Opioid receptors play an important role in both behavioral and mood functions. Based on the structural modification of LY2456302, a series of aminobenzyloxyarylamide derivatives were designed and synthesized as κ opioid receptor antagonists. The κ opioid receptor binding ability of these compounds were evaluated with opioid receptors binding assays. Compounds 1a-d showed high affinity for κ opioid receptor. Especially for compound 1c, exhibited a significant Ki value of 15.7 nM for κ opioid receptor binding and a higher selectivity over μ and δ opioid receptors compared to (±)LY2456302. In addition, compound 1c also showed potent κ antagonist activity with κ IC50 = 9.32 nM in [35S]GTP-γ-S functional assay. The potential use of the representative compounds as antidepressants was also investigated. The most potent compound 1c not only exhibited potent antidepressant activity in the mice forced swimming test, but also displayed the effect of anti-anxiety in the elevated plus-maze test.Download high-res image (188KB)Download full-size image

•24 Novel hybrids were synthesized as dual VEGFR-2/HADC inhibitors.•The in vitro enzymatic and cellular activities were evaluated.•The primary structure–activity relationships were discussed.•Compound 6fd exhibited the most potent biological activities.A single agent that simultaneously inhibits multiple targets may offer greater therapeutic benefits in cancer than single-acting agents through interference with multiple pathways and potential synergistic action. In this work, a series of hybrids bearing N-phenylquinazolin-4-amine and hydroxamic acid moieties were designed and identified as dual VEGFR-2/HDAC inhibitors. Compound 6fd exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against HDAC with IC50 of 2.2 nM and strong inhibitory effect against VEGFR-2 with IC50 of 74 nM. It also showed the most potent inhibitory activity against a human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with IC50 of 0.85 μM. Docking simulation supported the initial pharmacophoric hypothesis and suggested a common mode of interaction at the active binding sites of VEGFR-2 and HDLP ((Histone Deacetylase-Like Protein), which demonstrates that compound 6fd is a potential agent for cancer therapy deserving further researching.

A novel synthesis of antiobesity drug lorcaserin hydrochloride was accomplished in six steps. N-protection of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanamine with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate, N-alkylation with allyl bromide, deprotection, intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation, chiral resolution with l-(+)-tartaric acid, and the final salification led to the target molecule lorcaserin hydrochloride in 23.1% overall yield with 99.9% purity and excellent enantioselectivity (>99.8% ee). This convenient and economical procedure is remarkably applicable for scale-up production.

DP antagonists are claimed to be useful in the treatment of allergic disorders. Laropiprant is a potent and selective DP antagonist to reduce the allergic disorders, especially niacin-induced flushing. In our study, a series of novel laropiprant derivatives (I-1–I-18) were synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS spectrum. The potency of these compounds was evaluated in a murine model of niacin-induced flushing. The results indicated that most compounds exhibited faster-acting effect of suppressing vasodilation than laropiprant. Among them, I-1, I-2, I-3, I-9, I-13, I-15 and I-16 exhibited substantial flushing inhibitory effect. Especially, I-1 and I-2 showed higher potency than laropiprant and would be valuable for further investigation.

p-Toluenesulfonohydrazide (PTSH) was shown to promote the highly efficient direct arylation of unactivated arenes with aryl iodides, bromides, or chlorides in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide without the assistance of any transition metals. The reaction proceeds through base-promoted homolytic aromatic substitution (BHAS) involving aryl radicals and arylradical anions as intermediates.

•21 Novel quinolin-4-amines containing benzimidazole moiety were synthesized.•The anticancer activities and inhibitory activities of VEGFR-2 were evaluated.•The primary structure–activity relationships were discussed.•Compound 7s exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities against VEGFR-2.•Compound 7s also showed potent anticancer activities against MCF-7 and Hep-G2.Inhibition of the VEGF signaling pathway has become a valuable approach in the treatment of cancers. In this work, a series of N-(2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)quinolin-4-amine derivatives were designed and identified as potent inhibitors of VEGFR-2 (KDR) kinase. These compounds with quinoline scaffold and benzimidazole moiety were synthesized and their biological activities against VEGFR-2 and two human cancer cell lines were evaluated. Among them, compound 7s exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against VEGFR-2 with IC50 of 0.03 μM and it also showed the highest anticancer activity against the tested cancer cell lines with IC50 of 1.2 μM against MCF-7 and 13.3 μM against Hep-G2. Docking simulation supported the initial pharmacophoric hypothesis and suggested a common mode of interaction at the ATP-binding site of VEGFR-2, which demonstrates that compound 7s is a potential agent for cancer therapy deserving further researching.A series of quinolin-4-amine derivatives containing benzimidazole moiety were discovered as potent inhibitors of VEGFR-2. Compound 7s exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with IC50 of 0.03 μM against VEGFR-2.

Both c-Met and VEGFR-2 are important targets for the treatment of cancers. In this study, a series of N-(2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)quinazolin-4-amine derivatives were designed and identified as dual c-Met and VEGFR-2 inhibitors. Among these compounds bearing quinazoline and benzimidazole fragments, compound 7j exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against c-Met and VEGFR-2 with IC50 of 0.05 μM and 0.02 μM, respectively. It also showed the highest anticancer activity against the tested cancer cell lines with IC50 of 1.5 μM against MCF-7 and 8.7 μM against Hep-G2. Docking simulation supported the initial pharmacophoric hypothesis and suggested a common mode of interaction at the ATP-binding site of c-Met and VEGFR-2, which demonstrates that compound 7j is a potential agent for cancer therapy deserving further researching.A series of quinazolin-4-amine derivatives containing benzimidazole moiety were discovered as potent dual inhibitors of c-Met and VEGFR-2. Compound 7j exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities with IC50 of 0.05 μM and 0.02 μM against c-Met and VEGFR-2, respectively.

•Nineteen N-(3-aryl acryloyl)aminosaccharide derivatives were synthesized.•Their anti-angiogenetic activity was evaluated by MTT assay and CAM assay.•Compound 10s and topotecan had comparable effects on anti-angiogenesis.•Electron-withdrawing group and disaccharide structure are beneficial.In order to find novel potent inhibitors for signal pathways of FGF/FGFR, nineteen N-(3-aryl acryloyl)aminosaccharide derivatives were designed and synthesized based on the binding sites of FGF and oligosaccharides of heparin. Their structures were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and elemental analysis. The nineteen target compounds were evaluated for biological activity against HUVEC cell. In vitro assays showed that compound 10s (IC50 = 5.3 μM) exhibited comparable inhibitory effects on endothelial cell growth with topotecan (IC50 = 2.7 μM). Compound 10s (10 μg/egg) also showed obvious anti-angiogenetic activity in the in vivo chicken chorio allantoic membrane (CAM) assay, and the potency was similar to topotecan (10 μg/egg).

An efficient synthetic method for 2, 3-dihydro-1H-indene-1-methanamine and its derivatives is described. Six compounds of 2, 3-dihydro-1H-indene-1-methanamines were synthesized from corresponding 4-nitro-3-phenylbutanoic acid in satisfactory yields (50.9–57.9 % in 4 steps), and three compounds (1c, 1e, 1f) were newly reported. This procedure has the advantages of mild conditions, less pollution, and simple manipulation.