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G Marucci

Publications and source records attributed to G Marucci.

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Synthesis and alpha-adrenoceptor blocking activity of the enantiomers of benzyl-(2-chloroethyl)-[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-methylethyl]amine hydrochloride.

The enantiomers of benzyl-(2-chloroethyl)-[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy) -1-methylethyl]amine hydrochloride (1, CM18) were synthesized and studied pharmacologically for their irreversible antagonism at rat vas deferens alpha-adrenoceptors. In addition, assignment of the absolute configuration of the two enantiomers of 1 was made by X-ray crystallographic analysis performed on the intermediate amine (+)-2 hydrochloride. The enantiomer (R)-(+)-1 [(R)-(+)-CM18] (a) had a 10-fold preferential blocking activity for alpha 1-versus alpha 2-adrenoceptors, (b) discriminated, like racemic 1, between two possible alpha 1-adrenoceptor subsites/subtypes, with a selectivity ratio of 6.5 and (c) was 10-23 times as potent as the (S)-(-)-enantiomer at alpha 2- and alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Thus, it may be a valuable tool for the characterization of rat vas deferens alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Synthesis, NMR spectroscopy study, and antimuscarinic activity of a series of 2-(acyloxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolanes.

A series of 1,3-dioxolane-based ligands, bearing hydroxymethyl or ester functionalities, was synthesized and tested as potential muscarinic antagonists. The compounds display moderate to low affinity for the three receptor subtypes M1-M3, with some of them showing a significant selectivity for the M3 subtype. The configurational and conformational properties were studied using NOE experiments and vicinal coupling constants. The 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts show stereochemically dependent trends. Quantitative analysis of conformer populations showed that the exocyclic CH2N CH3)3 group is prevalently in a pseudo-axial orientation in the cis isomers and in a pseudo-equatorial orientation in the trans isomers.

Animals↗

Structure-activity relationships in 1,4-benzodioxan-related compounds. 5. Effects of modification of the side chain on alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking activity.

The observation that the insertion of a phenyl ring at position 3 of WB 4101 (1) afforded a potent and selective alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, phendioxan (2), prompted us to investigate the effect on alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking activity of replacing a hydrogen atom at the 2-position or on the 2-ylmethyl moiety of 1 and 2 by a methyl, ethyl or phenyl group. Thus compounds 3-11 were synthesized and their blocking activity and relative selectivity on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptors were evaluated in the isolated rat vas deferens in comparison to 1 and 2. The results of such investigation showed that this structural modification caused a decrease in affinity for alpha-adrenoreceptors.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists↗

Pharmacological evaluation of prazosin- and doxazosin-related compounds with modified piperazine ring.

New doxazosin-related compound (1-3) with a N,N'-dimethyl alkanediamine chain replacing the piperazine ring, have been synthesized and their pharmacological properties have been tested together with some prazosin analogues (4-8) bearing either a similar structural modification or a substituted piperazine moiety. In the in vitro study, on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors of rat vas deferens tissues, 1-3 displayed high alpha 1-antagonist activity, 2 and 3 being equipotent to doxazosin but markedly less selective in respect to alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Replacement of the piperazine ring with an alkanediamine chain resulted in a strong fall in alpha 1-selectivity, owing to increased alpha 2-antagonist activity, as in the prazosin-related series. In in vivo studies, the antihypertensive activity of tested compounds was investigated on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) following both intragastric (IG) and intraperitoneal (OP) administration. Among the tested compounds, 7 and 8, which conserved a substituted piperazine ring, proved the most interesting drugs displaying a marked hypotensive effect. The other prazosin- and doxazosin-related compounds, in which an alkanediamine chain replaced the piperazine nucleus, showed an antihypertensive activity markedly lower than that of parent compounds, prazosin (CAS 19216-56-9) and doxazosin (CAS 74191-85-8), although a high alpha 1-antagonist activity in in vitro tests was conserved. These results suggest that the piperazine ring of the prazosin- and doxazosin-related compounds, although not crucial for alpha 1-antagonist activity, may play an important role in the antihypertensive effect, probably by influencing the pharmacokinetic properties of the antagonist.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Synthesis and alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking properties of phenoxybenzamine-related (2-chloroethyl)-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]dioxin- 2-ylmethyl)-(2-phenoxyethyl) amines.

A series of beta-chloroethylamines, structural hybrids of WB 4101, a competitive alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, and phenoxybenzamine, an irreversible alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonist, has been synthesized and tested in isolated rat vas deferens alpha-adrenoreceptors. Although, for all compounds, apparent blocking potency and alpha 1-selectivity are quite similar to those of phenoxybenzamine, affinity values calculated by taking into account the actual concentration of aziridinium ion in solution, reveal that compounds bearing a 1,4-benzodioxan-2-ylmethyl moiety, display a significantly higher potency for both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptors than compounds having a benzyl group. In addition, two of the compounds, having both methyl and methoxy groups in their structure, show a marked discontinuity in the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor concentration-inhibition curve, with a plateau in the range 30-100 nM. Stereochemical aspects are also shown to play an important role in the binding. The biological results suggest that the two irreversible antagonists may be able to discriminate between two alpha 1-adrenoreceptor subtypes, which are both involved in the noradrenaline-induced contraction of the epididymal portion of rat vas deferens.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Separation of alpha-adrenergic and imidazoline/guanidinium receptive sites (IGRS) activity in a series of imidazoline analogues of cirazoline.

To characterize the structure-activity relationship between alpha 1-adrenergic receptors and the family of imidazoline/guanidinium receptive sites (IGRS), we synthesized and characterized a series of analogues of cirazoline, an imidazoline with high affinity for alpha 1-adrenergic receptors and IGRS. Analysis of potency, affinity and efficacy of the synthesized molecules indicate different structure-activity relationships for IGRS and alpha-adrenergic receptors. Cirazoline exhibits a 25-fold higher affinity for IGRS (pKi 7.9) than for alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Replacement of the cyclopropyl ring with an isopropoxy group resulted in a molecule that was 20-fold more selective for alpha 1-adrenergic receptors than for IGRS, i.e. a 500-fold increase in selectivity relative to cirazoline. The unsubstituted derivative 3 and the methyl and allyl substituted analogues 4 and 12 are of particular interest: compounds 3 and 4 recognize IGRS with high affinity (pKi 7.83 and 8.17) and high selectivity (398 and 123) with respect to the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor; compound 12 also recognizes IGRS with high affinity (pKi 8.08) and high selectivity (228 and 138) with respect to the alpha 2B and alpha 2C-adrenergic receptor subtypes. Thanks to their IGRS selectivity, these compounds represent novel and valuable pharmacological tools for the characterization and elucidation of the physiological role of these novel sites.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Dialkylaminoalkyl esters of 2,2-diphenyl-2-alkylthioacetic acids: a new class of potent and functionally selective muscarinic antagonists.

The synthesis and pharmacological activity as muscarinic antagonists of a number of 2-alkylthio-2,2-diphenylacetic acid esters are reported. The compounds studied are potent muscarinic antagonists and many of them show from moderate to high selectivity toward M2 or toward M1 and M2 receptors when tested on tissues but lack selectivity on five muscarinic human receptors (m1-m5) cloned and expressed in CHO-K1 cells. As a consequence, the compounds behave as functionally selective antagonists. Those showing M2 selectivity appear to be good drug candidates for the treatment of cognitive disorders connected with central cholinergic deficit.

Animals↗

1,3-oxathiolane muscarinic ligands modified at the cationic head.

In order to develop compounds which may be useful in the treatment of memory and cognitive disorders we have synthesized and tested some 1,3-oxathiolane derivatives bearing an amidine function instead of the classical ammonium head, with the aim of improving brain penetration. The compounds were tested on peripheral and central models of muscarinic receptors. The results show that, unlike for other series of muscarinic ligands, this modification results in the reduced potency of antagonists, shifts the activity of agonists toward weak antagonism and does not introduce any noteworthy subtype selectivity.

Amidines↗

Structure-activity relationships in 1,4-benzodioxan-related compounds. 4. Effect of aryl and alkyl substituents at position 3 on alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking activity.

