA) in mice were carried out to evaluate the function of brain targeting.

RESULTSThe structures of prodrugs were confirmed by IR, 1HNMR and MS. All prodrugs were stable in different medium. Octanol-water partition coefficients indicated increased lipophlicity for various prodrugs compared to the THA. In vivo distribution studies showed that BTHA was mainly distributed in brain, blood and liver (the maximum concentrations were 17.5725, 13.1400 and 22.8279 mg.L-1, respectively), while the THA concentration were very low in lung and heart (the maximum concentrations were 4.9475 and 4.4925 mg.L-1, respectively). The BTHA concentration (2.4159 mg.L-1) was relatively high even 12 h after administration, showing that BTHA degraded more slowly in brain than in other tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe infiltration ability of THA across BBB was increased in the form of N-acylate-THA prodrug, indicating that this kind of prodrug is a promising brain-targeting delivery system.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Stability ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Tacrine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics