Impact of absolute stereochemistry on the antiangiogenic and antifungal activities of itraconazole

Itraconazole is used clinically as an antifungal agent and has recently been shown to possess antiangiogenic acitivity. Itraconazole has three chiral centers that give rise to eight stereoisomers. The complete role of stereochemistry in the two activities of itraconazole, however, has not been addressed adequately. For the first time, all eight stereoisomers of itraconazole (1a?h) have been synthesized and evaluated for activity against human endothelial cell proliferation and for antifungal activity against five fungal strains. Distinct antiangiogenic and antifungal activity profiles of the trans stereoisomers, especially 1e and 1f, suggest different molecular mechanisms underlying the antiangiogenic and antifungal activities of itraconazole.