The observation that the insertion of a phenyl ring at position 3 of WB 4101 (1) afforded a potent and selective alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, phendioxan (2), prompted us to further investigate that position of the 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin moiety. Thus the 3-phenyl of 2 was replaced by methyl, isopropyl, cyclohexyl, or para-substituted phenyl groups either in a cis or a trans relationships affording compounds 3-17 and 58. The structure of these new derivatives was assigned on the basis of the coupling constant of hydrogens at positions 2 and 3 and confirmed by a crystallographic study. The blocking activity and relative selectivity of 3-17 on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptors were evaluated in the isolated rat vas deferens. The results were compared with those obtained for 1 and 2. All the compounds, with the exception of isopropyl and cyclohexyl derivatives 5-8, were effective alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonists with a significant alpha 1/alpha 2-selectivity. The lipophilic and/or electronic character of para substituents of the 3-phenyl ring does not alter markedly the affinity toward alpha 1-adrenoreceptors. However, the 3-p-tolyl derivative 10 was slightly more potent and even more selective than 2.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of enantiomerically pure 4-deoxy-4-fluoromuscarines.

Four isomers of [(4-fluoro-5-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl]trimethylammonium iodide (4-deoxy-4-fluoro-muscarines) were prepared in enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure form from (S)-(-)-methyl 4-methylphenyl sulfoxide, ethyl fluoroacetate, and allyl bromide. Their absolute configurations were assigned by 1H NMR analyses. The four optically pure compounds were tested in vitro on guinea pig and their muscarinic potency was evaluated at M3 (ileum and bladder) and M2 (heart) muscarinic receptor subtypes. Compound 1a, the most potent isomer of the series, was also tested in vivo on pithed rat and its muscarinic activity at the M1 receptor subtype was compared with that of muscarine. Moreover, affinity and relative efficacy were calculated in vitro for this compound at M2 (heart force and rate) and M3 (ileum and bladder) receptors in order to investigate muscarinic receptor heterogeneity. The 4-deoxy-4-fluoromuscarines display a similar trend of potency as the corresponding muscarines and compound 1a shows differences in the affinity constants among the studied tissues. Replacement of a hydroxyl group for a fluorine atom in the 4 position of muscarine produces 1 order of magnitude increase in affinity for cardiac M2 muscarinic receptors controlling rate, while the affinity at cardiac M2 muscarinic receptors controlling force is unchanged, opening the possibility of a further classification of cardiac muscarinic receptors.

Animals↗

Stereoselectivity at alpha-adrenoreceptor subtypes: observations with the enantiomers of WB 4101 separated through their amides of N-tosyl-(S)-proline.

We present a chromatographic method for the separation and determination of the optical purity of the enantiomers of WB 4101 [(+/-)-1], one of the most potent and selective alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonists. (+/-)-1 was converted into the amide of N-tosyl-(S)-proline. The two diastereoisomers were separated on silica gel and analysed by HPLC reversed phase. The analytical method described is both accurate and sensitive and allows the optical purity to be determined at very low concentrations and to obtain WB 4101 enantiomers with a purity of more than 99.95%.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Pharmacological characterization of muscarinic receptor subtypes in rabbit isolated tissue preparations.

1 The affinity of some muscarinic antagonists for muscarinic receptors was determined in functional isolated tissue studies in order to compare the muscarinic receptor subtypes in the rabbit. 2 Our attention was specially focused on the question of whether the muscarinic receptors mediating vasodilatation in the aorta resemble or not the ones present on the jejunum of the gastrointestinal tract. 3 Isolated aorta, jejunum, stimulated left atrium and vas deferens preparations of rabbit were investigated with the following muscarinic antagonists: atropine, pirenzepine, methoctramine (N,N'-bis[6-92-methoxybenzyl)amino hexyl]-1,8-octane-diamine tetrahydrochloride) and 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide). 4 The results demonstrate that the receptors on aorta are unlike those on the other rabbit tissues: pirenzepine pA2 was 6.4 on aorta but 8.1 on vas deferens; methoctramine pA2 was 5.9 on aorta but 7.1 on heart; 4-DAMP pA2 was 8.7 on aorta and 8.0 on jejunum. This raises the question: what subtype might be involved?

