Synthesis and Antiplasmodial Evaluation of Analogues Based on the Tricyclic Core of Thiaplakortones A-D.

Six regioisomers associated with the tricyclic core of thiaplakortones A-D have been synthesized. Reaction of 1H-indole-4,7-dione and 1-tosyl-1H-indole-4,7-dione with 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid afforded a regioisomeric series, which was subsequently deprotected and oxidized to yield the tricyclic core scaffolds present in the thiaplakortones. All compounds were fully characterized using NMR and MS data. A single crystal X-ray structure was obtained on one of the N-tosyl derivatives. All compounds were screened for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and multidrug-resistant (Dd2) Plasmodium falciparum parasite lines. Several analogues displayed potent inhibition of P. falciparum growth (IC50 < 500 nM) but only moderate selectivity for P. falciparum versus human neonatal foreskin fibroblast cells.

1. Introduction

The marine natural products, thiaplakortones A–D (1–4), were first reported in 2013 as part of a Medicines for Malaria Venture sponsored research project that aimed to discover new antiplasmodial agents from nature (Figure 1) [1]. These unique thiazine-derived secondary metabolites were obtained from the organic extract from the Great Barrier Reef sponge Plakortis lita, and all were shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of Plasmodium falciparum. Thiaplakortone A (1) was the most active with in vitro IC50 values of 6.6 and 51 nM against multidrug-resistant (Dd2) and chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) P. falciparum lines, respectively [1]. Due to supply issues initially curtailing in vivo malaria studies, total syntheses of thiaplakortones A and B were undertaken and the first total synthesis of 1 and 2, along with a series of mono- and di-methyl analogues (5–7) was subsequently reported and some preliminary structure-activity relationships (SAR) ascertained (Figure 1) [2]. While in vivo toxicity effects for several of the synthetic compounds indicated potential liabilities associated with this structure class, the limited number of analogues investigated made it difficult to assess their true potential as antiplasmodial leads [2]. In order to more thoroughly explore this compound class a larger analogue library based on the thiaplakortone A scaffold was recently undertaken and reported [3]. This 38-membered library consisted of a series of amide and urea analogues based on the thiaplakortone A natural product scaffold. Several analogues showed potent in vitro P. falciparum growth inhibition (IC50 < 500 nM) and good selectivity for P. falciparum versus human neonatal foreskin fibroblast (NFF) cells (selectivity index >100) [3]. Furthermore, analogues 8 and 9 displayed good metabolic stability and solubility, and when administered subcutaneously to mice plasma concentrations remained >0.2 µM for 8 h. Analogues 8 and 9 were also well tolerated in mice after subcutaneous administration of 32 mg/kg twice daily for 4 d. In addition, using this dosing protocol blood stage P. berghei parasitemia was suppressed by 52% for 8 and 26% for 9, relative to controls [3]. In order to further investigate the thiaplakortone core, we have recently undertaken synthetic studies that resulted in the removal of the ethylamine side-chain present in thiaplakortones A and B in order to determine the biological implications of the –CH2CH2NH2 moiety. Herein we report the total synthesis of several side-chain truncated regioisomers associated with the tricyclic core of thiaplakortones A–D, along with their in vitro antiplasmodial activity and mammalian cell toxicity.

Figure 1

Chemical structures of the natural products thiaplakortones A–D (1–4) and some of the previously synthesized thiaplakortone A analogues (5–9).

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Chemistry

The synthesis of the tricyclic core thiaplakortone isomers 11–16 commenced with the generation of 1-tosyl-1H-indole-4,7-dione (10), which was accessible via known procedures (Scheme 1) [4,5,6]. Condensation of 10 with 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid [2,7] furnished the regiomeric tricyclic systems 11 and 12 in an 11 to 1 ratio (Scheme 1). Separation of this mixture was not possible by silica flash chromatography however reversed-phase C18 HPLC (MeOH-H2O-0.1%TFA) enabled separation of the two regioisomers. Confirmation of the chemical structures of 11 and 12 was supported following extensive 1D and 2D NMR data analysis.

