Partition-variant desferrithiocin analogues: organ targeting and increased iron clearance.

Altering the lipophilicity (log P(app)) of desferrithiocin analogues can change the organ distribution of the chelators and lead to enhanced iron clearance. For example, alkylation of (S)-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid [(S)-4'-(HO)-DADFT] and its analogues to more lipophilic compounds, such as (S)-4,5-dihydro-2-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid [(S)-4'-(CH3O)-DADFT], provides ligands that achieved between a 3- and 8-fold increase in chelator concentrations in the heart, liver, and pancreas (the organs most at risk in iron-overload disease) of treated rodents. The 4'-O-methylated compounds are demethylated to their hydroxylated counterparts in rodents; furthermore, this O-demethylation takes place in both rodent and human liver microsomes. The relationship between chelator lipophilicity and iron-clearing efficacy in the iron-overloaded Cebus apella primate is further underscored by a comparison of the iron-clearing efficiency of (S)-2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid [(S)-3'-(HO)-DADFT] and its 3'-(CH3O) counterpart. Finally, these DFT analogues are shown to be both inhibitors of the iron-mediated oxidation of ascorbate as well as effective radical scavengers.