The present disclosure is broadly concerned with β-carboline adducts and novel dimer compounds comprising two β-carboline moieties and novel methods of synthesizing the same. The novel methods described herein may also be used to synthesize a wide array of adducts and dimer compounds, depending upon the reactants used.
β-Carboline (9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole) represents the basic chemical structure for more than one hundred alkaloids and synthetic compounds. The effects of these substances depend on their respective substituents, and they have been shown to have a variety of therapeutic properties. Examples of various β-carbolines and derivatives are shown below.
β-carbolines and derivatives (such as harmine, harmaline), including dimers thereof can be synthesized various ways. The traditional methods for β-carboline synthesis involve at least two separate steps as shown in
In a first step, dicarboxylic acid is reacted with tryptamine in presence of reagents, such as 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N,N′-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC or DCCD), and catalysts, such as 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and 4-Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) to furnish tryptamide. Alternatively, tryptamide is also achieved by reacting tryptamines with diacid chlorides. The resulting tryptamide is then extracted and purified from the reaction mixture. In a second step, the purified tryptamide compounds are refluxed with Phosphoryl chloride (POCl3, aka phosphorus oxychloride) to yield a harmaline dimer compound, which is then extracted and purified from the reaction mixture. These two independent synthesis pathways in the traditional method consume time and money as the method requires purification of both the intermediate and final products.
In view of the foregoing, there is accordingly a need in the art for new synthesis methods for β-carboline adducts and harmaline dimer compounds that are time-efficient and cost-effective.
The present disclosure is concerned with novel β-carboline adducts and β-carboline dimer compounds comprising two β-carboline moieties and novel methods of synthesizing the same. As used herein, the terms “β-carboline moiety” and “β-carboline moieties” refers to a moiety (or moieties) having β-carboline as a basic chemical structure, namely the characteristic three-ringed structure containing a pyridine ring that is fused to an indole skeleton:
Where Ra, Rb, and Rc indicate various possible substitutions in the tricyclic moiety and the dashed line indicates an optional position of a saturated or unsaturated bond in the pyridine ring. It is further contemplated that the nitrogen in the pyrrole ring of the indole can be substituted. Different levels of saturation are possible in the third ring which is indicated here in the structural formula by showing the optional double bonds in dashed lines. Further, the location of the double bonds may differ from the position indicated, i.e., it may rotate around any of the rings depending upon the substituents selected at the various carbon positions in the rings.
In one or more embodiments, the method of synthesizing a dimer or adduct compound comprises reacting an indole derivative having primary amine functionality with a diacid chloride or mono acid chloride in a suitable solvent system (with neutralizing base) and refluxing with a condensation reagent to yield a dimer or adduct product. In one or more embodiments, the reaction furnishes harmaline dimers or adducts. These harmaline compounds can be subsequently converted into harmine and tetrahydroharmine compounds using reducing or oxidizing agents. Thus, the methods of the invention can be used to synthesize a variety of tricyclic β-carboline adducts and dimers as described in more detail below.
In one or more embodiments, the first step of the mechanism involves reaction between tryptamine and diacid chloride to furnish tryptamide dimers. 2 equivalent of tryptamine reacts with 1 equivalent of diacid chloride and furnishes 1 equivalent of tryptamide dimer and 2 equivalents of HCl. Next, there is a reaction between phosphoryl chloride and tryptamide dimer intermediate to furnish harmaline dimer (Bischler-Napieralski reaction).
In one or more embodiments, the first step of the mechanism involves reaction between tryptamine and acid chloride to furnish tryptamide. 1 equivalent of tryptamine reacts with 1 equivalent of acid chloride and furnishes 1 equivalent of tryptamide and 1 equivalent of HCl. Next, there is a reaction between phosphoryl chloride and tryptamide intermediate to furnish harmaline adduct (Bischler-Napieralski reaction).
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
In one or more embodiments, the novel adduct compounds comprise β-carboline moieties with hydrocarbon chain connecting with a wide range of chemical moieties depending on the selected acid chloride. Although any desired β-carboline moieties are suitable, the preferred β-carboline moieties include harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydro harmine moieties, forming the following a) harmine, b) harmaline, or c) tetrahydroharmine compounds:
where m is 0-20, and preferably at least 1, and each R1, R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from the group of possible options in the table below.
