title: Synthesis and immunosuppressive activity of some side-chain variants of mycophenolic acid.
abstract: The syntheses and immunosuppressive bioassays of 12 side-chain variants of mycophenolic acid are described. The compounds were made either from mycophenolic acid itself or from 5-(chloromethyl)-1,3-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-7-methyl-3-oxoisoben zofuran, a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of diverse side-chain variants. Replacement of the methylated E double bond of the natural product with a triple bond, a Z double bond, a saturated bond, or a sulfur atom, with overall chain lengths equal to or greater than that of mycophenolic acid, produced compounds devoid of significant activity. Replacement of the side-chain double bond with difluoro, dibromo, or unsubstituted cyclopropane rings also removed most activity. Replacement of the double bond with an allenic linkage yielded a compound with about one-fifth of the immunosuppressive activity of mycophenolic acid. Some possible causes for the unusual specificity of structure and activity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Syntex Research, Palo Alto, California 94304.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eugui
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008934:Mitogens; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid