HK1097841B - Multicyclic compounds and their use as inhibitors of parp, vegfr2 and mlk3 enzymes - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel multicyclic compounds and the use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel multicyclic compounds and their use, for example, for the mediation of enzyme activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP, also called poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, or PARS) is a nuclear enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) chains from NAD⁺ in response to single-stranded DNA breaks as part of the DNA repair process (de Murcia et al. Trends Biochem. Sci. 1994, 19,172; Alvarez-Gonzalez et al. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 1994, 138, 33.). The chromatin-associated protein substrates for ADP-ribosylation, which include histones, DNA metabolizing enzymes and PARP itself, are modified on surface glutamate residues. PARP catalyzes attachment of one ADP-ribose unit to the protein (initiation), followed by polymerization of as many as 200 ADP-ribose monomers (elongation) via 2'-1" glycosidic lineages. In addition, PARP catalyzes branching of the polymer at a lower frequency.

The role of PARP in the DNA repair process is incompletely defined. The binding of PARP to nicked double-stranded DNA is suggested to facilitate the repair process by transiently blocking DNA replication or recombination. The subsequent poly(ADP-n-bosyl)ation of PARP and histones may result in introduction of a substantial negative charge, causing repulsion of the modified proteins from the DNA. The chromatin structure is then proposed to relax, enhancing the access of DNA repair enzymes to the site of damage.

Excessive activation of PARP in response to cell damage or stress is hypothesized to result in cell death (Sims et al. Biochemistry 1983, 22, 5188; Yamamoto et al. Nature 1981, 294, 284). Activation of PARP by DNA strand breaks may be mediated by nitric oxide (NO) or various reactive oxygen intermediates. When the degree of DNA damage is large, PARP may catalyze a massive amount of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, depleting the cell's levels of NAD⁺. As the cell attempts to maintain homeostasis by resynthesizing NAD⁺, levels of ATP may decrease precipitously (since synthesis of one molecule of NAD⁺ requires four molecules of ATP) and the cell may die through depletion of its energy stores.

Activation of PARP has been reported to play a role in cell death in a number of disease states, suggesting that PARP inhibitors would have therapeutic efficacy in those conditions. Enhanced poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation has been observed following focal cerebral ischemia in the rat, consistent with activation of PARP in stroke (Tokime et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1998, 18, 991). A substantial body of published pharmacological and genetic data supports the hypothesis that PARP inhibitors would be neuroprotective following cerebral ischemia, or stroke. Inhibitors of PARP protected against NMDA- or NO-induced neurotoxicity in rat cerebral cortical cultures (Zhang et al., Science 1994, 263, 687; Eliasson et al. Nature Med. 1997, 3, 1089). The degree of neuroprotection observed for the series of compounds directly paralleled their activity as PARP inhibitors.

Inhibitors of PARP may also display neuroprotective efficacy in animal models of stroke. The potent PARP inhibitor DPQ (3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)butoxy]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone) ( Suto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,075 ) provided a 54% reduction in infarct volume in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia (permanent MCAo and 90 min bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery) following i.p. dosing (10 mg/kg) two hours prior to and two hours after the initiation of ischemia (Takahashi et al. Brain Res. 1997, 829, 46). Intracerebroventricular administration of a less potent PARP inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), yielded a 47% decrease in infarct volume in mice following a two hour occlusion of the MCA by the suture thread method (Endres et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1997, 17, 1143). Treatment with 3-AB also enhanced functional recovery 24 hours after ischemia, attenuated the decrease in NAD⁺ levels in ischemic tissues, and decreased the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) polymers as determined by immunohistochemistry. Similarly, 3-AB (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced infarct volume in a suture occlusion model of focal ischemia in the rat (Lo et al. Stroke 1998, 29, 830). The neuroprotective effect of 3-AB (3 - 30 mg/kg, i.c.v.) was also observed in a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model of ischemia in the rat (Tokime et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1998, 18, 991).

The availability of mice in which the PARP gene has been rendered non-functional (Wang, Genes Dev. 1995, 9, 509) has also helped to validate the role of PARP in neurodegeneration. Neurotoxicity due to NMDA, NO, or oxygen-glucose deprivation was virtually abolished in primary cerebral cortical cultures from PARP^-/- mice (Eliasson et al. Nature Med. 1997, 3, 1089). In the mouse suture thread model of ischemia, an 80% reduction in infarct volume was observed in PARP^-/- mice, and a 65% reduction was noted in PARP^+/- mice. In Endres et al. (1997), there was reported a 35% reduction in infarct volume in PARP^-/- mice and a 31 % reduction in PARP^+/- animals. In addition to neuroprotection, PARP^-/- mice demonstrated an improvement in neurological score and displayed increased NAD⁺ levels following ischemia.

Preclinical evidence also exists which suggests that PARP inhibitors may be efficacious in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This is because loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Treatment of experimental animals or humans with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) replicates the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. MPTP activates PARP in the substantia nigra, and mice lacking PARP are resistant to the neurodegenerative effects of MPTP (Mandir et al. Proc. Nat. Acad Sci. 1999, 96, 5774). Similarly, the PARP inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide is reported to attenuate the loss of NAD⁺ in the striatum following administration of MPTP to mice (Cosi et al. Brain Res. 1998, 809, 58).

Activation of PARP has been implicated in the functional deficits that may result from traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. In a controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury, PARP^-/- mice displayed significantly improved motor and cognitive function as compared to PARP^+/+ mice (Whalen et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1999, 19, 835). Peroxynitrite production and PARP activation have also been demonstrated in spinal cord-injured rats (Scott et al. Ann. Neurol. 1999, 45, 120). These results suggest that inhibitors of PARP may provide protection from loss of function following head or spinal trauma.

The role of PARP as a mediator of cell death following ischemia and reperfusion may not be limited to the nervous system. In this connection, a recent publication reported that a variety of structurally distinct PARP inhibitors, including 3-AB and related compounds, reduce infarct size following cardiac ischemia and reperfusion in the rabbit (Thiemermann et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 1997, 94, 679). In the isolated perfused rabbit heart model, inhibition of PARP reduced infarct volume and contractile dysfunction following global ischemia and reperfusion. Skeletal muscle necrosis following ischemia and reperfusion was also attenuated by PARP inhibitors. Similar cardioprotective effects of 3-AB in a rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model were reported by Zingarelli and co-workers (Zingarelli et al. Cardiovascular Research 1997, 36, 205). These in vivo results are further supported by data from experiments in cultured rat cardiac myocytes (Gilad et al. J. Mol. Cell Cardiol. 1997, 29, 2585). Inhibitors of PARP (3-AB and nicotinamide) protected the myocytes from the reductions in mitochondrial respiration observed following treatment with oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, or nitric oxide donors. The genetic disruption of PARP in mice was recently demonstrated to provide protection delayed cellular injury and production of inflammatory mediators following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (Yang et al. Shock 2000, 13, 60). These data support the hypothesis that administration of a PARP inhibitor could contribute to a positive outcome following myocardial infarction. A particularly useful application of a PARP inhibitor might involve administration concurrent with a treatment designed to reperfuse the affected area of the heart, including angioplasty or a clot-dissolving drug such as tPA.

