5-Alkyl-2-(alkylthio)-6-(2,6-dihalophenylmethyl)-3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-4(3H)-ones: novel potent and selective dihydro-alkoxy-benzyl-oxopyrimidine derivatives

J Med Chem. 1999 Feb 25;42(4):619-27. doi: 10.1021/jm980260f.

Abstract

Molecular modeling analysis of compounds belonging to the recently published series of dihydro-alkoxy-benzyl-oxopyrimidines (DABOs), such as S-DABOs and DATNOs, gave support to the design of new 2, 6-disubstituted benzyl-DABO derivatives as highly potent and specific inhibitors of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). To follow up on the novel DABO derivatives, we decided to investigate the effect of electron-withdrawing substituents in the benzyl unit of the S-DABO skeleton versus their anti-HIV-1 activity. Such chemical modifications impacted the inhibitory activity, especially when two halogen units were introduced at positions 2 and 6 in the phenyl portion of the benzyl group bound to C-6 of the pyrimidine ring. Various 5-alkyl-2-(alkyl(or cycloalkyl)thio)-6-(2, 6-dichloro(or 2,6-difluoro)phenylmethyl)-3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-4(3H)-ones were then synthesized and tested as anti-HIV-1 agents in both cell-based and enzyme (recombinant reverse transcriptase, rRT) assays. Among the various mono- and disubstituted phenyl derivatives, the most potent were those containing a 6-(2,6-difluorophenylmethyl) substituent (F-DABOs), which showed EC50's ranging between 40 and 90 nM and selectivity indexes up to >/=5000. An excellent correlation was found between EC50 and IC50 values which confirmed that these compounds act as inhibitors of the HIV-1 RT. The structure-activity relationships of the newly synthesized pyrimidinones are presented herein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Pyrimidines / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase