Chemistry
As disclosed in
Scheme 1, the final hydrazones
(3a-n) were prepared by converting aromatic amines to their diazonium salt followed by nucleophilic attack of ethyl acetoacetate carbanion to it, adding ethyl acetoacetate to the diazonium salt. The spectral data were in complete agreement with the structure of the desired derivatives.
Spectral data for all synthesized derivatives have been provided as follow:
Ethyl-2-(2-phenylhydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3a)
Yield 70%, m.p. 56.7-59.4 °C, 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.82 (s,1H, NH), 7.41 (m, 4H, Ar C2,3,5,6-H), 7.18 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C4-H), 4.34 (q, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.60 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.41 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1723, 1527, 781, 707. ESI-MS m/z: 256 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(4-chlorophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3b)
Yield 72%, m.p. 79.8-80.7 °C, 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.76 (s,1H, NH), 7.35 (s, 4H, Ar C2,3,5,6-H), 4.34 (q, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.59 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.40 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1697, 1526, 1370, 1094, 823. ESI-MS m/z: 290.8 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(4-bromophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3c)
Yield 81%, m.p. 76.2-77.3 °C,1HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.73 (s,1H, NH), 7.50(d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, Ar C3,5-H), 7.30(d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, Ar C2,6-H), 4.34 (q, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.59 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.40 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1701, 1620, 1525, 1095, 825. ESI-MS m/z: 336 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(p-tolyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3d)
Yield 55%, m.p. 64-67.5 °C, a,b isomers, 1HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.90 (s,1H, NH (b)), 12.85 (s, 1H, NH (a)), 7.25 (dd, J = 8.4 Hz, 4H, Ar C2,3,5,6-H (a,b)), 4.32-4.40 (m, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (a,b)), 2.59 (s, 3H, methyl (b)), 2.49 (s, 3H, methyl (a)), 2.35 (s, 3H, Ar C4-CH3 (a,b)), 1.40 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl (a,b)); IR (cm-1): 1691, 1625, 1521, 1183, 1082, 824. ESI-MS m/z: 271(M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(3-nitrophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3e)
Yield 82%, m.p. 118.8-119.7 °C,1HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.66(s,1H, NH), 8.27(s, 1H, Ar C2-H), 8.01 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C4-H), 7.70 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H), 7.56 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C5-H), 4.37 (q, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.62 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.43 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1700, 1622, 1519, 1178, 881,798, 730. ESI-MS m/z: 280 (M-H+), 302 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(2-nitrophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3f)
Yield 85%, m.p. 95.5-98.2°C,1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 13.92 (s,1H, NH), 8.27 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C3-H), 8.04 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H), 7.70 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C5-H), 7.20 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C4-H), 4.47 (q, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.55 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.43 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1682, 1499, 1334, 1162, 794. ESI-MS m/z: 280 (M-H+), 302 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(4-nitrophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3g)
Yield 51%, m.p. 116.9-118.1°C,1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 12.72 (s,1H, NH), 8.29 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H, Ar C3,5-H), 7.41 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H, Ar C2,6-H), 4.40 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.53 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.41 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1680, 1590, 1529, 1333, 1217, 850. ESI-MS m/z: 279.8 (M-H+), 301.8 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3h)
Yield 58%, m.p. 88.2-90.5°C, a,b isomers, 1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.61 (s,1H, NH (a,b)), 7.55 and 7.55 (each s, 1H, Ar C2-H (a,b)), 7.43 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, Ar C5-H (a,b)), 7.21 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H (b)), 7.20 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H (a)), 4.35 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (a,b)), 2.59 (s, 3H, methyl (a,b)), 1.40 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl (a,b)); IR (cm-1): 1709, 1631, 1529, 1372, 1204. ESI-MS m/z: 324.7 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(3-chlorophenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3i)