The activity of PARP is also implicated in the cellular damage that occurs in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Activation of macrophages by pro-inflammatory stimuli may result in the production of nitric oxide and superoxide anion, which combine to generate peroxynitrite, resulting in formation of DNA single-strand breaks and activation of PARP. The role of PARP as a mediator of inflammatory disease is supported by experiments employing PARP^-/- mice or inhibitors of PARP in a number of animal models. For example, joints of mice subjected to collagen-induced arthritis contain nitrotyrosine, consistent with generation of peroxynitrite (Szabo et al. J. Clin. Invest. 1998, 100, 723). The PARP inhibitor 5-iodo-6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone reduced the incidence and severity of arthritis in these animals, decreasing the severity of necrosis and hyperplasia of the synovium as indicated by histological examination. In the carrageenan-induced pleurisy model of acute local inflammation, 3-AB inhibited the histological injury, pleural exudate formation and mononuclear cell infiltration characteristic of the inflammatory process (Cuzzocrea et al. Eur. J. Pharmacology 1998, 342, 67).

Results from rodent models of colitis suggest that PARP activation may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (Zingarelli et al. Gastroenterology 1999, 116, 335). Administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid into the lumen of the bowel causes mucosal erosion, neutrophil infiltration, and the appearance of nitrotyrosine. Deletion of the PARP gene or inhibition of PARP by 3-AB decreased tissue damage and attenuated neutrophil infiltration and nitrotyrosine formation, suggesting that PARP inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

A role for PARP in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in models of endotoxic shock has also been proposed (Szabo et al. J. Clin. Invest. 1997, 100, 723). This is because PARP inhibition or genetic deletion of PARP may protect against the decrease in mitochondrial respiration that occurs following treatment of endothelial cells with peroxynitite.

The activation of PARP is involved in the induction of experimental diabetes initiated by the selective beta cell toxin streptozocin (SZ). Substantial breakage of DNA may be induced by SZ, resulting in the activation of PARP and depletion of the cell's energy stores as described above in Yamamoto et al.(1981). In cells derived from PARP^-/- mice, exposure to reactive oxygen intermediates results in attenuated depletion of NAD⁺ and enhanced cell viability relative to wild-type cells (Heller et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1995, 270, 11176). Similar effects were observed in wild-type cells treated with 3-AB. Subsequent studies in mice treated with SZ indicated that deletion of the PARP gene provides protection against loss of beta cells (Burkart et al. Nature Med. 1999, 5, 314; Pieper et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 1999, 96, 3059). These observations support the hypothesis that an inhibitor of PARP may have therapeutic utility in the treatment of type I diabetes.

Another potential therapeutic utility of PARP inhibitors involves enhancement of the anti-tumor activity of radiation or DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents (Griffin et al. Biochemie 1995, 77, 408). Since polyADP-ribosylation occurs in response to these treatments and is part of the DNA repair process, a PARP inhibitor might be expected to provide a synergistic effect.

Like PARP, protein kinases play a critical role in the control of cells. In particular, kinases are known to be involved in cell growth and differentiation. Aberrant expression or mutations in protein kinases have been shown to lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation, such as malignant tumor growth, and various defects in developmental processes, including cell migration and invasion, and angiogenesis. Protein kinases are therefore critical to the control, regulation, and modulation of cell proliferation in diseases and disorders associated with abnormal cell proliferation. Protein kinases have also been implicated as targets in central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, bone diseases such as osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, thrombosis, metabolic disorders such as diabetes, and infectious diseases such as viral and fungal infections.

One of the most commonly studied pathways involving kinase regulation is cellular signaling from receptors at the cell surface to the nucleus. Generally, the pattern of expression, ligand availability, and the array of downstream signal transduction pathways that are activated by a particular receptor, determine the function of each receptor. One example of a pathway includes a cascade of kinases in which members of the growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases deliver signals via phosphorylation to other kinases such as Src tyrosine kinase, and the Raf, Mek and Erk serine/threonine kinase families. Each of these kinases is represented by several family members that play related but functionally distinct roles. The loss of regulation of the growth factor signaling pathway is a frequent occurrence in cancer as well as other disease states (Fearon, Genetic Lesions in Human Cancer, Molecular Oecology 1996, 143-178).

One receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathway includes the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor kinase. It has been shown that binding of VEGF to the receptor VEGFR2 affects cell proliferation. For instance, binding of VEGF to the VEGFR-2/flt-1 receptor, which is expressed primarily on endothelial cells, results in receptor dimerization and initiation of a complex cascade which results in growth of new blood vessels (Korpelainen and Alitalo, Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol. 1998, 10, 159). Suppression of formation of new blood vessels by inhibition of the VEGFR tyrosine kinases would have utility in a variety of diseases, including treatment of solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy and other intraocular neovascular syndromes, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and endometriosis.

An additional kinase signal transduction is the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway (Ip and Davis Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 1998, 10, 205). In response to stimuli such as cytokines, osmotic shock, heat shock, or other environmental stress, the pathway is activated and dual phosphorylation of Thr and Tyr residues within a Thr-Pro-Tyr motif of the c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) is observed. Phosphorylation activates the JNKs for subsequent phosphorylation and activation of various transcription factors, including c-Jun, ATF2 and ELK-1.