These tricyclic β-carboline adduct compounds can be synthesized using the general process of reacting 1 equivalent tryptamine with 1 equivalent acid chloride in acetonitrile as the solvent system to furnish 1 equivalent of tryptamide intermediate (and 1 equivalent of HCl). The amide intermediate compound reacts with a condensation reagent (such as P2O5, POCl3 or ZnCl2) via an initial dehydration step of the amide, followed by a cyclization to ultimately close the chain and form the pyridine ring in the indole intermediate moiety in the adduct. In general, the reaction can be carried out over a time period ranging from 15 minutes to 48 hours, and reaction temperatures can range from −5° C. to 105° C.
In more detail, a tryptamine is reacted with an acid chloride in acetonitrile. Any indole derivative with primary amine functionality may be used, provided the amine has at least two carbons between the cyclic structure and the amine for subsequent cyclization. Tryptamine or derivatives thereof may be used in the above-described method, and it is preferred that the amine is compatible with the acid chloride used. In one or more embodiments, the amine may be, but is not limited to, aromatic or heterocyclic ethyl amines (e.g., substituted or unsubstituted tryptamines, e.g., methoxy-tryptamines, ethoxy-tryptamines, as well as 2-pyrrolyl ethylamine, and 2-phenylethylamine).
In particular, the starting indole derivative with primary amine functionality is mixed with acetonitrile in a reaction vessel, for example, 6-methoxy tryptamine is added to a flask equipped with a condenser, preferably in a glove bag under nitrogen. Acetonitrile is a unique solvent for this reaction because it is a solvent in which the reagents are soluble, but which the intermediate and final reaction products are not, thus facilitating formation of the reaction product precipitates as the reaction progresses. Pure, non-diluted acetonitrile is used in the reaction. Preferably, the weight ratio of tryptamine to acetonitrile is from about 1:1 to about 1:1000. An organic base (e.g., pyridine, triethylamine, or even NaOH) as a neutralization agent is added to the flask in a weight ratio of from about from about 1:1 to about 1:10. This is used to neutralize the HCl byproduct in the reaction. Once the initial reagents are mixed in the solvent system, the acid chloride is added to the solution to initiate the reaction. The acid chloride will be reacted with the starting indole derivative in a weight ratio of from about 3:1 to about 1:1 indole amine:acid chloride. The above reagents can be added or mixed in any order in the solvent system, so long as the acid chloride is added last.
The resultant solution is heated to reflux at atmospheric (normal) pressure and a temperature about −5° C. to about 105° C., preferably about 10° C. to about 100° C., more preferably about 25° C. to about 95° C. for about 15 min to about 12 hours, preferably from about 15 minutes to about 3 hours, or until precipitation is observed in the solution. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that, during this period, the reflux temperature and reflux time may need to be adjusted according to the properties of the indole amine and acid chloride selected. The reaction progresses and the intermediate products are formed as indicated by the solution turning from an initially transparent yellow color into a cloudy solution and, in some cases, a pale yellow color, as shown in
Suitable acid chloride for adduct synthesis include any acid chloride comprising an alkyl chain of 2 or more carbons. Non-limiting examples include acetyl chloride (C2H3ClO) propionyl chloride (C3H5ClO), 3-Chloropropionyl chloride (C3H4ClO), butyryl chloride (C4H7ClO), Valeroyl chloride (C5H9ClO), Isovaleryl chloride (C5H9ClO), 2-Methylbutyryl chloride (C5H9ClO), hexanoyl chloride (C6H11ClO), heptanoyl chloride (C7H13ClO), Octonoyl chloride (C8H15ClO), nonanoyl chloride (C9H17ClO), decanoyl chloride (C10H19ClO), undecanoyl chloride (C11H21ClO), Lauroyl chloride (C12H23ClO), tridecanoyl chloride (Ci3H25ClO), tetradecanoyl chloride (C14H27ClO), pentadecanoyl chloride (C15H29ClO), palmitoyl chloride (C16H31ClO), heptadecanoyl chloride (C17H33ClO), stearoyl chloride (C18H35ClO), nonadecanoyl chloride (C19H37ClO), icosanoyl chloride (C20H39ClO), and Thiophene-2-acetyl Chloride (C6H5ClOS). For acid chloride not commercially-available to purchase, they can be synthesized using respective carboxylic acids to react with thionyl chloride to furnish acid chlorides. Exemplary acid chlorides and the corresponding adducts furnished when reacted with the tryptamine are shown in the table below.
