Efficient synthesis of 2,9-disubstituted 8-hydroxyadenine derivatives.

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of 2,9-disubstituted 8-hydroxyadenines, which are expected to have various biological activities, was realized. 5-Amino-4-cyano-2-hydroxyimidazoles(1) were prepared from aminomalononitrile and isocyanates as key intermediates. The condensation of 1a with amidines, imidates, guanidine, urea and thioureas afforded 8-hydroxyadenines (2-6) possessing various substituents at the 2-position.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,8-disubstituted 9-benzyladenines: discovery of 8-mercaptoadenines as potent interferon-inducers.

Recently, we have identified 9-benzyl-8-hydroxyadenines bearing an appropriate substituent (a butoxy, propylthio or butylamino group) at the 2-position as potent interferon (IFN)-inducers. Herein we report the design, synthesis, and IFN-inducing activity of 8-substituted 9-benzyladenines possessing such an appropriate substituent at the 2-position. Introduction of the appropriate substituent into the 2-position of the adenine nucleus gave rise to expression of the activity even in 9-benzyladenines bearing no hydroxyl group at the 8-position.

Synthesis of 6-substituted 9-benzyl-8-hydroxypurines with potential interferon-inducing activity.

Various 6-substituted 9-benzyl-8-hydroxypurines were synthesized in order to investigate the structure-activity relationship at the 6-position of 9-benzyl-8-hydroxyadenine (1), which is a lead compound for the screening of interferon (IFN)-inducing activity. 6-Unsubstituted, mercapto-, methylthio- and hydroxy-9-benzyl-8-hydroxypurines (2-5) were prepared from 5-amino-1-benzyl-4-cyano-2-hydroxyimidazole (9). Synthesis of a 6-methoxy analog (6) was conducted from 5-amino-4-benzylamino-6-chloropyrimidine (13).

Discovery of 8-hydroxyadenines as a novel type of interferon inducer.

9-Benzyl-8-hydroxyadenine (6) was found to possess interferon-inducing activity in vitro as a lead compound. Although replacement of the 9-benzyl group of 6 did not improve the activity, the introduction of a substituent such as alkyl, alkylthio, alkylamino, and alkoxy groups into the 2-position of the adenine ring resulted in a remarkable increase in the activity. The 2-alkylthio (30-32), 2-butylamino (41), and 2-butoxy (47) analogues indicated the highest activities by oral administration to mice.