Introduction
The antioxidant activity is related with compounds capable of protecting a biological system against the potential harmful effects of oxidative processes. In the last years antioxidant compounds have received increased attention from nutritionists and medical researchers for their potential activities in preventing cancer, cardiovascular disorders, as well as aging [
1]. Several papers have been published on structure-activities analysis of new antioxidant compounds. In this study we report for the first time the synthesis and the
in vitro antinflammatory and antioxidant activities of some new acetamide derivatives. The syntheses of the compounds
30000-4 and
6 (as reported in
Scheme 1) were accomplished using 2-phenylacetic acid derivatives (1 eq) dissolved in dry dichloromethane (DCM, 10 mL). To this solution were added
N,N1-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI, 2 eq) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP, 2 eq) and the mixture was stirred for 20 minutes at rt. After an appropriate 3-phenyl-propylamine (2 eq) was added and the mixture further stirred for 5 h at rt.
Scheme 1.
Synthesis of compounds 30000-4 and 6.
Scheme 1.
Synthesis of compounds 30000-4 and 6.
The synthesis of compound
30005 (
Scheme 2) was achieved using 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-
N-(3-phenylpropyl)acetamide (1 eq) and sodium iodide (2.2 eq) dissolved in acetonitrile (15 mL). Chlorotrimethylsilane (2.2 eq) was added to the solution which was stirred for 16 h at reflux.
Scheme 2.
Synthesis of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl)acetamide (30005).
Scheme 2.
Synthesis of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl)acetamide (30005).
The synthesis of compound
30007 (
Scheme 3) was accomplished using 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-
N-(3-phenylpropyl) acetamide (1 eq) and zinc powder (10 eq) dissolved in EtOH (10 mL). Conc. HCl (1 eq) was added to the solution and cooled to -10 °C.
The synthesis of the compounds
40000-4 and
6 (
Scheme 4) were done using 2-phenylacetic acid derivatives (1 eq) dissolved in dry DCM (10 mL); afterwards CDI (2 eq) and DMAP (0.5 eq) were added to the solution that was stirred for 20 minutes at rt. Thereafter was added 3,3-diphenylpropan-1-amine (1 eq) and the mixture stirred for 24 h at rt.
Scheme 3.
Synthesis of 2-(aminophenyl)-2-phenyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl)acetamide (30007).
Scheme 3.
Synthesis of 2-(aminophenyl)-2-phenyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl)acetamide (30007).
Scheme 4.
Synthesis of compounds 40000-4 and 6.
Scheme 4.
Synthesis of compounds 40000-4 and 6.
The synthesis of compound
40005 (
Scheme 5) was achieved using
N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (1 eq) and sodium iodide (3 eq) dissolved in acetonitrile (35 mL). To the solution heated to 23 °C was added chlorotrimethylsilane (2.2 eq) and the mixture was stirred for 16 h at reflux.
Scheme 5.
Synthesis of N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide (40005).
Scheme 5.
Synthesis of N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide (40005).
The synthesis of compound
40007 (
Scheme 6) was accomplished using
N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl) acetamide (1 eq) and zinc powder (10 eq) dissolved in EtOH (40 mL). Conc. HCl (1 eq) was added to the solution and it was cooled to -10 °C.
Scheme 6.
Synthesis of 2-(4-aminophenyl)-N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl) acetamide (40007).
Scheme 6.
Synthesis of 2-(4-aminophenyl)-N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl) acetamide (40007).
Experimental
General
All reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich s.r.l. (Milan, Italy). The reactions were monitored by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), using Whatman K6F silica gel on aluminum and alumina (Merck) plates with fluorescence indicators and appropriate solvents. A >95% purity could be inferred from the 1H-NMR spectra. Melting points were taken on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. The organic extracts were dried over sodium sulphate dry (Merck). 1H-NMR spectra were recorded with a Bruker Advance 300 MHz spectrometer, using CDCl3 as solvent. Mass spectrometry analysis ESI-MS was cwrried out on a Finningan LCQ Deca ion trap instrument.
