Inhibitors of Farnesyl Protein Transferase

The Ras gene is found activated in many human cancers, including colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, and myeloid leukemias. Biological and biochemical studies of Ras action indicate that Ras functions like a G-regulatory protein, since Ras must be localized in the plasma membrane and must bind with GTP in order to transform cells (Gibbs, J. et al., Microbial. Rev. 53:171-286 (1989). Forms of Ras in cancer cells have mutations that distinguish the protein from Ras in normal cells.

At least 3 post-translational modifications are involved with Ras membrane localization, and all 3 modifications occur at the C-terminus of Ras. The Ras C-terminus contains a sequence motif termed a "CAAX" or "Cys-Aaa.sup.1 -Aaa.sup.2 -Xaa" box (Aaa is an aliphatic amino acid, the Xaa is any amino acid) (Willumsen et al., Nature 310:583-586 (1984)). Other proteins having this motif include the Ras-related GTP-binding proteins such as Rho, fungal mating factors, the nuclear lamins, and the gamma subunit of transducin.

Farnesylation of Ras by the isoprenoid farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) occurs in vivo on Cys to form a thioether linkage (Hancock et al., Cell 57:1167 (1989); Casey et al., Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:8323 (1989)). In addition, Ha-Ras and N-Ras are palmitoylated via formation of a thioester on a Cys residue near a C-terminal Cys farnesyl acceptor (Gutierrez et al., EMBO J. 8:1093-1098 (1989); Hancock et al., Cell 57: 1167-1177 (1989)). Ki-Ras lacks the palmitate acceptor Cys. The last 3 amino acids at the Ras C-terminal end are removed proteolytically, and methyl esterification occurs at the new C-terminus (Hancock et al., ibid). Fungal mating factor and mammalian nuclear lamins undergo identical modification steps (Anderegg et al., J.Biol. Chem. 263:18236 (1988); Farnsworth et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:20422 (1989)).

Inhibition of Ras farnesylation in vivo has been demonstrated with lovastatin (Merck & Co., Rahway, N.J.) and compactin (Hancock et al., ibid; Casey et al., ibid; Schafer et al., Science 245:379 (1989)). These drugs inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate limiting enzyme for the production of polyisoprenoids and the farnesyl pyrophosphate precursor. It has been shown that a farnesyl-protein transferase using farnesyl pyrophosphate as a precursor is responsible for Ras farnesylation. (Reiss et al., Cell, 62: 81-88 (1990); Schaber it al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:14701-14704 (1990); Schafer et al., Science, 249: 1133-1139 (1990); Manne et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A., 87: 7541-7545 (1990)).

Inhibition of farnesyl-protein transferase and, thereby, of farnesylation of the Ras protein, blocks the ability of Ras to transform normal cells to cancer cells. The compounds of the invention inhibit Ras farnesylation and, thereby, generate soluble Ras which, as indicated infra, can act as a dominant negative inhibitor of Ras function. While soluble Ras in cancer cells can become a dominant negative inhibitor, soluble Ras in normal cells would not be an inhibitor.

A cytosol-localized (no Cys-Aaa.sup.1 -Aaa.sup.2 -Xaa box membrane domain present) and activated (impaired GTPase activity, staying bound to GTP) form of Ras acts as a dominant negative Ras inhibitor of membrane-bound Ras function (Gibbs et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:6630-6634(1989)). Cytosol-localized forms of Ras with normal GTPase activity do not act as inhibitors. Gibbs et al., ibid, showed this effect in Xenopus oocytes and in mammalian cells.

Administration of compounds of the invention to block Ras farnesylation not only decreases the amount of Ras in the membrane but also generates a cytosolic pool of Ras. In tumor cells having activated Ras, the cytosolic pool acts as another antagonist of membrane-bound Ras function. In normal cells having normal Ras, the cytosolic pool of Ras does not act as an antagonist. In the absence of complete inhibition of farnesylation, other farnesylated proteins are able to continue with their functions.

Farnesyl-protein transferase activity may be reduced or completely inhibited by adjusting the compound dose. Reduction of farnesyl-protein transferase enzyme activity by adjusting the compound dose would be useful for avoiding possible undesirable side effects such as interference with other metabolic processes which utilize the enzyme.

These compounds and their analogs are inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase. Farnesyl-protein transferase utilizes farnesyl pyrophosphate to covalently modify the Cys thiol group of the Ras CAAX box with a farnesyl group. Inhibition of farnesyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase blocks Ras membrane localization in vivo and inhibits Ras function. Inhibition of farnesyl-protein transferase is more specific and is attended by fewer side effects than is the case for a general inhibitor of isoprene biosynthesis.

