New synthesis of pyrvinium that inhibits the β-catenin/Tcf4 pathway

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-12446

A new and converged route is described for synthesis of pyrvinium, an anthelmintic and antitumor agent. This method uses easily obtained materials and simple and practical reactions, including the key Friedlaender condensation, to form the quinoline ring. The final product is generated through eight steps, with 23% yield and 96.6% purity (HPLC). This synthetic pyrvinium effectively inhibits β-catenin/Tcf4 driven TOP-luciferase activity, with an IC₅₀ value < 1 μM, and induces colon cancer cell death in a dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ of 0.54 ± 0.06 μM.

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-12446

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 5, 2012
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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 5, 2012, pp. 1179 - 1185. © 2012 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 13th February, 2012, Accepted, 12th March, 2012, Published online, 22nd March, 2012
DOI: 10.3987/COM-12-12446
NEW SYNTHESIS OF PYRVINIUM THAT INHIBITS THE
β-CATENIN/TCF4 PATHWAY
Yongjun Mao,1,2 Nan Lin,1,2 Wang Tian,1,2 Ziwei Huang,1,2 and Jing An1,2*
1
Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical
University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
2
Upstate Cancer Research Institute, State University of New York, Upstate
Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, New York 13210, United
States, email: anji@upstate.edu
Abstract – A new and converged route is described for synthesis of pyrvinium, an
anthelmintic and antitumor agent. This method uses easily obtained materials and
simple and practical reactions, including the key Friedländer condensation, to
form the quinoline ring. The final product is generated through eight steps, with
23% yield and 96.6% purity (HPLC). This synthetic pyrvinium effectively inhibits
β-catenin/Tcf4 driven TOP-luciferase activity, with an IC50 value < 1 µM, and
induces colon cancer cell death in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.54 ±
0.06 µM.
Pyrvinium (1, Scheme 1), a FDA-approved drug, is used in the treatment of enterobiasis caused by
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm).1 Recent research has indicated it to be a potent inhibitor of
Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (EC50 ~ 10 nM).2 This pathway underlies many human cancers through
mutations in the APC, axin, and β-catenin genes.3 Inappropriate activation of the Wnt pathway is believed
to be the initial event leading to colorectal cancer, as well as a number of other cancers. As such, this
pathway is a therapeutic target of great interest to the field.4
The previous synthetic route of 1 is depicted in Scheme 1.5 The quinoline intermediate 6 was prepared
using a Skraup synthesis in ~ 20% yield over three steps.6 The pyrrole-aldehyde intermediate 11 was
synthesized through the Paal-Knorr and Vilsmeier-Haack reactions respectively in 60% yield. The final
product 1 was obtained by reaction of 11 with the methylquinolinium 7 in a piperidine condition, with
40% yield.

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 5, 2012
Here, we report a new and converged synthesis method for compound 1 (Scheme 2). The
o-aminobenzaldehyde compound 16 was prepared from the commercially available material 12 through
simple reactions, including protection with acetal, substitution with dimethylamine, and reduction at
H2/Ni condition, with an overall yield of 85%.7 The α,β-unsaturated ketone 17 was prepared through the
aldol condensation of acetone with the pyrrole-aldehyde 11, which in turn was prepared through an
improved method as described in the experimental section.8 The pyrrol-vinyl-quinoline compound 18 was
then obtained through the Friedländer condensation9 by reaction of 16 and 17 under sodium
ethoxide-ethanol conditions, with a resulting 68% yield after recrystallization from ethanol-water. The
final product 1 was produced by methylation of 18 with methyl triflate at room temperature,10 with 52%
overall yield after recrystallization from CHCl3 / hexane.
O2N
R
N
a
d
CHO
NH2
N
N
2
3
7
4
5
6
R = -NO2
R = -NH2
R = -NMe2
b
c
OHC
N
O
H2N
e
f
N
7
N
N
g
O
N
8
9
10
1
11
.
Scheme 1. Reagents and conditions: (a) 6 N HCl, toluene, reflux, 14 h, 81%; (b) SnCl2 2H2O, 1 N HCl,
100 ºC, 68%; (c) NaH, MeI, DMF, 40 ºC, 39%; (d) MeOTf, CH2Cl2, rt, 16 h, 80%; (e) I2 (cat.), rt, 16 h,
90%; (f) POCl3, DMF, 110 ºC, 73%; (g) piperidine, MeOH, 80 ºC, 12 h, 40%.
OMe
OMe
NO2
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
NH2
Cl
CHO
NO2
N
CHO
NH2
Cl
N
N
a
c
b
d
NO2
12
11
13
14
16
15
O
N
16
g
e
N
1
N
N
f
18
17
Scheme 2. Reagents and conditions: (a) CH(OMe)3, MeOH, HCl (cat.), rt; (b) Me2NH.HCl, Et3N, EtOH,
100 ºC, 94%; (c) H2, Raney Ni, MeOH, rt, 6 h; (d) HCl, H2O, 91%; (e) acetone, NaOH, MeOH, H2O, rt,
48 h, 92%; (f) NaOEt, EtOH, reflux, 6 h, 68%; (g) MeOTf, CH2Cl2, 0 ºC – rt, 14 h, 52%.

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 5, 2012
1181
We tested the biological activity of our newly synthesized pyrvinium (1) for its effects on the
β-catenin/Tcf4 signaling using a cell-based TOP/FOP assay. HCT116 colon cancer cells were transfected
with a reporter gene TOP-flash harboring the normal Tcf4 binding sites for β-catenin, or with a control
gene corresponding to FOP-flash without these binding sites. Four hours post-transfection, various
concentrations (0.1 – 10 µM) of pyrvinium were added to the cells. Luciferase activities were determined
24 h post-transfection. As shown in Figure 1, pyrvinium effectively inhibited the β-catenin/Tcf4 driven
TOP-luciferase activity with an IC50 value < 1 µM. We also examined the cytotoxicity effects of this
compound on HCT116 cells using a CellTiter-Blue cell viability assay (Promega). As shown in Figure 2,
the synthesized pyrvinium effectively induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value
of 0.54 ± 0.06 µM.
Figure 1
Figure 2
In summary, we have developed a new and improved synthetic route for pyrvinium (1) through a key
Friedländer condensation reaction. The overall yield of compound 1 obtained from this converged route is
around 23% over eight steps, which has 96.6% purity (HPLC) after recrystallization from CHCl3 / hexane.
Our biological tests confirmed the effectiveness of the final product. The synthetic pyrvinium effectively
inhibited the β-catenin/Tcf4 driven TOP-luciferase activity, with an IC50 value < 1 µM, and induced cell
death in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.54 ± 0.06 µM. These results indicate this to be a new
and convenient method for preparation of pyrvinium.
EXPERIMENTAL
All commercially available chemicals and solvents were purchased and used as received without further
purification. 1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded with a Bruker-BioSpin 300/600 MHz spectrometer,
using TMS as an internal standard. The mass spectra were obtained using a Thermo Q-Tof micro™

