Positive allosteric modulators of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: SAR investigation around PNU-120596.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a calcium permeable, ligand-gated ion channel that modulates synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. Previously disclosed work described PNU-120596 that acts as a powerful positive allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The initial structure-activity relationships around PNU-120596 were gleaned from screening a large thiazole library.

Synthesis and SAR of 4-substituted-2-aminopyrimidines as novel c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors.

The development of a series of novel 4-substituted-2-aminopyrimidines as inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinases is described. The synthesis, in vitro inhibitory values for JNK1, and the in vitro inhibitory value for a c-Jun cellular assay are discussed. Optimization of microsomal clearance led to the identification of 9c, whose kinase selectivity is reported.

ADDP and PS-PPh3: an efficient Mitsunobu protocol for the preparation of pyridine ether PPAR agonists.

A series of pyridine ether PPAR agonists were synthesized through an ADDP and PS-PPh3 modified Mitsunobu protocol, which eliminated significant by-product formation. This method proved to be versatile, efficient and amenable to parallel synthesis.