Benzofuranyl 3,5-bis-Polyamine derivatives as time-Dependent inhibitors of trypanothione reductase

Abstract The synthesis and evaluation of 3,5-disubstituted benzofuran derivatives as time-dependent inhibitors of the protozoan oxidoreductase trypanothione reductase are reported. These molecules were designed as simplified mimetics of the naturally occurring spermidine-bridged macrocyclic alkaloid lunarine 1 , a known time-dependent inhibitor of trypanothione reductase. In this series of compounds the bis-polyaminoacrylamide derivatives 2 – 4 were all shown to be competitive inhibitors, but only the bis-4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-propylacrylamide derivative 4 displayed time-dependent activity. The kinetics of time dependent inactivation of trypanothione reductase by 1 and 4 have been determined and are compared and discussed herein.