Synthetic Routes to 2-aryl-1-pyrrolo[2,3-]pyridin-4-amines: Cross-Coupling and Challenges in SEM-Deprotection.

7-Azaindoles are compounds of considerable medicinal interest. During development of the structure-activity relationship for inhibitors of the colony stimulated factor 1 receptor tyrosine kinase (CSF1R), a specific 2-aryl-1-pyrrolo[2,3-]pyridin-4-amine was needed. Two different synthetic strategies were evaluated, in which the order of the key C-C and C-N cross-coupling steps differed.

Promotion of Water as Solvent in Amination of 4-Chloropyrrolopyrimidines and Related Heterocycles under Acidic Conditions.

A switch of reaction medium from organic solvents to water can improve the safety and lower the cost of production processes. Hydrochloric acid-promoted amination of fused pyrimidines has been studied using 4-chloro-7-pyrrolo[2,3-]pyrimidine and aniline as model compounds. Higher rate was observed in water than in four alcoholic solvents and DMF.

Pyrrolopyrimidine based CSF1R inhibitors: Attempted departure from Flatland.

The colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is an attractive target for inflammation disorders and cancers. Based on a series of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine containing two carbo-aromatic rings, we have searched for new CSF1R inhibitors having a higher fraction of sp-atoms. The phenyl unit in the 4-amino group could efficiently be replaced by tetrahydropyran (THP) retaining inhibitor potency.

Activation of multiple stress responses in substantially lowers the minimal inhibitory concentration when combining two novel antibiotic drug candidates.

The past few decades have been plagued by an increasing number of infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. To mitigate the rise in untreatable infections, we need new antibiotics with novel targets and drug combinations that reduce resistance development. The novel β-clamp targeting antimicrobial peptide BTP-001 was recently shown to have a strong additive effect in combination with the halogenated pyrrolopyrimidine JK-274.

A highly selective purine-based inhibitor of CSF1R potently inhibits osteoclast differentiation.

The colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) plays an important role in the regulation of many inflammatory processes, and overexpression of the kinase is implicated in several disease states. Identifying selective, small-molecule inhibitors of CSF1R may be a crucial step toward treating these disorders. Through modelling, synthesis, and a systematic structure-activity relationship study, we have identified a number of potent and highly selective purine-based inhibitors of CSF1R.

Directed Lithiation of Protected 4-Chloropyrrolopyrimidine: Addition to Aldehydes and Ketones Aided by Bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl)ether.

Pyrrolopyrimidines are important scaffolds for the preparation of bioactive molecules. Therefore, developing efficient and flexible ways for selective functionalization of the pyrrolopyrimidine skeleton is of interest. We have investigated lithiation-addition at C-6 of protected 4-chloro-7-pyrrolo [2,3-]pyrimidine as a route to new building blocks for medicinal chemistry.

Halogenated Pyrrolopyrimidines with Low MIC on and Synergistic Effects with an Antimicrobial Peptide.

Currently, there is a world-wide rise in antibiotic resistance causing burdens to individuals and public healthcare systems. At the same time drug development is lagging behind. Therefore, finding new ways of treating bacterial infections either by identifying new agents or combinations of drugs is of utmost importance.

Synthetic Efforts to Investigate the Effect of Planarizing the Triarylamine Geometry in Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

The geometry of a dye for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has a major impact on its optical and electronic properties. The dye structure also dictates the packing properties and how well the dye insulates the metal-oxide surface from oxidants in the electrolyte. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of planarizing the geometry of the common triarylamine donor, frequently used in dyes for DSSC.

Adamantyl Side Chains as Anti-Aggregating Moieties in Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Designing and evaluating novel dye concepts is crucial for the development of the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In our recent report, the novel concept of tethering the anti-aggregation additive chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) to dyes for DSSC was introduced. Based on the performance improvements seen for this modification, the aim of this study is to see if a simplified anti-aggregation unit could achieve similar results.

