Drug side chains

X represents a C, N, O or S atom. (B) Common drug side chains used in the SHAPES library. The left-most atom indicates the point of attachment to the framework. Reproduced from Peng, et al. 2001 [1], 2001 Academic Press. 

The utility of a protein model depends upon the use to which it is put. In some cases, on< only interested in the general fold that the protein adopts and so a relatively low-resoluti structure is acceptable. For other applications, such as drug design, the model must be me more accurate, including the loops and side chains. In such cases, a poor model may often fa r worse than no model at all, as it can be seriously misleading. 

One of the virtues of the Fischer indole synthesis is that it can frequently be used to prepare indoles having functionalized substituents. This versatility extends beyond the range of very stable substituents such as alkoxy and halogens and includes esters, amides and hydroxy substituents. Table 7.3 gives some examples. These include cases of introduction of 3-acetic acid, 3-acetamide, 3-(2-aminoethyl)- and 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)- side-chains, all of which are of special importance in the preparation of biologically active indole derivatives. Entry 11 is an efficient synthesis of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin. A noteworthy feature of the reaction is the... 

Omission of the side chain hydroxyl group from molecules based on epinephrine or ephedrine does not abolish the sympathomimetic activity of the resulting compounds. Many of these agents exert a considerable stimulant action on the central nervous system. As such, drugs in this class have been widely used—and... 

A very simple alkyl side chain in fact can serve as the carbon moiety of such drugs. Buformin (32), obtained by reaction of... 

The first drugs in this class to be introduced into clinical practice are simple derivatives of 5-nitrofurfural (18). Thus, the oxime is known as nitrofuroxime (19) while the semicarbazone is called nitrofurazone (20). In order to maintain better control over the distribution and metabolism of these antibacterial agents, increasingly complex side chains and rings have been grafted onto the hydrazone. 

Acylation of benzamidoxlme (144) with chloropropionyl chloride gives the 0-acylated derivative (145). Reaction of that intermediate with diethylamine serves first to cyclize the molecule to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole heterocycle subsequent displacement of the halogen on the side chain gives oxolamine (146),a drug with antltussive and spasmolytic activity. 

Finally the aminoquinoline bearing a primary amine at the terminal carbon atom of the side chain is itself an effective antimalarial drug. Ring opening of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran by bromine gives the dibromide, 99. The primary halide is sufficiently less hindered so that reaction with potassium phthalimide affords exclusively the product of displacement of that halogen (100). Alkylation of the aminoquinoline with lOO affords the secondary amine, 101. Removal of the phthalimide group by means of hydrazine yields primaquine (102). ... 

Inclusion of fluorine on the pendant aromatic ring and the basic side chain seems to emphasize the anticonvulsant and hypnotic effects of this class of drugs. Thus alkylation of the benzodiazepinone, 24 (prepared from the corresponding substituted aminobenzophenone), with 2-chlorotriethylamine via its sodium salt affords fluazepam. ... 

Replacement of the methyl group of the piperazine-substituted phenothiazines by some more polar group such as hydroxyethyl fragment leads to a further small increase in potency. It should be noted at this point that all phenothiazines manifest a series of side effects. The given set of these varies, however, with the side chains. The availability of the great variety of such structural variations makes it more likely that some drug will be found that a given individual will tolerate. 

The total syntheses of penicillin and cephalosporin represent elegant tours de force that demonstrated once again the power of synthetic organic chemistry. These syntheses, however, had little effect on the course of drug development in the respective fields, since they failed to provide access to analogs that could not be prepared by modification of either the side chains or, as in the case of more recent work, modification of 6-APA and 7-ACA themselves. In order to have an impact on drug development, a total synthesis must provide means for preparing... 

Substitution of somewhat more complex side chains on the imidazole nitrogen of the purines leads to CNS stimulant drugs that have also been used as vasodilators and antispasmodic agents. Thus, alkylation of theophyline (2) with ethyl bromoacetate followed by saponification of the product gives acephylline (9). Alkylation with l-bromo-2-chloroethane gives the 2-chloroethyl derivative (10). Reaction of that intermediate with amphetamine yields fenethylline (11). ... 

The tricyclic antidepressants (as well as, incidentally the antipsychotic drugs) are characterized by a three carbon chain between the ring system and the basic nitrogen. Incorporation of one of those carbon atoms into an additional fused ring is apparently consistent with activity. Preparation of this compound involves first homologation of the side chain. Thus the carboxylic acid 147 is first converted... 

Among other uses, these polymers have been employed in a variety of biomedical applications. Poly(phosphazenes) containing organic side chains, derived from the anaesthetics procaine and benzocaine, have been used to prolong the anaesthetic effect of their precursor drugs. They have also been used as the bioerodable matrix for the controlled delivery of drugs. 

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