In one or more embodiments, the novel dimer compounds comprise two β-carboline moieties linked via a “tether,” which, as used herein, refers to the hydrocarbon chain connecting the two moieties. Typically, the carbon chain is bonded to the respective methyl substituents of the β-carboline moieties, which then become part of the tether. Although any desired β-carboline moieties are suitable, the preferred β-carboline moieties include harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydro harmine moieties, forming the following a) harmine, b) harmaline, or c) tetrahydro harmine dimers:
where n is 3-22, preferably n is at least 3; and each R1, R2, and R3 is independently selected from the group of possible options in the table below.
In the structures, any carbon in the chain or tether connecting the tricyclic moieties can be substituted or unsubstituted.
Advantageously, in the novel dimer compounds the tether has a length of n is at least 3, wherein the substituent R1 may be positioned at any carbon position (or multiple carbon positions) along the tether. Further, the tether may include one or more substitutions (R1) along the tether (again at any carbon position), and each substituent R1 may be independently selected from the options above. In addition, the structures having this tether length notably all differ from the tricyclic β-carboline dimer compounds disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022/0033417. Particularly, these tricyclic β-carboline dimer compounds previously disclosed do not bear aromatic rings (e.g., benzene, imidazole, pyridine, purine, coumarin, indole, etc.) or non-aromatic heterocyclic rings at any carbon position along the tether.
In embodiments where the novel dimer compound comprises two harmaline moieties (e.g., a harmaline dimer), the novel dimer compound may be selected from the group of one or more of the following compounds:
To synthesize the above-described dimer compounds, a tryptamine is reacted with a diacid chloride in acetonitrile to create an amide dimer intermediate compound which reacts with a condensation reagent (such as P2O5, POCl3 or ZnCl2) via an initial dehydration step of the amide, followed by a cyclization to ultimately close the chain and form the pyridine ring on each indole intermediate moiety in the dimer. In particular, the starting indole derivative with primary amine functionality is mixed with acetonitrile as the solvent system in a reaction vessel, for example, 6-methoxy tryptamine is added to a flask equipped with a condenser, preferably in a glove bag under nitrogen, and acetonitrile is then added to the flask. Acetonitrile is an ideal solvent in which the reagents are soluble, but which the reaction product is not, thus facilitating formation of the reaction product precipitates as the reaction progresses. Pure, non-diluted acetonitrile is used in the reaction. Preferably, the weight ratio of Tryptamine to solvent is from about 1:1 to about 1:1000. An organic base (e.g., pyridine, triethylamine, or even NaOH) as a neutralization agent is added to the flask in a weight ratio of from about from about 1:1 to about 1:10. This is used to neutralize HCl, which is a byproduct in the reaction. Once the initial reagents are mixed in the solvent system, the diacid chloride is added to the solution to initiate the reaction. The diacid chloride will be selected depending on the desired tether length for the dimer. The diacid chloride will be reacted with the starting indole derivative in a weight ratio of from about 3:1 to about 1:1 indole amine:diacid chloride. The above reagents can be added or mixed in any order in the solvent system, so long as the diacid chloride is added last. In general, the reaction can be carried out over a time period ranging from 15 minutes to 48 hours, and reaction temperatures can range from −5° C. to 105° C.
The resultant solution is heated to reflux at atmospheric (normal) pressure and a temperature about −5° C. to about 105° C., preferably about 10° C. to about 100° C., more preferably about 25° C. to about 95° C. for about 15 min to about 12 hours, preferably from about 15 minutes to about 3 hours, or until precipitation is observed in the solution. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that, during this period, the reflux temperature and reflux time may need to be adjusted according to the properties of the indole amine and diacid chloride selected. The reaction progresses and the intermediate products are formed as indicated by the solution turning from an initially transparent or clear yellow color into a cloudy solution and, in some cases, a pale yellow color, as shown in
Any indole derivative with primary amine functionality may be used, provided the amine has at least two carbons between the cyclic structure and the amine for subsequent cyclization. Tryptamine or derivatives thereof may be used in the above-described method, and it is preferred that the amine is suitable with the diacid chloride used. In one or more embodiments, the amine may be, but is not limited to, aromatic or heterocyclic ethyl amines (e.g., substituted or unsubstituted tryptamines, e.g., methoxy-tryptamines, ethoxy-tryptamines, as well as 2-pyrrolyl ethylamine, and 2-phenylethylamine).
Suitable diacid chlorides include any diacid chloride comprising four or more carbons. Non-limiting examples include succinyl chloride (C4H4Cl2O2), glutaryl chloride (C5H6Cl2O2), adipoyl dichloride (C6H8Cl2O2), heptanedioyl dichloride (C7H10Cl2O2), Octanedioyl dichloride (C8H12Cl2O2) nonanedioyl dichloride (C9H14Cl2O2), decanedioyl dichloride (C10H16Cl2O2), undecanedioyl dichloride (C11H18Cl2O2), dodecanedioyl dichloride (C12H20Cl2O2), tridecanedioyl dichloride (C13H22Cl2O2), tetradecanedioyl dichloride (C14H24Cl2O2), pentadecanedioyl dichloride (C15H26Cl2O2), hexadecanedioyl dichloride (C16H28Cl2O2), docosanedioic acid dichloride (C22H40Cl2O2)). Preferably, a diacid chloride comprising five or more carbons (e.g., glutaryl chloride) is used. In embodiments where the diacid chloride comprises five or more carbons, the diacid chloride may have one or more substituents (such as the R1 substituents described above) at any one of its CH2 carbons.
In embodiments where the novel dimer compound synthesized is a harmaline dimer, the harmaline dimer may be converted into a harmine dimer or tetrahydro harmine dimer using diacid-catalyzed syntheses of harmaline to harmine in the presence of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,578,070, filed Sep. 1, 2020, incorporated by reference herein.
In one or more embodiments, a harmine dimer or tetrahydro harmine dimer can be furnished by treating the harmaline dimer with an oxidizing agent(s) or reducing agent(s), as shown in
The present disclosure also contemplates variations on the foregoing adduct or dimer structures, including isomers, tautomers, enantiomers, esters, derivatives, metal complexes, prodrugs, solvates, metabolites, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. “Isomers” refers to each of two or more compounds with the same formula but with at different arrangement of atoms, and includes structural isomers and stereoisomers (e.g., geometric isomers and enantiomers); “tautomers” refers to two or more isometric compounds that exist in equilibrium, such as keto-enol and imine and enamine tautomers; “derivatives” refers to compounds that can be imagined to arise or actually be synthesized from a defined parent compound by replacement of one atom with another atom or a group of atoms; “solvates” refers to interaction with a defined compound with a solvent to form a stabilized solute species; “metabolites” refers to a defined compound which has been metabolized in vivo by digestion or other bodily chemical processes; “prodrugs” refers to defined compound which has been generated by a metabolic process; and “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” with reference to the components means salts of the components which are pharmaceutically acceptable, i.e., salts which are useful in preparing pharmaceutical compositions that are generally safe, non-toxic, and neither biologically nor otherwise undesirable and are acceptable for human pharmaceutical use, and which possess the desired degree of pharmacological activity. Such pharmaceutically acceptable salts include acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like; or with organic acids such as 1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, 4,4′-methylenebis(3-hydroxy-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid), 4-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid, acetic acid, aliphatic mono- and dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic sulfuric acids, aromatic sulfuric acids, benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, camphorsulfonic acid, carbonic acid, cinnamic acid, citric acid, cyclopentanepropionic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, fumaric acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, glycolic acid, heptanoic acid, hexanoic acid, hydroxynaphthoic acid, lactic acid, laurylsulfuric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, muconic acid, o-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)benzoic acid, oxalic acid, p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, phenyl-substituted alkanoic acids, propionic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, tertiarybutylacetic acid, trimethylacetic acid, and the like.
Pharmaceutically acceptable salts also include base addition salts which may be formed when acidic protons present are capable of reacting with inorganic or organic bases. Acceptable inorganic bases include sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. Acceptable organic bases include ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, tromethamine, N-methylglucamine and the like. It should be recognized that the particular anion or cation forming a part of any salt of this invention is not critical, so long as the salt, as a whole, is pharmacologically acceptable. Additional examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their methods of preparation and use are presented in Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts Properties, and Use, P. H. Stahl & C. G. Wermuth eds., ISBN 978-3-90639-058-1 (2008).
Compositions comprising (consisting essentially or even consisting of) above-described compounds are also contemplated. The compositions may include additional pharmaceutically-acceptable ingredients and/or vehicles as a base carrier composition in which the active ingredients are dispersed. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically-acceptable” means not biologically or otherwise undesirable, in that it can be administered to a subject without excessive toxicity, irritation, or allergic response, and does not cause any undesirable biological effects or interact in a deleterious manner with any of the other components of the composition in which it is contained. The terms “vehicle” or “carrier,” as used herein, mean one or more compatible base compositions with which the active ingredient (e.g., above-described compounds) is combined to facilitate the administration of ingredient, and which is suitable for administration to a patient. Such preparations may also routinely contain salts, buffering agents, preservatives, and optionally other therapeutic ingredients or adjuvants. The carrier would naturally be selected to minimize any degradation of the active ingredient and to minimize any adverse side effects in the subject, as would be well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Pharmaceutically-acceptable ingredients include those acceptable for veterinary use as well as human pharmaceutical use. The term “adjuvant” is used herein to refer to substances that have immunopotentiating effects and are added to or co-formulated in a therapeutic composition in order to enhance, elicit, and/or modulate the innate, humoral, and/or cell-mediated immune response against the active ingredients.