Synthesis of Novel 3,6-Dithienyl Diketopyrrolopyrrole Dyes by Direct C‒H Arylation.

Direct C‒H arylation coupling is potentially a more economical and sustainable process than conventional cross-coupling. However, this method has found limited application in the synthesis of organic dyes for dye‒sensitized solar cells. Although direct C‒H arylation is not an universal solution to any cross-coupling reactions, it efficiently complements conventional sp‒sp bond formation and can provide shorter and more efficient routes to diketopyrrolopyrrole dyes.

Effect of Auxiliary Donors on 3,8-Phenothiazine Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Phenothiazines are one of the more common dye scaffolds for dye-sensitized solar cells. However, these sensitizers are exclusively based on a 3,7-substitution pattern. Herein, we have synthesized and characterized novel 3,8-substituted phenothiazine dyes in order to evaluate the effect of auxiliary donor groups on the performance of this new dye class.

Potent and selective EGFR inhibitors based on 5-aryl-7H-pyrrolopyrimidin-4-amines.

The epidermal growth factor receptor represents an important target in cancer therapy, and low molecular weight inhibitors based on quinazolines have reached the marked. Herein we report on a new scaffold, 5-aryl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amines, and show that when employing (S)-phenylglycinol as C-4 substituent, potent inhibitors can be made. The two most active inhibitors have suitable druglike properties, were equipotent with Erlotinib in Ba/F3 cell studies, and showed lower cross reactivity than Erlotinib in a panel of 50 kinases.

Identification of fused pyrimidines as interleukin 17 secretion inhibitors.

Inhibiting the interleukin 17 pathway is of interest in a number of autoimmune diseases. Herein, 42 fused pyrimidines have been evaluated as interleukin 17 secretion inhibitors using a phenotypic assay with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. 7H-Pyrrolo [2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amines having aryl groups at C-5 or C-6 were found more active than the corresponding thieno- and furopyrimidines.

Is literature data useful for identifying enzyme catalysts for new substrates? A case study on reduction of 1-aryl-2-alkanoates.

The use of literature data to identify catalysts for a novel transformation is a commonly used approach. Herein, we have evaluated if this is a viable strategy in enzyme catalysis, using asymmetric reduction of 1-aryl-2-alkanoates asa model system. The study, which includes data from 24 ketone substrates and 108 enzymes, clearly identifies pitfalls with this approach, but anyhow shows that literature data is highly useful for identification of enantioselective catalysts.

Solvent Effects on Optical Rotation: On the Balance between Hydrogen Bonding and Shifts in Dihedral Angles.

Optical rotations of several conformers of four fluorinated molecules containing the 1-naphthalene or 4-(benzyloxy)phenyl group at the stereocenter have been calculated both in the gas phase and in an aqueous environment. For the compounds containing the 4-(benzyloxy)phenyl group, solvent effects on the optical rotations have also been investigated in chloroform as solvent. Optical rotations have been obtained by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the CAM-B3LYP functional and the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set at λ = 589 nm.

Changes in cellular signaling proteins in extracts from A549, H460, and U2OS cells treated with cisplatin or docetaxel.

Cell extracts from A549, H460, and U2OS human cancer cell lines treated with cisplatin and docetaxel were analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS) proteomic analysis. The extracts were enriched for cellular signaling proteins using a mix of three different immobilized kinase inhibitors (Purvalanol B, Bisindolylmaleimide X, and (R)-3-(4-((1-Phenylethyl)amino)thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6-yl)benzoic acid (SB6-060-05)) on sepharose bead columns. Raw data is deposited in the PRIDE database [1], project number PXD005286.

On-column trypsinization allows for re-use of matrix in modified multiplexed inhibitor beads assay.

The Multiplexed Inhibitor Bead (MIB) assay is a previously published quantitative proteomic MS-based approach to study cellular kinomes. A rather extensive procedure, need for multiple custom-made kinase inhibitors and an inability to re-use the MIB-columns, has limited its applicability. Here we present a modified MIB assay in which elution of bound proteins is facilitated by on-column trypsinization.

