Aminophenoxazinones as Inhibitors of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase (IDO). Synthesis of Exfoliazone and Chandrananimycin A

A range of 2-aminophenoxazin-3-ones has been prepared by oxidative cyclocondensation of 2-aminophenols, including the natural products exfoliazone and chandrananimycin A, both synthesized for the first time. The compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Compounds containing additional electron-withdrawing carboxylate groups, such as cinnabarinic acid, showed modest inhibitory activity with a dose response.