Effects of C-4 stereochemistry and C-4′ hydroxylation on the iron clearing efficiency and toxicity of desferrithiocin analogues

Additional structure-activity studies of desferrithiocin analogues are carried out. The effects of stereochemistry at C-4 on the ligands' iron clearing efficiency are reviewed and assessed using the enantiomers 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)thiazole-4(R)-carboxylic acid and 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)thiazole-4(S)-carboxylic acid. The utility of 4'-hydroxylation as a method of reducing the toxicity of desazadesferrithiocin analogues is also examined further with the synthesis and in vivo comparison of 4,5-dihydro-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-4(S)-carboxylic acid, which is the natural product 4-methylaeruginoic acid, and 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,4- dihydroxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-4(S)-carboxylic acid. The stereochemistry at C-4 is shown to have a substantial effect on the iron clearing efficiency of desferrithiocin analogues, as does C-4'-hydroxylation on the toxicity profile. All of the compounds are evaluated in a bile-duct-cannulated rodent model to determine iron clearance efficiency and are carried forward to the iron-overloaded primate for iron clearing measurements. On the basis of the results of the present work, although 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)thiazole-4(S)-carboxylic acid is still the most promising candidate for clinical evaluation, 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,4- dihydroxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole-4(S)- carboxylic acid (4'-hydroxydesazadesferrithiocin) also merits further preclinical assessment.