Scheme 1

Synthesis of compounds 11–16 in the thiaplakortone tricyclic series. (a) 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid, H2O, MeCN; (b) NaHCO3(aq), MeOH, reflux 2.5 h; (c) KOH(aq), MeOH, O2.

Furthermore, a crystal suitable for X-ray analysis was obtained on the major regioisomer 11 (Figure 2) confirming the NMR-assigned structure and establishing the regiochemistry of subsequent compounds in the tricyclic series. Of note, compound 11 crystallized with two molecules in the asymmetric unit; the second molecule displayed disorder (ca. 13%) in the thiazine dioxide ring (see supplementary data).

Figure 2

ORTEP diagram showing one independent molecule for compound 11; ellipsoids are at the 30% probability level.

Subjection of the mixture of tosyl derivatives 11 and 12 to mild alkaline hydrolysis afforded a sufficient quantity of only compound 13 after purification by reversed-phase HPLC (MeOH-H2O-0.1%TFA).

In an attempt to reverse the regioselectivity observed during the condensation of 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid with 10 and acquire suitable amounts of isomer 14, the parent, non-tosyl protected system, 1H-indole-4,7-dione 17 was prepared according to literature procedures [5,8,9] and exposed to 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid. Gratifyingly, in this system, the opposite regioselectivity was observed and the respective tricyclic systems 13 and 14 were formed in a 1 to 3.3 ratio following analysis of the 1H-NMR spectrum. Purification of this mixture by C18 HPLC (MeOH-H2O-0.1%TFA) enabled 14 to be isolated in sufficient amounts for biological testing. Oxidation of the mixture of 13 and 14 by protocols previously reported [2] afforded a mixture that was subjected to C18 HPLC (MeOH-H2O-0.1%TFA) and yielded the pure compounds 15 and 16.

2.2. Biology and Structure-Activity Relationships

All compounds (10–17) were tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and multidrug-resistant (Dd2) P. falciparum parasite lines, and for mammalian toxicity using human neonatal foreskin fibroblast (NFF) cells. The simple indolequinones, 10 and 17, were essentially inactive (Table 1), highlighting the importance of the 1,1-dioxo-thiazine subunit for antiplasmodial activity. The original thiaplakortone report [1] showed that unsaturation of the thiazine ring conferred enhanced antiplasmodial activity. This trend was also observed in the side-chain truncated compounds, with the unsaturated compounds, 15 and 16 displaying greater potency than their saturated counterparts, 13 and 14, respectively. Specifically, exchanging the saturated system of 13 and 14 with the unsaturated motif present in 15 and 16 increased 3D7 activity by 23.9- and 27.3-fold, respectively; a similar SAR trend was also observed for this series towards the Dd2 line.

Table 1

Biological Data for Compounds 10–17.

	Mean IC50 ± SD (nM)
Compound	3D7 a	Dd2 b	NFF c	SI d
10	18,200 ± 2600	11,100 ± 4100	7600 ± 1200	0.4–0.7
11	546 ± 119	509 ± 309	1400 ± 700	2.6–2.8
12	834 ± 89	607 ± 158	19,000 ± 11,000	22.8–31.3
13	7500 ± 900	3800 ± 400	39,000 ± 4200	5.2–10.3
14	6900 ± 700	3700 ± 500	69,600 ± 5900	10.1–18.8
15	313 ± 84	129 ± 3.9	2800 ± 400	8.9–21.7
16	252 ± 35	127 ± 8.6	4600 ± 800	18.2–36.2
17	13,500 ± 6700	11,500 ± 6500	4700 ± 100	0.3–0.4
CQ e	7.8 ± 2.7	45 ± 10	36,500 ± 6000	811.1–4679.5

3D7 = P. falciparum chloroquine-sensitive line; Dd2 = P. falciparum multidrug-resistant line; NFF = neonatal foreskin fibroblast cells; SI = selectivity index = NFF cell-line IC50/P. falciparum IC50; CQ = chloroquine (positive control).

