Abstract:
Anionic substituted benzenetetrayltetrakis-(carbonylimino)tetraisophthalic acid salts, useful as complement inhibitors, and a methoxyethyl substituted benzenetetrayltetrakis(carbonylimino)tetraisophthalic acid ester that is a new intermediate for the preparation of the active salts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The term &#34;complement&#34; refers to a complex group of proteins in body fluids that, working together with antibodies or other factors, play an important role as mediators of immune, allergic, immunochemical and/or immunopathological reactions. The reactions in which complement participates take place in blood serum or in other body fluids, and hence are considered to be humoral reactions. 
     With regard to human blood, there are at present more than 11 proteins in the complement system. These complement proteins are designated by the letter C and by number: C1, C2, C3 and so on up to C9. The complement protein C1 is actually an assembly of subunits designated C1q, C1r and C1s. The numbers assigned to the complement proteins reflect the sequence in which they become active, with the exception of complement protein C4, which reacts after C1 and before C2. The numerical assignments for the proteins in the complement system were made before the reaction sequence was fully understood. A more detailed discussion of the complement system and its role in body processes can be found in, for example, Bull. World Health Org., 39, 935-938 (1968); Ann. Rev. Medicine, 19, 1-24 (1968); The John Hopkins Med. J., 128, 57-74 (1971); Harvey Lectures, 66, 75-104 (1972); The New England Journal of Medicine, 287, 452-454; 489-495; 545-549; 592-596; 642-646 (1972); Scientific American, 229, (No. 5), 54-66 (1973); Federation Proceedings, 32, 134-137 (1973); Medical World News, October 11, 1974, pp. 53-58; 64-66; J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 53, 298-302 (1974); Cold Spring Harbor Conf. Cell Proliferation 2/Proteases Biol. Control/229-241 (1975); Annals of Internal Medicine, 84, 580-593 (1976); &#34;Complement: Mechanisms and Functions&#34;, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. (1976); Pathologie Biologie, 25(1), January 1977, pp. 33-36. 
     The complement system can be considered to consist of three sub-systems: (1) a recognition unit (C1q) which enables it to combine with antibody molecules that have detected a foreign invader; (2) an activation unit (C1r, C1s, C2, C4, C3) which prepares a site on the neighboring membrane; and (3) and attack unit (C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9) which creates a &#34;hole&#34; in the membrane. The membrane attack unit is non-specific; it destroys invaders only because it is generated in their neighborhood. In order to minimize damage to the host&#39;s own cells, its activity must be limited in time. This limitation is accomplished partly by the spontaneous decay of activated complement and partly by interference by inhibitors and destructive enzymes. The control of complement, however, is not perfect, and there are times when damage is done to the host&#39;s cells. Immunity is therefore a double-edged sword. 
     Activation of the complement system also accelerates blood clotting. This action comes about by way of the complement-mediated release of a clotting factor from platelets. The biologically active complement fragments and complexes can become involved in reactions that damage the host&#39;s cells, and these pathogenic reactions can result in the development of immune-complex diseases. For example, in some forms of nephritis, complement damages the basal membrane of the kidney, resulting in the escape of protein from the blood into the urine. The disease disseminated lupus erythematosus belongs in this category; its symptoms include nephritis, visceral lesions and skin eruptions. The treatment of diphtheria or tetanus with the injection of large amounts of antitoxin sometimes results in serum sickness, an immune-complex disease. Rheumatoid arthritis also involves immune complexes. Like disseminated lupus erythematosus, it is an autoimmune disease in which the disease symptoms are caused by pathological effects of the immune system in the host&#39;s tissues. In summary, the complement system has been shown to be involved with inflammation, coagulation, fibrinolysis, antibody-antigen reactions and other metabolic processes. 
     In the presence of antibody-antigen complexes the complement proteins are involved in a series of reactions which may lead to irreversible membrane damage if they occur in the vicinity of biological membranes. Thus, while complement constitutes a part of the body&#39;s defense mechanism against infection it also results in inflammation and tissue damage in the immunopathological process. The nature of certain of the complement proteins, suggestions regarding the mode of complement binding to biological membranes and the manner in which complement effects membrane damage are discussed in Annual Review in Biochemistry, 38, 389 (1969). 
     A variety of substances have been disclosed as inhibiting the complement system, i.e., as complement inhibitors. For example, the compounds 3,3&#39;-ureylenebis-[6-(2-amino-8-hydroxy-6-sulfo-1-naphthylazo)]benzenesulfonic acid, tetrasodium salt (chlorazol fast pink), heparin and a sulphated dextran have been reported to have an anticomplementary effect, British Journal of Experimental Pathology, 33, 327-339 (1952). The compound 8-(3-benzamido-4-methylbenzamido)naphthalene-1,-3,5-trisulfonic acid (Suramin) is described as a competitive inhibitor of the complement system, Clin. Exp. Immunol., 10, 127-138 (1972). German Pat. No. 2,254,893 or South African Pat. No. 727,923 discloses certain 1-(diphenylmethyl)-4-(3-phenylallyl)piperazines useful as complement inhibitors. Other chemical compounds having complement inhibiting activity are disclosed in, for example, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 12, 415-419; 902-905; 1049-1052; 1053-1056 (1969); Canadian Journal of Biochemistry, 47, 547-552 (1969); The Journal of Immunology, 93, 629-640 (1964); The Journal of Immunology, 104, 279-288 (1970); The Journal of Immunology, 106, 241-245 (1971); and The Journal of Immunology, 111, 1061-1066 (1973). 
     It has been reported that the known complement inhibitors epsilon-aminocaproic acid, Suramin and tranexamic acid all have been used with success in the treatment of hereditary angioneurotic edema, a disease state resulting from an inherited deficiency or lack of function of the serum inhibitor of the activated first component of complement (C1 inhibitor), The New England Journal of Medicine, 286, 808-812 (1972). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is concerned with anionic substituted benzenetetrayltetrakis(carbonylimino)tetraisophthalic acid salts, having complement inhibiting activity, of formula I: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     This invention is also concerned with the compound 5,5&#39;,5&#34;,5&#39;&#34;-[1,2,4,5-benzenetetrayltetrakis(carbonylimino)]-tetraisophthalic acid octakis(2-methoxyethyl)ester, which is useful as an intermediate for the preparation of the complement inhibiting compounds described immediately above. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     To prepare the compounds of this invention, an amine ester of an organic acid of the formula: ##STR2## is prepared by reduction of the corresponding nitro derivative, by reacting it with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarbonyl chloride in a mixture of organic solvents such as acetonitril and pyridine for 3 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered and the product is collected and washed with cold acetonitrile, ethyl acetate and ether. The material is repeatedly recrystallized from ethanol, recrystallized from ethanol:methanol (1:1), and finally from methanol to provide the intermediate compound 5,5&#39;,5&#34;,5&#39;&#34;-[1,2,4,5-benzenetetrayltetrakis(carbonylimino)]tetraisophthalic acid octakis(2-methoxyethyl)ester. 
     The intermediate is dissolved in a solvent such as dimethylformamide is reacted with alkali metal hydroxide to provide the active octaalkali metal salt of the formula I which is isolated from 33% aqueous ethanol. 
     The compounds of the present invention may be administered internally, e.g., orally, intra-articularly or parenterally, e.g., intra-articular, to a warm-blooded animal to inhibit complement in the body fluid of the animal, such inhibition being useful in the amelioration or prevention of those reactions dependent upon the function of complement, such as inflammatory process and cell membrane damage induced by antigen-antibody complexes. A range of doses may be employed depending on the mode of administration, the condition being treated and the particular compound being used. For example, for intravenous or subcutaneous use from about 5 to about 50 mg/kg/day, or every six hours for more rapidly excreted salts, may be used. For intra-articular use for large joints such as the knee, from about 2 to about 20 mg/joint per week may be used, with proportionally smaller doses for smaller joints. The dosage range is to be adjusted to provide optimum therapeutic response in the warm-blooded animal being treated. In general, the amount of compound administered can vary over a wide range to provide from about 5 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg of body weight of animal per day. The usual daily dosage for a 70 kg subject may vary from about 350 mg to about 3.5 g. Unit doses of the acid or salt can contain from about 0.5 mg to about 500 mg. 
     While in general the sodium salts of the acids of the invention are suitable for parenteral use, other salts may also be prepared, such as those of primary amines, e.g., ethylamine; secondary amines, e.g., diethylamine or diethanol amine; tertiary amines, e.g., pyridine or triethylamine or 2-dimethylaminomethyl-dibenzofuran; aliphatic diamines, e.g., decamethylenediamine; and aromatic diamines, can be prepared. Some of these are soluble in water, others are soluble in saline solution, and still others are insoluble and can be used for purposes of preparing suspensions for injection. Furthermore as well as the sodium salt, those of the alkali metals, such as potassium and lithium; of ammonia; and of the alkaline earth metals, such as calcium or magnesium, may be employed. It will be apparent, therefore, that these salts embrace, in general derivatives of salt-forming cations. 