The JNKs are mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that are encoded by three distinct genes, jnk1, jnk2 and jnk3, which can be alternatively spliced to yield a variety of different JNK isoforms (Gupta et al., EMBO J 1996, 15, 2760). The isoforms differ in their ability to interact with and phosphorylate their target substrates. Activation of JNK is performed by two MAPK kinases (MAPKK), MKK4 and MKK7. MKK4 is an activator of JNK as well as an additional MAPK, p38, while MKK7 is a selective activator of JNK. A number of MAPKK kinases are responsible for activation of MKK4 and MKK7, including the MEKK family and the mixed lineage kinase, or MLK family. The MLK family is comprised of six members, including MLK1, MLK2, MLK3, MLK6, dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) and leucine zipper-bearing kinase (LZK). MLK2 is also known as MST (Katoh, et al. Oncogene, 1994, 10, 1447). Multiple kinases are proposed to be upstream of the MAPKKKs, including but not restricted to germinal center kinase (GCK), hematopoietic progenitor kinase (HPK), and Rac/cdc42. Specificity within the pathway is contributed, at least in part, by scaffolding proteins that bind selected members of the cascade. For example the JNK interacting protein-1 (JIP-1) binds HPK1, DLK or MLK3, MKK7 and JNK, resulting in a module which enhances JNK activation (Dickens et al. Science 1997, 277, 693).

Manipulation of the activity of the SAPK pathway can have a wide range of effects, including promotion of both cell death and cell survival in response to various pro-apoptotic stimuli. For example, down-regulation of the pathway by genetic disruption of the gene encoding JNK3 in the mouse provided protection against kainic acid-induced seizures and prevented apoptosis of hippocampal neurons (Yang et al. Nature 1997, 389, 865). Similarly, inhibitors of the JNK pathway such as JIP-1 inhibit apoptosis (Dickens, supra). In contrast, the activity of the JNK pathway appears to be protective in some instances. Thymocytes in which MKK4 has been deleted display increased sensitivity to CD95- and CD3 mediated apoptosis (Nishina et al. Nature 1997, 385, 350). Overexpression of MLK3 leads to transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts (Hartkamp et al. Cancer Res. 1999, 59, 2195).

An area the present invention is directed toward is identification of compounds that modulate the MLK members of the SAPK pathway and promote either cell death or cell survival. Inhibitors of MLK family members would be anticipated to lead to cell survival and demonstrate therapeutic activity in a variety of diseases, including chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease and acute neurological conditions such as cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injury and spinal injury. Inhibitors of MLK members leading to inhibition of the SAPK pathway (JNK activity) would also display activity in inflammatory diseases and cancer.

An additional member of the MAP kinase family of proteins is the p38 kinase. Activation of this kinase has been implicated in the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF. Inhibition of this kinase could therefore offer a treatment for disease states in which disregulated cytokine production is involved.

The signals mediated by kinases have also been shown to control cell growth, cell death and differentiation in the cell by regulating the processes of the cell cycle. A family of kinases called cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) controls progression through the eukaryotic cell cycle. The loss of control of CDK regulation is a frequent event in hyperproliferative diseases and cancer.

Inhibitors of kinases involved in mediating or maintaining particular disease states represent novel therapies for these disorders. Examples of such kinases include Src, raf, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 1, 2, and 4 and the checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Cds1 in cancer, CDK2 or PDGF-R kinase in restenosis, CDK5 and GSK3 kinases in Alzheimer's Disease, c-Src kinase in osteoporosis, GSK3 kinase in type-2 diabetes, p38 kinase in inflammation, VEGFR 1-3 and TIE-1 and -2 kinases in angiogenesis, UL97 kinase in viral infections, CSF-1R kinase in bone and hematopoietic diseases, and Lck kinase in autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection.

A variety of compounds which are described as PARP or kinase inhibitors have been reported in the literature including Banasik et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1992, 267, 1569 and Banasik et al. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 1994, 138, 185. Many other PARP inhibiting compounds have been the subject of patents. For example, compounds that are described as PARP inhibitors are disclosed in WO 99/08680 , WO 99/11622 , WO 99/11623 , WO 99/11624 , WO 99/11628 , WO 99/11644 , WO 99/11645 , WO 99/11649 , WO 99/59973 , WO 99/59975 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,384 .

Structurally related compounds, which are described as having activities other than PARP inhibition, are disclosed in WO 99/47522 , EP 0695755 , and WO 96/28447 . Other structurally related compounds, their syntheses and precursors are disclosed in Piers et al. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 530, Berlinck et al. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 9850, McCort et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 6211, Mahboobi et al. Tetrahedron 1996, 52, 6363, Rewcastle et al. J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 918, Harris et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 8361, Moody et al. J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57, 2105, Ohno et al. Heterocycles 1991, 32, 1199, Eitel et al. J. Org. Chem. 1990, 55, 5368, Krutoíková et al. Coll. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1988, 53, 1770, Muchowski et al. Tetrahedron Lett. 1987, 28, 3453, Jones et al. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. I 1984, 2541, Noland et al. J. Org. Chem. 1983, 48, 2488, Jones et al. J. Org. Chem. 1980, 45, 4515, Leonard et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1976, 98, 3987, Rashidan et al. Arm. Khim. Zh. 1968, 21, 793, Abrash et al. Biochemistry 1965, 4, 99, U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,709 , U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,107 , EP 0768311 , JP 04230385 , WO 99/65911 , WO 99/41276 , WO 98/09967 , and WO 96/11933 .

Because of the potential role in therapeutically treating neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, and other PARP and kinase related diseases, PARP and kinase inhibitors are an important class of compounds requiring further discovery, exploration, and development. Although, a wide variety of PARP and kinase inhibitors are known, many suffer from problems such as toxicity, poor solubility, and limited efficacy, which prevent practical therapeutic use and preclude further development into effective drugs. Thus, there is a current and immediate need for new PARP and kinase inhibitors for the treatment of PARP and kinase related diseases. The present invention is directed to this, as well as other important ends.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a compound of formula 14b: and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

The present invention further encompasses a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, for inhibiting PARP, VEGFR2, or MLK3 activity by means of contacting said PARP, VEGFR2, or MLK3 with compound 14b.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is provided for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, or Alzheimer's disease. This treatment or prevention comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula 14b to a mammal.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is provided for treating traumatic central nervous system injuries or preventing neuronal degradation associated with traumatic central nervous system injuries. This treatment comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula 14b to a mammal.

In another aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is provided for treating cerebral ischemia, cardiac ischemia, inflammation, endotoxic shock, or diabetes. This treatment comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula 14b to a mammal.

In a yet further aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is provided for suppressing the formation of blood vessels in a mammal. This suppression comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula 14b to a mammal.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is provided for treating cellular proliferative disorders such as cellular proliferative disorders related to solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy, intraocular neovascular syndromes, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or endometriosis. This treatment comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula 14b to a mammal.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a compound of formula 14b and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof is provided for treating cancer in a mammal. This treatment comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula 14b to a mammal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Figure 1 shows a schematic including a compound and precursors thereto.
• Figure 2 shows a general synthetic strategy for preparing compounds.
• Figure 3 shows another general synthetic strategy for preparing compounds.
• Figure 4 shows yet another general synthetic strategy for preparing compounds.
• Figure 5 shows still another general synthetic strategy for preparing compounds.
• Figure 6 shows yet another general synthetic strategy for preparing compounds.
• Figure 7 shows a synthetic strategy for preparing benzimidazole derivatives.
• Figure 8 shows a synthetic strategy for preparing compounds.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed, in part, to new multicyclic compounds that may be highly useful in connection with the inhibition of PARP, VEGFR2, MLK3, or other enzymes. The new compounds are described in more detail below.

Specifically, the present invention relates to the novel multicyclic compound of formula 14b.

The term "alkyl", as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to a saturated straight, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon of C₁ to C₂₀. Alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, adamantyl, 3-methylpentyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, and 2,3-dimethylbutyl.

The term "lower alkyl," as used herein, and unless otherwise specified, refers to a C₁ to C₆ saturated straight chain, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon. Lower alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, cyclohexyl, 3-methylpentyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, and 2,3-dimethylbutyl.

The terms "cycloalkyl" and "C_n cycloalkyl" are meant to refer to a monocyclic saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbon group. The term "C_n" in this context, wherein n is an integer, denotes the number of carbon atoms comprising the ring of the cycloalkyl group. For instance, C₆ cycloalkyl indicates a six-membered ring. The bonds connecting the endocyclic carbon atoms of a cycloalkyl group may be single or part of a fused aromatic moiety, so long as the cycloalkyl group is not aromatic. Examples of cycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl.

The terms "heterocycloalkyl" or "C_n heterocycloalkyl" are meant to refer to a monocyclic saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic radical which, besides carbon atoms, contains at least one heteroatom as ring members. Typically, heteroatoms include, but are not limited to, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, selenium, and phosphorus atoms. In this context, the term "C_n," wherein n is an integer, denotes the number of carbon atoms comprising the ring, but is not indicative of the total number of atoms in the ring. For example, C₄ heterocycloalkyl includes rings with five or more ring members, wherein four of the ring members are carbon and the remaining ring members are heteroatoms. In addition, the bonds connecting the endocyclic atoms of a heterocycloalkyl group may be part of a fused aromatic moiety, so long as the heterocycloalkyl group is not aromatic. Examples of heterocycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, 2-pyrrolidinyl, 3-pyrrolidinyl, piperdinyl, 2-tetrahydrofuranyl, 3-tetrahydrofuranyl, 2-tetrahydrothienyl, and 3-tetrahydrothienyl.

The term "aryl," as used herein, and unless otherwise specified, refers to a mono-, di-, tri-, or multinuclear aromatic ring system. Non-limiting examples include phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, and phenanthrenyl.

The term "heteroaryl," as used herein, refers to an aromatic ring system that includes at least one heteroatom ring member. Non-limiting examples are pyrryl, pyridinyl, furyl, pyridyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, pyrimidyl, thienyl, thiophenyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, thiophenyl, benzothienyl, isobenzofuryl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, carbazolyl, benzimidazolyl, isoxazolyl, and acridinyl.

The term "aralkyl," as used herein, is meant to refer to aryl-substituted alkyl radicals such as benzyl, diphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, phenylethyl, and diphenylethyl.

The term "lower aralkyl," as used herein, is meant to refer to aryl-substituted lower alkyl radicals. Non-limiting examples include benzyl, diphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, phenylethyl, and diphenylethyl.

The term "aralkoxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RO- wherein R is an aralkyl group as defined above.

The term "lower aralkoxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RO- wherein R is a lower aralkyl group as defined above.

The term "alkoxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to RO-, wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "lower alkoxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to RO-, wherein R is a lower alkyl group as defined above. Non-limiting examples include methoxy, ethoxy, and tert-butyloxy.

The term "aryloxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to RO-, wherein R is an aryl group as defined above.

The terms "lower alkylamino" and "lower dialkylamino" refer to an amino group that bears one or two lower alkyl substituents, respectively.

The terms "amido" and "carbonylamino," as used herein, are meant to refer to -C(O)N(H)-.

The term "alkylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to -C(O)NR- wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "dialkylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to -C(O)NR'R" wherein R' and R" are, independently, alkyl groups as defined above.

The term "lower alkylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to -C(O)NR- wherein R is a lower alkyl group as defined above.

The term "lower dialkylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to -C(O)NR'R" wherein R' and R" are, independently, lower alkyl groups as defined above.

The terms "alkanoyl" and "alkylcarbonyl," as used herein, refer to RC(O)-wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The terms "lower alkanoyl" and "lower alkylcarbonyl" as used herein, refer to RC(O)- wherein R is a lower alkyl group as defined above. Non-limiting examples of such alkanoyl groups include acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, hydroxyacetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, and 4-methylvaleryl.

The term "arylcarbonyl," as used herein, refers to RC(O)- wherein R is an aryl group as defined above.

The term "aryloxycarbonyl," as used herein, is meant to refer to ROC(O)-wherein R is an aryl group as defined above.

The term "halo," as used herein, refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo.

The term "alkylsulfonyl," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RSO₂- wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "arylsulfonyl," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RSO₂- wherein R is an aryl group as defined above.

The term "alkyloxycarbonylamino," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group ROC(O)N(H)- wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "lower alkyloxycarbonylamino," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group ROC(O)N(H)- wherein R is a lower alkyl group as defined above.

The term "aryloxycarbonylamino," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group ROC(O)N(H)- wherein R is an aryl group as defined above.

The term "sulfonylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group -SO₂C(O)NH-.

The term "alkylsulfonylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RSO₂C(O)NH- wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "arylsulfonylamido," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RSO₂C(O)NH- wherein R is an aryl group as defined above.

The term "lower alkyl ester of phosphonic acid," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group -P(O)(OR')(OR") wherein R' and R" are lower alkyl as defined above.

The term "aryl ester of phosphonic acid," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group -P(O)(OR')(OR") wherein R' and R" are aryl as defined above.

The term "aminocarbonyloxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group RR'N-C(O)-O- wherein R and R' are an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "arylaminocarbonyloxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group Ar-N(R)-C(O)-O- wherein Ar is aryl, as defined above, and R is an alkyl group as defined above.

The term "heteroarylaminocarbonyloxy," as used herein, is meant to refer to the group het-Ar-N(R)-C(O)-O- wherein het-Ar is heteroaryl, as defined above, and R is an alkyl group as defined above.

As used herein, the term "amino acid" means a molecule containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group. It includes an "α-amino acid" which is well known to one skilled in the art as a carboxylic acid that bears an amino functionality on the carbon adjacent to the carboxyl group. Amino acids can be naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring.

"Protected amino acids," as used herein refer to amino acids, as described above, comprising protecting groups. For example, the amino group of an amino acid may be protected with t-butoxycarbonyl or benzyloxycarbonyl groups. In addition, the carboxyl group of the amino acid may be protected as alkyl and aralkyl esters. Furthermore, alcohol groups of amino acids can be protected as alkyl ethers, aralkyl ethers, and silyl ethers.

The term "endocyclically comprising" is meant to describe a cyclic chemical moiety that includes a specified chemical group as a ring forming member. As an example, a furanyl group endocyclically comprises an oxygen atom because the oxygen atom is a member of the ring structure. In the context of the present invention, groups E and F may be combined together with the atoms to which they are attached to form a heterocycloalkyl group. This heterocycloalkyl group may endocyclically comprise the chemical group G, meaning that at least one atom of group G is a ring forming member. As a non-limiting example illustrated below, E and F may be combined together with the atoms to which they are attached to form the heterocycloalkyl group endocyclically comprising group G, wherein G, in this instance, is N(CH₃).

As used herein, the term "therapeutically effective amount" is meant to refer to an amount of compound of the present invention that will elicit a desired therapeutic or prophylactic effect or response when administered according to the desired treatment regimen.

As used herein, the term "contacting" means bringing together, either directly or indirectly, one or more molecules with another, thereby facilitating intermolecular interactions. Contacting may occur in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo.

As used herein, the term "cellular proliferative disorders" is meant to refer to malignant as well as non-malignant cell populations which differ from the surrounding tissue both morphologically and genotypically. Types of cellular proliferative disorders include, for example, solid tumors, cancer, diabetic retinopathy, intraocular neovascular syndromes, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and endometriosis.

All other terms used in the description of compounds of the present invention have their meaning as is well known in the art.

Methods are also disclosed for preparing the multicyclic compounds described herein which are useful as inhibitors of PARP, VEGFR2, and MLK3. The method consists of a multistep synthesis starting with the necessary heterocyclic compounds. For example, Figure 1 outlines the general synthesis of compounds for the case when the heterocyclic starting material is an indole. Specifically, an indole A, which is unsubstituted or substituted in positions 4-7 on the indole ring, is treated serially, for example, with butyllithium, carbon dioxide, t-butyllithium and a ketone B (having substituents B and F) to provide a 2-substituted indolyl tertiary alcohol C. This tertiary alcohol is eliminated, for example, under acidic conditions using hydrochloric acid or toluenesulfonic acid, to afford a substituted 2-vinylindole, D. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of D with a dienophile such as, but not limited to, maleimide (E) affords the cycloaddition intermediate F. Aromatization of the cycloaddition intermediate, for example, with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst such as palladium or platinum or with an oxidant such as DDQ or tetrachloroquinone, produces carbazole G.

Further treatment of G with an alkylating or acylating reagent gives indole-N-substituted carbazole derivatives of the present invention as shown in Figure 2.

Treatment of carbazole G (or the carbazole lactams in Figure 5) with various electrophiles, such as R⁺, affords 3-substituted carbazole derivatives as shown in Figure 3. In this manner, halogen or acyl groups can be introduced, and the halogen can be displaced by various nucleophiles including cyano, as shown in Figure 5. The halogen can also be replaced by various alkyl, aryl, and heteroalkyl groups. The 3-cyano substituent can be reduced to give the 3-aminomethyl substituent which can be alkylated or acylated on the amino group.

When carbazole G contains bromoacetyl or substituted 2-bromoacyl substituents, as shown in Figure 4, the bromine can be displaced by various nucleophiles to give further embodiments of the present invention. Alternately, the 2-bromoacyl group may be reacted with various thioamides to give substituted thiazoles.

As discussed, using substituted indoles as starting material affords functionalized derivatives of G; however, an intramolecular Wittig reaction can also be used to prepare substituted vinyl indoles D. Furthermore, dienophiles other than maleimide (E) may be used in the Diels-Alder reaction, and include for example, dialkyl fumarate, fumaric acid, dialkyl maleate, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate or alkyl 3-cyanoacrylate. The intermediates resulting from cycloaddition with these dienophiles give imides, or the corresponding lactams as shown in Figure 5. For example, anyhdrides, obtained from maleic anhydride cycloaddition or by dehydration of diacids, afford imides when treated with bis(trimethylsilyl)amine or urea. The anhydrides afford six-membered hydrazones when treated with hydrazine. The lactams are obtained by separating the cyano ester isomers, aromatizing each isomer, and reducing the cyano ester to the lactam, as shown in Figure 5. Imides may also be reduced to lactams by well established methods known to those skilled in the art.

Indole-type compounds are prepared according to the scheme shown in Figure 6. Here, substituted vinyl pyrrole starting materials are prepared by the reaction of a pyrrole with an enamine of a ketone as described in the literature (Heterocycles 1974, 2, 575-584). A substituted 2-vinyl pyrrole is reacted with various dienophiles, such as those described above, to afford a cycloaddition intermediate which is a precursor to embodiments of the present invention. A nitrogen protecting group such as a silyl protecting group, particularly triisopropyl silyl, may used throughout as depicted in Figure 6.

Other heterocyclic precursors may be prepared by analogous reactions. For example, a substituted 5-vinyl imidazole is reacted with various dienophiles, such as those described above, to afford a cycloaddition intermediate which can be further modified by reactions well known to those skilled in the art to give benzimidazole precursors. Likewise, for example, a substituted 5-vinyl 1,2,3-triazole or 4-vinyl thiazole can be reacted with various dienophiles as above to also afford cycloaddition intermediates leading to embodiments of the invention. The benzimidazole-type compounds of the present invention can also be prepared according to the method shown in Figure 7, in which preformed benzimidozoles serve as starting materials.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, an optionally substituted 2-vinyl benzofuran or 2-vinyl benzothiophene can be reacted with various dienophiles, such as those listed previously, to afford a cycloaddition intermediate. Modification of the cycloaddition intermediate can lead to imides, lactams, and related compounds.

The compounds of the present invention are PARP inhibitors. The potency of the inhibitor can be tested by measuring PARP activity in vitro or in vivo. A preferred assay monitors transfer of radiolabeled ADP-ribose units from [³²P]NAD⁺ to a protein acceptor such as histone or PARP itself. Routine assays for PARP are disclosed in Purnell and Whish, Biochem. J. 1980, 185, 775.

The compounds of the present invention are also VEGFR2 or MLK3 inhibitors. The potency of the inhibitor can be tested by measuring VEGFR2 or MLK3 activity in vitro or in vivo. A preferred assay for VEGFR2 kinase activity involves the phosphorylation of a protein substrate immobilized on a microtiter plate. The resulting phosphotyrosine residue is detected with an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody conjugated to a europium chelate, allowing quantitation of the product by time-resolved fluorometry. Similar assay method have been employed for the detection of the tyrosine kinase c-src, as described in Braunwalder et al. Anal. Biochem. 1996, 238, 159. A preferred assay method for MLK3 utilizes phosphorylation of a protein substrate, such as myelin basic protein, with [γ-³²P]ATP, followed by isolation of the acid-insoluble ³²P-phosphoprotein product on a filtration plate. Analogous methods were employed for the assay of protein kinase C, as reported in Pitt and Lee, J. Biomol. Screening 1996, 1, 47.

Methods for the inhibition of PARP, . VEGFR2, and MLK3 enzyme activities are also contemplated by the present invention. Enzyme activity can be reduced or inhibited by contacting the enzyme with at least one compound described herein. The contacting can occur either in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo. Contacting can also be promoted by use of contacting media which enhances the rate of mixing of enzyme and inhibitor. Preferred media include waster, water-based solutions, buffered solutions, water-miscible solvents, enzyme-solubilizing solutions, and any combination thereof. Contacting cells containing the enzyme in vivo, preferably employs the inhibitor to be delivered in proximity to the enzyme associated with the cell in a biologically compatible medium. Preferred biologically compatible media include water, water-based solutions, saline, biological fluids and secretions, and any other non-toxic material that may effectively deliver inhibitor to the vicinity of the enzyme in a biological system.

The compounds described herein can be used to prevent or treat the onset or progression of any disease or condition related to PARP activity in mammals, especially humans. Such conditions include traumatic injury to the central nervous system, such as brain and spinal cord injuries, and the neuronal degradation associated with traumatic injury to the central nervous system. Related conditions and diseases treatable by methods of the present invention include vascular strokes, cardiac ischemia, cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases. Other PARP related conditions or diseases treatable by the compounds described herein include inflammation such as pleurisy and colitis, endotoxic shock, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, cardiac ischemia, retinal ischemia, skin aging, chronic and acute pain, hemorrhagic shock, and others. For example, following the symptoms of a stroke, a patient can be administered one or more compounds described herein to prevent or minimize damage to the brain. Patients with symptoms of Alzheimer's, Huntington's, or Parkinson's disease can be treated with compounds of the present invention to halt the progression of the disease or alleviate symptoms. PARP inhibitors may also be used to treat patients suffering from cancer. For instance, cancer patients can be administered the present compounds in order to augment the anti-tumor effects of chemotherapy.

The compounds described herein can be used to prevent or treat the progression of any disease or condition related to kinase activity (such as VEGFR2 or MLK3 activities) in mammals, especially humans. For instance, the compounds described herein may be used to treat conditions related to MLK3 activity such as chronic neurodegenerative diseases as, for example, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, and acute neurological conditions such as cardiac ischemia, cerebral ischemia, as well as traumatic brain and spinal injuries. Further, the compounds described herein, can also be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer related to MLK3 activity. Similarly, the compounds described herein, can be used to inhibit VEGFR2 which may lead to suppression of formation of new blood vessels. Such compounds can therefore be useful in the treatment of conditions associated with new blood vessel formations such as, for example, solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy, and other intraocular neovascular syndromes, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and endometriosis.

The compounds described herein are preferably administered to mammals in a therapeutically effective amount. Dosage may vary depending on the compound, the potency of the compound, the type of disease, and the diseased state of the patient, among other variables. Dosage amount can be measured by administration of premeasured dosing means or unit dosages in the form of tablets, capsules, suppositories, powders, emulsions, elixirs, syrups, ointments, creams, or solutions.

In therapeutic or prophylactic use, PARP or kinase inhibitors may be administered by any route that drugs are conventionally administered. Such routes of administration include intraperitoneal, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal, intracheal, intraventricular, oral, buccal, rectal, parenteral, intranasal, transdermal or intradermal. Administration may be systemic or localized.

Compounds described herein may be administered in pure form, combined with other active ingredients, or combined with pharmaceutically acceptable nontoxic excipients or carriers. Oral compositions will generally include an inert diluent carrier or an edible carrier. Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of the composition. Tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a dispersing agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it can contain, in addition to material of the above type, a liquid carrier such as a fatty oil. In addition, dosage unit forms can contain various other materials that modify the physical form of the dosage unit, for example, coatings of sugar, shellac, or enteric agents. Further, a syrup may contain, in addition to the active compounds, sucrose as a sweetening agent and certain preservatives, dyes, colorings, and flavorings.

Alternative preparations for administration include sterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Examples of nonaqueous solvents are dimethylsulfoxide, alcohols, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Aqueous carriers include mixtures of alcohols and water, buffered media, and saline. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers, such as those based on Ringer's dextrose, and the like. Preservatives and other additives may also be present such as, for example, antimicrobials, anti-oxidants, chelating agents, inert gases, and the like.

Preferred methods of administration of the present compounds to mammals include intraperitoneal injection, intramuscular injection, and intravenous infusion. Various liquid formulations are possible for these delivery methods, including saline, alcohol, DMSO, and water based solutions. The concentration of inhibitor may vary according to dose and volume to be delivered and can range from 1 to 1000 mg/mL. Other constituents of the liquid formulations can include, preservatives, inorganic salts, acids, bases, buffers, nutrients, vitamins, or other pharmaceuticals such as analgesics or additional PARP and kinase inhibitors. Particularly preferred formulations for administration of the present compounds are detailed in the following publications that describe administration of known PARP inhibitors; Kato, T. et al. Anticancer Res. 1988, 8(2), 239, Nakagawa, K. et al. Carcinogenesis 1988, 9, 1167, Brown, D.M. et al. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 1984, 1665, Masiello, P. et al, Diabetologia 1985, 28(9), 683, Masiello, P. et al. Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol. 1990, 69(1), 17, Tsujiuchi, T. et al. Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 1992, 83(9), 985, and Tsujiuchi, T. et. al Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 1991, 82(7), 739.

Compounds of the present invention also may take the form of a pharmacologically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, or metabolite. Pharmacologically acceptable salts include basic salts of inorganic and organic acids, including but not limited to hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulphonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, malic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, mandelic acid and the like.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Measurement of PARP Enzymatic Activity.

PARP activity was monitored by transfer of radiolabeled ADP-ribose units from [³²P]NAD⁺ to a protein acceptor such as histone or PARP itself. The assay mixtures contained 100 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 2 mM DTT, 10 mM MgCl₂, 20 ug/ml DNA (nicked by sonication), 20 mg/ml histone H1, 5 ng recombinant human PARP, and inhibitor or DMSO (< 2.5% (v/v)) in a final volume of 100 uL. The reactions were initiated by the addition of 100 µM NAD⁺ supplemented with 2 uCi [³²P]NAD⁺/mL and maintained at room temperature for 12 minutes. Assays were terminated by the addition of 100 µM of 50% TCA and the radiolabeled precipitate was collected on a 96-well filter plate (Millipore, MADP NOB 50), washed with 25% TCA. The amount of acid-insoluble radioactivity, corresponding to polyADP-ribosylated protein, was quantitated in a Wallac MicroBeta scintillation counter.

Example 2 Measurement of VEGFR2 Kinase Enzymatic Activity

A 96-well FluoroNUNC MaxiSorp plate was coated with 100 µL/well of recombinant human PLC-γ/GST substrate solution at a concentration of 40 µg/mL in Tris-buffered saline (TBS). The VEGFR2 activity was assayed in a 100 µL assay mixture containing 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 30 µM ATP, 10 mM MnCl₂, 0.1% BSA, 2% DMSO, and 150 ng/mL recombinant human baculovirus-expressed human VEGFR2 cytoplasmic domain (prephosphorylated for 60 min at 4°C in the presence of 30 µM ATP and 10 mM MnCl₂ prior to use). The kinase reaction was allowed to proceed at 37°C for 15 min. The europium-labeled anti-phosphotyrosine detection antibody was added at 1:5000 dilution in block buffer (3% BSA in TBST). After 1 hour of incubation at 37°C, 100 µL of enhancement solution (Wallac #1244-105) was added and the plate was gently agitated. After 5 min, the time-resolved fluorescence of the resulting solution was measured using the BMG PolarStar (Model #403) using excitation and emission wavelengths of 340 nm and 615 nm, respectively, a collection delay of 400 µsec and an integration time of 400 µsec.

Example 3 Measurement of MLK3 Enzymatic Activity

The activity assay for MLK3 was performed in Millipore Multiscreen plates. Each 50 µL assay mixture contained 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.0), 1 mM EGTA, 10 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM DTT, 25 mM β-glycerophosphate, 100 µM ATP, 1 µCi [γ-³²P]ATP, 0.1% BSA, 500 µg/mL myelin basic protein, 2% DMSO, various concentrations of test compounds, and 2 µg/mL of baculoviral human GST-MLK1 kinase domain. Samples were incubated for 15 min at 37°C. The reaction was stopped by adding ice-cold 50% TCA and the proteins were allowed to precipitate for 30 min at 4°C. The plates were allowed to equilibrate for 1-2 hours prior to counting in the Wallac MicroBeta 1450 Plus scintillation counter.

Example 4 Determination of IC₅₀ for Inhibitors.

Single-point inhibition data were calculated by comparing PARP, VEGFR2, or MLK3 activity in the presence of inhibitor to activity in the presence of DMSO only. Inhibition curves for compounds were generated by plotting percent inhibition versus log₁₀ of the concentration of compound. IC₅₀ values were calculated by nonlinear regression using the sigmoidal dose-response (variable slope) equation in GraphPad Prism as follows: $y=\mathrm{bottom}+\left(\mathrm{top},-,\mathrm{bottom}\right)/\left(1,+,{10}^{({\mathrm{log\; IC}}_{50}-x)*\mathrm{Hillslope}}\right)$ where y is the % activity at a given concentration of compound, x is the logarithm of the concentration of compound, bottom is the % inhibition at the lowest compound concentration tested, and top is the % inhibition at the highest compound concentration examined. The values for bottom and top were fixed at 0 and 100, respectively. IC₅₀ values were reported as the average of at least three separate determinations.

The following Examples 5 to 10 present PARP, VEGFR2, and MLK3 inhibiting data for compounds of the present invention. IC₅₀ values were determined as described in Examples 1 and 2. For some compounds, inhibiting data is presented as percent inhibition at a specified concentration. Compounds are tabulated together with compound number, substituents, and enzyme inhibition data.

Example 10a PARP inhibiting data for compounds 14a and 14b of formula IV wherein R² is H.

	CO	CO			NH	19

Example 11 Synthesis of starting materials and intermediates.

Methods and materials employed in the synthesis of starting materials, intermediates, and inhibitors are as follows. Thin layer chromatography was performed on silica gel plates (MK6F 60A, size 1 x 3 in, layer thickness 250 mm; Whatman Inc., Whatman House, UK). Preparative thin layer chromatography was performed on silica gel plates (size 20 x 20 in, layer thickness 1000 micron; Analtech, Newark, NJ). Preparative column chromatography was carried out using Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ, silica gel, 40-63 mm, 230-400 mesh. HPLC was rum under the following conditions: 1) solvents; A = 0.1% TFA in water; B = 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile (10 to 100% B in 20 min or 10 to 95% B in 20.5 min), 2) column; zorbax Rx-C8 (4.6 mm x 15 cm), 3) flow rate; 1.6 mL/min. ¹H NMR spectra were recorded on a GE QE Plus instrument (300 MHz) using tetramethylsilane as an internal standard. Electrospray mass spectra were recorded on a VG platform II instrument (Fisons Instruments).

Figure 1 depicts the syntheses of intermediates, precursors, and starting materials for compounds of the present invention. The synthesis of 1a is also depicted therein.

