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European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 46 (2011) 327e340
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ejmech
Original article
Part I: Synthesis, cancer chemopreventive activity and molecular docking study
of novel quinoxaline derivatives
Shadia A. Galal a, *, Ahmed S. Abdelsamie a, Harukuni Tokuda b, Nobutaka Suzuki b, Akira Lida c,
Mahmoud M. ElHefnawi d, Raghda A. Ramadan d, Mona H.E. Atta d, Hoda I. El Diwani a
a
Department of Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products, Division of Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622, Cairo, Egypt
Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Clinical R&D, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University,13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Japan 920-8640
Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-20 Naka-machi, Nara, Japan 631-8505
d
Biomedical Informatics and Chemoinformatics Group, Center of Excellence For Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622, Cairo, Egypt
b
c
a r t i c l e i n f o
a b s t r a c t
Article history:
Received 4 October 2010
Received in revised form
9 November 2010
Accepted 15 November 2010
Available online 24 November 2010
The reaction of o-phenylene diamine and ethyl oxamate is reinvestigated and led to 3-aminoquinoxalin2(1H)-one rather than benzimidazole-2-carboxamide as was previously reported. The structure of the
obtained quinoxaline has been confirmed by X-ray. The anti-tumor activity of synthesized quinoxalines
1e21 has been evaluated by studying their possible inhibitory effects on EpsteineBarr virus early
antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Among the studied
compounds 1e21, compounds 12, 8, 13, 18, 17 and 19, respectively, demonstrated strong inhibitory
effects on the EBV-EA activation without showing any cytotoxicity and their effects being stronger than
that of a representative control, oleanolic acid. Furthermore, compound 12 exhibited a remarkable
inhibitory effect on skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis test using
7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as an initiator and TPA as a promoter. The result of the present
investigation indicated that compound 12 might be valuable as a potent cancer chemopreventive agent.
Moreover, the molecular docking into PTK (PDB: 1t46) has been done for lead optimization of the
aforementioned compounds as potential PTK inhibitors.
Ó 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Keywords:
Synthesis
Quinoxalines
Anti-tumor promoter
EpsteineBarr virus
Two-stage carcinogenesis
12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
(TPA)
Docking
Protein tyrosine kinase receptor (PTK)
1. Introduction
Of the various human diseases, cancer has proven to be one of
the most intractable diseases to which humans are subjected, and
as yet no practical and generally effective drugs or methods of
control are available. Therefore, identification of novel potent,
selective, and less toxic anticancer agents remains one of the most
pressing health problems [1].
Quinoxalines have been reported as candidates for the treatment
of cancer and disorders associated with angiogenesis functions and
several of them are currently in clinical trials. The quinoxaline ring
may act as bioisostere of both pteridine and quinazoline rings
present in the most representative drugs as methotrexate MTX,
trimetrexate and tomude [1e10].
Quinoxalines showed to be potent inhibitors of the c-kit tyrosine kinase [11]. C-kit is a member of the family protein tyrosine
kinase III. The c-kit proto-oncogene is a receptor protein-tyrosine
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ20 233371615; fax: þ20 233370931.
E-mail address: sh12galal@yahoo.com (S.A. Galal).
0223-5234/$ e see front matter Ó 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2010.11.022
kinase. Tyrosine kinases, such as c-kit, are proteins whose function
is to transduce signals from the environment into the cell leading
to complex behaviors such as proliferation, migration, survival
and differentiation. Many of these actions are deregulated
in cancer, which is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation,
insensitivity towards death stimuli, migration of tumor cells away
from the primary tumor site and in some cases also blocking of
cellular differentiation leaving the cell in an immature proliferative
state. Inhibition of the kinase activity, may lead to suppression of
signals that support proliferation in transformed cells. The tyrosine
kinase receptor c-kit is associated with several malignant human
diseases [12].
Quinoxaline tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which are specific
antagonists for c-kit also increase apoptosis. Quinoxalines’ pattern
of inhibition to c-kit is either ATP competitive or mixed-type
inhibition, depending on the state of the receptor. Quinoxalines
bind to the same residues that ATP binds to on the receptor [13,14].
In this work, new quinoxaline derivatives have been synthesized to study their in vitro promoting activity by estimating the
inhibitory effect on EpsteineBarr virus antigen (EBV-EA) activation.
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EpsteineBarr virus is a cancer-causing virus induced by phorbol
ester tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
(TPA) which stimulates cell proliferation through rapid activation
of protein kinase C (PKC), followed by gradual degradation of the
kinase [15].
We had for aim in this manuscript to design new quinoxaline
derivatives through the following targets:
1- Introduction of different substituents in the 1, 2 or 3 positions,
hydrophobic or hydrophilic groups, hydrogen bond donors or
acceptors to influence and increase the affinity towards the
receptor binding sites.
2- Synthesis of heterocyclic-fused quinoxalines as it is known from
the literature that annelation was successful in causing selectivity and strong affinity towards the receptor.
3- Introduction of an electron rich pyrimidine ring to the quinoxaline moiety through a thio or a methyl thio linkage to
increase the lipophilicity and hence the interaction with the
target.
2. Result and discussion
2.1. Chemistry
Quinoxalin-2,3(1H,4H)-dione (1) was synthesized by the modified procedure of Obafemi and Pfeiferer [16]. Stirring a mixture of
compound 1 with phosphorus oxychloride in methylene chloride at
room temperature gave 3-chloroquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (2), which
structure has been proven by X-ray structure. 3,4-dichloroquinoxaline (3) was afforded by treating compound 1 or 2 with phosphorus
oxychloride in dimethylformamide [17]. The X-ray structure of
compound 3 was obtained (c.f. Fig. 1). 3-Aminoquinoxalin-2(1H)one (4) [18e20] was obtained by stirring a solution of compound 2 in
ammonia and ethanol. 3-Hydrazinylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (5) [21]
can be obtained by reaction of compound 1, 2 or 4 with hydrazine
hydrate in ethanol (c.f. Scheme 1).
On the other hand, the reaction of o-phenylene diamine with
oxamic acid ester in dimethylformamide was previously reported by
Petyunin et al [22] to yield benzimidazole-2-carboxylic amides. In this
Fig. 1. X-ray structures of compounds 1, 2, 12, 15 and 16.
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S.A. Galal et al. / European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 46 (2011) 327e340
329
Scheme 1. The synthesis of compounds 1e5.
present study, the reaction of o-phenylene diamine and ethyl oxamate
was reinvestigated in pyridine and dimethylformamide. The product
obtained is believed to be 3-aminoquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (4) rather
than 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carboxamide (4a) as was previously
reported [22,23]. On the other hand, compounds 4 and 4a may have
similar, spectroscopic data and their melting points were both above
300 C but the formation of quinoxaline could be defined by its
hydrazino derivative which was identical to the reported 3-hydrazinylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (5) (c.f. Scheme 1) [21]. Furthermore, the
formation of quinoxaline derivative (4) rather than benzimidazole
derivative (4a) by the reaction of o-phenylene diamine with ethyl
oxamate was confirmed by the X-ray structure of 1-Allyl-3-(1-allyl-2(2-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (12) (c.f.