Synthesis of compounds 30000-4 and 6
An appropriate acid was dissolved in dry DCM (10 mL). To this solution were added
N,N1-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI, 0.612 g; 3.78 mmol; FW = 162.15; 2 eq) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP, 0.115 g; 0.94 mmol; FW = 122.17; 2 eq) and the resulting mixture was stirred for 20 minutes at rt. After 3-phenylpropylamine (0.511 g; 3.78 mmol; FW = 135.21; 2 eq) was added and the mixture stirred for 5 h at rt [
2]. To the mixture was added H
2SO
4 (2N) and it was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and the solvent removed by evaporation. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica (Pe/EtOAc 6:4;Pe/EtOAc 4:6). After recrystallization from DCM/Pe, the products were obtained as white crystals
Compound 30000: Yield: 0.390 g (64%); Melting point: 135 °C; MS: m/z 331 (M+ + 2); 329 (M+); 1H-NMR δ 8.0 (s, 1H), 7.39-6.94 (m, 15H), 5.58-5.43 (s, 1H), 3.53-3.30 (t, 2H), 2.68-2.56 (t, 2H), 1.89-1.77 (q, 2H).
Compound 30001: Yield: 0.650 g (70%); Melting point: 125 °C; MS: [M] = 363.9; [M +H+] = 364.9; 1H-NMR δ 7.39-7.04 (m, 14 H), 5.60-5.53 (s, 1H), 4.88 (s, 1H), 3.53-3.37 (q, 2H), 2.68-2.60 (t, 2H), 1.89-1.77 (q, 2H
Compound 30002: Yield: 0.210 g (81%); Melting point: 135 °C; MS: [M – H+] = 407.1; [M + H+] = 409.1; 1H-NMR δ 7.50-7.46 (d, 2H), 7.37-7.10 (m, 12 H), 5.57 (s, 1 H), 4.48 (s, 1 H), 3.40-3.30 (q, 2H), 2.64-2.59 (t, 2H), 1.96-1.82 (p, 2H).
Compound 30003: Yield: 0.640 g (71%); Melting point: 110 °C; MS: (M) 342.2, (m + H+) 345.2; 1H-NMR δ 7.62-7.21 (m, 12 H), 7.18-7.10 (d, 2 H), 5.57 (s, 1 H), 4.90 (s, 1H), 3.38-3.30 (q, 2 H), 2.63-2.57 (t, 2 H), 1.88-1.77 (p, 2 H).
Compound 30004: Yield: 0.640 g (78%); Melting point: 110 °C; MS: [M] = 359.5; [M+H+] = 360.5; 1H-NMR δ 7.64-7.20 (m, 12H), 6.92 (d, 2H), 5.58 (s, 1H), 4.88 (s, 1 H), 3.87 (s, 3 H), 3.40-3.30 (q, 2 H), 2.64-3.57 (t, 2 H), 1.89-1.76 (p, 2 H).
Compound 30006: Yield: 0.600 g (78%); Melting point: 117 °C; MS: [M] = 374.4; [M +H+] = 375.4; 1H-NMR δ 8.40 (d, 2H); 7.70 (d, 2H); 7.45-7.10 (m, 10H); 5.5 (s, 1H); 4.87 (s, 1H); 3.92-3.85 (t, 2H); 3.35-3.28 (q, 2H); 2.34-2.22 (q, 2H).
Synthesis of compounds 30005 and 30007
2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl)acetamide (0.480 g; 1.34 mmol; FW = 359.5; 1 eq) and sodium iodide (0.440 g; 2.95 mmol; FW = 149.89; 2.2 eq) were dissolved in acetonitrile (15 mL). Chlorotrimethylsilane (377 μL; 2.95 mmol; FW = 108.64; d = 0.850; 2.2 eq) was added to the solution and stirred for 16 h at reflux. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic layer was washed with Na2S3O3 and Brine, dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and evaporated. The residue products were purified by column chromatography on silica (Pe/EtOAc 8:2; Pe/EtOAc 7:3). After recrystallization with DCM/Pe , white crystals were obtained (0.310 g; 66%). Melting point: 85 °C. m/z 347.2 (M++ 2); 345.2 (M+). 1H NMR δ 8.80-7.18 (m, 10H); 7.10-7.00 (d, 2H); 6.90-6.77 (d, 2H); 5.67 (s, 1H); 4.82 (s, 1H); 3.89-3.80 (t, 1H); 3.33-3.24 (q, 2H); 2.30-2.20 (q, 2H) (30005) .
