Synthesis and evaluation of dithiolethiones as novel cyclooxygenase inhibitors

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2009 Jan 15;19(2):459-61. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2008.11.045. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

Abstract

3H-1,2-Dithiole-3-thiones substituted with a 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl (DTBHP) or a 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl group at the C5 position were prepared and their ability to inhibit the cyclooxygenase isoenzymes, COX-1 and COX-2 was evaluated. Both compounds were potent inhibitors of COX-2 (relative to rofecoxib), and while the phenol was a weak inhibitor of COX-1, the methyl ether gave no measurable inhibition. Docking studies of the two compounds into the COX-1 and -2 active sites showed that the methyl ether could only fit in the COX-2 active site whereas the phenol could be docked into both COX-1 and -2. This study reports a new mode for inhibitor binding to COX-1 and -2 and a novel structural scaffold for the development of COX-2 selective inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Models, Molecular
  • Thiones / chemical synthesis*
  • Thiones / chemistry
  • Thiones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Thiones
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2