Preparation and antirheumatic activity of optically active 2-acetylthiomethyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid (KE-298)

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1996 Mar;44(3):602-4. doi: 10.1248/cpb.44.602.

Abstract

2-Acetylthiomethyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanonic acid (KE-298) is an antirheumatic agent. To elucidate the effects of optically active KE-298, we resolved the racemic acid and obtained the two optical isomers. (+)-KE-298 was converted to the 4-bromobenzyl ester derivative and the absolute structure was confirmed as (S) by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The pharmacological activities of the optical isomers and racemic KE-298 were compared by using the characteristic tests for KE-298. Though (+)-KE-298 showed a stronger suppressive effect on rat adjuvant arthritis than (-)-KE-298, no difference between the two isomers was detected in in vitro tests (enhancing effect on lymphocyte transformation, IL-1 antagonistic effect).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antirheumatic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / chemistry
  • Antirheumatic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Experimental / pathology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Edema / pathology
  • Female
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Optical Rotation
  • Phenylpropionates / chemical synthesis*
  • Phenylpropionates / chemistry
  • Phenylpropionates / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / biosynthesis
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Stereoisomerism
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Interleukin-1
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Phenylpropionates
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • esonarimod