Lipophilic analogues of trimethoprim (1) bearing 3,5-dialkyl-4-hydroxy substituents in the benzene ring are much more active in vitro against Neisseria gonorrhoeae than is 1. The 3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxy derivative (2) was selected as a candidate for clinical evaluation as an antigonococcal agent, and as part of the preliminary evaluation it was submitted to extended pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies in dogs. Although the compound was not extensively conjugated by metabolic enzymes, one of the methyl groups was metabolized to produce a 3-isopropyl-4-hydroxy-5-(alpha-carboxyethyl)benzyl derivative (43), which was rapidly excreted. Related analogues were likewise extensively metabolized.
Analogues of the antigonococcal agent trimethoprim (VII) are prepared by coupling uracil (I) with amines such as (II) followed by conversion of the dichloride (IV) and amination, yielding the diamine (VI).
The best reaction condition of Candida antartica lipase B as biocatalyst, 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole as leaving azole, and water-saturated methyl t-butyl ether as reaction medium at 45°C were first selected for performing the hydrolytic resolution of (R,S)-2-(4-chlorophenoxyl) azolides (1-4). In comparison with the kinetic resolution of (R,S)-2-phenylpropionyl 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolide or (R,S)-α-methoxyphenylacetyl 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolide at the same reaction condition, excellent enantioselectivity with more than two order-of-magnitudes higher activity for each enantiomer was obtained. The resolution was then extended to other (R,S)-3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolides (5-7) containing 2-chloro, 3-chloro, or 2,4-dichloro substituent, giving good (E > 48) to excellent (E > 100) enantioselectivity. The thermodynamic analysis for 1, 2, and 4-7 demonstrates profound effects of the acyl or leaving moiety on varying enthalpic and entropic contributions to the difference of Gibbs free energies. A thorough kinetic analysis further indicates that on the basis of 6, the excellent enantiomeric ratio for 4 and 7 is due to the higher reactivity of (S)-4 and lower reactivity of (R)-7, respectively.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.