Previously, it has been demonstrated that tetrapeptides with the CAAX sequence inhibit Ras farnesylation (Schaber et al., ibid; Reiss et. al., ibid; Reiss et al., PNAS, 88:732-736 (1991)). However, the reported inhibitors of farnesyl-transferase are metabolically unstable or inactive in cells.

It has further been reported in the art that a structure of a new citraconic anhydride derivative from Piptoporus australiensis has been established by spectroscopic and chemical methods as 3-[(7Z)-hexadecenyl]-4-methylfuran-2,5-dione (M. Gill, Phytochemistry, 21: 1786-1788 (1982).

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to develop pharmaceutical compounds and compositions and methods utilizing the compounds of this invention to inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase and farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compounds of structural formula (I): ##STR2## and pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment utilizing these compounds to inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase and farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.

The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compounds of structural formula (I) which are inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase and farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras: ##STR3## wherein X--X is CH.dbd.CH (cis);

CH.dbd.CH (trans); or

CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 ;

R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from:

a) H;

b) C.sub.1-5 alkyl;

c) C.sub.1-5 alkyl substituted with a member of the group consisting of:

i) phenyl,

ii) phenyl substituted with methyl, methoxy, halogen (Cl, Br, F, I) or hydroxy; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of formula (I) in which at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is hydrogen;

when R.sup.1, R.sup.2 is other than H, these compounds may not be inhibitors of farnesyl protein transferase but may act as prodrugs.

In one embodiment of the present invention are those pharmaceutical compositions which contain the compounds of formula (II) which are as shown below: ##STR4## wherein X--X is CH.dbd.CH (cis);

CH.dbd.CH (trans); or

CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2.

Throughout this specification and claims, the configuration of the 2,3-olefin is as shown.

A preferred compound (9) of this invention is set forth below: ##STR5##

A second preferred compound (10) of this invention is set forth below: ##STR6##

The compounds (9) and (10) are prepared in an aerobic fermentation procedure employing a novel culture, MF5685, identified as Chaetomella acutiseta. Although the use of this organism is specifically described herein, other organisms of the genus Chaetomella including mutants of the above described organism are also capable of producing compounds of this invention.

The culture MF5685 is that of a fungus, Chaetomella acutiseta, isolated from a decaying fruiting body of Phellinus robinae growing parasitically on Robinia pseudoacacia in Sussex County, N.J. This culture has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection at 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 as ATCC 74113.

The culture MF5685, identified as Chaetomella acutiseta exhibits the following morphological features:

Colonies on oatmeal agar (Difco Laboratories) 20.degree. C., 95% relative humidity, 12 hr photoperiod under fluorescent light, attaining a diameter of 40-42 mm in 3 weeks, slightly raised, densely felty to almost wooly, dull, distinctly white at the margin, but soon pale buff to pinkish buff or pale brown, near Tilleul-Buff (capitalized color names from Ridgway, R. 1912. Color Standards and Nomenclature, Washington, D.C.), Vinaceous-Buff, Avellaneous, with dense aggregations of brown to dark brown, Carob Brown, conidiomata developing in irregular concentric zones, with margin minutely fimbriate or plumose, reverse mottled buff to vinaceous brown or brown. Odors and exudates absent.

Colonies on malt yeast extract agar (Difco Laboratories) 20.degree. C., 95% relative humidity, 12 hr photoperiod under fluorescent light, attaining a diameter of 40-41 mm in 3 weeks, slightly raised, densely felty, faintly radially plicate, white to pale pinkish buff to grayish pink-buff, Pale Cinnamon-Pink, Pale Pinkish Cinnamon, Light Pinkish Cinnamon, to Avellaneous, with scattered dark brown, Carob Brown, conidiomata, with margin even submerged, reverse pale buff-yellow to pinkish yellow. Odors and exudates absent.

Colonies on cornmeal agar (Difco Laboratories) 20.degree. C., 95% relative humidity, 12 hr photoperiod under fluorescent light, attaining a diameter of 28-29 mm in 3 weeks, appressed, translucent, with no aerial mycelium, with scattered dark brown conidiomata forming on the agar surface, with margin irregular, submerged, reverse translucent. Odors and exudates absent.

Conidiomata 300-700 .mu.m in diameter, 200-500 .mu.m tall, subglobose, ellipsoidal, reniform in side view, usually bilaterally symmetrical and somewhat laterally compressed, sessile or with a slight basal pedicel, consisting of two opposing shell-like peridia, dehiscing at a central suture or raphe between the two peridia, with outer walls setose, with peridial wall composed of isodiametric to slightly elongated cells, with outer layers of cells dark brown, inner layers hyaline. Setae of peridium lanceolate, 90-200 .mu.m long, 5-10 .mu.m wide at midpoint, smooth-walled, thick-walled, 4-10 septate, pale to dark brown. Conidiophores lining the basal region of conidiomatal cavity, most abundant directly above the pedicel, hyaline, branched, 12-30 .mu.m tall. Conidiogenous cells enteroblastic, phialidic, hyaline, filiform, with a minute pore at conidiogenous locus. Conidia hyaline, smooth, aseptate, fusiform to subfalcate, 8.5-11.5.times.1.8-2.2 .mu.m.

Compounds of this invention can be obtained by culturing the above noted microorganism in an aqueous nutrient medium containing sources of assimilable carbon and nitrogen, preferably under aerobic conditions. Nutrient media may also contain mineral salts and defoaming agents.

The preferred sources of carbon in the nutrient medium are carbohydrates such as glucose, glycerin, starch, dextrin, and the like. Other sources which may be included are maltose, mannose, sucrose, and the like. In addition, complex nutrient sources such as oat flour, corn meal, millet, corn and the like may supply utilizable carbon. The exact quantity of the carbon source which is used in the medium will depend, in part, upon the other ingredients in the medium, but is usually found in an amount ranging between 0.5 and 5 percent by weight. These carbon sources can be used individually in a given medium or several sources in combination in the same medium.

The preferred sources of nitrogen are amino acids such as glycine, methionine, proline, threonine and the like, as well as complex sources such as yeast extracts (hydrolysates, autolysates), dried yeast, tomato paste, soybean meal, peptone, corn steep liquor, distillers solubles, malt extracts and the like. Inorganic nitrogen sources such as ammonium salts (e.g. ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, etc.) can also be use. The various sources of nitrogen can be used alone or in combination in amounts ranging between 0.2 to 70 percent by weight of the medium.

The carbon and nitrogen sources are generally employed in combination, but need not be in pure form. Less pure materials which contain traces of growth factors, vitamins, and mineral nutrients may also be used. Mineral salts may also be added to the medium such as (but not limited to) calcium carbonate, sodium or potassium phosphate, sodium or potassium chloride, magnesium salts, copper salts, cobalt salts and the like. Also included are trace metals such as manganese, iron, molybdenum, zinc, and the like. In addition, if necessary, a defoaming agent such as polyethylene glycol or silicone may be added, especially if the culture medium foams seriously.

The preferred process for production of compounds of this invention consists of inoculating spores or mycelia of the producing organism into a suitable medium and then cultivating under aerobic condition.

The fermentation procedure generally is to first inoculate a preserved source of culture into a nutrient seed medium and to obtain, sometimes through a two step process, growth of the organism which serves as seed in the production of the active compounds. After inoculation, the flasks are incubated with agitation at temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 30.degree. C., preferably 25.degree. to 28.degree. C. Agitation rates may range up to 400 rpm, preferably 200 to 220 rpm. Seed flasks are incubated over a period of 2 to 10 days, preferably 2 to 4 days. When growth is plentiful, usually 2 to 4 days, the culture may be used to inoculate production medium flasks. A second stage seed growth may be employed, particularly when going into larger vessels. When this is done, a portion of the culture growth is used to inoculate a second seed flask incubated under similar conditions but employing shorter time.

After inoculation, the fermentation production medium is incubated for 3 to 30 days, preferably 4 to 22 days, without agitation. The fermentation is conducted aerobically at temperatures ranging from 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. To obtain optimum results, the temperatures are in the range of 22.degree. to 28.degree. C., most preferably 24.degree. to 26.degree. C. The pH of the nutrient medium suitable for producing the active compounds is in the range of 3.5 to 8.5, most preferably 5.0 to 7.5. After the appropriate period for production of the desired compound, fermentation flasks are harvested and the active compounds isolated.

A mixture of an alcoholic solvent and an oxygenated solvent, such as an ester or a ketone, is employed to extract a compounds of this invention from the solid fermentation medium.

The mixture is vigorously stirred and filtered, and the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure. Water is added to the concentrate and the pH is adjusted to about 3 with a mineral acid. The aqueous concentrate is then repeatedly extracted with a water immiscible oxygenated solvent. The water immiscible organic layer is removed and evaporated to dryness. The residue is then generally subjected to several separation steps such as adsorption and partition chromatography, and precipitation. For each separation step, fractions are collected and combined based on results from an assay and/or HPLC/TLC analysis.

