Abstracts

ARTICLE

Chemical modifications of nimesulide

Sandhya Pericherla; Jyoti Mareddy; Geetha Rani D. P.; Padmavathi V. Gollapudi; Sarbani Pal^* * e-mail: sarbani277@yahoo.com

Department of Chemistry, MNR Post Graduate College, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India

ABSTRACT

We describe here the chemical modifications of nimesulide either via direct N-acylation or via a two-step process involving reduction of the nitro group followed by regioselective acylation/sulfonylation of the resulting arylamine. The acylation step of the second approach was found to be faster than acylation of nimesulide. A number of N-acylated and N-sulfonylated derivatives of N-(4-amino-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide obtained from nimesulide were conveniently prepared in good to excellent yields. Some of the compounds synthesized were tested for cyclooxygenase inhibition and few of them showed selectivity for COX-2.

Keywords: nimesulide, reduction, acylation, sulfonylation, COX-1, COX-2

RESUMO

As modificações químicas da nimesulida via N-acilação direta ou através de um processo em duas etapas, envolvendo redução do grupo nitro seguida da acilação/sulfonilação regiosseletiva da arilamina resultante são descritas. A etapa da acilação do segundo método foi mais rápida do que a acilação da nimesulida. Uma série de derivados N-acilados e N-sulfonilados de N-(4-amino-2-fenóxi fenil)metanossulfonamida, obtidos a partir de nimesulida foram convenientemente preparados com bons a excelentes rendimentos. Alguns dos compostos sintetizados foram testados para inibição da ciclooxigenase e poucos mostraram seletividade para COX-2.

Introduction

Therapeutic effects of commonly used anti-inflammatory agents such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and COX-2 inhibitors are linked to the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) system. COX, catalyzes the first step of biosynthesis of prostanoids, exists in two isoforms e.g. a constitutive form called COX-1 responsible for physiological production of prostaglandins and an inducible form, known as COX-2, which is involved in the inflammation processes.¹ Classical NSAIDs are nonselective inhibitor of COX. Therefore, their long-term use leads to the side effects particularly ulceration. After the discovery of second isoform, COX-2, its selective inhibition is considered as an alternative pharmacotherapeutic approach, which targets selective suppression of pathological processes at a therapeutic dosage without disturbing the normal production of physiologically necessary metabolites of arachidonic acid. Hence, the development of preferential COX-2 inhibitors was necessary and has been considered as a challenging task to improve benefit/risk ratio of NSAIDs. New drugs have been specifically designed to inhibit COX-2, which have equal efficacy but significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects than NSAIDs. The 1,2-diarylheterocycle having a sulfonamide (–SO₂NH₂) or methylsulfone (–SO₂CH₃) group attached at the p-position of any one of the aromatic rings is the frequently used chemical entity for the development of selective COX-2 inhibitors. This is exemplified by the development of celecoxib,² rofecoxib,³ valdecoxib⁴ and its prodrug parecoxib sodium,⁵ etoricoxib⁶ and the most selective COX-2 inhibitor till today, lumiracoxib.⁷ Some of them have already entered either in the US or European market. Thus, identification and commercialization of these selective inhibitors, collectively called 'coxibs', is considered as a real breakthrough in the area of anti-inflammation research. Despite their grand commercial success, rofecoxib and valdecoxib were withdrawn recently due to its adverse cardiovascular side effects⁸ raising concerns regarding the safety of other coxibs. Interestingly, celecoxib, the first drug launched in the market is still in patient's use and it seems that there are perhaps striking differences among various COX-2 inhibitors concerning cardiovascular risk. Celecoxib is thought to exhibit markedly lower cardiovascular risk than rofecoxib, perhaps based on a lower COX-2/COX-1 selectivity ratio and the potential to improve endothelial function.

