Facile access to potent antiviral quinazoline heterocycles with fluorescence properties via merging metal-free domino reactions

Most of the known approved drugs comprise functionalized heterocyclic compounds as subunits. Among them, non-fluorescent quinazolines with four different substitution patterns are found in a variety of clinically used pharmaceuticals, while 4,5,7,8-substituted quinazolines and those displaying their own specific fluorescence, favourable for cellular uptake visualization, have not been described so far. Here we report the development of a one-pot synthetic strategy to access these 4,5,7,8-substituted quinazolines, which are fluorescent and feature strong antiviral properties (EC50 down to 0.6±0.1 μM) against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Merging multistep domino processes in one-pot under fully metal-free conditions leads to sustainable, maximum efficient and high-yielding organic synthesis. Furthermore, generation of artesunic acid–quinazoline hybrids and their application against HCMV (EC50 down to 0.1±0.0 μM) is demonstrated. Fluorescence of new antiviral hybrids and quinazolines has potential applications in molecular imaging in drug development and mechanistic studies, avoiding requirement of linkage to external fluorescent markers.

The synthesis of known quinazoline heterocycles by conventional ways is a hard work that implies many synthetic steps and expensive starting materials, and involves time-consuming and waste-producing isolation and purification of product intermediates [4][5][6][7][8] . The number of synthetic methods to afford quinazolines is, furthermore, restricted to the availability of the appropriate starting compounds. For this reason, development of new efficient and straightforward synthetic methods towards quinazoline heterocyclic compounds of value to medicinal chemistry, starting from simple precursors, is of high current demand. To our knowledge, the class of 4,5,7,8-substituted quinazolines (E-type, Fig. 1b) have not been prepared to date because of the lack of a synthetic route towards these compounds. Furthermore, no examples of fluorescent quinazolines have been reported so far. External fluorescent labels are usually employed to study the functions of quinazoline-based pharmacophores within cells. However, fluorescent markers can influence or change the properties of studied lead compounds and drugs. Therefore, the drug candidate should ideally display its own fluorescence to allow its cellular uptake visualization and without incorporation of external fluorescent labels. The motivation and desire to address these gaps prompted the research work we report here.
In terms of efficiency and sustainability, generation of bioactive  heterocycles through multicomponent multistep reactions avoiding  intermediate isolation and purification steps, is unbeatable. While  examples of organocatalysed linear domino reactions 17,18,20 and of a single branched domino process 21 are known, surprisingly, combining them in one-pot is unprecedented, although such a multistep one-pot process would further reduce costs and waste production in the synthesis of versatile heterocycles.
Herein, we describe development of a combined process, which joins a new five-step branched domino reaction with two-step linear and subsequent three-step linear domino reactions. This new metal-free 10-step sequence, with only a single work up procedure and starting from simple and readily available compounds, results in new functionalized quinazolines of type E (Fig. 1b), which exceed the antiviral potency of the clinical reference drug ganciclovir 23 . Furthermore, selected fluorescent quinazolines were applied for synthesis of first artesunic acidquinazoline hybrids, which are, remarkably, also fluorescent and display superior potency against HCMV (EC 50 down to 0.1±0.0 mM) compared to that of their parent quinazolines (EC 50 down to 4.6 ± 0.9 mM) and artesunic acid (EC 50 3.8±0.4 mM), as well as ganciclovir (EC 50 2.6±0.5 mM). For all quinazoline compounds, cytotoxicity for primary human fibroblasts (HFFs; CC 50 ) was undetectable at concentrations up to 100 mM, indicating that the new quinazolines and hybrid compounds are selective. Importantly, the fluorescent quinazolines could nicely be depicted both in extracellular and intracellular localizations when analysing primary HFFs and virus-infected cells using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. An accumulation of fluorescent quinazolines was mostly observed in cytoplasmic areas, thus visually indicating their efficient cellular uptake. These results open up new perspectives for molecular imaging in the drug development process and mechanistic studies, avoiding the requirement of linkage of external fluorescent labels to potential drug molecules.

Results
Proposed one-pot approach towards fluorescent quinazolines. Inspired by the power of the domino concept introduced by Tietze 16,22 , we envisioned the possibility of designing a multicomponent one-pot process, involving domino reactions, which might allow to generate quinazolines starting from simple precursors: aldehydes, nitroalkenes and malononitrile (Fig. 2). The proposed unprecedented quinazolines, bearing amino (donor) and cyano (acceptor) groups at the same time, were expected to demonstrate desirable fluorescence properties.