The regiochemistry of the thiazine moiety in the original thiaplakortone report was shown to have minimal influence on the overall antiplasmodial activity and selectivity [1]. Reversal of the thiazine orientation in thiaplakortones C (3) and D (4) only showed an antiplasmodial activity increase of 1.1-fold towards both the 3D7 and Dd2 lines. In a similar manner to the earlier report, the current studies showed minimal differences in parasite potency between the side-chain truncated regioisomeric pairs, 11 and 12, 13 and 14, and 15 and 16. However, when comparing NFF toxicity of the regioisomers (11 vs. 12; 13 vs. 14; 15 vs. 16) a clear trend was observed, with the thiazine regiochemistry present in 12, 14 and 16 conveying reduced cytotoxicity ranging from 1.6- to 13.6-fold. Furthermore, the reduction in toxicity improved the selectivity indices for analogues 12, 14 and 16.

Biological data for compounds 11 and 12 identified that N-tosylation of the pyrrole moiety is well tolerated and improves antiparasitic activity, even in the absence of thiazine unsaturation. It is interesting to note that, consistent with the thiaplakortone natural products [1], the most active side-chain truncated analogues, 15 and 16, are more potent against the drug-resistant line (Dd2) than the chloroquine-sensitive line (3D7). While it is clear that the ethylamine side-chain present in thiaplakortones A and B translates to more potent and selective antiplasmodial agents, the current study shows that the tricyclic core motif present in 11–16 represents a minimum antiplasmodial pharmacophore for the thiaplakortone chemotype.

In order to assess the drug-like properties of compounds 10–17, in silico physicochemical parameters (Table 2) were calculated using ChemAxon MarvinSketch software (with calculator plugins) (http://www.chemaxon.com) and the data compared to Lipinski’s drug-like “Rule of Five” [10]. All compounds complied with Lipinski’s rules (LogP < 5, HBA < 10, HBD < 5, MW < 500). In addition, all compounds had relatively low LogD7.4 values (except compound 10), and had appropriate polar surface area (PSA) values for membrane penetration.

Table 2

In silico physicochemical parameters for compounds 10−17 .

Compound	MW	LogP	HBA	HBD	PSA (Å2)	LogD7.4
10	301	1.5	4	0	82	1.9
11	406	−1.6	7	1	136	−0.2
12	406	−1.6	7	1	136	−0.2
13	252	−3.3	5	2	104	−1.6
14	252	−3.3	5	2	104	−1.6
15	250	−2.9	5	2	104	−1.5
16	250	−2.9	5	2	104	−1.5
17	147	−0.2	2	1	50	0.5

calculations performed using ChemAxon MarvinSketch software (with calculator plugins). MW = molecular weight (Da); HBA = H-bond acceptors; HBD = H-bond donors; PSA = polar surface area.