Fig. 1).
The reported anti-tumor activity of hydrazones [24,25] has
prompted us to investigate new hydrazinyl quinoxalinones’ hydrazones as 3-(2-(2-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2
(1H)-one (6) and 3-(2-benzylidenehydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)one (7). Compounds 6 and 7 were obtained by reaction of compound
5 with 2-methoxybenzaldehyde and benzaldehyde, respectively, in
ethanol. Alkylation of compounds 6 and 7 with equimolar amount of
allyl bromide or ethyl chloroacetate yielded compounds 8e11,
respectively, while using dimolar amounts of the two alkylating
agents with compound 6 afforded the dialkyl derivatives 12 and 13,
respectively (c.f. Scheme 2). The structures of compounds 8e11, 13
were deduced compounds displayed molecular ion peaks at
appropriate m/z values. The structure of compound 12 was supported on the basis of its X-ray single crystal (Fig. 1).
Alkylation of compounds 6 and 7 using equimolar amount of
allyl bromide or ethyl chloroacetate to afford compounds 8e11 led
to significant lower frequency shift of absorption bands of n(C]O).
Also, the bands and signals due to NH of quinoxaline ring system of
these compounds in both IR and 1H NMR spectra disappeared with
respect to that originally appearing at compounds 6 and 7. The
significant lower frequency shifts of absorption bands of n(C]O)
besides the disappearance of NH of quinoxaline ring system, indicated that alkylation took place selectively at NH of quinoxalinone
rather than NH of hydrazinyl (eNHN]CH).
Attempts to form a 3-pyridyl derivative starting from the 3chloroquinoxaline-2-amine (14) by chlorination of compound 4
using phosphrous oxychloride, led to the unexpected benzo[10,20 ]
imidazo[4,5-b]quinoxaline (15), which structure has been proven
by its X-ray single crystal (c.f. Fig. 1). The formation of compound
15 was explained to take place via the following mechanism
(c.f. Scheme 3).
Similarly, treatment of compound 3 with pyridine afforded the
unexpected quinoxalino[2,3-d]benzo[b]imidazolium chloride monohydrate (16). The structure of compound 16 has been proven by its
X-ray single crystal (c.f. Fig. 1). The suggested mechanism for the
formation of compound 16 is the following (c.f. Scheme 4).
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Scheme 2. Synthesis of compounds 4e13.
2,3-Dichloroquinoxaline (3) was reacted with 4-oxo-2-thioxo1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives [27] to
produce compounds 17e19 (c.f. Scheme 5). Then again, compound
3 treated with 1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol [28] and 2-thiomethyl1H-benzimidazole [29] to yield compounds 20 and 21 (c.f. Scheme
6). The structures of compounds 17e21 were deduced from their
elemental analyses IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR data and mass spectra.
2.1.1. Inhibition of EBV-EA activation assay
A primary screening test was carried out using a short-term in
vitro synergistic assay on EBV-EA activation [30,31]. The inhibitory
effect of quinoxaline derivatives 1e21 on the EBV-EA activation
induced by TPA and the associated viability of Raji cells was listed in
Table 1. In this assay, all the tested compounds showed inhibitory
effects on EBV-EA activation without cytotoxicity on Raji cells. All
compounds exhibited dose dependent inhibitory activities, and the
viability percentages of Raji cells treated with the test compounds
(1e21) were 50, 60 or 70% at the highest concentration of 1000 mol
ratio/TPA. As shown in Table 1, the inhibitory activities of compounds
12, 8, 13, 18 17 and 19 were stronger than that of oleanolic acid at the
highest concentration used. Oleanolic acid is known as a representive anti-tumor promoting agent [32]. Compound 9 had
comparative activity with oleanolic acid. The relative ratio of
compound 12 with respect to TPA (100%) was 9.2, 41.9, 73.2 and
98.7% at the concentrations of 1000, 500, 100 and 10 mol ratio/TPA,
respectively, (Table 1); meaning 91.8, 58.1, 26.8 and 0.3% inhibition of
the EBV-EA activation by TPA, respectively. Compounds 8 and 13
showed 89, 57.3, 25.4 and 0%, and 88, 57.9, 25 and 0%inhibition of the
EBV-EA activation by TPA, respectively, at concentrations of 1000,
500, 100 and 10 mol ratio/TPA.
As shown in Table 1, formation of the hydrazinyl derivative 5 has
positive effect on the inhibitory activity on EBV-EA activation with
respect to aminoquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (4). On the other hand, we
have investigated the role of alkyl substitution on the hydrazinyl
(N) of 3-hydrazinylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (5) which was found to
have great effect on activity.
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N
NH2
N
H
O
N
NH2
N
Cl
POCl3
14
4
pyridine
N
NH2
N
NH2
N
N +
N
N
Cl
+
Cl
-HCl
H
N
N
-H
N
+
N
N
N
N
N
15
Scheme 3. The suggested mechanism for the formation of compound 15.
Disubstitution with alkyl groups, allyl and ethyl acetate, on both
nitrogens of hydrazine and quinoxaline of compounds 12 and 8
proved to be crucial for activity especially the allyl group, as
compound 12 was found to be more active than the reference. This
high activity may be due to hydrophobic interaction between the
alkyl groups with the hydrophobic alpha spheres of the binding site
of the receptor.
The importance of the alkyl group was clear from the fact that the
diaallyl compound 12 was more active than the monoallyl 8 and the
diethylacetate 13 was more active than the monoethylacetate 10.
Also, the presence of methoxy group on the phenyl ring of
compounds as in compounds 6, 8 and 10 led to positive effect on
the activity with respect to their analogues 7, 9 and 11, respectively,
which may be attributed to hydrogen bonding.
Substitution with the electron rich pyrimidine ring linked to
quinoxaline through sulfur seems to be interesting, as compounds
18, 17 and 19 were found to be highly potent also. The presence of
the hydroxyl group as hydrogen bonding donor was favored as
compound 18 was more active than the unsubstituted phenyl
compound 17 or compound 19 having the 4-fluoro substituent
which is a hydrogen bond acceptor.
Annelation and formation of fused heterocyclic rings werefound
to be un-favored as compounds 16 and 15 were the least active
compounds.
Among the tested quinoxaline derivatives, compounds 12, 8, 13,
18, 17 and 19 exhibited the significant potency against TPA-induced
activation.
