title: Novel dicationic imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines as antiprotozoal agents.
abstract: 2-[5-(4-Amidinophenyl)-furan-2-yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carboxamidine acetate salt (7) was synthesized from 2-[5-(4-cyanophenyl)-furan-2-yl]-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carbonitrile (4a), through the bis-O-acetoxyamidoxime followed by hydrogenation in glacial acetic acid. Compound 4a was obtained in four steps starting with two successive brominations of 2-acetylfuran first with N-bromosuccinimide, and second with bromine to form alpha-bromo-2-acetyl-5-bromofuran (2) in a moderate yield. The product (3a), of the condensation reaction between 6-amino-nicotinonitrile and 2, undergoes Suzuki coupling with 4-cyanophenylboronic acid to furnish 4a in good yield. Acetate salt of 2-[5-(4-amidinophenyl)-furan-2-yl]-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carboxamidine (8a) was obtained from 4a, through the bis-O-acetoxyamidoxime followed by hydrogenation in a mixture of ethanol/ethyl acetate. N-Methoxy-2-(5-[4-(N-methoxyamidino)-phenyl]-furan-2-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carboxamidine (6) was prepared via methylation of the respective diamidoxime 5a with dimethyl sulfate. By these approaches eight new diamidines and four potential prodrugs were prepared. All of the diamidines showed strong DNA affinities as judged by high DeltaT(m) values. Six of the eight diamidines gave in vitro IC(50) values of 63 nM or less vs T. b. rhodesiense with two exhibiting values of 6 nM and 1 nM. Also, six of the eight diamidines gave in vitro IC(50) values of 88 nM or less vs P. falciparum with two exhibiting values of 14 nM. Excellent in vivo activity in the trypanosomal STIB900 mouse model was found for five of the diamidines on ip dosage; these compounds gave 4/4 cures in this model. The oral activity of the prodrugs was modest with only one showing 2/4 cures in the same mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303-3083, USA
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wenzler
authors.forename: Farial A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tanious
authors.forename: W David
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Boykin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016833:Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents