Synthesis of isosteres of p-amidinophenylpyruvic acid. Inhibitors of trypsin thrombin, and pancreatic kallikrein.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm00237a016

A series of amino acids, amidino acids, and amidino esters was synthesized and the compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against bovine trypsin, bovine thrombin, and porcine pancreatic kallikrein and as anticoagulants. Among these compounds, ethyl 4-amidino-2-iodophenoxyacetate was found to be the most effective inhibitor of the enzymes in question, with a potency (Ki = 3.16 x 10-6 M vs. trypsin; Ki = 4.8 x 10-5 M vs. thrombin) similar to that of p-amidinophenylpyruvic acid (Ki = 6.0 x 10-6 M vs. trypsin; Ki = 2.0 x 10-5 M vs. thrombin). Ethyl 4-amidino-2-iodophenoxyacetate was also found to be the most effective in blocking the clotting activity of plasma, as indicated by significant prolongation of the partial thromboplastin time. This paper reports the synthetic methods, the enzyme inhibitory activity, and the structure-activity relationships observed.