Based on the results obtained in vitro, compound 12 was selected
to examine the effect on the in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis test
focusing on mouse skin papillomas induced by DMBA as an initiator
and TPA as a promoter (c.f. Table 2) [33e35]. During the in vivo assay,
the body-weight gains of the mice were not influenced by the
treatment with the test compound and no toxic effects, such as
lesional damages and inflammation (edema, erosion and ulcer)
were observed on the areas of mouse skin topically treated with the
test compound. Figs. 2 and 3 demonstrate the results of the papilloma formation in the skin of mice treated with compound 12. The
papilloma-bearing mice in the positive control group treated with
DMBA (390 nmol) and TPA (1.7 nmol, twice/week) appeared as early
as week 6, and the percentages of the papilloma-bearers increased
rapidly to reach 100% after week 10. On the other hand, the treatment with compound 12 (85 nmol) along with DMBA/TPA inhibited
the formation of papillomas until week 11 and the first papilloma
appeared as late as at week 8. The percentage of papilloma-bearers
in the mice of this group was 86.6% over the period of week 20. As
shown in Fig. 3, in the positive control group with DMBA/TPA, the
number of papillomas formed per mouse increased rapidly after
week 5 to reach 8.0 papillomas/mouse at week 20, whereas the mice
treated with compound 12 bore only 3.7 papillomas even at week
20. These results suggested that the inhibitory effect of compound
12 on two-stage carcinogenesis test was of potent activity in vitro
and in vivo. Thus, compound 12 can be considered an appropriate
lead compound to develop more potent agents with anti-tumor
promoting activity for clinical use.
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Cl
N
Cl
pyridine
N
N
N
N +
N
Cl
N
Cl
+
N
N
N
Cl
Cl
+
3
N
N
-HCl
N
N
N
N
N+
N
+
H
Cl
+
Cl
Cl
Cl
N
N
+
N
N
N+
N
N
diluted HCl
N
-
. H2O
H
16
Scheme 4. The suggested mechanism for the formation of compound 16.
2.2. Molecular modeling: docking study
The tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit is associated with several
malignant human diseases the inhibition of the kinase activity
become a target for therapeutic intervention. Quinoxaline tyrosine
kinase inhibitors are specific antagonists for c-kit therefore, the
synthesized qunioxaline derivatives 1e21 are investigated for the
binding affinity of these into c-kit receptor (PDB code: 1t46) for
the purpose of lead optimization and to find out the interaction
between compounds 1e21 and the c-kit receptor.
Molecular modeling calculations and local docking were done by
using MOE (molecular modeling environment) to evaluate the binding
free energies of these inhibitors into the target c-kit kinase receptor.
2.2.1. Validation of the docking performance and accuracy
To validate the docking accuracy of the program used, docking of
the native co-crystallized STI-571 ligand (Imatinib or Gleevec) was
done into its binding site of c-kit receptor.
The docked ligand was exactly superimposed on the native cocrystallized one with RMSD being 0.40 Ǻ and binding free energies
of ( 20.04 kcal/mol). The hydrogen bonds between the docked
ligand and the amino acids were the same as those between the
native ligand and the amino acids.
2.2.2. The binding affinities of the synthesized compounds 1e21
into c-kit kinase receptor
Molecular docking study was done to find out interactions
between ligand and receptor and to compare affinities of the
synthesized compounds to the target c-kit receptor. For the docking
calculations, the protein structure (PDB code: 1t46) was first
separated from the inhibitor molecule and refined using molecular
minimization with added hydrogen.
Docking calculations were carried out using standard default
variables for the MOE program. The binding affinity was evaluated by
the binding free energies (S-score, kcal/mol), hydrogen bonds, and
RMSD values. All synthesized compounds were docked into same
groove of the binding site of the native co-crystallize STI-ligand.
The compounds which gave the best docking scores based on
the binding free energy and H-bonds with its distance between the
amino acids in the receptor and RMSD from the native ligand were
compounds 17, 18, 12, 8, 10 and 19, respectively. H-bonds between
all synthesized compounds and the amino acids in c-kit were the
same of those between the native co-crystallized ligand STI with
the amino acids of the receptor; this was represented in Fig. 4 7.
The ligand interaction of compound 17 with c-kit receptor
clarified the significance of 4-hydroxypyrimidine-5-carbonitrile
moiety in compounds 17e19 (c.f. Fig. 5).
The ligand interaction of compounds 12 and 8 with c-kit
receptor explained the importance of both methoxy and allyl
functional groups for activity (c.f. Figs. 6 and 7).
3. Conclusion
The reaction of o-phenylene diamine and ethyl oxamate in pyridine
or dimethylformamide led to 3-aminoquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (4)
rather than 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carboxamide (4a) as was previously reported. Alkylation of compounds 6 and 7 using equimolar
amount of allyl bromide or ethyl chloroacetate took place selectively at
NH of quinoxalinone rather than NH of hydrazinyl (eNHN]CH).
Reflux of 3-chloroquinoxaline-2-amine (14) in pyridine led to the
unexpected benzo[10,20 ]imidazo[4,5-b]quinoxaline (15). Reaction of
2,3-dichloroquinoxaline 3 with pyridine afforded also the unexpected
quinoxalino[2,3-d]benzo[b]imidazolium chloride monohydrate (16).
The presence of methoxy group on the phenyl ring of compounds 6, 8
and 10 led to positive effect on the inhibitory effects on EBV-EA activation with respect to their analogues 7, 9 and 11, respectively. The
optimum activity observed in compound 12 with the presence of two
allyl function groups. Compounds 12, 8, 13, 17 and 18, respectively,
Author's personal copy
S.A. Galal et al. / European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 46 (2011) 327e340
333
Scheme 5. The synthesis of compounds 17e19.
demonstrated strong inhibitory effects on the EBV-EA activation
without showing any cytotoxicity, their effects being stronger than
that of a representative control, oleanolic acid. Compound 12 on in vivo
two-stage carcinogenesis test was of significant activity. Thus,
Compound 12 can be considered to become an appropriate lead
compound to develop more potent agents with anti-tumor promoting
activity for clinical use. The Molecular Docking investigation of the
synthesized derivatives was carried out for lead optimization and they
docked into c-kit protein-tyrosine kinase. The correlation between the
binding affinities of the synthesized compounds 1e21 into c-kit kinase
receptor predicted by MOE and the inhibition ratio of the EBV-EA
activation by TPA with respect to positive control was good.
4. Experimental
4.1. Physical measurements
Microanalyses, spectral data and X-ray structures of the
compounds were performed in the Central service and X-ray Laboratories, National research centre, Cairo, Egypt. The IR spectra (4000400 cm 1) were recorded using KBr pellets in a Jasco FT/IR 300E
Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer on a Perkin Elmer FTIR 1650 (spectrophotometer). The 1H and 13C NMR spectra were
recorded using Joel EX-270 MHz and 500 MHz NMR spectrophotometers. Chemical shifts are reported in parts per million (ppm)
from the tetramethylsilane resonance in the indicated solvent.