The preferred solvent for extraction of the solid fermentation is a 1:1 mixture of methanol and 2-butanone. After concentrating the initial extract and diluting with water, the preferred partitioning solvent is dichloromethane.

The chromatographic separations may be carried out by employing conventional column chromatography with ionic or nonionic absorbents or resins. Silica gel, such as that available from E. Merck, is the preferred adsorbent. When silica gel is the adsorbent, an alcohol/chlorohydrocarbon/organic acid mixture such as methanol/chloroform/acetic acid/water is useful as an eluant. For reverse phase chromatography, the preferred adsorbent is a C8 bonded phase silica gel. The preferred eluant for reverse phase chromatography is a mixture of acetonitrile and water buffered at a low pH, such as 0.1% phosphoric acid, or trifluoroacetic acid. Ionic resins such as Dowex-1 (Cl.sup.-) or Dowex-50 (Ca.sup.++) are also useful in the purification.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those formed from cations such as sodium, potassium, aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium, zinc, and from bases such as ammonia, ethylenediamine, N-methyl-glucamine, lysine, arginine, ornithine, choline, N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, diethanolamine, procaine, N-benzylphenethylamine, diethylamine, piperazine, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, and tetramethylammonium hydroxide. The salts included herein encompass those wherein one or both of the carboxyl groups are in the salt form.

The intrinsic farnesyl-protein transferase (FTase) activity of representative compounds of this invention was measured by the assay as described below:

Farnesyl-protein transferase (FTase) from bovine brain was chromatographed on DEAE-Sephacel (Pharmacia, 0-0.8M NaCl gradient elution), N-octyl agarose (Sigma, 0-0.6M NaCl gradient elution), and a mono Q HPLC column (Pharmacia, 0-0.3M NaCl gradient). Ras-CVLS (Cys-Val-Leu-Ser) at 3.5 .mu.M, 0.25 .mu.M [.sup.3 H]FPP, and the indicated compounds were incubated with this partially purified enzyme preparation. The FTase inhibition data presented below is a measurement of the ability of the test compound to inhibit Ras farnesylation in vitro.

The pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of structural formula I and II inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. These compounds are useful as pharmaceutical agents for mammals, especially for humans. These compounds may be administered to patients for use in the treatment of cancer. Examples of the type of cancer which may be treated with the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, and myeloid leukemias.

The compounds of this invention may be administered to mammals, preferably humans, either alone or, preferably, in combination with pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers or diluents, optionally with known adjuvants, such as alum, in a pharmaceutical composition, according to standard pharmaceutical practice. The compounds can be administered orally or parenterally, including intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and topical administration.

For oral use of a chemotherapeutic compound according to this invention, the selected compounds may be administered, for example, in the form of tablets or capsules, or as an aqueous solution or suspension. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers which are commonly used include lactose and corn starch, and lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are commonly added. For oral administration in capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried corn starch. When aqueous suspensions are required for oral use, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening and/or flavoring agents may be added. For intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intravenous use, sterile solutions of the active ingredient are usually prepared, and the pH of the solutions should be suitably adjusted and buffered. For intravenous use, the total concentration of solutes should be controlled in order to render the preparation isotonic.

The present invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment of cancer, comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the compounds of this invention, with or without pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents. Suitable compositions of this invention include aqueous solutions comprising compounds of this invention and pharmacologically acceptable carriers, e.g. saline, at a pH level, e.g., 7.4. The solutions may be introduced into a patient's intramuscular blood-stream by local bolus injection.

When a compound according to this invention is administered into a human subject, the daily dosage will normally be determined by the prescribing physician with the dosage generally varying according to the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, as well as the severity of the patient's symptoms.

In one exemplary application, a suitable amount of compound is administered to a human patient undergoing treatment for cancer. Administration occurs in an amount between about 0.1 mg/kg of body weight to about 20 mg/kg of body weight of a mammal per day, preferably of between 0.5 mg/kg of body weight to about 10 mg/kg of body weight of a mammal per day.

