Design, synthesis and evaluation of 2-phenylpyrimidine derivatives as novel antifungal agents targeting CYP51

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections, with high morbidity and mortality, have become one of the most serious threats to human health. There are a few kinds of clinical antifungal drugs but large amounts of them are used, so there is an urgent need for a new structural type of antifungal drug. In this study, we carried out three rounds of structural optimisation and modification of the compound YW-01, which was obtained from the preliminary screening of the group, by using the strategy of scaffold hopping. A series of novel phenylpyrimidine CYP51 inhibitors were designed and synthesised. In vitro antifungal testing showed that target compound C6 exhibited good efficacy against seven common clinically susceptible strains, which was significantly superior to the clinical first-line drug fluconazole. Subsequently in vitro tests on metabolic stability and cytotoxicity revealed that C6 was safe and stable for hepatic microsomal function. Finally, C6 warranted further exploration as a possible novel structural type of CYP51 inhibitor.