Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydro-2-arylquinazolin-4-ones: methodology and application to a potent fluorescent tubulin inhibitor with anticancer activity

J Med Chem. 2008 Aug 14;51(15):4620-31. doi: 10.1021/jm800271c. Epub 2008 Jul 9.

Abstract

For several decades the 2,3-dihydroquinazolinone (DHQZ) heterocycle has been known to possess a variety of important biological and medicinal properties. Despite the many interesting facets of these molecules, synthetic access to nonracemic DHQZ analogues has remained elusive. Herein, we disclose a synthetic route that allows access to either enantiomer of a variety of DHQZ derivatives. We illustrate the utility of this chemistry with the asymmetric preparation and biological evaluation of a new chiral fluorescent tubulin binding agent with extremely potent antiproliferative properties against human cancer cells. A computational rationale for the increased potency of the (S)-enantiomer over the (R)-enantiomer is given, based on the crystal structure of alpha,beta-tubulin complexed with colchicine. Taking advantage of the inherent fluorescence of these molecules, confocal images of GMC-5-193 (compound 7) in the cytoplasm of human melanoma cells (MDA-MB-435) cells are presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Quinazolines / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinazolines / chemistry
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin / chemistry
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemical synthesis*
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Quinazolines
  • Tubulin
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Hydrogen