Optical Rotation Calculations for Fluorinated Alcohols, Amines, Amides, and Esters.

We have calculated the optical rotation at λ = 589 nm for 45 fluorinated alcohols, amines, amides, and esters using both time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the CAM-B3LYP functional and the second-order approximate coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CC2) method, where the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set was adopted in both methods. Comparison of CAM-B3LYP and CC2 results to experiments illustrates that both methods are able to reproduce the experimental optical rotation results for both sign and magnitude. Several conformers for molecules containing the benzyloxy and naphthalene groups needed to be considered to obtain consistent signs with experiments, and these conformers are discussed in detail.

Balancing potency, metabolic stability and permeability in pyrrolopyrimidine-based EGFR inhibitors.

The present study describes our continuous effort to develop epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors based on the 6-aryl-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amine scaffold. The activity-ADME space has been evaluated by synthesizing 43 new structures, including four variations of the 4-amino group and 34 different substitution patterns in the 6-aryl moiety. Most of the new pyrrolopyrimidines were highly active, with twelve analogues possessing lower IC values than the commercial drug Erlotinib in enzymatic assays.

Chiral 6-aryl-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amines as EGFR inhibitors.

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are of importance in cancer therapy and possibly in the management of pain. Herein, we report a structure-activity relationship study with 29 new 6-aryl-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amines, involving modification of the 4-amino group and 6-aryl function. The EGFR activity was especially dependent on having a chiral 4-benzylamino group with correct stereochemistry.

Extended structure-activity study of thienopyrimidine-based EGFR inhibitors with evaluation of drug-like properties.

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines are attractive derivatives for cancer treatment, among others through regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK). In an extended SAR study, 44 new compounds of this class have been evaluated as inhibitors, while simultaneously focussing on ADME properties. Through the application of bioisosters, hybrid structures, solubilizing tails, and a combination approach several successful alterations in terms of activity and physiochemical properties were accomplished.

In vitro baselining of new pyrrolopyrimidine EGFR-TK inhibitors with Erlotinib.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors are useful in treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, and show promise in combination therapy settings. Two novel chiral pyrrolopyrimidines have been baselined towards Erlotinib, Lapatinib and Dasatinib using in vitro cellular studies and ADME profiling. One of these, (S)-2-((6-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)-2-phenylethan-1-ol, was more active than Erlotinib in lung and breast cancer cell models.

Economical synthesis of 13C-labeled opiates, cocaine derivatives and selected urinary metabolites by derivatization of the natural products.

The illegal use of opiates and cocaine is a challenge world-wide, but some derivatives are also valuable pharmaceuticals. Reference samples of the active ingredients and their metabolites are needed both for controlling administration in the clinic and to detect drugs of abuse. Especially, (13)C-labeled compounds are useful for identification and quantification purposes by mass spectroscopic techniques, potentially increasing accuracy by minimizing ion alteration/suppression effects.

Truncated structures used in search for new lead compounds and in a retrospective analysis of thienopyrimidine-based EGFR inhibitors.

An approach for optimization of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) inhibitors using truncated thienopyrimidine structures combined with enzymatic assay has been evaluated. This was done by synthesis and EGFR activity measurement of a series of fragment structures and their corresponding drug-model analogues. On average, the activity of the drug-like structures increased a ten-fold as compared to the fragments.

Synthesis of [13C4]-labeled ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-nor-9-carboxy-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol as internal standards for reducing ion suppressing/alteration effects in LC/MS-MS quantification.

(-)-∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol is the principal psychoactive component of the cannabis plant and also the active ingredient in some prescribed drugs. To detect and control misuse and monitor administration in clinical settings, reference samples of the native drugs and their metabolites are needed. The accuracy of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric quantification of drugs in biological samples depends among others on ion suppressing/alteration effects.