Intermediate C was prepared in the following manner. To a cooled (-78 °C) solution of indole (A, 20g, 171 mmol) in dry THF (80 mL) was slowly (over 30 min) added 2.5 M nBuLi in hexanes (68.40 mL, 171 mmol). The mixture was stirred at -78°C for another 30 min, brought to room temperature and stirred for 10 min and cooled back to -78°C. Carbon dioxide gas was then bubbled into the reaction mixture for 15 min, followed by additional stirring of 15 min. Excess CO₂ (with some concomitant loss of THF) was removed at room temperature from the reaction flask by applying house vacuum. Additional dry THF (25 mL) was added to the reaction mixture that was cooled back to -78 °C. 1.7 M t-BuLi (100.6 mL, 171 mmol) was slowly added to the reaction mixture over 30 min. Stirring was continued for 2 h at -78 °C, followed by slow addition of a solution of cyclopentanone (B, 15.79 g, 188 mmol) in dry THF (80 mL). After an additional stirring of 1h at -78 °C, the reaction mixture was quenched by dropwise addition of water (10 mL) followed by saturated NH₄Cl solution (100 mL). Ethyl ether (300 mL) was added to the flask and the mixture was stirred for 10 min at room temperature. The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO₄), concentrated and triturated with ethyl ether (40 mL). The separated solid was filtered, washed with cold ether and dried under high vacuum to give 22.40 g of compound C as a white solid. Another crop of 4.88 g was obtained from mother liquor and washings. Physical properties include mp 133-141°C; R _f 8.68 min; ¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 8.46 (br. s, 1H), 7.58 (d, 1H), 7.36 (d, 1H), 7.17 (t, 1H), 7.09 (t, 1H), 6.34 (s, 1H), 2.2 - 1.6 (m, 8H). An analytical sample was recrystallized from refluxing methanol-water. Anal. Calcd. for C₁₃H₁₅NO: C, 77.58; H, 7.51; N, 6.96. Found: C, 77.13; H, 7.12; N, 6.96.

Intermediate D was prepared in the following manner. To a solution of compound C (20 g, 99.50 mmol) in acetone (150 mL) was added slowly 2 N HCl (20 mL) over a period of 10 min. The mixture was stirred for another 10 min and water (300 mL) was added to it. On standing, slowly a precipitate appeared. The precipitate was filtered washed with a mixture of water-acetone (2:1, 3 x 50 mL) and dried under vacuum to generate 13.57 g of D that was used in the next step without any further purification. The combined mother liquor and washings, on standing, generated another 3.72 g of white solid. Physical properties for D include; mp 166-167 °C;. ¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 8.12 (br. s, 1H), 7.57 (d, 1H), 7.33 (d, 1H), 7.16 (t, 1H), 7.06 (t, 1H), 6.42 (s, 1H), 6.01 (s, 1H), 2.79 (m, 2H), 2.60 (m, 2H), 2.08 (quintet, 2H). An analytical sample was purified by chromatography on silica gel (hexanes-ether, 80:20). Anal. Calcd for C₁₃H₁₃N: C, 85.21; H, 7.15; N, 7.64. Found: C, 85.08; H, 7.16; N, 7.64.

Intermediate F was prepared in the following manner. A mixture of compound D (13.57 g, 74.20 mmol) and E (14.4 g, 148 mmol) was mixed thoroughly and heated neat at 190 °C in a sealed tube for 1 h, cooled to room temperature, triturated with cold methanol and filtered. The residue was washed several times with cold methanol and dried under high vacuum to generate 10.30 g of compound F that was used in the next step without any further purification. Compound F is characterized as a yellow amorphous solid; ¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.15 (s, 1H), 10.89 (s, I H), 7.65 (d, 1H), 7.23 (d, 2H), 6.91 (m, 2H), 4.24 (d, 1H), 3.30 (m, 2H), 2.60 (m, 1H), 2.14 (m, 1H), 1.92 (m, 1H), 1.45 (m, 3H), 1.13 (m, 1H). MS m/e 279 (M-H)^-.

Compound G (1a, 5,7,8,9,10,11-hexahydrocyclopent[a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-5(6H),7-dione) was prepared in the following manner. A mixture of compound F (10.20 g, 36.42 mmol), DDQ (20.7 g, 91.18 mmol), and toluene (100 mL) was heated at 60 °C in a sealed tube overnight, cooled to room temperature and filtered. The filtrate was washed several times with methanol (total volume 250 mL) to remove all the byproducts. Drying under high vacuum generated 7.8 g of compound G (1a) that was used without any further purification. Compound G, also identified as 1a, occurs as a yellow amorphous solid showing R _t 10.90 min; ¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.80 (s, 1H), 10.90 (s, 1H), 8.70 (s, 1H), 7.50 (m, 2H), 7.20 (t, 1H), 3.25 (2 sets of t, 4H), 2.25 (broad m, 2H); MS m/e 275 (M-H).

The following examples are preparations of precursors and compounds of the present invention.

Comparative Example 62j Preparation of:

A mixture of 5-triisopropylsilyloxy-2-(1-hydroxycyclopentyl)indole (0.4g, 1 mmol) and maleimide (0.15g, 1.6 mmol) in acetic acid were stirred for 24 hours at room temperature. The mixture was concentrated at reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in methylene chloride, washed with 10% NaHCO₃ solution and dried (MgSO₄). The drying agent was removed by filtration and the solvent concentrated to give 0.31g MS: m/e 451 (M-H)⁺. The Diels-Alder adduct (1.2g, 2.6 mmol) in HOAc (60 mL) was added 30% H₂O₂ (15 mL) followed by heating for 90 minutes at 50 °C. The mixture was concentrated then water added and a tan solid collected, 1.07g; MS: m/e 447 (M-H)⁺. The above carbazole (0.3g, 0.66 mmol) and TBAF (1.67 mL of 1 M solution, 1.67 mmol) in CH₃CN (40 mL) were stirred for 0.5 hours at room temperature. The solvent was concentrated at reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The ethyl acetate layer was dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to give 0.13g of 2ao. MS: m/e 291 (M-H)⁺.

Example 169b Preparation of 14b

14b was prepared in a manner similar to that described in Example 62j, starting with 4-methoxy-2-(1-hydroxycyclopentyl)indole to give the title compound. MS m/e 305 (M-H).

Claims (6)

1. A compound of formula: and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.
2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of Claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
3. The compound of Claim 1 for use in medicine.
4. The compound of Claim 1 for:

   a) inhibiting PARP, VEGFR2, or MLK3 activity by means of contacting said PARP, VEGFR2, or MLK3 with said compound;

   b) treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, or Alzheimer's disease;

   c) treating traumatic central nervous system injuries or preventing neuronal degradation associated with traumatic central nervous system injuries;

   d) treating cerebral ischemia, cardiac ischemia, inflammation, endotoxic shock, or diabetes;

   e) suppressing the formation of blood vessels in a mammal;

   f) treating cellular proliferative disorders such as cellular proliferative disorders related to solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy, intraocular neovascular syndromes, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or endometriosis; or

   g) treating cancer in a mammal.
5. The compound of Claim 1 for treating cancer in a mammal.
6. The compound of Claim 1 for treating cancer in a human.