The compounds of this invention may also be prepared according to the reaction scheme as set forth below:

Aldol condensation of methyl oleate (1) with methyl pyruvate at -78.degree. C. to room temperature gave the diastereomeric mixture of (2) and (3) which was separated. Tosylation of the tert hydroxyl group gave (4) and (5) which upon .beta.-elimination using DBU yielded the olefins. All three elimination products, (6), (7) and (8), were isolated by silica gel chromatography. The methyl esters were hydrolyzed by refluxing with aqueous sodium hydroxide in methanol-THF mixture. Hydrolysis of diester (6) followed by acidification gave (9) which was converted to (10) in methanol-water (8:2) at pH 7.0 to 7.2. ##STR7##

The equilibrium between diacid (10) and anhydride (9) in a solution is pH dependent. The anhydride (9) predominates when the solution is acidic, however, the diacid (10) predominates when the solution is basic as exemplified below: UV spectrum of (9) in CH.sub.3 CN showed a maximum for cyclic anhydride at 254 run which did not change by addition of dil HCl. However, when basified with dil NaOH, this maximum shifted to .lambda..sub.max 243 run. This shift is clear evidence of opening of the anhydride into the diacid. ##STR8##

The UV spectrum of (9) recorded in the CH.sub.3 OH-HEPES buffer solution (7:5) at pH 7.5 (buffer and pH used for biological assay) showed a UV maximum at 243 nm. This indicates that under the assay conditions the compound (10) exists substantially in the open dicarboxylate form. The UV spectrum in neat CH.sub.3 OH exhibited two maxima: 211 and 253 nm. The latter band underwent a hypsochromic shift to 240 run after addition of dil NAOH. The anhydride (9) reacts slowly with CH.sub.3 OH (a methanolic solution of anhydride (9) gave the dimethyl ester (6) after reacting with CH.sub.2 N.sub.2). The open diacid (10) was trapped as a diisopropylethylamine salt without any loss of Ras farnesyl transferase inhibitory activity.

The composition of media employed in the following Examples are listed below:

Examples provided are intended to assist in a further understanding of the invention. Particular materials employed, species and conditions are intended to be further illustrative of the invention and not limitative of the reasonable scope thereof.

A. Culturing MF5685

Culture MF 5685 was inoculated into KF seed medium using a mixture of hyphae and spores transferred from growth on a MYE agar slant. KF seed flasks were incubated for 67 hours at 25C, 220 rpm, 85% humidity. At the end of this incubation, KF flasks were pooled and 2.0 mls aliquots were aseptically tranferred to each of 40 BRF solid production medium flasks. These production flasks were then incubated statically at 25C, 85% humidity for 9 days (20 flasks) or 16 days (16 flasks). At harvest 75 mls of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were added to each production flask and the solid growth was manually broken apart into smaller pieces. Solvent treated flasks were placed onto a gyrotory shaker for agitation at 220 rpm for 30 minutes in order to further break apart the mycelial mass as well as to improve contact of the solvent with the cells.

B. Isolation of Compounds (9) and (10)

One liter (20 flasks) fermentation of Chaetomella acutiseta grown on BRF solid medium was extracted with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK, 1.5 L) by shaking for 20 minutes as described above. The extract was filtered through celite and mycelia was washed with 75 ml each with MEK to give an extract of total volume (3.0L). Filtrate was concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residual semisolid material was suspended in methanol (55 mL) and filtered. The filtrate (55 mL) was chromatographed on a 2.0 L Sephadex LH-20 column in methanol. Two Ras farnesyl transferase active fractions were obtained. These fractions were suspended separately in methanol (4 mL each) and centrifugated to remove solid material. One mL aliquot of methanolic supernatant was subsequently chromatographed on a Whatman C-8 (22.times.250 mm) column using CH.sub.3 CN (75%) and H.sub.2 O (25% containing 0.25% H.sub.3 PO.sub.4) at a flow rate of 10 ml/min. At this time it became clear that Ras farnesyl transferase activity was due to two different compounds having retention time 13.2 and 14.2 minutes [Whatman C-8 (4.6.times.250 mm), CH.sub.3 CN (80%)--H.sub.2 O (20% containing 0.25% H.sub.3 PO.sub.4) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min] in a ratio of approximately 56:44. The preparative HPLC was repeated seven times. Fractions thus obtained were concentrated to remove most of the CH.sub.3 CN and then extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate extract was washed once with an equal volume of H.sub.2 O and concentrated to dryness to give a first fraction (70 mg) enriched in compounds (9) and (10) (the ratio of compounds (9) and (10) depends on the pH of solution). This fraction was further chromatographed repeatedly using the same HPLC conditions and fractions were thoroughly dried under vacuum to give compound (9) (29 mg, ret time 14.2 min) as an oil. Compound (10) exists in solution at pH 7 and above and could be isolated as a salt from the fractions by first basifying the fractions to pH greater than 7.0 and evaporating the solvents.

