Benzofuro[3,2-b]pyridines as mixed ET(A)/ET(B) and selective ET(B) endothelin receptor antagonists.

The discovery, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a series of novel benzofuro[3,2-b]pyridines as non-selective endothelin ET(A)/ET(B) as well as selective ET(B) receptor antagonists are described. The most potent non-selective inhibitor 7s displayed an IC50 of 21 nM and 41 nM for ET(A) and ET(B) receptors, respectively, whereas 7ee merely showed affinity for the ET(B) receptor (IC50 = 3.6 nM).

Endothelin antagonists: discovery of EMD 122946, a highly potent and orally active ETA selective antagonist.

The discovery, in vitro and in vivo studies of the highly potent ETA antagonist EMD 122946 are presented. This compound displayed high binding affinity and functional antagonism [IC50 = 3.2 x 10(-11) M, pA2 = 9.

Endothelin antagonists: evaluation of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole as a methylendioxyphenyl bioisoster.

The methylendioxyphenyl group is present in a number of endothelin receptor antagonists thus far reported. By means of a Kohonen neural network we discovered with a benzothiadiazole a bioisosteric replacement instead. This group should be devoid of the negative metabolic interactions with cytochrome P450 ascribed to methylendioxyphenyl in vivo.

Non-peptide renin inhibitors containing 2-(((3-phenylpropyl)phosphoryl)oxy)alkanoic acid moieties as P2-P3 replacements.

A series of novel renin inhibitors containing 2-(((3-phenylpropyl)phosphoryl)oxy)alkanoic acid moieties as P2-P3 surrogates are presented. The P2-P3 mimetics were obtained from (omega-phenylalkyl)-phosphinic acids 1a-c and 2-hydroxyalkanoic acid benzyl esters 2a-f by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-mediated coupling and subsequent oxidation with sodium metaperjodate. Ester cleavage of these derivatives and coupling with P1-P1' transition-state mimetics I-VII provided highly selective compounds with inhibitory potencies in the lower nanomolar range.

Renin inhibitors containing new P1-P1' dipeptide mimetics with heterocycles in P1'.

A series of renin inhibitors containing new P1-P1' dipeptide mimetics are presented. The P1-P1' mimetics were obtained from (4S,5S)-3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-(cyclohexylmethyl)-5-[(omega- mesyloxy)alkyl]-2,2-dimethyloxazolidines 5b, 9, and 11b by nucleophilic substitution of the mesylate groups with the sodium salts of mercapto- and hydroxyheterocycles. Removal of the protecting groups and stepwise acylations with amino acid derivatives provided renin inhibitors with a length of a tripeptide.