title: Random chemistry as a new tool for the generation of small-compound libraries.
abstract: Advances in modern medicinal chemistry have enabled scientists to engineer new pathways aiming at the generation of novel chemical entities. Random chemistry, the serendipitous synthesis of small-compound libraries by gamma-irradiation of a highly active lead compound or pharmacophoric fragments of active compounds, represents a complementary methodology, which provides both, compounds with resembling molecular structure and rearranged structures not previously known. Since the libraries are likely to be derived from radical chemistry, Fenton's reagent was applied to a methanol/water solution of tacrine to mimic the irradiation. Indeed, the experiment resulted in a similar product spectrum as found for tacrine in water and methanol solutions after (60)Co irradiation. However, the application of Fenton's reagent is limited due to its poor solubility in organic solvents. Since the drugs we are aiming for should exhibit high water solubility, this limitation can be regarded as an advantage at the same time. Further extension of the random chemistry approach led to the successful irradiation of non-active but drugable single fragments and combinations of fragments, i.e. the irradiation of tetrahydroisoquinoline and benzylamine, both being fragments of naphthylisoquinolines with antiplasmodial activity. The obtained isoquinoline derivatives were found to exhibit anti-infective activities and thus are promising new lead structures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kapková
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kugelmann
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bringmann
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Folkers
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holzgrabe
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015394:Molecular Structure