     In therapeutic use, the compounds of this invention may be administered in the form of conventional pharmaceutical compositions. Such compositions may be formulated so as to be suitable for oral or parenteral administration. The active ingredient may be combined in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration, i.e., oral or parenteral. The compounds can be used in compositions such as tablets. Here, the principal active ingredient is mixed with conventional tabletting ingredients such as corn starch, lactose, sucrose, sorbitol, talc, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, dicalcium phosphate, gums, or similar materials as non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers. The tablets or pills of the novel compositions can be laminated or otherwise compounded to provide a dosage form affording the advantage of prolonged or delayed action or predetermined successive action of the enclosed medication. For example, the tablet or pill can comprise an inner dosage and an outer dosage component, the latter being in the form of an envelope over the former. The two components can be separated by an enteric layer which serves to resist disintegration in the stomach and permits the inner component to pass intact into the duodenum or to be delayed in release. A variety of materials can be used for such enteric layers or coatings, such materials including a number of polymeric acids or mixtures of polymeric acids with such materials as shellac, shellac and cetyl alcohol, cellulose acetate and the like. A particularly advantageous enteric coating comprises a styrene maleic acid copolymer together with known materials contributing to the enteric properties of the coating. The tablet or pill may be colored through the use of an appropriate non-toxic dye, so as to provide a pleasing appearance. 
     The liquid forms in which the novel compositions of the present invention may be incorporated for administration include suitable flavored emulsions with edible oils, such as, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, and the like, as well as elixirs and similar pharmaceutical vehicles. Sterile suspensions or solutions can be prepared for parenteral use. Isotonic preparations containing suitable preservatives are also desirable for injection use. 
     The term dosage form, as described herein, refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosage for warm-blooded animal subjects, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active component calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical diluent, carrier or vehicle. The specification for the novel dosage forms of this invention are indicated by characteristics of the active component and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved or the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active component for therapeutic use in warm-blooded animals as disclosed in this specification. Examples of suitable oral dosage forms in accord with this invention are tablets, capsules, pills, powder packets, granules, wafers, cachets, teaspoonfuls, dropperfuls, ampules, vials, segregated multiples of any of the foregoing and other forms as herein described. 
     The complement inhibiting activity of the compounds of this invention has been demonstrated by one or more of the following identified tests: (i) Test, Code 026 (C1 inhibitor) -- This test measures the ability of activated human C1 to destroy fluid phase human C2 in the presence of C4 and appropriate dilutions of the test compound. An active inhibitor protects C2 from C1 and C4; (ii) Test, Code 035 (C3-C9 inhibitor) -- This test determines the ability of the late components of human complement (C3-C9) to lyse EAC 142 in the presence of appropriate dilutions of the test compound. An active inhibitor protects EAC 142 from lysis by human C3-C9; (iii) Test, Code 036 (C-Shunt inhibitor) -- In this test human erythrocytes rendered fragile are lysed in autologous serum via the shunt pathway activated by cobra venom factor in the presence of appropriate dilutions of the test compound. Inhibition of the shunt pathway results in failure of lysis; (iv) Forssman Vasculitis Test -- Here, the well known complement dependent lesion, Forssman vasculitis, is produced in guinea pigs by intradermal injection of rabbit anti-Forssman antiserum. The lesion is measured in terms of diameter, edema and hemorrhage and the extent to which a combined index of these is inhibited by prior intraperitoneal injection of the test compound at 200 mg/kg is then reported, unless otherwise stated; (v) Forssman Shock Test -- Lethal shock is produced in guinea pigs by an i.v. injection of anti-Forssman antiserum and the harmonic mean death time of treated guinea pigs is compared with that of simultaneous controls; (vi) Complement Level Reduction Test -- In this test, the above dosed guinea pigs, or others, are bled for serum and the complement level is determined in undiluted serum by the capillary tube method of U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,376 and compared to undosed control guinea pigs; and (vii) Cap 50 Test -- Here, appropriate amounts of the test compound are added to a pool of guinea pig serum in vitro, after which the undiluted serum capillary tube assay referred to above is run. The concentration of compound inhibiting 50% is reported. 