Mass spectra were recorded on a Finnigan-MAT model MAT212 (electron impact, EI, 90 eV), MAT 90 (Fast Atom Bombardment, FAB), and TSQ70B (FAB, EI) mass spectrometers. Exact mass measurements were performed at high resolution (HR-EI) using perfluorokerosene (PFK) or perfluoropolypropylene oxide (Ultramark U1600F) as an internal standard. Trimethyl silyl derivatives were prepared with a 1:1 mixture of BSTFA-pyridine at room temperature.

13C NMR spectra were recorded in CD.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 or CD.sub.3 OD or CDCl.sub.3 at 75 MHz on a Varian XL-300 spectrometer. Chemical shifts are given in ppm relative to TMS at zero using the solvent peak at 53.8 ppm (CD.sub.2 Cl.sub.2), 49.00 ppm (CD3OD) and 77.00 ppm (CDCl.sub.3) respectively as an internal standard.

.sup.1 H NMR spectra were recorded in CD.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 or CD.sub.3 OD or CDCl.sub.3 at 300 MHz on a Varian XL-300 spectrometer. Chemical shifts are given in ppm relative to TMS at zero using the solvent peaks at 5.32 ppm (CD.sub.2 Cl.sub.2), 3.30 ppm (CD.sub.3 OD) and 7.26 ppm (CDCl.sub.3), respectively, as internal standards.

This compound has a molecular weight 352. The molecular formula C.sub.21 H.sub.36 O.sub.4 was determined by HR-MS measurement of the di-trimethylsislyl derivative (calcd for C.sub.21 H.sub.36 O.sub.4 +C.sub.5 H.sub.13 Si.sub.2 :481.3166; found 481.3164).

The compound was thoroughly dried and mass spectral analysis gave a molecular weight 334. The molecular formula C.sub.21 H.sub.34 O.sub.3 was determined by HR-MS measurements (Calcd for C.sub.21 H.sub.34 O.sub.3 :334.2508; found 334.2506).

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum in CD.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 : 5.36 (1H, m), 5.33 (1H, m), 2.45 (2H, t, J=8.1 Hz), 2.05 (3H, brs), 2.02 (4H, m), 1.57 (2H, m), 1.34-1.26 (18H, m) 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.7 Hz).

.sup.13 C NMR spectrum in CD.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 : 166.8, 166.3, 145.1, 141.0, 130.49, 129.38, 32.3, 30.15, 29.93, 29.90, 29.71 (x3), 29.67, 27.88, 27.56, 27.44, 24.7, 23.07, 14.3, 9.7.

Dried sample .nu..sub.max (ZnSe): 2925, 2854, 1857, 1821, 1765, 1741, 1673, 1465, 1367, 1270, 1230, 1218, 1118, 1016, 922, 735 cm.sup.-1.

.lambda.max (CHCl.sub.3):254 (.epsilon.=7985 nm)

Step 1: Aldol Condensation of Methyl Oleate and Methyl Pyruvate (Preparation of (2) and (3)

n-Butyl lithium (1.6M in hexane, 13.1 mL, 21 mmol) was added to a cooled (-78.degree. C.) solution of diisopropyl amine (4.2 mL, 30 mmol) in THF (30 mL). The solution was stirred under N.sub.2 at -78.degree. C. for 10 minutes followed by at 0.degree. C. for 10 minutes. After cooling the LDA solution at -78.degree. C., a THF (30 mL) solution of methyl oleate (5.92 g, 20 mmol) was added via a syringe over a 10 minute period and stirring was continued for 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was slowly allowed to warm to 0.degree. C. and stirred for 30 minutes (faint yellow color). Methy pyruvate (2.17 mL, 24 mmol) was added via a syringe after recooling the reaction mixture at -40.degree. C. and solution was stirred for 1 hr while slowly warming to room temperature (rt). Progress of the reaction was monitored on TLC (hexane-EtOAc, 4:1). Two polar products were formed. Some unreacted methyl palmitate was still present. The mixture was quenched with water at -78.degree. C. and allowed to warm to room temperature, diluted with aqueous citric acid (100 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3.times.200 mL). EtOAc extract was washed with water (100 mL), dried (Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4), and evaporated under reduced pressure to give an oily material which was chromatographed on a flash silica gel (200 cc) column packed in hexane. The column was eluted with 5% EtOAc in hexane to afford 362 mg of the first diastereomer (2) or (3), 2.19 g of mixture and 496 mg of second diastereomer (3) or (2), all as liquids. The stereochemical identity of diastereomers (2) and (3) was not determined.

