Enantioselective synthesis and physicochemical properties of libraries of 3-amino- and 3-amidofluoropiperidines.

The enantioselective syntheses of 3-amino-5-fluoropiperidines and 3-amino-5,5-difluoropiperidines were developed using the ring enlargement of prolinols to access libraries of 3-amino- and 3-amidofluoropiperidines. The study of the physicochemical properties revealed that fluorine atom(s) decrease(s) the pKa and modulate(s) the lipophilicity of 3-aminopiperidines. The relative stereochemistry of the fluorine atoms with the amino groups at C3 on the piperidine core has a small effect on the pKa due to conformationnal modifications induced by fluorine atom(s).

Discovery of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable alkynylphenoxyacetic acid CRTH2 (DP2) receptor antagonists for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases.

New phenoxyacetic acid antagonists of CRTH2 are described. Following the discovery of a hit compound by a focused screening, high protein binding was identified as its main weakness. Optimization aimed at reducing serum protein binding led to the identification of several compounds that showed not only excellent affinities for the receptor (41 compounds with K(i) < 10 nM) but also excellent potencies in a human whole blood assay (IC(50) < 100 nM; PGD2-induced eosinophil shape change).

Discovery of a novel series of potent S1P1 agonists.

The discovery of a novel series of S1P1 agonists is described. Starting from a micromolar HTS positive, iterative optimization gave rise to several single-digit nanomolar S1P1 agonists. The compounds were able to induce internalization of the S1P1 receptor, and a selected compound was shown to be able to induce lymphopenia in mice after oral dosing.

Furan-2-ylmethylene thiazolidinediones as novel, potent, and selective inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma.

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), in particular PI3Kgamma, have become attractive drug targets for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here, we disclose a novel series of furan-2-ylmethylene thiazolidinediones as selective, ATP-competitive PI3Kgamma inhibitors. Structure-based design and X-ray crystallography of complexes formed by inhibitors bound to PI3Kgamma identified key pharmacophore features for potency and selectivity.