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spectrometer. The HPLC results were generated using a Waters 2489 UV/Visible Detector and Waters
1525 Binary HPLC Pump. Conditions: Waters XBridge BEH130 C18 4.6 mm × 250 mm × 5 μm;
Detection: 254 nm; Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min; Temperature: 25 °C; Injection load: 10 μL; Concentration: 0.5
mg/mL; Run time: 25 min; Mobile phase A: water (0.01% TFA); Mobile phase B: 90% acetonitrile/water
(0.01% TFA); Gradient program: time (min): 0 18 20 25; % of mobile phase A: 100, 0, 100, 100; % of
mobile phase B: 0, 100, 0, 0.
The HCT116 colon cancer cell line was obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and
cultured in RPMI 1640 (Hyclone, Thermal Scientific) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM
glutamine, 100U/mL penicillin, and 100 µg/mL streptomycin. Cells were maintained in a humidified 5%
CO2 atmosphere at 37 °C.
3-(Dimethoxymethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrobenzenamine (14).11 5-Chloro-2-nitrobenzaldehyde 12
(18.5 g, 0.1 mol), trimethyl orthoformate (13.1 mL, 0.12 mol), and concentrated HCl (0.8 mL, 0.01 mol)
were mixed with MeOH (150 mL) and stirred at room temperature overnight. The volatile materials were
removed to give a faint yellow oil 4-chloro-2-(dimethoxymethyl)-1-nitrobenzene 13 (23.5 g, 100%),
1
which was used directly at the next step. H NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz): δ 3.32 (s, 6H), 5.80 (s, 1H),
7.67 (d, 1H, J = 2.4 Hz), 7.71 (dd, 1H, J = 2.4, 8.4 Hz), 7.97 (d, 1H, J = 8.4 Hz).
The above product 13 (23.5 g, 0.1 mol), dimethylamine hydrochloride (41 g, 0.5 mol), triethylamine (83
mL, 0.6 mol), and EtOH (300 mL) were mixed in a high-pressure reactor. The reaction mixture was
stirred and heated to 100 ºC for 12 h. After cooling, the white suspension was poured into 600 mL water,
extracted with CH2Cl2 (2 × 300 mL), the organic layers were combined, and washed with water. The
1
solvent was removed to give the product 14 (22.5 g, 94%). H NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz): δ 3.07 (s,
6H), 3.34 (s, 6H), 5.97 (s, 1H), 6.74 (dd, 1H, J = 3.0, 9.6 Hz), 6.88 (d, 1H, J = 3.0 Hz), 7.96 (d, 1H, J =
9.6 Hz); ESI-MS m/z 241.2 [M+1].
2-Amino-5-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde (16).12 The N,N-dimethyl benzenamine 14 (20 g, 0.083 mol)
and Raney Ni (~ 10 g, wet) were suspended in MeOH (300 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 6 h under hydrogen atmosphere. The suspension was then filtered through a celite pad to
produce a dark-red filtrate. Water (30 mL) and concentrated HCl (20 mL) were added to the filtrate and
the reaction solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. The MeOH was removed to obtain a dark
suspension, which was then diluted with CH2Cl2 (400 mL), and washed with water and brine, and dried
over anhydrous Na2SO4. The solvent was removed to produce a dark-blue solid 16 (12.4 g, 91%), which
was used directly in the next step. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz): δ 2.83 (s, 6H), 5.6 (br, 2H), 6.86 (d, 1H, J
= 3.0 Hz), 6.98 (dd, 1H, J = 3.0, 9.6 Hz), 7.15 (d, 1H, J = 9.6 Hz), 9.86 (s, 1H); ESI-MS m/z 165.1

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 5, 2012
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[M+1].
2,5-Dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbaldehyde (11).8 2,5-Hexanedione (11.7 mL, 0.1 mol), aniline
(9.1 mL, 0.1 mol) and acetic acid (0.86 mL, 0.015 mol) were mixed in EtOH (30 mL). The reaction
solution was stirred at room temperature for 2 h and a white suspension was generated. The suspension
was poured into ice-water (100 mL), stirred, and collected the solid by suction filtration. The solid was
1
dried under reduced pressure to give a tan solid 2,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole 10 (15.2, 89%). H
NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz): δ 2.05 (s, 6H), 5.82 (br, 2H), 7.24–7.26 (m, 2H), 7.42–7.44 (m, 1H), 7.48–7.51
(m, 2H); ESI-MS m/z 172.2 [M+1].
Phosphorus oxychloride (8.7 mL, 0.095 mol) was added dropwise to a cooled solution of DMF (50 mL),
keeping the reaction temperature below 5 ºC. After the addition, compound 10 (15 g, 0.087 mol) was
added to the reaction mixture in several portions. The dark-brown suspension was then stirred and heated
to 110 ºC for 6 h to produce a dark-red solution. After cooling, the DMF solution was poured onto 200 g
ice, stirred, and 40% aqueous NaOH (35 mL) was slowly added to adjust the pH ~ 10. The resulting solid
was collected by suction filtration and dried under reduced pressure to obtain a grey solid 11 (15.8, 91%).
1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz): δ 1.98 (s, 3H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 6.39 (s, 1H), 7.17–7.19 (m, 2H), 7.47–7.54 (m,
3H), 9.82 (s, 1H); ESI-MS m/z 200.2 [M+1].
4-(2,5-Dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-3-buten-2-one (17). NaOH (15 g, 0.38 mol) was dissolved
in water (30 mL), MeOH (60 mL), and acetone (28 mL, 0.38 mol), and then cooled to room temperature.
Pyrrole-carbaldehyde 11 (15 g, 0.075 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for
48 h, resulting in a faint yellow solid. The mixture was cooled in an ice bath for 2 h, then the resulting
solid was collected by suction filtration, washed with 50% MeOH-water, and dried under reduced
pressure to give a faint yellow solid 17 (16.5, 92%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz): δ 2.02 (s, 3H), 2.13 (s,
3H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 6.23 (s, 1H), 6.42 (d, 1H, J = 15.6 Hz), 7.18–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.48–7.54 (m, 3H), 7.58 (d,
13
1H, J = 15.6 Hz); C NMR (CDCl3, 150 MHz): δ 12.4, 14.4, 28.8, 105.5, 118.3, 123.1, 129.6, 130.0,
130.9, 132.7, 135.4, 138.5, 139.5, 199.9; ESI-MS m/z 240.2 [M+1]. Anal. Calcd for C16H17NO: C, 80.30;
H, 7.16; N, 5.85. Found: C, 80.55; H, 7.31; N, 5.64.
N,N-Dimethyl-2-[2-(2,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)ethenyl]-6-quinolinamine (18).6 Sodium
(1.7 g, 0.075 mol) was added to anhydrous EtOH (200 mL). After the sodium had almost completely
dissolved, o-aminobenzaldehyde 16 (8.2 g, 0.05 mol) and α,β-unsaturated ketone 17 (12 g, 0.05 mol)
were added to the solution and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 6 h, to produce a dark-red solution.
After cooling, the EtOH solution was poured into water (500 mL) and stirred. The resulting brown solid

