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The aim of this study was the synthesis and pharmacokinetic selection of a best melanin-targeting ligand for addressing anticancer agents to pigmented melanoma. Seven quinoxaline carboxamide derivatives were synthesized and radiolabeled with iodine-125. Biodistribution studies of compounds [ (125) I]1a-g performed in melanoma-bearing mice tumor showed significant tumor uptake (range 2.43-5.68%ID/g) within 1 h after i.v. injection. Fast clearance of the radioactivity from the nontarget organs mainly via the urinary system gave high tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratios. Given its favorable clearance and high tumor-melanoma uptake at 72 h, amide 1d was the most promising melanoma-targeting ligand in this series. Compound 1d will be used as building block for the design of new melanoma-selective drug delivery systems.

The Duff reaction (HMTA, AcOH or TFA) was studied on substituted [6 + 5] heterocyclic compounds. This reaction provides a useful route to aldehydes for compounds bearing sensitive amide functions. It gives also access to tricyclic lactams of potential biological interest. The formation of an aminomethyl intermediate in the Duff reaction mechanism is unequivocally demonstrated.

Ethyl 2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-8-carboxylate (AG110) was identified as a potent inhibitor of pestivirus replication. The 50% effective concentration values for inhibition of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)-induced cytopathic effect, viral RNA synthesis, and production of infectious virus were 1.2 +/- 0.5 microM, 5 +/- 1 microM, and 2.3 +/- 0.3 microM, respectively. AG110 proved inactive against the hepatitis C virus and a flavivirus. AG110 inhibits BVDV replication at a time point that coincides with the onset of intracellular viral RNA synthesis. Drug-resistant mutants carry the E291G mutation in the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). AG110-resistant virus is cross-resistant to the cyclic urea compound 1453 which also selects for the E291G drug resistance mutation. Moreover, BVDV that carries the F224S mutation (because of resistance to the imidazopyridine 5-[(4-bromophenyl)methyl]-2-phenyl-5H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine [BPIP]and VP32947) is also resistant to AG110. AG110 did not inhibit the in vitro activity of recombinant BVDV RdRp but inhibited the activity of BVDV replication complexes (RCs). Molecular modeling revealed that E291 is located in a small cavity near the tip of the finger domain of the RdRp about 7 A away from F224. Docking of AG110 in the crystal structure of the BVDV RdRp revealed several potential contacts including with Y257. The E291G mutation might enable the free rotation of Y257, which might in turn destabilize the backbone of the loop formed by residues 223 to 226, rendering more mobility to F224 and, hence, reducing the affinity for BPIP and VP32947. It is concluded that a single drug-binding pocket exists within the finger domain region of the BVDV RdRp that consists of two separate but potentially overlapping binding sites rather than two distinct drug-binding pockets.

This work reports the synthesis and the antiviral activities of 3-benzamido, 3-phenylureido and 3-phenylthioureido derivatives in the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine series. The structure was proven by NMR spectroscopy. The synthesized compounds were evaluated against a large number of viruses. The 3-phenylthioureido derivative 7 showed moderate activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in vitro. The crystallographic data for 8 are also reported and explain the absence of activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Heterocyclization of functionalized vinylic derivatives of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was explored experimentally and theoretically using semiempirical AM1 and ab initio methods. A range of functionalized vinylic derivatives (azido, amino, and carbodiimide groups) were prepared for conversion into pyrroloazaindoles 19-22, imidazo[1,x]-, (x = 5, 6, 7, 8), [2,6]-, and [2,7]naphthyridines 28-30, 35-38 by thermal reaction. In the case of vinylic groups in the 5 position, peri annulation also was observed. The experimental and theoretical data are compared and discussed.

Access to the original series of pyrido[1',2':1,2]imidazo[4,5-h]quinazoline was developed from a 1,3-dicarbonyl unit with some "N-C-N" bisnucleophilic reagents and the derivatives obtained were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against HL60 and A2780 cells. All compounds exhibited cytotoxic activities on resistant cell lines (MDR+; HL60R and A2780R) with no resistance phenomena.

Several diaza-analogs of phenanthrene derived from 3-amino, 5-amino, 6-amino, 8-aminoquinolines, and 5-aminoisoquinoline were prepared to evaluate their antiplasmodial activities. All compounds showed mild to good activitiy in vitro, both on a Nigerian chloroquino-sensitive strain and on the chloroquino-resistant FcB1-Columbia and FcM29 strains. The position of the intracyclic nitrogen atom is shown to be crucial for the activities (best results are obtained with a 1,10-phenanthroline skeleton). In regard to the particular properties of this structure (metalloprotease inhibition activitiy by chelating divalent metal ions), the potential chelating site of the molecule was blocked. In this case, the biological activity of the compound was greatly enhanced, showing that the mechanism of action of such a compound is probably not correlated to metalloprotease inhibition activity.

N-1 and N-2 substituted pyrazolo[4,5-g]pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles were prepared regioselectively, and cytotoxicities evaluated in vitro against K562 and HL60 cells. All compounds displayed weaker activity than doxorubicin against sensitive lines, but showed the same activity against resistant cell lines (multidrug resistance+, (MDR+); K562R and HL60R) indicating no resistance phenomena.