Coupling constants are reported in Hertz (Hz), spectral splitting
partners are designed as follow: singlet (s); doublet (d); triplet (t);
multiplet (m). Column chromatography was performed on Merck
silica gel 60 (200e400 mesh).The mass spectra were carried out
using Finnigan mat SSQ 7000 (Thermo. Inst. Sys. Inc., USA) spectroscopy at 70 ev. Crystal and molecular structures prepared by
maXus Computer Program for the Solution and Refinement of
Crystal Structures. All diagrams and calculations were performed
using maXus (Bruker Nonius, Delft & MacScience, Japan). Extinction
correction: none. Atomic scattering factors from Waasmaier & Kirfel,
1995. Data collection: KappaCCD. Cell refinement: HKL Scalepack
and Data reduction: Denzo Program(s) used to solve structure: SIR92
and Scalepak Program(s) used to refine structure: maXus, Molecular
graphics: ORTEP, Software used to prepare material for publication:
maXus [36e39]. Crystal data, fractional atomic coordinates and
equivalent isotropic thermal parameters, anisotropic displacement
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Scheme 6. The synthesis of compounds 20 and 21.
parameters and geometric parameters of compounds 2, 3, 12, 15 and
16 are given in supplementary data.
4.1.1. Preparation of 3-chloroquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (2)
A mixture of quinoxalin-2,3(1H,4H)-dione (1) [16] (40 mmol)
and phosphorus oxychloride (60 mmol) in methylene chloride
(50 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 12 h. The excess
solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was
dissolved in ice/water and neutralized with ammonia solution 30%.
The formed precipitate was filtered off and purified on column
chromatography by using petroleum ether (60e80): ethyl acetate
(7:3) as an eluent. Crystal structure of compound 3 obtained.
Table 1
The relative ratioa of EBV-EA activation with respect to positive control (100%) in the
presence of compounds 1e21 and oleanolic acid.
Compound #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Oleanolic acid
a
b
c
% To control
(% viability)
1000 mol
ratio/TPAb,c
500 mol
ratio/TPAb
14.2(60)
16.7(50)
18.9(50)
15.6(60)
14.9(60)
17.2(60)
18.5(60)
11.0(60)
13.0(60)
13.0(60)
13.9(60)
9.2 (60)
12.0(60)
18.1(60)
20.2(60)
12.4(60)
12.1(60)
12.5(60)
13.4(60)
13.7(60)
12.7 (70)
46.8
48.5
51.7
47.2
46.5
47.0
48.1
42.7
43.0
43.0
44.3
41.9
42.1
50.3
51.2
54.3
42.6
55.8
51.6
47.2
3 0.0
100 mol
ratio/TPAb
10 mol
ratio/TPAb
4.1.2. Preparation of 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline (3) [17]
A mixture of quinoxalin-2,3(1H,4H)-dione (1) [16] or compound
2 (40 mmol) and phosphours oxychloride (100 mmol) in dimethyl
foramide (20 mL) was stirred at 50 C for 4 h. The reaction mixture
was added portion wise to ice/water and neutralized with ammonia
solution 30%. The formed precipitate was filtered off and purified
on column chromatography by using petroleum ether (60e80):
ethyl acetate (9:1) as an eluent.
4.1.3. Preparation of 3-aminoquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (4)
4.1.3.1. Method A. A mixture of o-phenylene diamine (40 mmol) and
ethyl oxamate (60 mmol) in pyridine (25 mL) was stirred under reflux
for 8 h. The reaction mixture was poured into water and the precipitate formed was filtered off, washed and crystallized from ethanol as
Table 2
Inhibitory effects of compound 12 on two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis.
Weeks of
treatment
78.5
80.2
81.5
79.1
78.1
82.1
83.2
74.6
75.2
75.2
76.8
73.2
75.0
83.2
84.6
87.0
77.6
88.0
78.6
84.1
80.0
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98.7
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Values represent percentages relative to the positive control value (100%).
TPA concentration was 20 ng/mL (32 pmol/mL).
Values in parentheses are the viability percentages of Raji cells.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Positive control
DMBA (390 nmol) þ TPA
(1.7 nmol)
TPA þ (85 nmol) of
Compound 12
Papillomas
(%)
Papillomas/
mouse
Papillomas
(%)
Papillomas/
mouse
0
0
0
0
0
6.6
20.0
40.0
73.3
86.6
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
0
0
0
0
0
0.4
0.9
1.8
2.4
3.5
3.9
4.3
5.2
6.0
6.6
6.8
7.1
7.5
7.8
8.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
13.3
13.3
20.0
26.6
33.3
46.6
60.0
60.0
66.6
73.3
80.0
86.6
86.6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.2
0.6
1.1
1.4
1.7
1.9
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.2
3.4
3.7
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335
120
Papillomas (%)
100
80
Positive control (TPA
(alone
60
40
12TPA + Compound
20
0
1
3
5
7
9
11 13 15 17 19
Weeks of Treatment
Fig. 2. Inhibition of TPA-induced tumor promotion by multiple application of
compound 12. All mice were initiated with DMBA (390 nmol) and promoted with
1.7 nmol of TPA, given twice weekly starting 1 week after initiation. Statistically
different from the positive control (P < 0.01, using Student’s t-test).
a buff powder. (The preparation of compound 3 was also performed in
dimethylformamide (instead of pyridine) under reflux for 48 h).
4.1.3.2. Method B. A mixture of compound 2 (40 mmol) in
ammonia solution (50 mL) in ethanol (100 mL) was stirred at
0e5 C for 8 h. The mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on a silica gel column
Rf ¼ 0.36 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol, 1: 1: 0.1). Yield:
95%, m.p. > 300 C (lit., m.p. > 350 C [18e20]). 1H NMR (500 MHz,
DMSO-d6): 7.25(m, 4H); 11.21(br., 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable),
13.19(br., 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSOd6): 115.85, 123.95, 125.8, 129.1, 131.6, 142.7, 155.3, 157.5. IR (cm 1):
3492.45(NH quinoxaline), 3288, 3208 (NH2), 3050, 2968
(CH, aromatic), 1682 (C]O), 1613 (C]N), 1529 (C]C). MS: [m/z
(rel. abundance)]: 161(Mþ, 100%). Anal. Calcd for C8H7N3O (FW:
161.16): C, 59.62; H, 4.38; N, 26.07. Found: C, 59.58; H, 4.41; N, 26.19.
