Fluorescence properties and dipole moments of novel fused thienobenzofurans. Solvent and structural effects.

The electronic absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, and fluorescence quantum yields of novel fused thienobenzofurans, including thieno[3,2-b][1]benzofuran (1), [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]furan (2), and [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzofuran (3), were recorded in fourteen solvents of different polarities at room temperature. Compound 2 was not fluorescent. Experimental ground-state dipole moments of compounds 1-3 were measured in benzene at 298 K and compared with the corresponding theoretical dipole moment values.

Design of a partial PPARdelta agonist.

Structure based ligand design was used in order to design a partial agonist for the PPARdelta receptor. The maximum activation in the transactivation assay was reduced from 87% to 39%. The crystal structure of the ligand binding domain of the PPARdelta receptor in complex with compound 2 was determined in order to understand the structural changes which gave rise to the decrease in maximum activation.

Novel selective PPARdelta agonists: optimization of activity by modification of alkynylallylic moiety.

Y-shaped molecules bearing alkynylallylic moieties were found to be potent and selective PPARdelta activators. The alkynylallylic moiety was synthesized from alkyn-1-ols by hydroalumination followed by a cross-coupling reaction. Series of active compounds 6 were obtained by stepwise changing the structure of the known PPARpan agonist 5 into Y-shaped compounds.

Design of potent PPARalpha agonists.

Computational analysis of the ligand binding pocket of the three PPAR receptor subtypes was utilized in the design of potent PPARalpha agonists. Optimum PPARalpha potency and selectivity were obtained with substituents having van der Waals volume around 260. Compound 6 had a PPARalpha potency of 0.

Identification and synthesis of a novel selective partial PPARdelta agonist with full efficacy on lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo.

The aim was to identify a novel selective PPARdelta agonist with full efficacy on free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation in vitro and plasma lipid correction in vivo. Using the triple PPARalpha,gamma,delta agonist 1 as the structural starting point, we wanted to investigate the possibility of obtaining selective PPARdelta agonists by modifying only the acidic part of 1, while holding the lipophilic half of the molecule constant. The structure-activity relationship was guided by in vitro transactivation data using the human PPAR receptors, FFA oxidation efficacy performed in the rat muscle L6 cell line, and in vivo rat pharmacokinetic properties.