     With reference to Table I, guinea pigs weighing about 300 g were dosed intravenously (i.v.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 200 mg/kg of the test compound dissolved in saline and adjusted to pH 7-8. One hour after dosing, the guinea pigs were decapitated, blood was collected and the serum separated. The serum was tested for whole complement using the capillary tube assay. Percent inhibition was calculated by comparison with simultaneous controls. The results appear in Table I together with results of tests, code 026, 035, 036, Cap 50,% inhibition and Forssman shock. Table I shows that the compounds of the invention possess highly significant in vitro and in vivo, complement inhibiting activity in warm-blooded animals. 
     
                                           TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________Biological Activities               Cl  C-Late                        Shunt Inhi-               026*                   035* bition 036*Compound            Wells                   Wells                        Wells  Cap 50__________________________________________________________________________5,5&#39;,5&#34;,5&#39;&#34;-[1,2,4,5-Benzenetetrayl-tetrakis(carbonylimino) ]tetraiso-               +7**                   N    +3**   273phthalic acid octasodium salt__________________________________________________________________________  *Code designation for tests employed as referred herein. **Activity in wells a serial dilution assay. Higher well number indicates higher activity. The serial dilutions are two-fold. N=Negative 
    
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     5,5&#39;,5&#34;,5&#39;&#34;-[1,2,4,5-Benzenetetrayltetrakis(carbonylimino)]-tetraisophthalic acid octakis(2-methoxyethyl)ester 
     A mixture of 500 g of 5-nitroisophthalic acid, 3500 g of thionyl chloride and 6.0 ml of dimethylformamide is heated gradually until the evolution of gas subsides. Heating is continued for approximately 2 hours with stirring until solution is achieved, then reflux is continued for an additional 30 minutes. The resulting clear solution is allowed to stand, evaporated in vacuo to afford an oil, and the oil is solidified and recrystallized twice from carbon tetrachloride to give 501 g of 5-nitroisophthaloyl chloride. 
     A mixture of 100 g of the product above and 100 g of 2-methoxyethanol (dried over molecular sieves) in 400 ml of acetonitrile (dried over molecular sieves) is heated to reflux on a steam bath. Heating is continued for 15 minutes, then the mixture is cooled to room temperature and poured into 2 liters of cold water with vigorous stirring. The product is collected by filtration and air dried to give 129 g of material. Additional product (5.7 g) is recovered from the filtrate by extraction with benzene. The combined fractions are dissolved in 580 ml of hot ethyl alcohol. The solution is neutralized with 5.0 ml of 5N sodium hydroxide, then diluted with 450 ml of water. The solution is kept at room temperature, crystals separate, and then the mixture is placed overnight in a chill room (5° C.). The colorless needles are recrystallized from a solution of 450 ml of ethanol and 350 ml of water to give 92.1 g of 5-nitroisophthalic acid bis(2-methoxyethyl)ester. 
     A total of 86.0 g of the preceding product is hydrogenated on a Parr shaker in 300 ml of ethyl acetate using 2.0 g of 10% palladium-on-carbon catalyst. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate evaporated to give off-white crystals. The crystals are dissolved in 350 ml of hot benzene and diluted with 140 ml of hexane. The solution is allowed to crystallize overnight at room temperature to yield 72.0 g of 5-aminoisophthalic acid bis(2-methoxyethyl)ester. 
     A mixture of 50.0 g of 1,2,4,5-benzene tetracarboxylic acid, 250 ml of thionyl chloride and 1.0 ml of dimethylformamide is refluxed for 18 hours. The resulting solution is evaporated to an oil which is dissolved in carbon tetrachloride and filtered through diatomaceous earth. The filtrate is evaporated to an oil which solidifies on cooling to give a colorless solid. The solid is dissolved in 250 ml of benzene, the solution filtered, and the filtrate is concentrated to 110 ml and cooled to provide a precipitate. The precipitate is removed by filtration and the filtrate is again concentrated and filtered as above. The filtrate is concentrated and diluted with hexane to precipitate a product (26.4 g) which is collected by filtration. The filtrate is evaporated and the residue is washed with hexane to provide 5.7 g of additional product. The combined product (32.1 g) is recrystallized twice from carbon tetrachloride, collected and washed with carbon tetrachloride and hexane and dried to yield 9.6 g of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarbonyl chloride. 