Yield 90%, m.p. 57.6-59.0°C, 1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.64 (s,1H, NH), 7.47 (s, 1H, Ar C2-H), 7.30 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C5-H), 7.23 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H), 7.13 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C4-H), 4.36 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.59 (s, 3H, methyl), 1.41 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1706, 1520, 1375, 1192, 883, 798, 684. ESI-MS m/z: 290.8 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3j)
Yield 45%, m.p. 53.3-56.4°C, a,b isomers, 1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 14.94 (s,1H, NH (a,b)), 7.03-7.09 (m, 3H, Ar C3,4,5-H (a,b)), 4.38 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (b)), 4.28 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (a)), 2.62 (s, 3H, methyl (a,b)), 2.44 and 2.43 (each s, 6H, Ar C2,6-CH3 (a,b)), 1.41(t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl (b)), 1.35 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl (a)); IR (cm-1): 1689, 1506, 1361, 1187, 780. ESI-MS m/z: 263 (M-H+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(o-tolyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3k)
Yield 58%, m.p. 54.9-59.3°C,1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 13.04 (s,1H, NH), 7.65 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C3-H), 7.28 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C5-H), 7.19 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H), 7.07 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C4-H), 4.38 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl), 2.51 (s, 3H, methyl), 2.38 (s, 3H, Ar C2-CH3), 1.41 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl); IR (cm-1): 1700, 1507, 1368, 1174, 1083, 764. ESI-MS m/z: 249 (M-H+), 271 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3l)
Yield 57%, m.p. °C, a,b isomers, 1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 15.17 (s,1H, NH (b)), 13.14 (s, 1H, NH (a)), 7.68 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H (b)), 7.54 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C6-H (a)), 7.18 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C4-H (a,b)), 7.00 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar C5-H (a,b)), 4.39 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (b)), 4.34 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (a)), 2.62 (s, 3H, methyl (b)), 2.51 (s, 3H, methyl (a)), 2.33 (d, J = 4 Hz, 3H, Ar C2-CH3 (a,b)), 2.28 (s, 3H, Ar C3-CH3 (a,b)), 1.40 (dt, J = 7.2 Hz, J = 2.4 Hz, 3H, ethyl (a,b)); IR (cm-1): 1692, 1592, 1517, 1366, 1202, 1084. ESI-MS m/z: 263 (M-H+), 285 (M-Na+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3m)
Yield 80%, m.p. 163-166.5°C, a,b isomers, 1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 15.07(s, 1H, NH (b)), 13.00 (s, 1H, NH (a)), 7.33 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H, Ar C2,6-H (b)), 7.25 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, Ar C2,6-H (a)), 6.88 (dd, J = 8.8 Hz, J = 4.4 Hz, 2H, Ar C3,5-H (a,b)), 4.35 (dq, J=7.2 Hz, J = 4.4 Hz, 2H, ethyl (a,b)), 2.58 (s, 3H, methyl (b)), 2.49 (s, 3H, methyl (a)), 1.40 (dt, J = 7.2 Hz, J = 4.0 Hz, 3H, ethyl (a,b)); IR (cm-1): 3134, 1659, 1592, 1517, 1373, 1220, 830. ESI-MS m/z: 249 (M - H+).
Ethyl-2-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl) hydrazineylidene)-3-oxobutanoate (3n)
Yield 70%, m.p. 60-63.4°C, a,b isomers, 1HNMR (400MHz, CDCl3) δ: 15.07 (s, 1H, NH (b)), 12.95 (s, 1H, NH (a)), 7.37 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H, Ar C2,6-H (b)), 7.29 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H, Ar C2,6-H (a)), 6.93 (dd, J = 8.8 Hz, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H, Ar C3,5-H (a,b)), 4.34 (dq, J = 7.2 Hz, J = 5.2 Hz, 2H, ethyl (a,b)), 3.82 (s, 3H, Ar C4-OCH3 (a,b)) 2.58 (s, 3H, methyl (b)), 2.48 (s, 3H, methyl (a)), 1.40 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H, ethyl (a,b)); IR (cm-1): 1700, 1609, 1515, 1368, 1186, 834. ESI-MS m/z: 263 (M - H+).
According to the
1HNMR spectra of the Compounds
3d, 3h, 3l, 3m, 3n, the duplicate nature of some peaks was observed, which could be assigned to their isomerization. In the
1H-NMR spectra, the hydrogen of the NH group appeared at 12.00-15.00 ppm as a singlet. A set of a quartet at ~ 4.30 ppm, a singlet at ~ 2.50 ppm, and a triplet at ~ 1.40 ppm were characteristic peaks for EAA (ethyl 3-oxobutanoate). In IR spectra, the N-H stretch band appeared weak or vanishing in the range of 3300-3500 cm
-1(
10). The molecular mass of the synthesized compounds was analyzed by ESI-MS; the molecular ions of the compounds were observed as adducts of hydrogen and/or sodium.
Antiplatelet Activity
Antiplatelet activities of all derivatives are provided in
Table 1 and
Figure 2.
The antiplatelet activities of the synthesized derivatives were evaluated using AA and ADP as platelet aggregation inducers (
Table 1) based on Born’s procedure, as described in the method section (
15). All the derivatives were initially tested at one mM, and IC
50 was measured for the derivatives that inhibit platelet aggregation by more than 50% in the concentration of 1 mM.