Use of the compounds in the manufacture of a composition or medicament for treating cancer, brain disorders, infectious disease, and/or inflammatory diseases is also within the ambit of the invention.
As used herein, the phrase “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing or excluding components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain or exclude A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
The present description also uses numerical ranges to quantify certain parameters relating to various embodiments of the disclosure. It should be understood that when numerical ranges are provided, such ranges are to be construed as providing literal support for claim limitations that only recite the lower value of the range as well as claim limitations that only recite the upper value of the range. For example, a disclosed numerical range of about 10 to about 100 provides literal support for a claim reciting “greater than about 10” (with no upper bounds) and a claim reciting “less than about 100” (with no lower bounds).
The following examples set forth methods in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these examples are provided by way of illustration, and nothing therein should be taken as a limitation upon the overall scope of the invention.
This example describes the general reaction procedures for synthesizing β-carboline adducts and various new harmaline dimer compounds using the GK reaction method (see Example 2 below). By varying the length and the particular moiety “R1” of the selected diacid chloride, we can synthesize harmaline dimers with tether length≥3 with substitution at any place of tether. For example, for n=3 and R1=imidazole, the harmaline dimer will be GK506.21m, similarly for n=3 and R1=furan, the harmaline dimer will be GK506.2Fn.
A typical harmaline+aldehyde reaction has a limitation of choosing aldehydes that react with harmaline. This limits the tether length and substitution at the tether. In the case of the GK reaction, we can also synthesize harmaline dimer molecules with extended tether length and multiple substitutions at the tether. The new dimer compounds can have a longer tether length ranging from 3-22 carbons than previous structures, with a wide variety of possible substitutions R1 at one or more than one carbon of the tether, which also differs from previously-possible structures. The harmaline dimers (b) can be achieved from one-pot GK reaction method. Harmine dimers (a) and Tetrahydro harmine dimers (c) can be furnished by treating Harmaline dimers (b) with oxidizing or reducing agents. So, the GK reaction is capable of synthesizing a broader range of harmaline dimers and adducts.
The novel GK method is a one pot synthesis of β-carboline molecules from tryptamines. As shown in the reaction scheme, acid chloride and tryptamine are added to a flame dried flask containing freshly distilled acetonitrile as the solvent system. Then, dry Et3N is added, and the resulting solution is refluxed for 4 hours at 90-95° C. After 4 hours, 5-20 eq of POCl3 is added drop wise to the reaction mixture in the same flask containing intermediate (unpurified) reactions products, and the reflux is continued for 12 more hours. After 12 hours, the solution is cooled and then filtered to collect the final product, which will be either β-carboline adducts or dimer compounds depending on whether an acid chloride or diacid chloride is used (and provided adequate tryptamine is to furnish dimers, when desired).
Notably, the GK reaction method can be applied to the synthesis of several β-carboline like molecules by varying the amine and/or acid chloride, as shown is
Notably, the GK reaction method can be applied to the synthesis of several β-carboline dimers by varying the amine and/or diacid chloride, as shown in
a. Synthesis of GZ440/6 Using Novel GK Reaction Method
The reaction scheme for synthesizing GZ440/6 is shown in
If impurities are detected, a solvent system including 5-10% methanol in dichloromethane can be used to perform column purification, and recrystallisation with ethanol can help in removing salts formed during the reaction. 2-5% isopropyl amine can be used to help prevent the reaction of the compound with the acidic nature of silica or dichloromethane during purification.
The reaction mechanism of the process is shown in
The reaction scheme for synthesizing this adduct is shown in
2. Attempted Synthesis of Dimer with Short Tether (GK426)
The proposed reaction scheme for synthesizing this dimer is shown in
The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/402,321, filed Aug. 30, 2022, entitled DIMER COMPOUNDS SYNTHESIZED USING GK METHOD, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/405,163, filed Sep. 9, 2022, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63405163 | Sep 2022 | US | |
63402321 | Aug 2022 | US |