However, it has been reported that some of the coxibs possessing sulfonamide moiety can inhibit carbonic anhydrase II.⁹ Hence new COX-2 inhibitors that are chemically different from the 1,2-diaryl class but at the same time possessing more enzyme specificity and less adverse side effects are required. The diaryl or aryl-heteroaryl ethers and thioethers are also known to be selective inhibitors of COX-2. This class of COX-2 inhibitors (Figure 1) includes N-(4-nitro-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide or nimesulide (1) , NS-398 (2), flosulide (3), and L-745,337 (4).^10-13 Nimesulide was introduced in 1985 and since then a large number of analogues have been synthesized by changing (i) the R group of the NHSO₂R moiety, (ii) the substituent at C-2 position e.g. aryloxy group by arylsulfanyl group, (iii) the electron withdrawing group at the C-4 position e.g. nitro by carboxy, ethoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, cyano, aminosulfonyl or trifluoromethyl group and (iv) the central aryl ring by pyridine and pyridinium moiety.^14-16 All the members of this class of COX-2 inhibitors can be represented by a general structure 8 as shown in the Figure 1.

It was observed that when the electron withdrawing group was incorporated in the form of conformationally restricted cyclic ketones (see 3 and 4, Figure 1) and lactones (see 5, 6 and 7, Figure 1) some of them showed better COX-2 inhibiting properties and improved oral bioavailability.¹⁷ Interestingly, in all these cases the structure activity relationship (SAR) study focused on the several structural modifications maintaining the electron withdrawing group (EWG) directly attached at the C-4 position of the central aryl ring. We therefore, became interested in attaching the EWG one atom away from the C-4 position and to study its subsequent effect on COX inhibition. Additionally, while the replacement of methyl group of NHSO₂CH₃ of nimesulide by a trifluoromethyl (CF₃) moiety has been reported,¹⁶ the role of acidic NH of methane sulfonamide moiety on anti-inflammatory activities, however, has not been studied extensively. Considering all these aspects and in continuation of our research on the development of novel anti-inflammatory agents we have prepared a number of chemically modified derivatives of nimesulide some of which showed interesting COX inhibiting properties. Our plan was to develop new COX-2 inhibitors other than "coxibs" with lower COX-2/COX-1 selectivity ratio that might lead to better safety profile.

Result and Discussion

Our strategy to develop new COX inhibitors is based on the chemical modifications of nimesulide either via direct N-acylation or via a two-step process involving reduction of the nitro group followed by regioselective acylation/sulfonylation of the resulting arylamine. The synthesis of N-acylated compounds of nimesulide (9a-b) is shown in Scheme 1. These acylation reactions were carried out under homogeneous reaction conditions employing acyl chlorides in pyridine at 25 ºC to afford the desired products in good yields. The structure of all compounds synthesized was confirmed by spectroscopic methods.

The synthesis of N-acylated compounds 11a-11g is shown in Scheme 2. N-(4-amino-2-phenoxy phenyl) methanesulfonamide 10, a reduced form of nimesulide 1 was efficiently prepared from N-(4-nitro-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide (nimesulide 1) by using Sn and HCl. The reaction was carried out at 90 ºC for 3h and the reduced product 10 was isolated in quantitative yield. The amino group of 10 was found to be highly reactive towards acylation and arylsulfonation reaction. Thus compound 10 was converted to the corresponding acylated or arylsulfonated derivative easily at room temperature as shown in Scheme 2. Results of our acylation and arylsulfonation reaction are listed in Table 1.

As indicated in Table 1 that acylation of nimesulide requires longer reaction time and higher temperature than its reduced form 10 (entries 1-2 vs. 3-9, Table1) where reaction took place at the free NH₂ group instead of NHSO₂CH₃ moiety (see later for mechanistic discussion). A variety of acyl chlorides (RCOCl; R = alkyl, aryl) were reacted with 10 and the acylated products 11a-g were isolated in good to excellent yield (72-91%). These reactions were normally completed within 8-15 min irrespective of the acyl chlorides used (entries 3-9, Table 1). Yields of products were also found to be excellent when arylsulfonyl chlorides were reacted with 10 (entries 10 and 11, Table1). All the compounds synthesized were well characterized by ¹H NMR, IR and MS. In the IR spectra of all the compounds carbonyl-stretching bands of amide was seen in the region of 1650-1680 cm^-1. In the ¹H NMR spectra SO₂CH₃ group appeared near d 3.5 ppm.