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General

Melting points were recorded on a capillary melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. Unless otherwise specified, 1H and 13C-NMR spectra were recorded at 30 °C in DMSO-d6 on a Varian INOVA 500 or 600 NMR spectrometer. The 1H- and 13C-NMR chemical shifts were referenced to the solvent peak for DMSO-d6 at δH 2.50 and δC 39.5. LRESIMS was obtained from LC-MS data generated using a Waters Alliance 2790 HPLC equipped with a Waters 996 photodiode array detector and an Alltech evaporative light scattering detector that was attached to a Water ZQ mass spectrometer. HRESIMS were recorded on a Bruker (Billerica, MA, USA) MicrOTof-Q spectrometer (Dionex UltiMate 3000 micro LC system, ESI mode). Analytical thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on aluminum-backed 0.2 mm thick silica gel 60 F254 plates as supplied by Merck (Frankfurt, Germany). Eluted plates were visualized using a 254 nm UV lamp and/or by treatment with a suitable dip followed by heating. These dips included phosphomolybdic acid:Ce(SO4)2:H2SO4 (conc.):H2O (37.5 g:7.5 g:37.5 g:720 mL) or KMnO4:K2CO3:5% NaOH aqueous solution:H2O (3 g:20 g:5 mL:300 mL). Flash chromatographic separations were carried out following protocols defined by Still et al., [11] with silica gel 60 (40–63 mm, supplied by GRACE, Baulkham Hills, NSW, Australia) or amino bonded silica gel (Davisil®) as the stationary phase and using the AR- or HPLC-grade solvents indicated. Semi-preparative HPLC work was performed using a Waters 600 pump and 966 PDA detector, a Gilson 715 liquid handler and a C18-bonded silica Betasil 5 μm 143 Å column (21.2 mm × 150 mm). Alltech sample preparative C18-bonded silica (35–75 μm, 150 Å) and an Alltech stainless steel guard cartridge (10 mm × 30 mm) were used for pre-adsorption and HPLC work. A Phenomenex C18-bonded silica Luna 3 μm 100 Å (4.6 mm × 50 mm) column was used for LC-MS studies. All compounds were analyzed for purity using LC-MS and shown to be >95% pure, unless otherwise stated. Starting materials and reagents were available from the Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA), Merck (Frankfurt, Germany), AK Scientific Inc. (Union City, CA, USA), Matrix Scientific Chemical (Columbia, SC, USA) and were used as supplied. MeOH and CH2Cl2 were dried using a glass contour solvent purification system that is based upon a technology originally described by Grubbs et al. [12]. Where necessary, reactions were performed under a nitrogen atmosphere and glassware was heated in an oven at 140 °C then dried under vacuum prior to use. Compounds for biological studies were placed under high vacuum (0.05 mmHg) for several hours before testing to remove trace, residual solvents.

3.2. Synthesis of N-Tosyl Regioisomers 11 and 12

A solution of N-tosyl-1H-indole-4,7-dione (500 mg, 1.66 mmol) in MeCN (80 mL) was treated with a solution of 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid (236 mg, 2.16 mmol) in H2O (50 mL) in one portion. The mixture was stirred for 20 h open to the atmosphere and then H2O was removed by rotary evaporation and the resulting solid collected by vacuum filtration. The crystals were washed with H2O (20 mL) then dried to afford a crude ~1:11 mixture of regioisomers 12 and 11, respectively. This material (236 mg) was pre-adsorbed to C18-bonded silica (1 g) overnight, then packed into a guard cartridge that was subsequently attached to a C18-bonded silica semi-preparative HPLC column. Isocratic HPLC conditions of 90% H2O (0.1% TFA)/10% MeOH (0.1% TFA) were employed for the first 10 min, then a linear gradient to MeOH (0.1% TFA) was run over 40 min, followed by isocratic conditions of MeOH (0.1% TFA) for a further 10 min, all at a flow rate of 9 mL/min. Sixty fractions (60 × 1 min) were collected by time from the start of the HPLC run. All UV active fractions were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and MS, and identical fractions were combined. This afforded 12 (7.6 mg, 1%, tR = 37.0–38.0 min) and 11 (69 mg, 10%, tR = 53.0–60.0 min). X-ray quality crystals of 11 were obtained through slow evaporation using a H2O/MeOH (1:9) mix.

Compound 11: Dull orange crystals (H2O/MeOH); mp > 300 °C; 1H-NMR (600 MHz, DMSO-d6) δH 2.42 (3H, s, H-15), 3.27–3.29 (2H, m, H-2), 3.76–3.78 (2H, m, H-3), 6.83 (1H, d, J = 3.4 Hz, H-6), 7.50 (2H, d, J = 8.2 Hz, H-13), 7.90 (2H, d, J = 3.4 Hz, H-7), 8.01 (2H, d, J = 8.2 Hz, H-12), 9.01 (1H, br s, H-4); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, DMSO-d6) δC 21.2 (C-15), 39.3 (C-3), 48.2 (C-2), 107.5 (C-6), 108.2 (C-9a), 126.7 (C-5a), 128.6 (2C, C-12), 129.3 (C-7), 129.8 (2C, C-13), 130.8 (C-8a), 133.5 (C-11), 146.2 (C-14), 146.6 (C-4a), 167.1 (C-9), 175.1 (C-5); (+)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 407 (100) [M + H]+; (−)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 405 (100) [M − H]−; (+)-HRESIMS m/z 429.0200 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C17H14N2NaO6S2, 429.0185).

