9-substituted adenine derivatives as prodrug regulators of cell and tissue function

1. A compound represented by formula (I)

wherein W is selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, azido and amino group;

X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, N(H), CH 2 and CH;

Y is selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxy, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkoxy and halogen;

R is selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxymethyl, C 1-4 alkyl, and C 1-4 alkoxy;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of O, NH and CH 2;

R 2 represents a radical selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) n —S—C(O)—R 4 and —(CH 2 ) n —S—S—R 4 , where n=1-4 and R 4 is a C 1-4 alkyl or aryl group and R 4 is optionally substituted with a halogen, amino, N-alkylamino, N,N-dialkylamino or C 1-4 alkoxy group and wherein each of the R 2 radicals may be the same or different;

R 3 is O or S; and

when X is CH the ring so formed is unsaturated and when X is CH 2 the ring so formed is saturated.

2. The compound of claim 1 where W is a hydrogen atom, and R 2 represents a radical selected from the group consisting of —CH 2 —CH 2 —S—C(O)—R 4 and —CH 2 —CH 2 —S—S—R 4 , where R 4 is a C 1-4 alkyl or aryl group.

3. The compound of claim 2 where R 4 is a radical selected from the group consisting of methyl, tent-butyl and phenyl.

4. The compound of claim 1 where R is selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxymethyl, methyl and methoxy.

5. The compound of claim 1 where Y is selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxymethyl and methoxy.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein X is O, Y is hydroxy, R is hydroxymethyl and R 1 is O.

7. The compound of claim 1 where X is S.

8. The compound of claim 1 where X is N(H).

9. The compound of claim 1 where X is CH 2 .

10. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′-deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′,5′-dideoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

2′deoxy-β-(L)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate; and

2′-deoxy-β-(D)-adenosine 3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate.

11. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl-methylenephosphonate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl)-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate; and

9-(tetrahydrofuryl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate.

12. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-monophosphate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-methylenephosphonate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate;

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′S)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate; and

9-(cyclopentyl)-(1′R,3′R)-adenine-3′-deoxy-3′-bis(S-benzoyl-2-thioethyl)-N-phosphoramidate.

13. A composition comprising a compound of claim 1 and an acceptable excipient.

14. A method for reducing adenylyl cyclase activity in intact cells and tissues comprising:

a) selecting a compound from claim 1 ; and

b) contacting the compound with cells or tissues that contain adenylyl cyclase for a period of time and under such conditions such that the adenylyl cyclase activity is reduced.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising assessing the reduction of adenylyl cyclase activity by assay for 3′:5′-cAMP.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the assay for 3′:5′-cAMP is a biochemical means of measuring tissue levels of 3′:5′-cAMP selected from the group consisting of protein kinase binding assays, radioimmunoassays, ELISA and fluorometric assays.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the assay for 3′:5′-cAMP is selected from the group consisting of measuring the formation of 3′:5′-cAMP in cells prelabeled with adenine and contacting intact cells with a fluorescent indicator that responds to changes in cell 3′:5′-cAMP levels.

18. A method for reducing adenylyl cyclase activity in intact cells and tissues comprising:

a) selecting a compound from claim 10 ; and

b) contacting the compound with cells or tissues that contain adenylyl cyclase for a period of time and under such conditions such that the adenylyl cyclase activity is reduced.

19. A method for reducing adenylyl cyclase activity in intact cells and tissues comprising:

a) selecting a compound from claim 11 ; and

b) contacting the compound with cells or tissues that contain adenylyl cyclase for a period of time and under such conditions such that the adenylyl cyclase activity is reduced.

20. A method for reducing adenylyl cyclase activity in intact cells and tissues comprising:

a) selecting a compound from claim 12 ; and

b) contacting the compound with cells or tissues that contain adenylyl cyclase for a period of time and under such conditions such that the adenylyl cyclase activity is reduced.