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum of first diastereomer (2) or (3) in CDCl.sub.3 : 5.34 (2H, m), 3.76 (3H, s), 3.68 (3H, s), 3.65 (1H, brs), 2.76 (1H, dd, J=10.2, 3.9 hZ), 2.0 (4H, m), 1.66 (2H, m), 1.42 (3H, s), 1.27 (20H, brm), 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.8 Hz).

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum of second diastereomer (3) or (2) in CDCl.sub.3 : 5.34 (2H, m), 3.80 (3H, s), 3.72 (3H, s), 3.51 (1H, brs), 2.72 (1H, dd, J=11.7, 3.3 hZ), 2.0 (4H, m), 1.84 (2H, m), 1.43 (3H, s), 1.27 (20H, m), 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.6 Hz).

Step 2: .beta.-Elimination Reaction of Aldol Products (Preparation of compounds (6), (7) and (8)

To a solution of 2.2 g (5.5 mmol) of the mixture of diastereomeric aldol products (2) and (3) obtained in Step 1 above in CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 (10 mL) and pyridine (5 mL) was added 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine (2.3 g, 11 mmol) followed by p-toluenesulfonic anhydride (5.4g, 16.5 mmol) and the solution was stirred at room temperature under N.sub.2 overnight. Progress of the reaction was monitored on TLC (hexane-EtOAc, 85:15). The tosylate formed was less polar than starting alcohol. DBU (4 mL) was added and methylene chloride was removed under vacuum and the reaction mixture was heated at 130.degree.-140.degree. C. for 6 hrs. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature poured on to EtOAc (400 mL) and washed sequentially with 4N aqueous HCl (3.times.100 mL), water, 10% aqueous NaHCO.sub.3 (3.times.100 mL) followed by water. The ethyl acetate extract was dried (Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4), evaporated under reduced pressure and the crude product was chromatographed on a flash silica gel column (300 cc) packed in hexane and eluted with 1%-3% EtOAc, to give first mesaconate (trans) diester analog (8) (70 mg), itaconic diester analog (7) (1.56 g) and citraconate (cis) diester analog (6) (160 mg).

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum of citraconate (cis) diester analog (6) in CDCl.sub.3 : 5.34 (2H, m), 3.76 (3H, s), 3.74 (3H, s), 2.32 (2H, t, J=7.5 Hz), 2.00 (4H, m), 1.94 (3H, brs), 1.57 (.sup.1 H, m), 1.42 (.sup.1 H, m), 1.31-1.24 (18H, m), 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.0 Hz).

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum of mesaconate (trans) diester analog (8) in CDCl.sub.3 : 5.34 (2H, m), 3.78 (3H, s), 3.77 (3H, s), 2.44 (2H, t, J=7.4 Hz), 2.00 (7H, brs and m), 1.40 (2H, m), 1.27 (18H, m), 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.8 Hz).

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum of itaconate diester analog (7) in CDCl.sub.3 : 6.36 (1H, s), 5.75 (1H, s), 5.34 (2H,m), 3.77 (3H, s), 3.68 (3H, s), 3.50 (1H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 2.0 (4H, m), 1.90 (1H, m), 1.66 (1H, m), 1.27 (20H, m) 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.8 Hz).

Step 3: Hydrolysis of Citraconate (cis) diester Analog (6) (Preparation of Compound (9))

A solution of citraconate (cis) dimethyl ester analog (6) (55 mg) in THF (2.5 mL), methanol (1.5 mL), water (1 mL) and 4N NAOH (0.5 mL) was heated at reflux overnight and the progress of the reaction was monitored on HPLC*. After completion of the reaction it was cooled to 0.degree. C. and acidified with 4N HCl to pH 2. The product was extracted with ethyl acetate (3.times.50 mL). The EtOAc solution was washed with water, dried (Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4) and evaporated to give colorless product anhydride as an oil.

As a specific embodiment of an oral composition of a compound of this invention, 20 mg of compound (9) or (10) is formulated with sufficient finely divided lactose to provide a total amount of 580 to 590 mg to fill a size 0 hard gelatin capsule.

A 0.1 mmol sample of the free acid (10) is dissolved in 10 ml of ethyl acetate. The resulting solution is saturated with gaseous ammonia and evaporated to leave the amonium salt.

