Synthesis and biological activity of aminophthalazines and aminopyridazines as novel inhibitors of PGE2 production in cells.

This Letter reports the synthesis and biological evaluation of a collection of aminophthalazines as a novel class of compounds capable of reducing production of PGE(2) in HCA-7 human adenocarcinoma cells. A total of 28 analogs were synthesized, assayed for PGE(2) reduction, and selected active compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against COX-2 in a cell free assay. Compound 2xxiv (R(1)=H, R(2)=p-CH(3)O) exhibited the most potent activity in cells (EC(50)=0.

Concise Preparation of Novel Tricyclic Chemotypes: Fused Hydantoin-benzodiazepines.

The following article describes a concise synthesis of a collection of 4,5-dihydro-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepines fused to a hydantoin ring. Molecular complexity and biological relevance is high and structures are generated in a mere three steps, employing the Ugi reaction to assemble diversity reagents. The protocol represents a novel UDC (Ugi-deprotect-cyclize) strategy employed in the Ugi-5-component CO(2) mediated condensation, followed by further cyclization under basic conditions, to afford the fused hydantoin.