Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2,4-Diaminopyrimidine-Based Antifolate Drugs against Bacillus anthracis

• Main Authors: Baskar Nammalwar, N. Prasad Muddala, Christina R. Bourne, Mary Henry, Philip C. Bourne, Richard A. Bunce, Esther W. Barrow, K. Darrell Berlin, William W. Barrow
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-03-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: Gram-positive bacteria; Bacillus anthracis; 2,4-diaminopyrimidine; Heck reaction; antibiotic resistance; dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR); antifolates
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/3/3231
• ISSN: 1420-3049

Due to the innate ability of bacteria to develop resistance to available antibiotics, there is a critical need to develop new agents to treat more resilient strains. As a continuation of our research in this area, we have synthesized a series of racemic 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-based drug candidates, and evaluated them against Bacillus anthracis. The structures are comprised of a 2,4-diaminopyrimidine ring, a 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl ring, and an N-acryloyl-substituted 1,2-dihydrophthalazine ring. Various changes were made at the C1 stereocenter of the dihydrophthalazine moiety in the structure, and the biological activity was assessed by measurement of the MIC and Ki values to identify the most potent drug candidate.