A solution of 0.1 mmol of compound (9) or (10) in 10 ml of 6:4 methanol/water is treated with an aqueous or methanolic solution containing 0.2 mmol of potassium hydroxide. Evaporation of the solvent affords the di-potassium salt. Addition of between 0.1 and 0.2 mmol of potassium hydroxide yields analogously mixtures of the monopotassium and di-potassium salts whose composition depends upon the exact amount of potassium hydroxide added.

In a similar fashion the sodium and lithium salts can be formed.

A solution of 0.1 mmol of the compound (9) or (10) in 20 ml of 6:4 methanol/water is treated with an aqueous solution of 0.1 mmol of calcium hydroxide. The solvents are evaporated to give the corresponding calcium salt.

A solution of 0.1 mmol of the compound (9) or (10) in 10 ml of 6:4 methanol/water is treated with 0.1 mmol of ethylenediamine. Evaporation of the solvent affords the ethylenediamine salt.

The procedure can also be applied to the preparation of the N,N"-dibenzylethylenediamine salt.

To a solution of 0.1 mmol of the compound (9) or (10) in 10 ml of 6:4 methanol/water is added from 0.1 to 0.2 mmol of tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane dissolved in 10 ml of methanol. Evaporation of the solvent gives a corresponding salt form of compound (10), the exact composition of which is determined by the molar ratio of amine added. Similarly prepared are the salts of L-ornithine, L-lysine, and N-methylgluacamine.

A solution of 0.1 mmol of the free acid (10) or the anhydride (9) in 10 ml of 6:4 methanol/water is treated with an aqueous solution of 0.1 to 0.2 mmol of L-arginine. Evaporation of the solvent affords the title salt, the exact composition of which is determined by the molar ratio of amino acid to the free acid (10) or the anhydride (9) used. Similarly prepared are the salts of L-ornithine, L-lysine and N-methylglucamine.

To a 5 mg solution of compound (9) or (10) in the methylene chloride (1 mL) and methanol (0.2 mL) was added a 1 mL hexane solution of trimethylsilyl-diazomethane. The yellow solution was stored in a refrigerator overnight and then solvent evaporated under stream of nitrogen and filtered through a pipette filled with silica gel and eluted with 2% methanol in methylene chloride to give 5.0 mg of dimethyl ester as an oil. Mass Spectrum m/z 380; .sup.1 H NMR spectrum in CDCl.sub.3 : 5.34 (2H, m), 3.76 (3H, s), 3.74 (3H, s), 2.32 (2H, t, J=7.5 Hz), 2.00 (4H, m), 1.94 (3H, brs), 1.57 (2H, m), 1.42 (2H, m), 1.31-1.24 (18H, m) 0.88 (3H, t, J=6.0 Hz); IR spectrum .nu..sub.max (ZnSe): 2925, 2855, 1736, 1725, 1644, 1459, 1435, 1366, 1301, 1264, 1198, 1099, 1038, 950, 861, 770, 725 cm.sup.-1.

A. Preparation of the 10, 11-Dihydro derivative of Compound (6)

Citraconate dimethyl ester analog (6) (55 mg) was dissolved in 5 ml benzene and hydrogenated in the presence of Wilkinson's catalyst (Tris(triphenylphosphine)-rhodium chloride) (50 mg) at 40 psi pressure overnight while shaking. The reaction was monitored on HPLC (Whatman C-18, 4.6.times.250 mm, CH.sub.3 CN-H.sub.2 O, 90:10 containing 0.2% TFA, flow rate 1.5 ml/min). The product formed had a retention time of 15 min whereas starting compound has a retention time of 9.8 min. The reaction mixture was directly chromatographed over a silica gel column (50 cc) and eluted with 5% EtOAc-hexane to give colorless powdery dihydro product after evaporation of solvents. .sup.1 H NMR spectrum in CDCl.sub.3 : 3.75 (3H, s), 3.74 (3H, s), 2.32 (2H, t, J=7.5 Hz), 1.93 (3H, s), 1.43 (2H, m), 1.25 (26H, m), 0.87 (3H, t, J=6.3 Hz).

B. Preparation of the 10, 11-Dihydro derivative of Compound (9)

The 10,11-dihydrocitraconate dimethyl ester analog (38 mg) from step A was hydrolyzed following the conditions described in Example 2 followed by analogous workup to afford the corresponding 10-11-dihydrocitraconic anhydride analog (28mg) as colorless solid.

.sup.1 H NMR spectrum in CDCl.sub.3 : 2.45 (2H,t, J=7.8 Hz), 2.07 (3H,s), 1.57 (2H,m), 1.31-1.25 (26H,m), 0.88(3H,t, J=6.8 Hz).