Carborane-Based Analogs of Celecoxib and Flurbiprofen, their COX Inhibition Potential, and COX Selectivity Index.

The cylcooxygenase isoforms COX-1 and COX-2 are involved in the production of prostaglandins in physiological and pathological processes. The overexpression of COX-2 under inflammatory conditions, its role in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases necessitates the need to develop and improve nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These mainly unselective COX inhibitors, e.g. aspirin, are used to reduce the symptoms of inflammation. To reduce unwanted side effects connected with unselective inhibition, the development of novel COX-2 selective inhibitors is a major goal. Herein, the synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological evaluation of eight flurbiprofen- and celecoxib-based carborane analogs are described. Carboranes as hydrophobic surrogates are suitable substituents that can contribute to a selectivity increase toward COX-2 due to size exclusion. The inhibitory efficacy for COX-1 and COX-2 of the four ortho- and four nido-carborane derivatives has been tested. The nido compounds are much more potent than their closo-carborane analogs. The celecoxib-based nido-carborane compound 10 shows an IC