Synthesis of methyl ether analogues of sildenafil (Viagra) possessing tyrosinase inhibitory potential.

The microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of the ten new sildenafil (Viagra; 1) analogues 6-15 are described. A detailed structure-activity-relationship (SAR) study revealed that compounds 10 (= 4-ethoxy-N-hydroxy-3-(7-methoxy-1-methyl-3-propyl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)benzenesulfonamide) and 12 (= S-(2-hydroxyethyl) 4-ethoxy-3-(7-methoxy-1-methyl-3-propyl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)benzenesulfonothioate) are extremely potent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors, with IC50 values (3.59 and 2.15 microM, resp.) below those of the standard inhibitors L-mimosine and kojic acid (IC50 = 3.68 and 16.67 microM, resp.). Compounds 10 and 12 are, thus, the currently most-effective inhibitors of tyrosinase, and bear great potential to be used for the treatment of various skin disorders such as hyperpigmentation, which is associated with high production of melanocytes.