We have carried out chemical modifications of nimesulide via direct acylation or via reduction followed by acylation/sulfonylation to afford a variety of analogues. Many of these compounds were tested against cyclooxygenase enzyme in vitro¹⁸ and all of them showed inhibitory effects especially against COX-2. Compound 11d and 12a showed 2 and 4 fold selectivity for COX-2 over COX-1 inhibition. At the concentration of 100 mmol L^-1 both the compounds showed 47% and 61% inhibition against COX-2 (with the standard deviation ±5.0). The moderate COX-2 selectivity shown by 11d and 12a could be beneficial as this might lead to the identification of COX-2 inhibitors with better safety profile. Interestingly, compound 11c was identified as nonselective inhibitor and compound 11e as COX-1 selective inhibitor (with the % inhibition noted as 51±7 and 38±4 at 100 mmol L^-1 against COX-1 and COX-2 respectively). Overall, the present study indicated that a new class of diaryl ethers could be generated via chemical modifications of nimesulide without affecting their COX inhibiting properties and COX-2 selectivity could be modulated via proper modifications.

Mechanistically, the acylation of nimesulide proceeds via generation of an anion from the methansulfonamide moiety (i.e.–N^–SO₂Me) followed by its subsequent nucleophillic attack on the carbonyl group of acyl chloride-pyridine complex generated in situ. This anion generation is facilitated due to the resonance stabilization of the resulting anion caused by the electron withdrawing nitro group. However, in case of compound 10 due to the higher reactivity of NH₂ group over NHSO₂Me moiety towards acylation/sulfonylation reaction it does not require generation of anion and therefore, participates in the reaction at lower temperature to afford 11 or 12. A further acylation or sulfonylation was not observed in case of 11 or 12 respectively due to the lack of resonance stabilization of the anion generated in these cases compared to that of nimesulide.

Conclusions

In conclusion we have described design and synthesis of a number of diaryl ether derivatives of potential biological significance via chemical modifications of a commonly used anti-inflammatory agent nimesulide. These derivatives were prepared from nimesulide either via direct N-acylation or via a two-step process involving reduction followed by regioselective acylation/sulfonylation of the resulting compound 10 N-(4-amino-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide. The acylation step of the second approach was found to be faster than acylation of nimesulide. The amino group was acylated or sulfonylated in case of 10 whereas –NHSO₂Me moiety was acylated in case of nimesulide. A variety of N-acylated and N-sulfonylated derivatives of 10 were conveniently prepared for the first time in good to excellent yields. Some of the compounds synthesized showed moderate selectivity for COX-2 inhibition over COX-1 when tested against cyclooxygenase enzyme in vitro.

Experimental

General methods

Reactions were monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel plates (60 F254), visualizing with ultraviolet light or iodine spray. Flash chromatography was performed on silica gel (60-120 mesh) using distilled petroleum ether and ethyl acetate. ¹H NMR spectra were determined in DMSO-d₆ solution on 200 MHz spectrometers. Proton chemical shifts (d) are relative to tetramethylsilane (TMS, d = 0.00) as internal standard and expressed in ppm. Spin multiplicities are given as s (singlet), d (doublet) and m (multiplet) as well as b (broad). Coupling constants (J) are given in hertz. Infrared spectra were recorded on a FT-IR spectrometer. Melting points were determined by using melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. MS spectra were obtained on a JMS-D 300 spectrometer. Elemental analyses were performed on a Perkin-Elmer 240C analyzer.

Synthesis of 9

To a stirred solution of nimesulide (3 g, 9.7 mmol), in dry pyridine (0.5 mol L^-1 solution of substrate) was added freshly distilled acyl chloride (2 equiv.) at 25 ºC. The mixture was then stirred at 25 ºC for 4-6 h, poured into water (20 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3 × 25 mL). Organic layers were collected, combined and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The crude solid was purified by column chromatography using ethyl acetate-xylene mixture and finally by recrystalisation from chloroform-xylene to afford the desired product.

