Novel interleukin-5 inhibitors based on hydroxyethylaminomethyl-4H-chromen-4-one scaffold.

Hydroxyethylaminomethyl-4H-chromenones were previously discovered as fairly strong IL-5 inhibitor. For determination of detail structure activity relationship, N-substituted hydroxyethylaminomethylchromenones 4a-n were prepared and evaluated for their IL-5 inhibitory activity. Shifting the hydrophobic group to nitrogen from 1-position of hydroxyethylamino moiety of hydroxyethylaminomethyl-4H-chromenones enhances the activity. The increment in bulkiness or hydrophobicity of alkyl side chain at amino group increases the activity. The same level of activity of 5-(cyclohexylmethoxy)-3-(N-benzyl-2-hydroxyethylaminomethyl)-4H-chromenone analogs regardless of hydrophobic or hydrophilic substituents at 4th position of phenyl ring might infer the existence of tunnel structure in the putative receptor for accepting these side chains.