Compound 12: Bright orange amorphous solid; 1H-NMR (600 MHz, DMSO-d6) δH 2.41 (3H, s, H-15), 3.26–3.28 (2H, m, H-2), 3.75–3.77 (2H, m, H-3), 6.81 (1H, d, J = 3.2 Hz, H-8), 7.48 (2H, d, J = 8.4 Hz, H-13), 7.98 (2H, d, J = 8.4 Hz, H-12), 8.12 (2H, d, J = 3.2 Hz, H-7), 9.13 (1H, br s, H-4); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, DMSO-d6) δC 21.1 (C-15), 39.2 (C-3), 47.9 (C-2), 108.0 (C-9a), 108.8 (C-8), 125.9 (C-8a), 128.3 (2C, C-12), 130.0 (2C, C-13), 133.1 (C-11), 133.2 (C-7), 133.3 (C-5a), 146.4 (C-14), 147.4 (C-4a), 166.3 (C-5), 172.9 (C-9); (−)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 405 (100) [M − H]−; (+)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 407 (100) [M + H]+; (+)-HRESIMS m/z 429.0167 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C17H14N2NaO6S2, 429.0185).

3.3. Deprotection of the N-Tosyl Regioisomer Mixture to Yield 13

A 1:11 mixture of 12 and 11 (140 mg, 0.35 mmol) in a saturated solution of NaHCO3 (5 mL) and MeOH (50 mL) was heated to reflux for 2.5 h. The mixture was acidified with HCl (32% aqueous) to pH 6 then concentrated and subjected to flash chromatography (silica, 1:10 v/v MeOH/CH2Cl2 elution) to afford a 1:26 mixture of compounds 14 and 13 (59 mg, 68%). This material (59 mg) was pre-adsorbed to C18-bonded silica (1 g) overnight, then packed into a guard cartridge that was attached to a C18-bonded silica semi-preparative HPLC column. Application of the same reversed-phase HPLC purification method described above (Section 3.2) afforded 13 (15 mg, 11%, tR = 23.0–24.0 min) as an orange powder.

Compound 13: Orange amorphous solid; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δH 3.31–3.33 (2H, m, H-2), 3.81–3.84 (2H, m, H-3), 6.57 (1H, d, J = 2.8 Hz, H-6), 7.13 (1H, d, J = 2.8 Hz, H-7), 9.05 (1H, brs, H-4), 12.76 (1H, brs, H-8); 13C-NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δC 39.4 (C-3), 48.2 (C-2), 107.5 (C-6), 120.7 (C-5a), 125.4 (C-7), 132.9 (C-8a), 148.2 (C-4a), 169.8 (C-9), 174.1 (C-5); (+)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 253 (100) [M + H]+; (−)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 251 (100) [M − H]−; (+)-HRESIMS m/z 275.0104 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C10H8N2NaO4S, 275.0097).

3.4. Synthesis of Regioisomers 13 and 14

A solution of 1H-indole-4,7-dione (10, 504 mg, 3.4 mmol) in MeCN (160 mL) was treated with a solution of 2-aminoethanesulfinic acid (482 mg, 4.42 mmol) in H2O (50 mL) in one portion and the mixture stirred for 20 h under an atmosphere of O2. The MeCN and H2O were removed by rotary evaporation to afford an orange solid, which was purified by flash chromatography (silica, 1:5 v/v MeOH/CH2Cl2 elution) to afford a 3.3:1 mixture of regioisomers 14 and 13, respectively (307 mg, 36%). A portion of this material (40 mg) was pre-adsorbed to C18-bonded silica (1 g) overnight, then packed into a guard cartridge that was attached to a C18-bonded silica semi-preparative HPLC column. Isocratic HPLC conditions of 95% H2O (0.1% TFA)/5% MeOH (0.1% TFA) were employed for the first 10 min, then a linear gradient to 50% H2O (0.1% TFA)/50% MeOH (0.1% TFA) was run over 40 min, followed by a linear gradient to MeOH (0.1% TFA) in 1 min, then isocratic conditions of MeOH (0.1% TFA) for a further 9 min, all at a flow rate of 9 mL/min. Sixty fractions (60 × 1 min) were collected by time from the start of the HPLC run. All UV active fractions were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and MS, and identical fractions were combined. This yielded 14 (5.0 mg, 1%, tR = 25.0–27.0 min) as a bright orange powder.

