Syntheses and structure-activity relationships for some triazolyl p38 alpha MAPK inhibitors

The design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel triazolyl p38 alpha MAPK inhibitors with improved water solubility for formulation in cationic liposomes (SAINT-O-Somes) targeted at diseased endothelial cells is described. Water-solubilizing groups were introduced via a 'click' reaction of functional azides with 2-alkynyl imidazoles and isosteric oxazoles to generate two small libraries of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazolyl p38 alpha MAPK inhibitors. Triazoles with low IC50 values and desired physicochemical properties were screened for in vitro downregulation of proinflammatory gene expression and were formulated in SAINT-O-Somes. Triazolyl p38 alpha MAPK inhibitor 88 (IC50 = 0.096 mu M) displayed the most promising in vitro activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.