2-Benzylpiperazine: A new scaffold for potent human carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Synthesis, enzyme inhibition, enantioselectivity, computational and crystallographic studies and in vivo activity for a new class of intraocular pressure lowering agents

Niccolò Chiaramonte, Silvia Bua, Marta Ferraroni, Alessio Nocentini, Alessandro Bonardi, Gianluca Bartolucci, Mariaconcetta Durante, Laura Lucarini, Donata Chiapponi, Silvia Dei, Dina Manetti, Elisabetta Teodori, Paola Gratteri, Emanuela Masini, Claudiu T. Supuran, Maria Novella Romanelli

Index: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.04.002

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Abstract

Two series of 2-benzylpiperazines have been prepared and tested for the inhibition of physiologically relevant isoforms of human carbonic anhydrases (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1). The new compounds carry on one nitrogen atom of the piperazine ring a sulfamoylbenzamide group as zinc-binding moiety, and different alkyl/acyl/sulfonyl groups on the other nitrogen. Regio- and stero-isomers are described. The majority of these compounds showed Ki values in the low-medium nanomolar range against hCA I, II and IV, but not IX. In many instances interaction with the enzyme was enantioselective. The binding mode has been studied by means of X-ray crystallography and molecular modelling. Two compounds, evaluated in rabbit models of glaucoma, were able to significantly reduce intraocular pressure, making them interesting candidates for further studies.