One-pot synthesis of cyclohexenes and 2,6-dicyanoanilines. We started by exploring a reaction of trans-b-nitrostyrene (1), benzaldehyde (2) and malononitrile (3; Figs 3 and 4a). Our most recent finding of an imidazole-catalysed six-step linear domino reaction of malononitrile with phenylethanal derivatives 24 inspired us to apply imidazole as a catalyst also for this new transformation ( Supplementary Fig. 1). To our delight, the domino process using dichloromethane as a solvent in presence of imidazole at room temperature resulted in highly functionalized cyclohexene derivative 4a. Structure and relative stereochemistry of isolated major diastereomer 4a was confirmed by X-ray analysis (Fig. 3). We next screened further commercially available bases (Supplementary Fig. 1). A significant improvement of product yields to 499% was observed in presence of hydroquinine 1,4-phthalazinediyl diether ((DHQ) 2 PHAL, Fig. 4a), well known as a ligand in osmium-catalysed Sharpless dihydroxylation reaction 25 .
The proposed mechanism of the branched domino reaction was confirmed by ESI-and APPI-MS studies (Fig. 3). In presence of a catalyst, we observed signals at m/z 154 [M] þ and m/z 218 [M þ 3H] 3 þ , which correspond to products of two transformations running in parallel, Knoevenagel (step 1) and nitro-Michael (step 2) reactions, respectively. A signal at m/z 370 [M þ H] þ corresponds to product of a subsequent nitroalkane-Michael reaction (step 3) between previously formed nitroalkane derivative (donor) and a Knoevenagel product (Michael acceptor). The last steps, leading to target compound 4a, involve intramolecular addition (step 4) and tautomerization (step 5).
Next, optimal conditions for 2,6-dicyanoaniline derivative 5a formation (key intermediate for quinazoline synthesis according to Fig. 2) from cyclohexene 4a were studied (see Supplementary  Table 1). Notably, 2,6-dicyanoaniline derivatives have recently attracted considerable attention, since they exhibit strong fluorescence in ultraviolet light and may have utility in synthesis of fluorescent materials, non-natural photosynthetic systems, materials with semiconducting or nonlinear optical properties, molecular electronic devices and light-emitting diodes [26][27][28][29] .
Since direct aromatization of 4a was not successful using different oxidizing agents (see Supplementary Table 1), we assumed that hydrolysis of CN groups to COOH might facilitate the subsequent aromatization step through CO 2 release and might also prevent generation of toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Applying acetic acid (AcOH) and carrying out the reaction at 130°C for 6.5 h, product 4a 0 with a quaternary carbon centre was isolated in 75% yield (Fig. 4b). Subsequently, we reacted 4a 0 with Ac 2 O/Py, giving desired product 5a in 95% yield. Next, we turned our attention to finding the optimal conditions for two-step one-pot synthesis of 5a from 4a (Fig. 4c). Carrying out the reaction in presence of AcOH/Py (1:1) at 80°C for 15 h, desired product 5a was isolated in 41% yield. We obtained, furthermore, performing the same reaction under otherwise identical conditions-but in presence of ammonium acetate (6) as an additive-the product 5a in a higher yield of 52% over two steps (Fig. 4c).
Another specific aim was to combine the five-step branched domino reaction with the optimized two-step linear domino reaction in a seven-step one-pot process, which we successfully realized (Fig. 5a). Noteworthy, all reactions investigated can be effected in 31-67% overall yield over seven steps. Generally, higher yields (61-67% for 5a-5e) were obtained using substrates with both neutral and electron-withdrawing moieties on benzene rings.
Laser-induced fluorescence imaging with 2,6-dicyanoaniline. Using the combinatorial laser-induced forward transfer method 30 , we patterned selected new fluorophore 5d in the form of an array consisting of 10 Â 10 spots (Fig. 5b), and the logo of Friedrich-Alexander University, consisting of single overlapping spots (Fig. 5c). Hereby, laser irradiation (wavelength of 532 nm) transferred the small amounts of 2,6-dicyanoaniline derivative 5d from the donor slide to an acceptor (see Supplementary Fig. 2 and Supplementary Note 1). In accord with the absorption spectrum of compound 5d, an excitation wavelength of 254 nm was chosen. The expected fluorescent image was detected with an optical set-up developed for rapid wide-field screening of chromophores (see Supplementary Fig. 2). The fact that the combinatorial laser-induced forward transfer procedure does not harm push-pull chromophore 5d opens up the possibility to test and optimize optical properties in a high-density array format by performing parallel screenings for different chromophores at the same time. In addition, 5d showed also solvatochromic properties (Fig. 5d).
