Synthesis of N-benzyl- and N-phenyl-2-amino-4,5-dihydrothiazoles and thioureas and evaluation as modulators of the isoforms of nitric oxide synthase
作者:C Goodyer
DOI:10.1016/s0968-0896(03)00451-6
日期:2003.9.15
Inhibition of the isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has important applications in therapy of several diseases, including cancer. Using 1400W [N-(3-aminomethylbenzyl)acetamidme], thiocitrulline and N-delta-(4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)ornithine as lead compounds, series of N-benzyl- and N-phenyl-2-amino-4,5-dihydrothiazoles and thioureas were designed as inhibitors of NOS. Ring-substituted benzyl and phenyl isothiocyanates were synthesised by condensation of the corresponding amines with thiophosgene and addition of ammonia gave the corresponding thioureas in high yields. The substituted 2-amino-4,5-dihydrothiazoles were approached by two routes. Treatment of simple benzylamines with 2-methylthio-4,5-dihydrothiazole at 180degreesC afforded the corresponding 2-benzylamino-4,5-dihydrothiazoles. For less nucleophilic amines and those carrying more thermally labile substituents, the 4,5-dihydrothiazoles were approached by acid-catalysed cyclisation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)thioureas. This cyclisation was shown to proceed by an S(N)2-like process. Modest inhibitory activity was shown by most of the thioureas and 4,5-dihydrothiazoles, with N-(3-aminomethylphenyl)thiourea (IC50 = 13 muM vs rat neuronal NOS and IC50 = 23 muM vs rat inducible NOS) and 2-(3-aminomethylphenylamino)-4,5-dihydrothiazole (IC50 - 13 muM vs rat neuronal NOS and IC50 = 19 muM vs human inducible NOS) being the most potent. Several thioureas and 4,5-dihydrothiazoles were found to stimulate the activity of human inducible NOS in a time-dependent manner. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.