Chemistry:Diphenylcyclopropenone

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Diphenylcyclopropenone (diphencyprone) is a topically administered experimental drug intended for treating alopecia areata and alopecia totalis.[1] Topical immunotherapy using diphenylcyclopropenone may also be an effective treatment option for recalcitrant warts.[2] It is not approved by either the Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency.[3]

Mechanism of action

Diphenylcyclopropenone triggers an immune response that is thought to oppose the action of the autoreactive cells that otherwise cause hair loss.[4] One hypothesis is that in response to DPCP treatment, the body will attempt to downregulate inflammation through a variety of pathways, resulting in a downregulation of the autoimmune response at the hair follicle. This autoinflammatory reaction would otherwise destroy body's hair follicles.[3]

Studies

A study of 41 alopecia areata patients showed significant hair regrowth in 40% at 6 months, being sustained in two thirds of these after a 12-month-follow up-period.[5]

In a 2002 study for the treatment of warts, the responders consisted of 135 individuals (87.7%) that had complete clearance of warts. Reported adverse effects were local and included with pruritus (itching) (15.6%), with blistering (7.1%), and with eczematous reactions (eczema)(14.2%). The majority of the patients tolerated the treatment very well. One patient developed local impetigo (minor infection). Patients had an average of 5 treatments over a 6-month period.[2]

Chemical properties

The chemical properties of diphenylcyclopropenone are dominated by the strong polarization of the carbonyl group, which gives a partial positive charge with aromatic stabilization on the cyclopropene (cyclopropenium) ring and a partial negative charge on oxygen. The steric hindrance and partial charge on the cyclopropenium inhibit further electrophilic aromatic substitution there, but the phenyl rings are reactive. The cyclopropenium acts as a meta director.[6]

Electrophilic Lewis acids stabilize the charge separation, forming diphenylcyclopropenium ether or ester salts. Such compounds are extremely reactive electrophiles.[6]

Conversely, the oxygen is quite nucleophilic. Lux-Flood acids can abstract the oxygen: thus activated isocyanates effect imines; phosphorus sulfides or activated thioic acids effect the thione,[6] and a wide variety of electrophilic chlorinators, including oxalyl chloride, thionyl chloride, and phosphorus pentachloride, effect 3,3‑dichloro-1,2‑diphenyl­cyclopropene. The latter sees primary application as an electrophilical chlorinator itself,[7] and catalyzes the action of the aforementioned chlorinators.[6] However, 3,3‑dichloro-1,2‑diphenyl­cyclopropene also ligates palladium for cross-coupling reactions,[7] and reacts with trichloroacetate to give diphenylcyclobutenedione upon aqueous workup.[6]

In other respects, the carbonyl is a typical electrophile, adding Grignard reagents, Knoevenagel enols, and enamines. The central ring is highly strained, and the presence of most transition metals or heating to 160 °C induces decarbonylation, although heating just below the decarbonylation temperature (150 °C) irreversibly forms a [3+2] dimer instead. Soft nucleophiles that typically add in conjugate typically open the ring instead, as do naïve attempts at reduction. However, careful hydroboration can reduce away the carbonyl.[6]

See also

References

  1. "Topical immunotherapy in alopecia areata". International Journal of Trichology 2 (1): 36–9. January 2010. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.66911. PMID 21188022. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "The use of diphenylcyclopropenone in the treatment of recalcitrant warts". Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 6 (3): 214–7. 2002. doi:10.1007/s10227-001-0050-9. PMID 11951129. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Diphencyprone Treatment of Alopecia Areata: Postulated Mechanism of Action and Prospects for Therapeutic Synergy with RNA Interference". The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Symposium Proceedings 17 (2): 16–8. November 2015. doi:10.1038/jidsymp.2015.33. PMID 26551938. 
  4. Public summary of positive opinion for orphan designation of diphenylcyclopropenone for the treatment of alopecia totalis , European Medicines Agency. Document Date: London, 23 April 2009. Doc.Ref.:EMEA/COMP/428277/2006
  5. "Topical immunotherapy with diphenylcyclopropenone in the treatment of chronic extensive alopecia areata". Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 32 (1): 48–51. January 2007. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.2006.02256.x. PMID 17004987. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Lambert, Tristan H.; Nacsa, Eric D.. "Diphenylcyclopropenone". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rn01532. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Bennett, Clay S. (2012). "3,3-Dichloro-1,2-diphenylcyclopropene" (in en). Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/047084289x.rn01514. ISBN 978-0471936237.