One-pot 10-step synthesis of fluorescent quinazolines. Consequently, anticipated one-pot synthesis of quinazolines 7a-i was performed via combination of our new seven-step one-pot process with a three-step linear domino reaction using formamide as a suitable reagent in 2 h reaction time (Figs 3 and 6). Reaction of 5a with formamide can proceed through an imine formation (step 1), intramolecular condensation (step 2) and tautomerization (step 3) linear domino process (Fig. 3). We explored the substrate scope of the resulting 10-step one-pot process (Fig. 6). All applied aromatic substrates (carrying either neutral, electronwithdrawing or electron-donating groups) afforded high overall yields of 20-50% over 10 steps. Remarkably, calculated average yields of every individual step in these multistep one-pot reactions, deduced from a total yield of up to 67% (seven-step, Fig. 5a) and up to 50% (10-step, Fig. 6) is 94% and 93%, respectively. Synthesis of artesunic acid-quinazoline hybrids. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major human pathogen showing worldwide prevalence. Prevention and clinical interventions for HCMV disease are limited, since cross-resistance to all approved anti-HCMV drugs is increasingly observed 31 . As alternatives to standard drugs 23,32 , our ongoing search for highly active hybrid molecules [33][34][35] , which exceed their parent compounds in activity against HCMV, resulted in synthesis of new artesunic acid-quinazoline hybrids 8 and 9 ( Fig. 7a and Supplementary Methods). We chose compounds 7g and 7h (Fig. 6) as coupling partners, since their fluorescence properties were considered beneficial for biological investigations. Artesunic acid on the other hand was selected because it proved to be a valuable building block in order to get highly bioactive compounds with just a few chemical transformations and also because of its promising pharmacological properties 23,32,35 .

Antiviral activities of quinazolines and hybrid compounds.
Subsequently, the selected quinazolines 7b, 7g, 7h, 7i and hybrids 8, 9 were quantitatively analysed for their antiviral activity against HCMV ( Table 1). The new quinazolines 7b, 7g, 7h and 7i consistently demonstrated a high activity against HCMV, among which the quinazoline heterocycle 7i displayed the most potent antiviral efficacy with a lower in vitro EC 50 value than the reference drug ganciclovir (Table 1). Furthermore, our results clearly demonstrate the great potential of the hybridization concept. Artesunic acidquinazoline hybrids 8 and 9 (EC 50 0.6±0.1 and 0.1±0.0 mM, respectively) are not only 6-to 46-fold more active than their parent compounds: artesunic acid, 7g and 7h (EC 50 3.8±0.4, 4.9 ± 0.2 and 4.6 ± 0.9 mM, respectively); they also exceed antiviral activity of the reference drug ganciclovir (EC 50 2.6±0.5 mM) that is in use for standard treatment of HCMV infections. The measurement of antiviral activity was based on automated fluorometry using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing, recombinant HCMV (excitation 485 nm, emission 535 nm; see Supplementary Note 2, Supplementary Data 1 and Supplementary Fig. 4 for dose-response curves).
In addition, EC 50 values were confirmed using non-GFPexpressing HCMV (strain AD169) by a classical plaque formation assay on HFFs (n ¼ 4), providing data consistent with the GFP-based data shown in Table 1, that is, compound 7h, 7.3 ± 0.7 mM; compound 8, 0.3 ± 0.0 mM; compound 9, 0.3±0.1 mM. Moreover, antiviral activity was clearly separated from putative cytotoxic effects because of the results obtained with a standard trypan blue exclusion assay. For all compounds, cytotoxicity for primary HFFs (CC 50 ) was low or undetectable at concentrations up to 100 mM (that is, cytotoxicity values obtained at the highest test concentration of 100 mM remained under the  cutoff level for all compounds except artesunic acid also comprising a high CC 50 of 82.0±0.9), while anti-HCMV activities (EC 50 ) were in a sub-or single-digit micromolar range. Consistent with these findings are results from a MTS-based cell proliferation assay, showing moderate or no antiproliferative effects on HFFs for all analysed compounds in concentrations up to 30 mM (see Supplementary Fig. 5 and Supplementary  Methods). Thus, the new quinazolines and hybrid compounds can be regarded as selective, which is one of the most important aspects in drug design.

