By applying a diversity oriented synthesis strategy for the search of new antagonists of the thrombin receptor PAR1, a series of peptide-based ureas and thioureas, including analogues of the PAR1 reference antagonist RWJ-58259, has been designed and synthesized. The general synthetic scheme involves reduction of basic amino acid-derived amino nitriles by hydrogen transfer from hydrazine monohydrate in the presence of Raney Ni, followed by reaction with diverse isocyanates and isothiocyanates, and protecting group removal. All new compounds have been evaluated as inhibitors of human platelet aggregation induced by the PAR1 agonist SFLLRN. Some protected peptide-based ureas displayed significant antagonist activity.

A series of pseudodipeptide-based chiral 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted-2-oxopiperazines has been designed and synthesized as potential PAR1 antagonists. These highly functionalized piperazines were synthesized from aromatic and basic amino acid derived [CH(CN)NH]pseudodipeptides through a four step pathway that involves reduction of the cyano group to build the 2-oxopiperazine ring, followed by selective functionalization at the N 4 -, N 1 -positions, and at the exocyclic moiety at position C 5 . This regioselective functionalization required the fine tuning of reaction conditions. All new compounds were screened as inhibitors of human platelet aggregation induced by the PAR1 agonist SFLLRN and as cytotoxic agents in human cancer cell lines. Some of the compounds displayed moderate PAR1 antagonist activity, while, others were cytotoxic at M concentration. No correlation was observed between both types of activities.