Animals↗

Structure-activity relationships among methoctramine-related polymethylene tetraamines. 3. Effect of the four nitrogens on M2 muscarinic blocking activity as revealed by symmetrical and unsymmetrical polyamines.

Several polymethylene tetraamines related to methoctramine (1) were synthesized and evaluated for their blocking activity on M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors of guinea pig left atria and ileum, respectively. In addition, the role of the number of basic nitrogens on activity was also examined. To this end, a series of polyamines (2-7), incorporating one, two or three fewer nitrogens than methoctramine, were synthesized. Furthermore, diamine diethers (8 and 9) and diamine diamides (10 and 11) were investigated to evaluate the role on affinity of the inner and the outer nitrogens of methoctramine. It was found that the presence of four nitrogens is necessary for optimum activity. The effect of benzylation of inner and outer nitrogens of methoctramine allowed the conclusion that optimum activity is associated with four secondary amine functions. The possible significance of the interaction of the four basic nitrogens of tetraamines with four anionic sites of M2 muscarinic receptors is discussed.

Animals↗

Determination of muscarinic agonist potencies at M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors in a modified pithed rat preparation.

The agonistic potencies of (+/-)muscarine, (+/-)cis-2-methyl-5- [(dimethylamino)methyl]-1,3-oxathiolane methiodide (cis-oxathiolane) and its two enantiomers were determined at muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors in the pithed rat. In non-pretreated animals, i.v. administration of these agents produced bradycardic effects mediated by cardiac M2 receptors followed by increases in heart rate mediated by M1 receptors in sympathetic ganglia. As these responses have been shown to partly overlap, "true" M1 and M2 potencies were determined after selective blockade of M1 and M2 receptors by pirenzepine and methoctramine, respectively. A similar rank order of agonist potencies was obtained at M1 and M2 receptors: (+)cis-oxathiolane greater than (+/-)cis-oxathiolane greater than (+/-)muscarine greater than (-)cis-oxathiolane. At both receptor subtypes, (+)cis-oxathiolane was considerably more potent (ca. 30-fold) than its corresponding (-) enantiomer indicating that the agonist binding sites of the two receptor subtypes may have similar stereochemical properties. While (+/-)muscarine showed similar potencies at M1 and M2 receptors, racemic cis-oxathiolane and its two enantiomers showed a slight selectivity (3-7 fold) for M1 receptors indicating the potential usefulness of these compounds in the development of selective M1 receptor agonists.

Animals↗

Enantiomers of 8-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-3,4-dihydro-3-oxo-2H- (1,4)benzothiazine: racemic resolution, chiral synthesis and biological activity.

We report the resolution of racemic (+/-)-1 with (R)-(+)-methylbenzyl isocianate and the synthesis of (R)-1 and (S)-1 via Sharpless chiral epoxidation. The enantio- and tissue-selectivity of such enantiomers, as beta- and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, were studied. Compound 1, while confirming the potent beta-blocking activity, displayed a modest enantio-selectivity towards beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors. All the compounds displayed no activity as alpha-adrenoceptor blockers.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Synthesis and alpha(1)-antagonist activity of derivatives of 4-chloro-5-[4-[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-ethyl]-1-piperazinyl]-3(2H)-pyrid azinone.

The synthesis and evaluation of the biological activity of new 4-chloro-5-¿4-[2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-ethyl]-1-piperazinyl¿-3(2H)-pyrid azinone derivatives are reported. The blocking activity of these compounds was determined on the pre- and postsynaptic alpha-adrenoceptors of isolated rat vas deferens.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists↗

Methoctramine-related polymethylene tetraamines. 4. Chirality effect on M2 muscarinic receptor blocking activity.

Chiral methoctramine-related compounds (3 and 4), bearing two asymmetric atoms in the terminal benzylic moieties, were synthesized and evaluated for their blocking activity on M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors of guinea pig left atrium and ileum, respectively. It turned out that insertion of these chiral centers in methoctramine structure is ineffective in the ileum whereas it produces a significant decrease in potency in the atrium when compared to methoctramine (1). Furthermore, the enantiomers of 3 and 4 did not display significant enantioselectivity at both M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors.

Animals↗