Design and synthesis of N6-substituted-4′-thioadenosine-5′-uronamides as potent and selective human A3 adenosine receptor agonists Original Research Article

On the basis of a bioisosteric rationale, 4′-thionucleoside analogues of IB-MECA (N6-(3-Iodo-benzyl)-9-(5′-methylaminocarbonyl-β-d-ribofuranosyl)adenine), which is a potent and selective A3 adenosine receptor (AR) agonist, were synthesized from d-gulonic acid γ-lactone. The 4′-thio analogue (5h) of IB-MECA showed extremely high binding affinity (Ki = 0.25 nM) at the human A3AR and was more potent than IB-MECA (Ki = 1.4 nM). Bulky substituents at the 5′-uronamide position, such as cyclohexyl and 2-methylbenzyl, in this series of 2-H nucleoside derivatives were tolerated in A3AR binding, although small alkyl analogues were more potent.