DESIGN, SYNTHESIS, AND EVALUATION OF A FAMILY OF PROPARGYL PYRIDINYL ETHERS AS POTENTIAL CYTOCHROME P450 INHIBITORS.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are a superfamily of hemoproteins involved in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds including many drugs and environmental chemicals. In our previous research, we have determined that certain aryl and arylalkyl acetylenes act as inhibitors of these enzymes. Here we report a family of propargyl ethers containing a pyridine ring system. Five new compounds, 2,4-dimethyl-3-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)pyridine(I), 2,4-dimethyl-3-((prop-2-yn-1-yloxy) methyl)pyridine(II), 2,3-dimethyl-4-((prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)methyl)pyridine(III), 2-methyl-4-((prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)methyl)pyridine (IV), 2-methyl-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)pyridine (V) (Figure 1) have been synthesized and characterized.