2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl) acetamide (0.200 g; 0.53 mmol; FW = 450.5; 1 eq) and zinc powder (0.346 g; 5.3 mmol; FW = 63.93; 10 eq) were dissolved in EtOH (10 mL). HCl conc. (3 mL; 0.53 mmol; FW = 36.46; 1 eq) was added to the solution and cooled to -10 °C. The mixture was stirred and heated at 80 °C for 3h. After was poured into water and NaOH to neutralize the excess of acid, the organic layer was extracted with Et2O, dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and removed by evaporation. The residue products were purified by column chromatography on silica (Pe/EtOAc 1:1). A yellow-orange oil was obtained (0.160 g; 88%). m/z 346.4 (M++ 2); 344.4 (M+). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 7.37-7.19 (m, 8H); 7.15 (d, 2H); 7.05 (d, 2H), 6.68 (d, 2H); 5.59 (s, 1H); 4.48 (s, 1H); 3.68 (s, 2H); 3.36 (q, 2H); 2.63 (t, 2H); 2.10 (p, 2H) (30007).
Synthesis of compounds 40000-4 and 40006
An appropriate acid was dissolved in DCM dry (10 mL) and N1-carbonyldiimidazole CDI (0.541 g; 4.43 mmol; FW = 162.15; 2 eq) and 4-dimethylaminopyridin DMAP (0.134; 1.10 mmol; FW = 122.17; 0.5 eq) were added to the solution and stirred for 20 minutes at rt. Thereafter was added 3,3-diphenylpropan-1-amine (0.936 g; 4.43 mmol; FW = 211.3; 1 eq) and stirred for 24h at rt. To the mixture was added H2SO4 (2N) and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and removed by evaporation. The residue products were purified by column chromatography on silica (Pe/EtOAc 9:1; Pe/EtOAc 8:2; Pe/EtOAc 7:3; Pe/EtOAc 6:4). After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (0.620 g; 85%). [M] = 329; [M+H+] = 330. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 8.0 (s, 1H), 7.41-7.06 (m, 15H), 4.10-4.05 (t, 1H), 3.44 (s, 2H), 3.33-3.20 (t, 2H), 2.19-2.11 (q, 2H) (40000).
After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (0.750 g; 71%). [M] = 363; [M+H+] = 364. 1H NMR ( CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 7.64-6.94 (m, 14H), 5.27 (s, 1H), 3.91 (t, 1H), 3.47 (s, 2H), 3.27-3.16 (t, 2H), 2.29-2.18 (q, 2H) (40001).
After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (0.700 g; 75%). [M] = 407; [M + H+] = 408. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) β 7.80 (d, 2H), 7.32-7.12 (m, 10H), 6.96 (d, 2H), 5.33 (s, 1H), 3.90 (t, 1H), 3.46 (s, 2H), 3.27-3.16 (t, 2H), 2.29-2.19 (q, 2H) (40002).
After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (0.930 g; 82%). Melting point: 110 °C. [M] = 343.5; [M+H+] = 344.5. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 7.30-7.16 (m, 14H), 5.30 (s, 1H), 3.87 (t, 1H), 3.50 (s, 2H), 3.21 (q, 2H), 2.25 (q, 2H) (40003).
After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (80%). [M] = 343.5; [M+H+] = 344.5. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 7.30- 7.16 (m, 14H), 5.30 (s, 1H), 3.87 (t, 1H), 3.50 (s, 2H), 3.21 (q, 2H), 2.25 (q, 2H) (40004).
After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (80%). [M] = 343.5; [M + H+] = 344.5. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 7.30-7.16 (m, 14H), 5.30 (s, 1H), 3.87 (t, 1H), 3.50 (s, 2H), 3.21 (q, 2H), 2.25 (q, 2H) (40006).