Discussion
We describe the operationally simple and expeditious one-pot synthetic method-merging multistep domino reactions under fully metal-free conditions-providing unprecedented convenient access to a new class of antiviral 4,5,7,8-substituted quinazolines, bearing amino and cyano groups at the same time, in high overall yields, starting from simple and readily available compounds (Figs 3 and 6). Only one purification step is involved, leading to significant reduction of costs, waste and labour input. The investigated quinazolines 7b, 7g, 7h, 7i exhibit significant activity against HCMV. Furthermore, selected fluorescent quinazolines 7g, 7h were applied for synthesis of first artesunic acidquinazoline hybrids 8 and 9, which are, strikingly, also fluorescent and display superior anti-HCMV activity (EC 50 down to 0.1 ± 0.0 mM) compared to the parent compounds (artesunic acid and quinazolines) as well as the reference drug ganciclovir (EC 50 2.6 ± 0.5 mM). When analysing primary HFFs, the fluorescent compounds 7g, 7h and 9 could nicely be depicted both in extracellular (transparent arrows) and intracellular localizations (filled arrows;  Fig. 7b,c). Interestingly, the extracellular signals included wellordered crystalline structures (Fig. 7b, panel 8; Fig. 7c, panels [8][9] in the range of the applied concentrations (1-10 mM). The intracellular fluorescence pattern of the compounds showed a speckled accumulation mostly in cytoplasmic areas, thus visually indicating their efficient cellular uptake (Fig. 7b, panels 2-5 and 7-10; Fig. 7c, panels 3-5 and 8-10). A nonfluorescent artemisinin-derived control compound (Fig. 7c, panels 2 and 7; see also Supplementary Fig. 6), the DMSO panels (solvent controls) as well as the inspection of different excitation wavelengths of the confocal laser-scanning microscopy confirmed the specificity of signals and a lack of unwarranted crossfluorescence. Of note, the fluorescent capacity of compounds 7h, 7g and 9 (depicted by microscopic imaging scored at a laser wavelength of 405 nm; Fig. 7b-d) did not interfere with GFP fluorometry, so that control measurements with these compounds did not produce signals above background levels. Importantly, the evaluation of virus-infected cells could also be included in this analytic approach, opening new perspectives in the investigation of antiviral activity and mechanistic details of the compounds (the latter point might be supported by the study of intracellular drug-target binding and localization in future applications). An indirect immunofluorescence counterstaining of viral and cellular proteins 36,37 led to the detection of nuclear markers, that is, the viral protein kinase pUL97 and cellular lamins type A/C (Fig. 7d, panels 4, 9, 14 or 5, 10, 15, respectively), in the context of extracellular and intracellular fluorescence signals of compounds 7h and 9 (Fig. 7d, panels 1-5 or 6-15, respectively). The direct costaining of putative target proteins of the compounds seems to be a further realistic goal and might be realizable at a later stage.    Table 1). The depicted images are representative for three independent experiments. Lack of mycoplasm contamination was verified by routine 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining. General procedures of cell fixation, indirect immunofluorescence staining of proteins (d) and microscopic analysis have been described elsewhere 36,37 .
The fact that the studied antiviral quinazoline compounds are fluorescent opens up a new vista of molecular imaging in drug development and mechanistic studies, avoiding the requirement of linkage of external fluorescent markers to quinazoline drugs. Through fluorescence these new compounds might then be analysed for details of putative biological activities, such as in vitro inhibitory properties against HCMV as demonstrated in the present study and also for the aspects of drug delivery in single cells and whole tissue.
In general, these unprecedented findings have important future implications for the development of efficient drugs (for example, antiviral, anticancer and antimalarial) for clinics based on fluorescent bioactive heterocycles as lead compounds. Data availability. CCDC 1472467 (4a), 1472469 (4a 0 ) and 1472470 (7a) contain the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data are provided free of charge by The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre. The authors declare that all other data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its Supplementary Information file.