All the prepared derivatives inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP between 30% and 80% at 1 mM concentration, despite their structural difference. Compound
3m and
3g with IC
50 values of 401 µM and 553 µM were the most potent inhibitors against ADP, respectively. Although, all of the synthesized derivatives showed lower potency than indomethacin. As
Figure 2 shows, the electron-withdrawing or releasing nature of the substituent on the phenyl ring did not significantly affect the antiplatelet potency, as the position of substitution does not have any valuable effect in the same manner on the ADP pathway. These results also imply that the phenyl ring possibly does not play a significant role as a pharmacophoric group and hydrazone moiety is the essential pharmacophore. Among the derivatives, compound
3m (IC
50 = 117 µM),
3n (IC
50 = 268 µM), and
3k (IC
50 = 302 µM) exhibited higher activities against platelet aggregation induced by AA. Whereas compounds
3h,
3b,
3c, and 3f were inactive. It seems that the derivatives with electron-releasing substituent (hydroxyl, methoxy, and methyl group) have better inhibition activity against the aggregation induced by AA. Other studies support these findings, as Tehrani
et al. have stated that the methoxy group increases antiplatelet activity in the related hydrazone-based structures (
12). Substitution on phenyl ring by electron-withdrawing group on the other side is responsible for the significant decrease in their activities. It seems that the electron-rich aromatic rings connected to NH are the leading cause of antiplatelet activity in hydrazone-containing structures, as Mashayekhi
et al. has reported earlier (
11). Comparing compounds 3k and 3l exhibits that steric hindrance can cause a decrease in inhibitory activity against AA.
Docking studies
Based on these initial antiplatelet results, to complete and verify our results with computational modeling and to get more scientific logic for future designs, we ran molecular docking studies on the most active derivative (electron-rich one (3m), and the most electron-deficient derivative (3g) against AA, with their possible potential target cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1).
The best-docked pose with the lowest energy, calculated by GOLD Protein-Ligand Docking Software, was selected and analyzed with PyMOL and Discovery studio V3.5. The positions of compounds
3m and
3g in the binding site are shown in overlay mode in
Figure 3A; furthermore, the residual interactions of both of
3m and
3g as representative of electron-rich and electron-deficient derivative with essential amino acids of the active site were clarified in
Figure 3B. It was observed that 3m as the most potent derivative, has hydrogen bonding with Ser530 (in a distance of 1.87 Aº) as Amidi
et al. stated in their recent paper (
16), and another p-sigma interaction mainly with Ile 523 (in a distance of 2.34Aº). On the other hand,
3g showed different interactions with surrounded amino acids (two p-s interactions in a distance of 2.51Aº with Ser353 and with Ile523 in a distance of 2.70Aº). This differential positioning maybe is the best explanation for different potencies as obtained in the experimental antiplatelet assessment. So based on initial docking studies, it seems that our chemical structures can obtain proper orientation within the active site of the enzyme, but this orientation differs in electron-rich and electron-deficient derivatives to some extent. In future studies, we hope to design some other derivatives to get more and more potent compounds.
Synthetic route for the desired derivatives; reagents and conditions: (i) HCl 37%, ethanol, H2O, NaNO2, 0 °C. (ii) NaCH3CO2, ethyl acetoacetate, 0 °C
The general structure of the synthesized derivatives (3a-n).
Antiplatelet activities of synthesized derivatives in both AA and ADP pathways at 1 mM concentration
(A) Schematic diagram for interactions of 3m, and 3g with the COX-1 active site generated by Discovery studio V3.5; hydrogen bonds are showed as blue dashed lines. Residues involved in hydrophobic interactions with the ligands are shown as orange rays. (B) Interaction of compounds 3m and 3g with the COX-1 active site. The image was generated with PyMOL and Discovery studio V3.5
| Derivative | X | AA | ADP |
|---|
| Inhibitiona (%) | IC50 (µM) | Inhibitiona (%) | IC50 (µM) |
|---|
| 3a | H | 97.3 | 420 | 58.6 | 717 |
| 3b | 4-Cl | 2.6 | - | 49.1 | - |
| 3c | 4-Br | 3.1 | - | 39.3 | - |
| 3d | 4-CH3 | 86.6 | 457 | 39.9 | - |
| 3e | 3-NO2 | 6.2 | - | 47.2 | - |
| 3f | 2-NO2 | 5.4 | - | 60.9 | - |
| 3g | 4-NO2 | 44.4 | - | 72.9 | 553 |
| 3h | 3,4-diCl | 1.1 | - | 31.5 | - |
| 3i | 3-Cl | 9.2 | - | 30.7 | - |
| 3j | 2,6-diCH3 | 95 | 360 | 65.3 | 620 |
| 3k | 2-CH3 | 97.5 | 302 | 49.5 | - |
| 3l | 2,3-diCH3 | 93.3 | 346 | 62.1 | 678 |
| 3m | 4-OH | 100 | 117 | 78.6 | 401 |
| 3n | 4-OCH3 | 96 | 268 | 55.8 | - |
| Indomethacinb | | 100 | 3 | 42.2 | - |
| Aspirinb | | 100 | 30 | 21.4 | - |