4.1.4. Preparation of 3-hydrazinylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one (5)
A mixture of compound 1, 2 or 4 (7 mmol), ethanol (50 mL) and
hydrazine monohydrate 98% (10 mL) was stirred at room temp. for
3 h, 0.5 h, or 5 h, respectively, according to the starting agent. The
reaction mixture was evaporated under reduced pressure. The solid
residue was washed with ethanol and recrystallized from dimethylformamide as a yellowish white powder. Rf ¼ 0.39 (petroleum
ether/ethyl acetate/methanol, 1: 1: 0.25). Yield: 60e80%,
m.p. > 300 C (lit. > 360 C [21]). 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 4.52
(br., 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 7.11(m, 1H), 7.27(m, 1H); 7.34
(m, 1H), 7.6(m, 1H); 8.75(br., NH, D2O exchangeable), 12.17(br., NH,
D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 115.91, 123.89,
125.98, 129.11, 131.66, 142.65, 153.5, 159.23. IR (cm 1): 3404
(NH quinoxaline), 3332e3200 (NHNH2), 3050, 2968 (CH, aromatic),
9
Papillomas/Mouse
8
7
6
5
(Positive control (TPA alone
4
12TPA + Compound
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314151617181920
Weeks of Treatment
Fig. 3. Inhibition of TPA-induced tumor promotion by multiple application of
compound 12. All mice were initiated with DMBA (390 nmol) and promoted with
1.7 nmol of TPA, given twice weekly starting 1 week after initiation. Statistically
different from the positive control (P < 0.01, using Student’s t-test).
Fig. 4. The ligand interaction and the binding mode of the native ligand STI with C-kit,
it exhibited 3 H-bonds with CYS 673, THR 670 and ILE 789.
1680 (C]O), 1615 (C]N), 1580, 1500 (C]C). MS: [m/z (rel.abundance)]: 176(Mþ, 55%). Anal. Calcd for C8H8N4O (FW: 176.07): C,
54.54; H, 4.58; N, 31.80. Found: C, 54.51; H, 4.65; N, 31.71.
4.1.5. Preparation of compounds 6e8
A mixture of compound 5 (50 mmol) in absolute ethanol
(150 mL) and 2-methoxybenzaldehyde or benzaldehyde (50 mmol)
was refluxed for 7 h. After reaction completed, the solvent was
evaporated and the solid residue washed with water. The solid was
filtered off and recrystallized from ethanol.
4.1.5.1. 3-(2-(2-Methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)one (6). Rf ¼ 0.65 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 71.3%,
m.p. 157e159 C. 1H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6): 3.68(s, 3H, OCH3),
7.15(m, 5H); 7.45(m, 2H); 8.0 (m, 1H); 8.8(s, 1H); 11.24(br., NH, D2O
exchangeable), 12.4(br., NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (270 MHz,
DMSO-d6): 56.1, 112.2, 115.0, 117.1, 120.7, 123.0, 124.65, 125.49,
128.76, 131.13, 132.96, 142.46, 146.29, 148.5, 150.89, 157.6. IR (cm 1):
3401(NH quinoxaline), 3315 (NH), 3050, 3010 (CH, aromatic), 2846
(CH, aliphatic), 1678 (C]O), 1618 (C]N), 1579(C]C). MS: [m/z
(rel. abundance)]: 294(Mþ, 5%), 176(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for
C16H14N4O2 (FW: 294.11): C, 65.30; H, 4.79; N, 19.04. Found: C,
65.38; H, 4.75; N, 19.15.
4.1.5.2. 3-(2-Benzylidenehydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one
(7). Rf ¼ 0.165 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 79.5%,
m.p. 240e242 C. 1H NMR (270 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.05(m, 2H); 7.50
(m, 5H); 7.98 (m, 2H); 8.65(s, 1H); 11.23(s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable), 12.4(s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSOd6): 112.1, 116.2, 121.6, 123.6, 124.9, 125.49, 128.56, 131.2, 133.5,
142.54, 146.43, 150.9, 155.3, 157.5. IR (cm 1): 3376 (NH quinoxaline),
3334 (NH), 3050 (CH, aromatic),1689 (C]O),1613 (C]N),1565(C]N
and C]C). MS: [m/z (rel. abundance)]: 264(Mþ, 38%), 176(m*, 100).
Anal. Calcd for C15H12N4O (FW: 264.10): C, 68.17; H, 4.58; N, 21.20.
Found: C, 68.19; H, 4.61; N, 21.16.
4.1.6. Preparation of compounds 8e11
General procedure: A mixture of compound 5 or 6 (4 mmol),
K2CO3 (4.2 mmol) and allyl bromide or ethyl bromoacetate
(4.2 mmol) in 10 ml of DMF was stirred for 10e12 h. The inorganic
salt was filtered off and the solution is evaporated under the
reduced pressure. The precipitate was washed with water and
crystallized from acetone.
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Fig. 5. Ligand interaction and the binding mode of compound 17 with c-kit receptor, it exhibited 3 H-bonds with the amino acids in C-kit two of them with CYS 673 and one with
ASP 677, the hydrogen bonds formed colored in green. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article).
4.1.6.1. 1-Allyl-3-(2-(2-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2
(1H)-one (8). Rf ¼ 0.24 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3),
yield: 48.5%, m.p. 174e176 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 3.7
(s, 3H, OCH3), 4.9(d, 2H, J ¼ 16 Hz, CH2), 5.16(d, 2H, J ¼ 10 Hz,
CH2]), 5.94(m, 1H, CH]), 7.25(m, 5H); 7.55(m, 2H); 7.9 (m, 1H);
8.6(s, 1H); 11.06(s,1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz,
DMSO-d6): 52.5, 56.21, 111.8, 115.6, 116.7, 120.3, 122.5, 123.4, 125.2,
125.8, 126.1, 128.33, 131.21, 132.76, 142.55, 146.9, 149.8, 152.89,
153.2. IR (cm 1): 3260 (NH, hydrazide), 3029 (CH, aromatic), 2931
(CH]CH2), 1650 (C]O), 1611 (C]N), 1568(C]C). MS: [m/z(rel.
abundance)]: 334(Mþ, 8%), 176(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for C19H18N4O2
(FW: 334.14): C, 68.25; H, 5.43; N, 16.76. Found: C, 68.31; H, 5.49;
N, 16.69.
4.1.6.2. 1-Allyl-3-(2-benzylidenehydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one
(9). Rf ¼ 0.65 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 76.5%,
m.p. 160e162 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 5.09(d, 2H,
J ¼ 16 Hz, CH2), 5.17(d, 2H, J ¼ 10 Hz, CH2]), 5.95(m, 1H, CH]), 7.25
(m, 2H); 7.42(m, 4H);7.69(m, 1H); 7.7 (m, 2H); 8.5(s, 1H); 11.26(s,1H,
NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 52.5, 112.5,
Fig. 6. Ligand interaction and the binding mode of compound 8 with c-kit receptor, it exhibited 1 H-bond with THR 670, the hydrogen bonds formed colored in green. (For
interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article).
