Development of a Highly Selective NanoBRET Probe to Assess MAGL Inhibition in Live Cells.

Cell-free enzymatic assays are highly useful tools in early compound profiling due to their robustness and scalability. However, their inadequacy to reflect the complexity of target engagement in a cellular environment may lead to a significantly divergent pharmacology that is eventually observed in cells. The discrepancy that emerges from properties like permeability and unspecific protein binding may largely mislead lead compound selection to undergo further chemical optimization.

Structure-Guided Discovery of -Hexahydro-pyrido-oxazinones as Reversible, Drug-like Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a key enzyme involved in the metabolism of the endogenous signaling ligand 2-arachidonoylglycerol, a neuroprotective endocannabinoid intimately linked to central nervous system (CNS) disorders associated with neuroinflammation. In the quest for novel MAGL inhibitors, a focused screening approach on a Roche library subset provided a reversible benzoxazinone hit exhibiting high ligand efficiency. The subsequent design of the three-dimensional -hexahydro-pyrido-oxazinone (-HHPO) moiety as benzoxazinone replacement enabled the combination of high MAGL potency with favorable ADME properties.

Enhancing Drug Discovery and Development through the Integration of Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Academia-Industry Partnerships: Insights from Roche's Endocannabinoid System Projects.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a critical regulatory network composed of endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs), their synthesizing and degrading enzymes, and associated receptors. It is integral to maintaining homeostasis and orchestrating key functions within the central nervous and immune systems. Given its therapeutic significance, we have launched a series of drug discovery endeavors aimed at ECS targets, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), cannabinoid receptors types 1 (CB1R) and 2 (CB2R), and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), addressing a wide array of medical needs.

Identification of ()-[F]YH134 for Monoacylglycerol Lipase Neuroimaging and Exploration of Its Use for Central Nervous System and Peripheral Drug Development.

This study aimed to evaluate ()-[F]YH134 as a novel PET tracer for imaging monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). Considering the ubiquitous expression of MAGL throughout the whole body, the impact of various MAGL inhibitors on ()-[F]YH134 brain uptake and its application in brain-periphery crosstalk were explored. MAGL knockout and wild-type mice were used to evaluate ()-[F]YH134 in in vitro autoradiography and PET experiments.

Discovery, synthesis and evaluation of novel reversible monoacylglycerol lipase radioligands bearing a morpholine-3-one scaffold.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a serine hydrolase that plays an important role in the endocannabinoid degradation in the brain. It has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Development of MAGL-specific radioligands for non-invasive imaging by positron-emission tomography (PET) would deepen our knowledge on the relevant pathological changes in diseased states and accelerate drug discovery.

A concise and scalable strategy for the total synthesis of dictyodendrin B based on sequential C-H functionalization.

A sequential CH functionalization strategy for the synthesis of the marine alkaloid dictyodendrin B is reported. Our synthesis begins from commercially available 4-bromoindole and involves six direct functionalizations around the heteroarene core as part of a gram-scale strategy towards the natural product.

A simple litmus test for aldehyde oxidase metabolism of heteroarenes.

The bioavailability of aromatic azaheterocyclic drugs can be affected by the activity of aldehyde oxidase (AO). Susceptibility to AO metabolism is difficult to predict computationally and can be complicated in vivo by differences between species. Here we report the use of bis(((difluoromethyl)sulfinyl)oxy)zinc (DFMS) as a source of CF2H radical for a rapid and inexpensive chemical "litmus test" for the early identification of heteroaromatic drug candidates that have a high probability of metabolism by AO.

Radical-based regioselective C-H functionalization of electron-deficient heteroarenes: scope, tunability, and predictability.

Radical addition processes can be ideally suited for the direct functionalization of heteroaromatic bases, yet these processes are only sparsely used due to the perception of poor or unreliable control of regiochemistry. A systematic investigation of factors affecting the regiochemistry of radical functionalization of heterocycles using alkylsulfinate salts revealed that certain types of substituents exert consistent and additive effects on the regioselectivity of substitution. This allowed us to establish guidelines for predicting regioselectivity on complex π-deficient heteroarenes, including pyridines, pyrimidines, pyridazines, and pyrazines.

Preparation and purification of zinc sulfinate reagents for drug discovery.

The present protocol details the synthesis of zinc bis(alkanesulfinate)s that can be used as general reagents for the formation of radical species. The zinc sulfinates described herein are generated from the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides by treatment with zinc dust. The products may be used crude, or a simple purification procedure may be performed to minimize incorporation of water and zinc chloride.

Practical and innate carbon-hydrogen functionalization of heterocycles.

Nitrogen-rich heterocyclic compounds have had a profound effect on human health because these chemical motifs are found in a large number of drugs used to combat a broad range of diseases and pathophysiological conditions. Advances in transition-metal-mediated cross-coupling have simplified the synthesis of such molecules; however, C-H functionalization of medicinally important heterocycles that does not rely on pre-functionalized starting materials is an underdeveloped area. Unfortunately, the innate properties of heterocycles that make them so desirable for biological applications--such as aqueous solubility and their ability to act as ligands--render them challenging substrates for direct chemical functionalization.

Recent developments in natural product synthesis using metal-catalysed C-H bond functionalisation.

Metal-catalysed C-H bond functionalisation has had a significant impact on how chemists make molecules. Translating the methodological developments to their use in the assembly of complex natural products is an important challenge for the continued advancement of chemical synthesis. In this tutorial review, we describe selected recent examples of how the metal-catalysed C-H bond functionalisation has been able to positively affect the synthesis of natural products.