Synthesis of 11 and 12

N-(4-amino-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide (1 g, 3.56 mmol) was dissolved in dry chloroform and triethylamine (0.6 mL) was added to it. The solution was cooled to 0 ºC and acyl chloride (3.56 mmol) was added drop wise with stirring. The reaction mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, poured into water (20 mL) and extracted with chloroform (3 × 25 mL). Organic layers were collected, combined, washed with 10% HCl (10 mL) followed by water (2 × 10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by re-crystallization from chloroform-ethyl acetate mixture.

N-Acetyl-N-(4-nitro-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide (9a)

White solid; mp 119 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 1716, 1586, 1531, 1487, 1354, 1234 and 1162; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 8.02 (dd, J 8.8 & 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.7-7.1 (m, 7H), 3.45 (s, 3H), 2.12 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 351 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 51.62; H, 4.12; N, 7.80; C₁₅H₁₄N₂O₆ S requires C, 51.42; H, 4.03; N, 8.00.

N-Benzoyl-N-(4-nitro-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide (9b)

White solid; mp 186 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 1679, 1549, 1530,1488, 1358, 1254 and 1166; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 7.94 (dd, J 8.4 & 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J 8.8 Hz), 7.5-7.2 (m, 8H), 6.68 (d, J 5.5 Hz, 2H), 3.56 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 414 (M⁺+1, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 58.48; H, 3.76; N, 6.97; C₂₀H₁₆N₂O₆ S requires C, 58.25; H, 3.91; N, 6.79.

N-(4-Amino-2-phenoxy phenyl)methanesulfonamide (10)

To a mixture of nimesulide (5 g, 16.2 mmol) and tin (3.13 g) was added conc. HCl (20 mL) and the mixture was heated on a water bath at 90 ºC for 3h. After the completion of the reaction the mixture was poured into ice water and the solid separated was filtered. After basification the crude product obtained was purified by re-crystallization from methanol and chloroform mixture to give the desired product as light brown solid; mp 198 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3412, 1572, 1487, 1215 and 1154; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 9.2 (s, 1H), 7.4 (m, 2H), 7.3 (d, J 8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.2 (m, 2H), 6.8 (d, J 8.6 Hz, 1H), 6.5 (s, 1H), 3.5 (br s, 2H), 3.1 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 279.1 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 56.25; H, 5.07; N, 10.26; C₁₃H₁₄N₂O₃ S requires C, 56.10; H, 5.07; N, 10.06.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl)-acetamide (11a)

White solid; mp 106 ºC; IR (KBr ) n_max/ cm^-1: 1673, 1590; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 9.9 (s, 1H), 9.2 (s, 1H), 7.41 (m, 2H), 7.3 (s, 2H), 7.2 (m, 2H), 7.1 (d, J 7.8 Hz, 2H), 2.9 (s, 3H), 1.9 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 321 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 56.46; H, 5.17; N, 8.90; C₁₅H₁₆N₂O₄ S requires C, 56.24; H, 5.03; N, 8.74.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl) propionamide (11b)

Light brown solid; mp 136 ºC; IR (KBr ) n_max/ cm^-1: 3318, 3264, 1654 and 1611; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 7.55 (d, J 8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.39-7.10 (m, 5H), 7.00 (d, J 8.1 Hz, 2H), 6.67 (s, 3H), 2.24 (q, J 7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.19 (t, J 7.5 Hz, 3H); Mass (m/z) 335 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 57.41; H, 5.26; N, 8.53; C₁₆H₁₈N₂O₄ S requires C, 57.47; H, 5.43; N, 8.38.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl) benzamide (11c)