Compound 14: Bright orange amorphous solid; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δH 3.28–3.33 (2H, m, H-2), 3.79–3.82 (2H, m, H-3), 6.53 (1H, d, J = 2.5 Hz, H-8), 7.40 (1H, d, J = 2.5 Hz, H-7), 8.89 (1H, br s, H-4), 12.81 (1H, br s, H-6); 13C-NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δC 39.3 (C-3), 48.4 (C-2), 108.4 (2C, C-9a, C-8), 127.2 (C-8a), 128.2 (C-5a), 130.1 (C-7), 147.5 (C-4a), 167.9 (C-5), 174.7 (C-9); (+)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 253 (100) [M + H]+; (−)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 251 (100) [M − H]−; (+)-HRESIMS m/z 275.0087 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C10H8N2NaO4S, 275.0097).

3.5. Synthesis of Regioisomers 15 and 16

A 3.3:1 regioisomeric mixture of 14 and 13 (90 mg, 0.36 mmol) from the synthesis described above (Section 3.4) in a solution of MeOH (10 mL) was treated with an aqueous KOH solution (6 mL, 12 M). The magnetically stirred reaction mixture was purged with O2, and maintained at 60 °C under a balloon of O2 for 4 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0 °C, carefully neutralized by the addition of an aqueous solution of HCl (1 M) and then the mixture was concentrated in vacuo to afford a residue that was subjected to flash chromatography through a small plug of silica (1:10 v/v MeOH/CH2Cl2 elution) and after concentration of the eluent in vacuo, the residue (40 mg) was pre-adsorbed to C18-bonded silica (1 g) overnight, then packed into a guard cartridge that was attached to a C18-bonded silica semi-preparative HPLC column. Application of same reversed-phase HPLC purification method described above (section 3.4) resulted in the purification of compounds 16 (15 mg, 17%, tR = 28.0–30.0 min) and 15 (5 mg, 6%, tR = 32.0–34.0 min) as yellow and orange powders, respectively.

Compound 15: Orange amorphous solid; 1H-NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δH 6.49 (1H, d, J = 8.8 Hz, H-2), 6.66 (1H, d, J = 2.8 Hz, H-6), 7.07 (1H, d, J = 8.8 Hz, H-3), 7.27 (1H, d, J = 2.8 Hz, H-7), 11.07 (1H, br s, H-4), 12.99 (1H, br s, H-8); 13C-NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δC 108.0 (C-6), 111.7 (C-2), 113.4 (C-9a), 121.8 (C-5a), 126.8 (C-7), 130.2 (C-3), 131.3 (C-8a), 140.5 (C-4a), 172.2 (C-9), 174.1 (C-5); (+)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 251 (100) [M + H]+; (−)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 249 (100) [M − H]−; (+)-HRESIMS m/z 272.9939 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C10H6N2NaO4S, 272.9940).

Compound 16: Yellow amorphous solid; 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δH 6.42 (1H, d, J = 8.8 Hz, H-2), 6.60 (1H, d, J = 2.6 Hz, H-8), 7.04 (1H, d, J = 8.8 Hz, H-3), 7.43 (1H, d, J = 2.6 Hz, H-7), H-4 and H-6 not observed; 13C-NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δC 108.5 (C-8), 111.6 (C-2), 113.9 (C-9a), 126.9 (C-8a), 127.6 (C-5a), 129.8 (C-7), 130.1 (C-3), 140.2 (C-4a), 167.9 (C-5), 177.3 (C-9); (+)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 251 (100) [M + H]+; (−)-LRESIMS m/z (rel. int.) 249 (100) [M − H]−; (+)-HRESIMS m/z 272.9933 [M + Na]+ (calcd for C10H6N2NaO4S, 272.9940).

