Lead Optimization of Aryl and Aralkyl Amine-Based Triazolopyrimidine Inhibitors of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase with Antimalarial Activity in Mice
Abstract
Malaria is one of the leading causes of severe infectious disease worldwide, but the maintenance of effective therapy to combat the illness is continually challenged by the emergence of drug resistance. We previously reported identification of a new class of triazolopyrimidine-based Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) inhibitors with antimalarial activity, leading to the discovery of a new lead series and novel target for drug development. Active compounds from the series contained a triazolopyrimidine ring attached to an aromatic group through a bridging nitrogen atom. This article describes systematic efforts to optimize the aromatic functionality with the goal of improving potency and in vivo properties of compounds from the series. These studies led to the identification of two new substituted aniline moieties (4-SF<sub>5</sub>-Ph and 3,5-Di-F-4-CF<sub>3</sub>-Ph), which, when coupled to the triazolopyrimidine ring, showed good plasma exposure and better efficacy in the Plasmodium berghei mouse model of the disease than previously reported compounds from the series.
Citation
Bathurst, I.; Buckner, F.S.; Burrows, J.; Charman, S.A.; Charman, W.N.; Creason, S.; Deng, X.Y.; El-Mazouni, F.; Floyd, D.M.; Gujjar, R.; Matthews, D.; Phillips, M.A.; Rathod, P.K.; Shackleford, D.M.; White, J.; White, K.L. Lead Optimization of Aryl and Aralkyl Amine-Based Triazolopyrimidine Inhibitors of iPlasmodium falciparumi Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase with Antimalarial Activity in Mice. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2011) 54 (11) 3935-3949. [DOI: 10.1021/jm200265b]