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was collected by suction filtration, washed with 50% EtOH-water, and dried under reduced pressure to
obtain the crude product, which was recrystallized from EtOH-water to afford product 18 (12.5 g, 68%).
1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 600 MHz): δ 1.99 (s, 3H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 3.08 (s, 6H), 6.34 (s, 1H), 7.14 (m, 1H),
7.31–7.35 (m, 2H), 7.50–7.63 (m, 5H), 7.76–7.82 (m, 2H), 8.29 (d, 1H, J = 9.6 Hz), 8.54 (d, 1H, J = 9.6
Hz); ESI-MS m/z 368.2 [M+1]; HPLC t R: 18.732 min.
6-(Dimethylamino)-2-[2-(2,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)ethenyl]-1-methyl-quinolinium (1).
A solution of the quinolinamine 18 (3.6 g, 0.01 mol) in CH2Cl2 (70 mL) was stirred and cooled in an ice
bath. Methyl triflate (1.1 mL, 0.01 mol) was added slowly and the reaction solution was stirred at 0 ºC for
another 2 h then at room temperature overnight. The resulting red solid was collected by suction filtration,
washed with CH2Cl2, and dried under reduced pressure. The crude product 1 was purified by
recrystallization from CHCl3/hexane (~ 1/1) to obtain the final product 1 (2.6 g, 52%), with 96.6% purity
(HPLC). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 600 MHz): δ 2.00 (s, 3H), 2.23 (s, 3H), 3.10 (s, 6H), 4.46 (s, 1H), 6.48 (s, 1H),
6.99 (d, 1H, J = 15.0 Hz), 7.18 (m, 2H), 7.48–7.57 (m, 5H), 7.81 (d, 1H, J = 15.0 Hz), 8.05 (m, 1H), 8.24
(m, 1H), 8.35 (m, 1H); ESI-MS m/z 382.6 [M+1]; HPLC t R: 12.523 min.
Luciferase reporter gene assay. HCT116 cells (1×105) were transfected with TOP-FLASH containing
Tcf4 binding sites, or FOP-FLASH harboring mutant Tcf4 binding sites. Four hours post-transfection,
pyrvinium was added and luciferase activities were determined after 24 h using a “Firefly Luciferase
Assay Kit” (Biotium, Inc. Hayward, CA).
Cell viability assay. The HCT116 cell line was grown in RPMI 1640 + 10% FBS +
penicillin/streptomycin. Cells were trypsinized and plated at 1 × 104 cells/well in opaque 96-well plates.
Pyrvinium was added 8 h later, so that concentration curves could be generated starting at 10 nM with 7
subsequent 2-fold dilutions. The plates were incubated with pyrvinium for 3 days, at which time the cells
were lysed with Promega’s Cell Titer-blue reagent. The resulting luminescence was read on a Synergy 2
reader.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by grants from the Connolly Endowment/Hendricks Fund and the LUNGevity
Foundation.
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