     To a stirred solution of 23.8 g of 5-aminoisophthalic acid bis(2-methoxyethyl)ester in 100 ml of acetonitrile (dried over molecular sieves) and 6.4 ml of pyridine (dried over molecular sieves), cooled in a water bath, is added portionwise 6.55 g of the preceding product. The mixture is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature, and then for one hour in an ice bath. The mixture is filtered and the product is washed with 40 ml of cold acetonitrile, followed by ethyl acetate, and then ether and air dried. The material is repeatedly recrystallized from ethanol, recrystallized from ethanol:methanol (1:1), and then from methanol. The product is collected and dried to yield 17.1 g of the product of the Example as colorless crystals. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     5,5&#39;,5&#34;,5&#39;&#34;-[1,2,4,5-Benzenetetrayltetrakis(carbonylimino)]-tetraisophthalic acid octasodium salt 
     A mixture of 8.23 g of the product of Example 1 and 45.0 ml of dimethylformamide is warmed until solution is achieved. The solution is cooled to room temperature and 90.0 ml of 1N sodium hydroxide is added with stirring. The solution is stirred for 20 minutes and diluted with 250 ml of ethanol. The product is collected and washed with ethanol and ether to yield a pale yellow powder. The product is purified by a series of precipitations from 28.6% aqueous ethanol, then from 33.3% aqueous ethanol, and is dried to yield 1.67 g of the product of the Example as a pale yellow powder. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Compressed TabletIngredient           mg/Tablet______________________________________Active Compound      0.5-500Dibasic Calcium Phosphate N.F.                qsStarch USP           40Modified Starch      10Magnesium Stearate USP                1-5______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 4 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Compressed Tablet - Sustained ActionIngredient           mg/Tablet______________________________________Active Compound      0.5-500(as acidas Aluminum Lake*, Micronized                equivalent)Dibasic Calcium Phosphate N.F.                qsAlginic Acid         20Starch USP           35Magnesium Stearate USP                1-10______________________________________ *Complement inhibitor plus aluminum sulfate yields aluminum complement inhibitor. Complement inhibitor content in aluminum lake ranges from 5-30%. 
    
     EXAMPLE 5 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Hard Shell CapsuleIngredient        mg/Capsule______________________________________Active Compound   0.5-500Lactose, Spray Dried             qsMagnesium Stearate             1-10______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 6 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Oral Liquid (Syrup)Ingredient         % W/V______________________________________Active Compound    0.05-5Liquid Sugar       75.0Methyl Paraben USP 0.18Propyl Paraben USP 0.02Flavoring Agent    qsPurified Water qs ad              100.0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 7 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Oral Liquid (Elixir)Ingredient         % W/V______________________________________Active Compound    0.0-5Alcohol USP        12.5Glycerin USP       45.0Syrup USP          20.0Flavoring Agent    qsPurified Water qs ad              100.0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 8 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Oral Suspension (Syrup)Ingredient          % W/V______________________________________Active Compound     0.05-5as Aluminum Lake, Micronized               (acid equivalent)Polysorbate 80 USP  0.1Magnesium Aluminum Silicate,               0.3ColloidalFlavoring Agent     qsMethyl Paraben USP  0.18Propyl Paraben USP  0.02Liquid Sugar        75.0Purified Water qs ad               100.0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 9 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Injectable SolutionIngredient        % W/V______________________________________Active Compound   0.05-5Benzyl Alcohol N.F.             0.9Water for Injection             100.0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 10 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Injectable OilIngredient        % W/V______________________________________Active Compound   0.05-5Benzyl Alcohol    1.5Sesame Oil qs ad  100.0______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 11 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Intra-Articular ProductIngredient           Amount______________________________________Active Compound      2-20 mgNaCl (physiological saline)                0.9%Benzyl Alcohol       0.9%Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose                1-5%pH adjusted to 5.0-7.5Water for Injection qs ad                100%______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 12 
     
         ______________________________________Preparation of Injectable Depo SuspensionIngredient          % W/V______________________________________Active Compound     0.05-5               (acid equivalent)Polysorbate 80 USP  0.2Polyethylene Glycol 4000 USP               3.0Sodium Chloride USP 0.8Benzyl Alcohol N.F. 0.9HCl to pH 6-8       qsWater for Injection qs ad               100.0______________________________________