Structure-activity relationships for the inhibition of acrosin by benzamidine derivatives

A series, consisting of 52 benzamidine derivatives, was evaluated for inhibitory activity against homogeneous boar sperm acrosin. All of the compounds in the series proved to be more potent than benzamidine (Ki = 4.0 x 10(-6) M), with one of the derivatives, alpha-(4-amidino-2,6-diiodophenoxy)-3-nitrotoluene (compound 16), showing outstanding potency with a Ki value of 4.5 X 10(-8) M. Although all of the derivatives were effective acrosin inhibitors, structural specificity was observed within homologous groups of compounds. The information gained from this preliminary study should prove extremely beneficial in the design and synthesis of future acrosin inhibitors.