Synthesis of compounds 40005 and 40007
N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (1.2 g; 3.4 mmol; FW = 359.5; 1 eq) and sodium iodide (1.5 g; 10.2 mmol; FW = 149.89; 3 eq) were dissolved in acetonitrile (35 mL). To the solution heated to 23 °C was added chlortrimethylsilane (1.1 mL; 10.2 mmol; FW = 108.64; d = 0.850; 2.2 eq) and stirred for 16h at reflux. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethoxyethane, the organic layer was washed with Na2S3O3 and Brine, dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and evaporated. The residue products were purified by column chromatography on silica (Pe/EtOAc 8:2; Pe/EtOAc 7:3; Pe/EtOAc 6:4). After recrystallization with DCM/Pe, white crystals were obtained (0.510 g; 45%). Melting point: 85 °C. m/z 347.2 (M++ 2); 345.2 (M+). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz) δ 8.80-7.18 (m, 10H), 7.10-7.00 (d, 2H), 6.90-6.77 (d, 2H), 5.67 (s, 1H), 4.82 (a, 1H), 3.89-3.80 (t, 1H), 3.33-3.24 (q, 2H), 2.30-2.20 (q, 2H) (40005).
N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl) acetamide (1.00 g; 2.67 mmol; FW = 374.4; 1 eq) and zinc powder (1.75 g; 26.7 mmol; FW = 65.41; 10 eq) were dissolved in EtOH (40 mL). HCl conc. (5 mL; 0.53 mmol; FW = 36.46; 1 eq) was added to the solution and cooled to -10 °C. The mixture was stirred and heated at 80 °C for 3h. Thereafter was poured into water and NaOH to neutralize the excess of acid, the organic layer was extracted with Et2O, dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and removed by evaporation. The residue products were purified by column chromatography on silica (Pe/EtOAc 1:1). Was obtained a yellow-orange oil (0.900 g; 97%). m/z 346.4 (M+ + 2); 344.4 (M+). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 Mhz), δ 7.37-7.19 (d, 2H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 7.05 (m, 8H), 6.68 (d, 2H), 5.59 (s, 1H), 4.84 (s, 1H), 3.68 (s, 2H), 3.36 (q, 2H), 2.63 (t, 2H), 2.10 (q, 2H) (40007).
Antioxidant activity assay by ABTS method
The antioxidant activity of compounds was determined by ABTS method, as previously described [
3,
4]. This method is based on the capacity of different components to scavenge the ABTS radical cation (ABTS
•+) compared to standard antioxidant (Trolox) in dose response curves. Briefly ABTS
•+ radical cation is obtained by reacting ABTS (7 mM) with potassium persulphate; this mixture was stored in the dark for 12-16 h before use. Before the assay, the mixture was diluted in ethanol at a ratio 1:100 to give an absorbance at λ = 734 nm of 0.70 + 0.02. TROLOX was used as standard at a concentration of 1 mg/mL and aliquots of Trolox (0.5 μL, 1 μL, 2 μL, 3 μL, 5 μL and 10 μL ) were added to 1 mL of ethanolic ABTS
•+ to have a standard curve to which all data are referred. All compounds were dissolved in dichloromethane at a concentration of 20 mg/mL and 5 μL were added to ethanolic ABTS
•+ to measure absorbance after 1 min.
Antioxidant activity was carried out in triplicate and expressed as percentage of the absorbance of the uninhibited radical solution according to the equation:
where Abs
0 was the absorbance of uninhibited radical solution and Abs
c is the absorbance measured 1 min after addition of compound to assay. The antioxidant activity of samples was expressed also as T.E.A.C. (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity - μM) [
5].
Brine Shrimps Test
The brine shrimps (
Artemia salina) assay was performed in triplicate with appropriate amounts of samples dissolved in DMSO to reach final concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 ppm, using 10 freshly hatched larvae suspended in 5 mL of artificial sea water [
6]. Briefly, for each dose tested, surviving shrimps were counted after 24 h, and the data analyzed by the Finney program [
7], which affords LD
50 values with 95% confidence intervals.