3.6. X-ray Crystallography Studies on Compound 11

Intensity data were collected with an Oxford Diffraction SuperNova CCD diffractometer using Cu-Kα radiation, the temperature during data collection was maintained at 100.0(1) using an Oxford Cryosystems cooling device. The structure was solved by direct methods and difference Fourier Synthesis [13]. Hydrogen atoms bound to the carbon atom were placed at their idealized positions using appropriate HFIX instructions in SHELXL, and included in subsequent refinement cycles. Hydrogen atoms attached to nitrogen were located from difference Fourier maps and refined freely with isotropic displacement parameters. Thermal ellipsoid plots were generated using the program ORTEP-3 [14] integrated within the WINGX suite of programs [15]. Full details of the data collection and refinement and tables of atomic coordinates, bond lengths and angles, and torsion angles have been deposited with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC 1416796). Copies can be obtained free of charge on application at the following address: http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk.

Crystal data for compound 11: C17H14N2O6S2, M = 406.42, T = 100.0(2) K, λ = 1.5418 Å, Triclinic, space group P, a = 11.6802(7), b = 28.0975(14), c = 10.3047(6) Å, β = 91.539(5)° V = 3380.6(3) Å3, Z = 8, Z′ = 2, D = 1.597 Mg·M−3, μ = 3.230 mm−1, F(000) = 1680, crystal size 0.49 mm × 0.38 mm × 0.31 mm. θmax = 67.6°, 10,831 reflections measured, 5907 independent reflections (Rint = 0.051) the final R = 0.0559 [I > 2σ(I), 5134 data] and wR(F2) = 0.1577 (all data) GOOF = 1.027.

3.7. P. Falciparum Growth Inhibition Assay

P. falciparum growth inhibition assays were carried out using an isotopic microtest, as previously described [16]. Briefly, in vitro cultured P. falciparum infected erythrocytes (1.0% parasitemia and 1.0% hematocrit) were seeded into triplicate wells of 96 well tissue culture plates containing vehicle control (DMSO), positive control [chloroquine (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), catalogue #C6628, >98%] or test compounds and incubated under standard P. falciparum culture conditions with 0.5 μCi [3H]-hypoxanthine. The final concentration of DMSO vehicle was <0.5% in all assay wells (non-toxic). After 48 h cells were harvested onto 1450 MicroBeta filter mats (PerkinElmer, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA) and [3H] incorporation determined using a 1450 MicroBeta liquid scintillation counter. Percentage inhibition of growth compared to matched DMSO controls was determined and IC50 values were calculated using linear interpolation of inhibition curves [17]. The mean IC50 or % inhibition (±SD) was calculated for three independent experiments, each carried out in triplicate.

4. Conclusions

In summary, six analogues associated with the tricyclic core of thiaplakortones were synthesized from readily accessible and known 1H-indole-4,7-dione derivatives, and isolated in low to moderate yields. Regiochemistry was moderated by substitution of the indole nitrogen. All compounds were tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity towards two P. falciparum parasite lines (3D7 and Dd2). Compound 16 showed the best antiparasitic activity with IC50 values of 252 and 127 nM towards 3D7 and Dd2 lines, respectively. The moderate toxicity (IC50 4600 nM) of compound 16 towards NFF cells equates to a selectivity index of 18.2–36.2. These studies have identified that while the ethylamine side-chain present in the marine natural products, thiaplakortones A and B, translates to more potent and selective antiplasmodial compounds, this functionality is by no means essential for activity. Furthermore, the truncated thiaplakortone molecules (11–16) synthesized during this work has allowed delineation of a minimum antiplasmodial pharmacophore for the thiaplakortone chemotype.