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337
Fig. 7. Ligand interaction and the binding mode of compound 12 with c-kit receptor, it exhibited 1 H-bond with them with CYS 673.
115.1, 117.2, 120.9, 121.5, 123.8, 124.2, 126.7, 127.83, 130.61, 132.7,
135.43, 143.43, 145.8, 148.6, 152.22, 153.8. IR (cm 1): 3259 (NH),
3029 (CH, aromatic), 1643 (C]O), 1604 (C]N), 1568(C]C). 1568
(C]C). MS: [m/z (rel. abundance)]: 304(Mþ, 40%), 176(m*, 100).
Anal. Calcd for C18H16N4O (FW: 304.13): C, 71.04; H, 5.30; N, 18.41.
Found: C, 71.10; H, 5.28; N, 18.52.
4.1.6.3. Ethyl 2-(3-(2-(2-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)-2-oxoquinoxalin-1(2H)-yl)acetate (10). Rf ¼ 0.65 (petroleum ether/ethyl
acetate,1: 3), yield: 76.5%, m.p.196e198 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSOd6): 1.18(t, 3H, CH3), 3.76(s, 3H, OCH3), 4.16(q, 2H, CH2), 5.1(s, 2H, CH2),
6.67(m, 3H), 7.25(m, 2H), 7.32(m,1H), 7.53(m, 2H); 8.41(s,1H); 10.98(s,
1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 14.58,
48.95, 52.5, 55.9, 111.8, 115.6, 116.7, 120.3, 120.5, 123.4, 123.9, 126.1,
128.33, 131.21, 132.76, 142.55, 146.9, 152.89, 153.2, 169.2. IR (cm 1):
3271(NH, hydrazide), 3070 (CH, aromatic), 2837(CH, aliphatic), 1750
(C]O), 1653 (C]O), 1604 (C]N), 1569(C]C). MS: [m/z(rel. abundance)]: 380(Mþ, 6%), 176(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for C20H20N4O4 (FW:
380.15): C, 63.15; H, 5.30; N, 14.73. Found: C, 63.22; H, 5.41; N, 14.79.
4.1.6.4. Ethyl 2-(3-(2-benzylidenehydrazinyl)-2-oxoquinoxalin-1(2H)yl)acetate (11). Rf ¼ 0.54 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield:
88%, m.p. 210e212 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 1.19(t, 3H,
CH3), 4.15(q, 2H, CH2), 5.12(s, 2H, CH2), 7.26(m, 1H); 7.42(m, 6H); 7.69
(m, 2H); 8.57(s, 1H); 11.31(s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR
(500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 14.4, 50.5, 59.8, 111.8, 115.6, 116.7, 120.3, 120.5,
123.4, 123.9, 126.1, 128.33, 131.21, 132.76, 142.55, 146.9, 152.77, 153.9,
168.35. IR (cm 1): 3281(NH, hydrazide), 3061 (CH, aromatic), 2826
(CH, aliphatic), 1749 (C]O), 1643(C]O), 1602 (C]N), 1571(C]C).
MS: [m/z(rel. abundance)]: 350(Mþ, 14%), 176(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd
for C19H18N4O3 (FW: 350.14): C, 65.13; H, 5.18; N, 15.99. Found: C,
65.22; H, 5.21; N, 15.85.
4.1.7. Preparation of compounds 12 and 13
General procedure: A mixture of compound 5 (4 mmol), K2CO3
(8.5 mmol) and allyl bromide or ethyl bromoacetate (8.5 mmol) in
20 mL of DMF was stirred for 10 h. After reaction completed, the
inorganic salt was filtered off and the solution is evaporated under
the reduced pressure. The precipitate was washed with water and
crystallized from acetone.
4.1.7.1. 1-Allyl-3-(1-allyl-2-(2-methoxybenzylidene)-hydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (12). Rf ¼ 0.51 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate,
1: 3), yield 52%, m.p. 230e232 C.
4.1.7.2. Ethyl 2-(3-(1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-2-(2-methoxybenzylidene)
hydrazinyl)-2-oxoquinoxalin-1(2H)-yl) acetate (13). Rf ¼ 0.52 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield 54%, m.p 218e221 C. 1H
NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 1.17(t, 3H, CH3), 1.20(t, 3H, CH3), 3.72
(s, 3H, OCH3), 3.86(s, 3H, OCH3), 4.16(q, 2H, CH2), 4.28(q, 2H,
CH2), 4.9(s, 2H, CH2), 5.1(s, 2H, CH2), 6.66(m, 3H), 7.23(m, 2H);
7.51(m, 3H); 8.49(s, 1H). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6):15.2, 50.2
50.7, 59.9, 111.8, 114.6, 116.7, 120.3, 121.5, 123.4, 124.0, 126.1,
128.33, 131.21, 132.76, 142.55, 146.9, 151.89, 153.2, 167.9, 169.2. IR
(cm 1): 3047(CH, aromatic), 2826(CH, aliphatic), 1750 (C]O),
1648 (C]O), 1604 (C]N), 1565(C]C). MS: [m/z(rel. abundance)]:
466(Mþ, 5%), 176(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for C24H26N4O6
(FW: 466.19): C, 61.79; H, 5.62; N, 12.01. Found: C, 61.83; H, 5.57;
N, 12.13.
4.1.8. Preparation of 3-chloroquinoxalin-2-amine (14) [26]
A solution of compound 4 (40 mmol) and phosphours oxychloride
(60 mmol) in methylene chloride (50 mL) was stirred at room
temperature for 12 h. The excess solvent was evaporated under
reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ice/water and
neutralized with ammonia solution 30%. The formed precipitate was
filtered off and purified on a silica gel column (eluent: methanoledichloromethane: 5/95) to give compound 13. m.p.138e140 C
(lit. 139 C).
4.1.9. Preparation of compounds 15 and 16
A solution of compound 14 or 3 (10 mmol) in pyridine (10 mL)
was refluxed for 6 h. After cooling, it was poured on ice/water
(200 mL) and acidified with diluted HCl (pH ¼ 6) the product
extracted by ethyl acetate (100 3). Solution of ethyl acetate dried
over sodium acetate anhydrous (50 g) for 2 h, and then the solid is
filtered off. A solution of ethyl acetate is evaporated under reduced
pressure and crystals are collected.
4.1.9.1. Benzo[10,20 ]imidazo[4,5-b]quinoxaline (15). Rf ¼ 0.45 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 88%, m.p. 256e258 C.
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4.1.9.2. Quinoxalino[2,3-d]benzo[b]imidazolium chloride monohydrate (16). Rf ¼ 0.18 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield:
72%, m.p. > 300 C.
