Discovery of 2-(3-Benzamidopropanamido)thiazole-5-carboxylate Inhibitors of the Kinesin HSET (KIFC1) and the Development of Cellular Target Engagement Probes.

The existence of multiple centrosomes in some cancer cells can lead to cell death through the formation of multipolar mitotic spindles and consequent aberrant cell division. Many cancer cells rely on HSET (KIFC1) to cluster the extra centrosomes into two groups to mimic the bipolar spindle formation of non-centrosome-amplified cells and ensure their survival. Here, we report the discovery of a novel 2-(3-benzamidopropanamido)thiazole-5-carboxylate with micromolar in vitro inhibition of HSET (KIFC1) through high-throughput screening and its progression to ATP-competitive compounds with nanomolar biochemical potency and high selectivity against the opposing mitotic kinesin Eg5.

Cyclic Phosphine Oxides and Phosphinamides from Di-Grignard Reagents and Phosphonic Dichlorides: Modular Access to Annulated Phospholanes.

The reaction between 1,4-di-Grignard reagents and phosphonous(III) dichlorides is a classical method for the direct synthesis of phospholanes. Reported here is an extension of this approach to the preparation of value-added, annulated phospholane oxides, achieved through the combination of carbocyclic-fused di-Grignard reagents and readily available phosphonic(V) dichlorides. The procedure is amenable to (benz)annulation at both the 2,3- and 3,4-positions of the phospholane ring, and a variety of aliphatic, cyclic and aryl P-electrophiles are tolerated in reasonable to excellent yields.