Discovery of BAY 94-8862: a nonsteroidal antagonist of the mineralocorticoid receptor for the treatment of cardiorenal diseases.

Aldosterone is a hormone that exerts manifold deleterious effects on the kidneys, blood vessels, and heart which can lead to pathophysiological consequences. Inhibition of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a proven therapeutic concept for the management of associated diseases. Use of the currently marketed MR antagonists spironolactone and eplerenone is restricted, however, due to a lack of selectivity in spironolactone and the lower potency and efficacy of eplerenone.

Design and synthesis of potent and selective azaindole-based Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors.

Rho kinase plays a pivotal role in several cellular processes such as vasoregulation, making it a suitable target for the treatment of hypertension and related disorders. We discovered a new compound class of Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors containing a 7-azaindole hinge-binding scaffold tethered to an aminopyrimidine core. Herein we describe the structure-activity relationships elucidated through biochemical and functional assays.

The novel selective PDE9 inhibitor BAY 73-6691 improves learning and memory in rodents.

The present study investigated the putative pro-cognitive effects of the novel selective PDE9 inhibitor BAY 73-6691. The effects on basal synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) were investigated in rat hippocampal slices. Pro-cognitive effects were assessed in a series of learning and memory tasks using rodents as subjects.

Alpha-carbonyl substituent effect on the lifetimes of triplet 1,4-biradicals from Norrish-Type-II reactions.

Triplet 1,4-biradicals were generated by Norrish-Type-II hydrogen transfer from alpha-heteroatom-substituted beta-branched butyrophenones 1-6 and detected by laser flash absorption measurements. For three oxy-substituted compounds 2-4 (R(alpha)=OH, OCOMe, OCOOEt) comparable lifetimes were determined in acetonitrile (roughly 1.5 micros).

Minor structural modifications convert a selective PPARalpha agonist into a potent, highly selective PPARdelta agonist.

We report the solid-phase synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a new series of small-molecule agonists of the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARdelta) based on a lead structure from our PPARalpha program. Compound 33 showed good pharmacokinetics.

Photofragmentation of C,N-protected alpha-amino acids: comparing tert-leucine with sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine.

The photochemical fingerprint for the N-acetyl methyl ester of the aliphatic amino acid tert-leucine 1 was investigated. This reaction path was compared with the electron transfer active amino acids methionine (N-acetyl methyl ester derivative 2a as well as the methyl ester derivative 2b) and the cysteine derivatives 3a and 3b (penicillamine derivative). Photofragmenation of the ester group dominated the photolysis of 1, whereas loss of methylmercaptane was observed for 2a and 3a.

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-aminocyclobutanols via photocyclization of alpha-amido alkylaryl ketones: mechanistic implications for the Norrish/Yang reaction.

A series of chiral N-acylated alpha-amino p-methylbutyrophenone derivatives 1a-1h was synthesized from alpha-amino acids via a three-step procedure. These substrates were photolyzed in benzene and gave Norrish II and Norrish I cleavage products as well as the N-acylated 2-aminocyclobutanols that derive from gamma-hydrogen abstraction and 1,4-triplet biradical combination (Yang cyclization). The products were formed with characteristic Yang/cleavage ratios.