4.1.10. Preparation of compounds 17e21
A mixture of 4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5carbonitrile derivatives [27], 1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol [28] or 2thiomethyl-1H-benzimidazole [29] (4 mmol), K2CO3 (4.2 mmol)
and compound 3 (4.2 mmol) in 10 mL of DMF was stirred for
10e12 h. The inorganic salt was filtered off and the solution is
evaporated under the reduced pressure. The solid residue was
washed with water and crystallized from acetone.
4.1.10.1. 2-(3-Chloroquinoxalin-2-ylthio)-6-oxo-4-phenyl-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile (17). Rf ¼ 0.42 (petroleum ether/ethyl
acetate, 1: 3), yield: 63.4%, m.p. 269e271 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz,
DMSO-d6): 7.49(m, 3H), 7.51(m, 2H), 7.82 (m, 2H), 8.12(m, 2H), 11.86
(s, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 95.3,
115.7, 127.9, 128.5, 129.2, 131.5, 134.7, 135.5, 136.9, 141.3, 143.5, 145.8,
153.1, 161.4, 164.2, 170.2 IR (cm 1): 3344 (NH), 3053(CH aromatic),
2222 (CN), 1603 (C]N), 1576 (C]N, C]C pyrimidine). MS: [m/z(rel.
1, 24%), 196(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for
abundance)]: 390 (Mþ
C19H10ClN5OS (FW: 391.03): C, 58.24; H, 2.57; Cl, 9.05; N, 17.87; S,
8.18. Found: C, 58.31; H, 2.61; Cl, 9.16; N, 17.82; S, 8.21.
4.1.10.2. 2-(3-Chloroquinoxalin-2-ylthio)-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile (18). Rf ¼ 0.51 (petroleum
ether/ethyl acetate, 1:3), yield: 52%, m.p. > 300 C. 1H NMR
(500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 6.88(m, 2H), 7.32(m, 2H), 7.68 (m, 2H), 7.97
(m, 2H), 10.54(s, 1H, OH, D2O exchangeable), 11.33 (br., 1H, NH, D2O
exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 92.3, 115.4, 127.1,
128.3, 129.1, 129.6, 130.4, 140.2, 142.5, 146.7, 145.8, 153.1, 158.4, 163.9,
165.3, 170.3. IR (cm 1): 3452 (OH), 32836 (NH), 3037(CH aromatic),
2210 (CN), 1661.7 (C]O), 1610 (C]N),1579 (C]N, C]C pyrimidine).
MS: [m/z(rel. abundance)]: 407(Mþ, 8%), 245(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd
for C19H10ClN5O2S (FW: 407.02): C, 55.96; H, 2.47; Cl, 8.69; N,17.17; S,
7.86. Found: C, 55.82; H, 2.39; Cl, 8.72; N, 17.21; S, 7.87.
4.1.10.3. 2-(3-Chloroquinoxalin-2-ylthio)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-oxo1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile (19). Rf ¼ 0.48 (petroleum
ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 49.3%, m.p. 277e279 C. 1H NMR
(500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 6.99(m, 2H,); 7.46 (m, 2H); 7.78 (m, 2H); 8.09
(m, 2H); 11.33 (br., 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz,
DMSO-d6): 93.3, 114.2, 115.9, 127.1, 128.4, 129.0, 129.7, 130.6, 132.4,
140.2, 143.5, 146.7, 145.8, 151.6, 158.4, 161.8, 163.3, 165.7, 170.2. IR
(cm 1): 32836 (NH pyrimidine); 2208. (CN); 1661 (C]O); 1610.
(C]N); 1549 (C]N, C]C). MS: [m/z(rel. abundance)]: 409(Mþ,
11.6%), 247(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for C19H9ClFN5OS (FW: 409.02): C,
55.68; H, 2.21; Cl, 8.65; F, 4.64; N, 17.09; S, 7.82. Found: C, 55.75; H,
2.31; Cl, 8.55; N, 17.17; S, 7.89.
4.1.10.4. 2-(1H-Benzo[d]imidazol-2-ylthio)-3-chloroquinoxaline
(20). Rf ¼ 0.28 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 52%,
m.p. > 300 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 7.19(m, 2H), 7.55(m,
2H); 7.61(m, 2H); 7.81(m, 2H); 12.91(br., NH, D2O exchangeable).
13
C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 115.3, 123.7, 128.5, 129.7, 130.1,
130.8, 133.0, 138.2, 140.4, 142.1, 143.4, 147.7, 152.1. IR (cm 1): 3421
(NH); 3041(CH, aromatic), 1622 (C]N), 1565(C]C). MS: [m/z(rel.
abundance)]: 312 (Mþ, 22%), 150(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for
C15H9ClN4S (FW: 312.02): C, 57.60; H, 2.90; Cl, 11.33; N, 17.91; S,
10.25. Found: C, 57.53; H, 2.85; Cl, 11.28; N, 17.86; S, 10.29.
4.1.10.5. 2-((1H-Benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methylthio)-3-chloroquinoxaline (21). Rf ¼ 0.61 (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate, 1: 3), yield: 57%,
m.p. > 300 C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 4.72 (s, 2H, CH2), 7.23
(m, 2H), 7.60(m, 2H); 7.65(m, 2H); 7.83(m, 2H); 12.33(br., NH,
D2O exchangeable). 13C NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6): 35.9, 115.3,
123.7, 128.2, 129.6, 131.3, 138.2, 141.4, 142.1, 143.4, 148.7, 152.1. IR
(cm 1): 3426 (NH); 3043(CH, aromatic), 2839 (CH, aliphatic), 1625
(C]N), 1571(C]C). MS: [m/z(rel. abundance)]: 326 (Mþ, 19%), 132
(m*, 100). Anal. Calcd for C16H11ClN4S (FW: 326.04): C, 58.80; H,
3.39; Cl, 10.85; N, 17.14; S, 9.81. Found: C, 58.89; H, 3.42; Cl, 10.87; N,
17.15; S, 9.90
4.2. Chemopreventive activity
4.2.1. Cells
EBV genome-carrying lymphoblastoid cells (Raji cells derived
Burkitt’s lymphoma) were cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)
in RPMI-1640 under the conditions described previously [30].
Spontaneous activation of EBV-EA in our subline of Raji cells was
less than 0.1%.
4.2.2. Animals
Specific pathogen-free (SPF) female ICR and female SENCAR
mice (6 weeks old, respectively) were obtained from Japan SLC, Inc.
(Hamamatsu, Japan) and maintained under SPF conditions in
Animal Center of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. The
mice were housed five per polycarbonate cage in a temperature
controlled room at 24 2 C and given food, Oriental MF (Oriental
Yeast Co., Tokyo, Japan), and water or aqueous sample solution
adlibitum during the experiments. All animal experiments were
conducted according to the Guidelines for Animal Experimentation
at Kanazawa University of Medicine.
