Synthesis and biological evaluation of indomethacin analogs possessing a N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one ring system: A search for novel cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors

A novel class of indomethacin analogs were synthesized wherein a N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one moiety (5-LOX pharmacophore) was attached at its C-4 or C-5 position via either a CO (14a–b) or CH2 (19a–b) linker to the indole N1-position. In this regard, replacement of the 4-chlorobenzoyl group present in indomethacin by N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one-4-(or 5-)carbonyl and N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one-4-yl(or 5-yl)methylene moieties furnished compounds showing no inhibitory activities against the COX-2/5-LOX enzymes (except for the weak but selective COX-2 inhibitor 19a, COX-2 IC50 = 31 μM), and moderate in vivo anti-inflammatory activities (except for the methylene compound 19a that was inactive). These structure–activity data indicate replacement of the 4-chlorobenzoyl group present in indomethacin by a N-difluoromethyl-1,2-dihydropyrid-2-one ring system connected by a CO or CH2 linker is not a suitable approach for the design of dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitory analogs of indomethacin.

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