Analysis of NO2- Production
The murine macrophage cell line, J774.A1, was obtained from American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC). J774.A1 cells were maintained in DMEM supplemented with NaHCO3 (42 mM), hepes (25 mM), penicillin (100 units/mL), streptomycin (100 units/mL), glutamine (2 mM) and foetal calf serum (FCS, 10%) at 37 °C in a 95% air and 5% CO2 atmosphere.
J774.A1 (3.5 × 10
4 cells/well) were plated on 96-well microtiter plates and allowed to adhere at 37 °C in a 5% CO
2 atmosphere for 2 h. To stimulate the expression of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),
E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 6 × 10
3 u/mL) was added to fresh culture medium of J774.A1 with graded concentrations of tested compounds (1–100 μg/mL) added 1h before and simultaneously with LPS challenge. Nitric oxide release, evaluated as nitrite (NO
2-) accumulation in cell culture medium, was evaluated 24 h after LPS stimulation by Griess reagent [
8].
MTT Assay for Antiproliferative Activity
Murine macrophage cells (J774.A1) were maintained as previously indicated. Murine fibrosarcoma cells (WEHI-164) were maintained in adhesion on Petri dishes with DMEM supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS, hepes (25 mM), penicillin (100 u/mL) and streptomycin (100 μg/mL). Human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) were maintained and grown in adhesion on Petri dishes with DMEM supplemented with FCS (10 %), hepes (25 mM), penicillin (100 u/mL) and streptomycin (100 units/mL).
J774.A1, WEHI-164 and HEK-293 (3.5 × 10
4 cells/well) were plated on 96-well microtiter plates and allowed to adhere at 37 °C in a 5 % CO
2 atmosphere for 2 h. Thereafter, the medium was replaced with fresh one (50 μL) and a 75 μL aliquot of each tested compound was added and then the cells incubated for further 72 h. 6-mercaptopurine was used as reference drug. Mitochondrial respiration, an indicator of cell viability, was assessed by the mitochondrial-dependent reduction of [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-phenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) to formazan and cells viability was assessed accordingly to the method of Mosmann [
9]. Briefly 5 μL of MTT (5 mg/mL) were added and the cells were incubated for an additional 3 h. Thereafter, cells were lysed and the dark blue crystals solubilised with 100 μL of a solution containing 50% (v:v) N, N-dimethylformamide, 20 % (w:v) SDS with an adjusted pH of 4.5 [
10]. The optical density (OD) of each well was measured with a microplate spectrophotometer (Titertek Multiskan MCC/340) equipped with a 620 nm filter. The viability of each cell line in response to treatment with tested compounds and 6-mercaptopurine was calculated as: % dead cells = 100−(OD treated/OD control) × 100.
Measurement of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
The accumulation of ROS was evaluated by means of the probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) according to the method described by Le Bel
et al. [
11]. Briefly, J774.A1 cells were seeded at a density of 5 × 10
3 cells/well into 96-well plates and allowed to adhere for 2 h. After cell adhesion, examined compounds (1-100 μg/mL) were added to the culture medium 24 h before and always simultaneously to dichlorofluorescein-diacetate. 2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (H
2DCF-DA, Sigma) was added directly to the growth medium at a final concentration of 5 µM and the cells incubated for 1 h at 37 °C. H
2DCF-DA is a non-fluorescent permeant molecule which diffuses passively into cells; the acetates are then cleaved by intracellular esterases to form H
2DCF which is thereby trapped within the cell. In the presence of intracellular ROS, H
2DCF is rapidly oxidized to the highly fluorescent DCF. Therefore, cells were washed twice with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), placed in fresh medium and treated with
terz-butyl hyproperoxide (tBOH) 3 mM for 30 min and than were placed in a fluorescent microplate reader (LS 55 Luminescence Spectrometer; Perkin Elmer, Beaconsfield, Bucks, UK). Fluorescence was monitored using an excitation wavelength of 490 nm and an emission wavelength of 520 nm. Results were expressed as Relative Fluorescence Units (RFU).