4.2.3. Inhibition of EBV-EA activation assay
Inhibition of EBV-EA activation was assayed using Raji cells (Virus
nonproducer type), an EBV genome-carrying human lymphoblastoid
cell, which were cultivated in 10% fetal bovine serum. (FBS) RPMI1640 medium. The indicator cells (Raji, 1 m 106/mL) were incubated at
37 C for 48 h in 1 mL of medium containing n-butyric acid (4 mM as
trigger), TPA (32 pM ¼ 20 ng in 2 mL of DMSO as inducer), and various
amounts of the test compounds dissolved in 5 mL of DMSO (ca. 0.7%
DMSO). Smears were made from the cell suspension. The EBV-EA
inducing cells were stained with high titer EBV-EA positive serum
from NPC patients and detected by an indirect immunofluorescence
technique. In each assay, at least 500 cells were counted, and the
number of stained cells (positive cells) was recorded. Triplicate
assays were performed for each data point. as a relative ratio to the
positive control experiment (100%), which was carried out with nbutyric acid (4 mM) plus TPA (32 pM). In the experiments, the EBVEA induction was normally around 35%, and this value was taken as
the positive control (100%). n-Butyric acid (4 mM) alone induced 0.1%
EA-positive cells. The viability of treated Raji cells was assayed by the
trypan blue staining method. The cell viability of the TPA positive
control was greater than 80%. Therefore, only the compounds that
induced less than 80% (% of control) of the EBV-activated cells (those
with a cell viability of more than 60%) were considered able to inhibit
the activation caused by promoter substances. Student’s t-test was
used for all statistical analyses [30,31].
4.2.4. Two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model induced by
DMBA/TPA
Animals (6 weeks old SPF female ICR mice for 1, 6 weeks old SPF
female SENCAR mice for 6 and 7) were divided into five experimental
groups of 15 mice each. The back of each mouse was shaved with
surgical clippers, and the mice were treated topically with DMBA
(100 mg, 390 nmol) in acetone (0.1 mL) as an initiation treatment. For
group Ia (positive control group of the ICR mice) and group Ib (positive
control group of the SENCAR mice), one week after the initiation,
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S.A. Galal et al. / European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 46 (2011) 327e340
339
papilloma formation was promoted twice a week by the application of
TPA (1 mg,1.7 nmol) in acetone (0.1 mL) on the skin. For groups II, III, IV
and V, test sample compound 12 (85 nmol each)] in acetone (0.1 mL)
were topically applied for 1 h before the each promotion treatment.
The incidence of papilloma-bearers and numbers of papillomas per
mouse were observed weekly for 20 weeks: the percentage of mice
bearing papillomas and the average number of papillomas per mouse
were recorded. A pathologist checked the type of tumor in these
experiments by histological examination. Statistical significance was
determined using Student’s t-test [33,34].
protein-tyrosine kinase in complex with STI-571 (Imatinib or Gleevec)
were obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) http://www.rcsb.org/
pdb/Welcome.do (PDB code: 1t46). Hydrogen atoms and partial
charges were added to the protein with the protonation 3D application in MOE. This application is performed to assign ionization states
and position hydrogen atoms in the macromolecular structure. As
most of protein structures obtained from the Protein Data Bank
contain little or no hydrogen coordinate data due to limited resolution.
Yet, the hydrogen bond network and ionization states can have
a dramatic effect on simulations results.
4.2.5. Two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis test induced by
peroxynitrite and TPA
Animals (6 weeks old SPF female SENCAR mice) were divided into
five experimental groups of 15 mice each. The back of each mouse was
shaved with surgical clippers, and the mice were treated topically
with acetone (0.1 mL) and after 10 s, peroxynitrite (33.1 mg, 390 nmol
in 0.1 mL of 1 mM NaOH) as an initiation treatment. For group I
(positive control group), one week after the initiation, papilloma
formation was promoted by the twice weekly application of TPA (1 mg,
1.7 nmol) in acetone (0.1 mL) on the skin (no papilloma formation was
seen with topical application of the acetone solvent alone). For groups
II, III, IV and V, test sample of compound 12 (0.0025% in drinking
water) were orally administered (average 7.5 mL per mouse per day)
for two weeks before the promotion treatment (from one week
before initiation to one week after initiation). Subsequently, each
group was promoted by the twice a week application with TPA (1 mg,
1.7 nmol) in acetone (0.1 mL). The incidence of papilloma-bearers and
numbers of papillomas per mouse were detected weekly for 20
weeks: the percentage of mice bearing papillomas and the average
number of papillomas per mouse were recorded. Student’s t-test was
used for statistical analyses of the numbers of papillomas per mouse.
The animal weights were not statistically different between any of the
groups in all in vivo assays [35].
4.3.2. Molecular modeling and analysis of the docked results
The binding free energy was used to rank the binding affinity of
the synthesized compounds to PTK protein. Also, Hydrogen bonds
between the ligand and amino acids in PTK were used in the
ranking of the compounds. Evaluation of the hydrogen bonds was
done by measuring the hydrogen bond length which doesn’t
exceed 3 A. RMSD of the docking pose compared to the co-crystal
ligand position was used in the ranking. The mode of interaction of
the native ligand (STI-571) within the crystal structure of c-kit
receptor protein-tyrosine kinase was used as a standard docked
model as well as for RMSD calculation.
4.3. Molecular docking study
The docking studies were carried out using Molecular Operating
Environment (MOE) 2008.10 (Moe source: Chemical Computing
Group Inc., Quebec, Canada, 2008). First, a Gaussian Contact surface
around the binding site was drawn. The surface surrounds the van
der Waals surface of a molecule (filling in solvent inaccessible gaps).
Then docking studies were carried out to evaluate the binding free
energy of the inhibitors within the macromolecules. The Dock
scoring in MOE software was done using London dG scoring function
and has been enhanced by using two different refinement methods,
the Force-field and Grid-Min pose have been updated to ensure that
refined poses satisfy the specified conformations. We allowed
rotatable bonds; the best 10 poses were retained and analyzed for
the binding poses best score. The database browser was used in MOE
to compare the docking poses to the ligand in the co-crystallized
structure and to get RMSD of the docking pose compared to the cocrystal ligand position. The affinity of the compounds is represented
with the hydrogen bonds with the target receptor and root mean
square deviation from the co-crystallized ligand are given in
supplementary data.
4.3.1. Preparation of ligands and target protein-tyrosine kinase
The compounds involved in this study as ligands are 21
compounds which were studied for their binding affinity into PTK. The
Molecule Builder tool in MOE was used to construct a three-dimensional model of the structures. Energy minimization was done
through Force-field MMFF94x Optimization using gradient of 0.0001
for determining low energy conformations with the most favorable
(lowest energy) geometry. The crystal structures of c-kit receptor
Appendix. Supporting information
Supporting information associated with this article can be
found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2010.11.022.
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