Pale yellow solid; mp 170 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3328, 3249, 1655; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 7.8-7.0 (m, 14H), 6.7 (s, 1H), 2.98 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 383.2 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 62.77; H, 4.87; N, 7.28; C₂₀H₁₈N₂O₄ S requires C, 62.81; H, 4.74; N, 7.33.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl)-4-methoxybenzamide (11d)

White solid; mp 146 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/cm^-1: 3316,1655, 1589; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 10.12 (s, 1H), 9.24 (s, 1H), 7.89 (d, J 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.5 (d, J 2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.46-7.01 (m, 10H), 3.8 (s, 3H), 3.0 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 412.5 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 61.36; H, 4.95; N, 6.86; C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₅ S requires C, 61.15; H, 4.89; N, 6.79.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl)-4-nitrobenzamide (11e)

Off white solid; mp 174 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3306, 1648, 1588; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 10.5 (s, 1H), 9.3 (s, 1H), 8.3 (d, J 8.5 Hz, 2H), 8.1 (d, J 8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.5 (dd, J 8.6 & 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.3- 7.0 (m, 3H), 2.9 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 428.1 (M⁺¹, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 56.29; H, 4.17; N, 9.62; C₂₀H₁₇N₃O₆ S requires C, 56.20; H, 4.01; N, 9.83.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl)-2-methylbenzamide (11f)

White solid; mp 122 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3331, 3255, 1659; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 10.3 (s, 1H), 9.2 (s, 1H), 7.0-7.8 (m, 12H), 2.9 (s, 3H), 2.2 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 397 (M⁺, 100%). Elemental analysis found C, 63.76; H, 4.98; N, 7.21; C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄ S requires C, 63.62; H, 5.08; N, 7.07.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl)-2-chlorobenzamide (11g)

Buff coloured solid; mp 76 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3293, 1651, 1603; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 7.83 (s, 1H), 7.71 (d, J 7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (d, J 8.9 Hz, 1H), 7.43-7.33 (m, 7H), 7.04 (d, J 8.1Hz, 1H), 6.72 (s, 1H), 2.9 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 416 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 57.78; H, 4.19; N, 6.93; C₂₀H₁₇ClN₂O₄ S requires C, 57.62; H, 4.11; N, 6.72.

N-[4-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenylsulfamoyl) phenyl] acetamide (12a)

White solid; mp 186 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3231, 3315, 1658, 1604; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆ ) d 9.87 (s, 1H), 9.77 (s, 1H), 8.17 (s, 1H), 6.74-7.78 (m, 12H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.89 (s, 3H), 9.77 (s, 1H), Mass (m/z) 476 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 53.18; H, 4.25; N, 8.95; C₂₁H₂₁N₃O₆ S₂ requires C, 53.04; H, 4.45; N, 8.84.

N-(4-Methanesulfonylamino-3-phenoxy phenyl]-4-methyl benzenesulfonamide (12b)

White solid; mp 142 ºC; IR (KBr) n_max/ cm^-1: 3331, 3230, 1659, 1590; ¹H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO-d₆) d 10.2 (s, 1H), 9.2 (s, 1H), 7.5-6.5 (m, 12H), 2.9 (s, 3H), 2.3 (s, 3H); Mass (m/z) 433 (M⁺, 100%); Elemental analysis found C, 55.74; H, 4.42; N, 6.25; C₂₀H₂₀N₂O₅ S₂ requires C, 55.54; H, 4.66; N, 6.48.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. M. N. Raju, the chairman of M.N.R. Educational Trust for his constant encouragement and support. Authors also thank Professor B. C. Ranu, IACS, Kolkata for spectral support and Professor P. Reddanna and Mr. Anil of Hyderabad Central University, India for biological assays.

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18. Enzyme activity was measured using a chromogenic assay based on oxidation of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) during the reduction of PGG₂ to PGH₂ according to the procedure reported in the literature, see Copeland, R. A.; Williams, J. M.; Giannaras, J.; Nurnberg, S.; Covington, M.; Pinto, D.; Pick, S.; Trzaskos, J. M.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1994, 91, 11202.

Received: September 12, 2006

Web Release Date: March 23, 2007

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