The Role of Allylic Strain for Conformational Control in Medicinal Chemistry.

It is axiomatic in medicinal chemistry that optimization of the potency of a small molecule at a macromolecular target requires complementarity between the ligand and target. In order to minimize the conformational penalty on binding, both enthalpically and entropically, it is therefore preferred to have the ligand preorganized in the bound conformation. In this Perspective, we highlight the role of allylic strain in controlling conformational preferences.

Identification of novel GPR81 agonist lead series for target biology evaluation.

GPR81 is a novel drug target that is implicated in the control of glucose and lipid metabolism. The lack of potent GPR81 modulators suitable for in vivo studies has limited the pharmacological characterization of this lactate sensing receptor. We performed a high throughput screen (HTS) and identified a GPR81 agonist chemical series containing a central acyl urea scaffold linker.

Identification of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Modulators with Low Impact on Electrolyte Homeostasis but Maintained Organ Protection.

The mechanism-based risk for hyperkalemia has limited the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) like eplerenone in cardio-renal diseases. Here, we describe the structure and property-driven lead generation and optimization, which resulted in identification of MR modulators ( S)-1 and ( S)-33. Both compounds were partial MRAs but still demonstrated equally efficacious organ protection as eplerenone after 4 weeks of treatment in uni-nephrectomized rats on high-salt diet and aldosterone infusion.

Selective Synthesis of Spirooxindoles by an Intramolecular Heck-Mizoroki Reaction.

We report a highly diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopentene-spirooxindole derivatives via an intramolecular Heck-Mizoroki reaction using aryl bromides as precursors. The reactions were performed under dry conditions or in a DMF-water system. This protocol can be useful to introduce several functionalities to the aromatic nucleus of the spirooxindoles.

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclopentene Derivatives via Mizoroki-Heck Reactions.

Pd(0)-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck alkenylations and arylations of protected aminocyclopentenes, prepared in a few steps from Vince lactam, afforded functionalized cyclopentenes in high yields and stereoselectivities. DFT calculations were performed to rationalize the high diastereoselectivities. Functionalized cyclopentene products were transformed into valuable chiral building blocks, such as cyclic γ-amino acids and carbocyclic nucleoside precursors.

Macrocyclic Prodrugs of a Selective Nonpeptidic Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Display High Permeability, Efficient Bioconversion but Low Bioavailability.

The only oral direct thrombin inhibitors that have reached the market, ximelagatran and dabigatran etexilat, are double prodrugs with low bioavailability in humans. We have evaluated an alternative strategy: the preparation of a nonpeptidic, polar direct thrombin inhibitor as a single, macrocyclic esterase-cleavable (acyloxy)alkoxy prodrug. Two homologous prodrugs were synthesized and displayed high solubilities and Caco-2 cell permeabilities, suggesting high absorption from the intestine.

Unexpected Retroaldol-Aldol Reaction during O-Alkylation of Hydroxylated Vince Lactam Derivatives.

The unexpected retroaldol-aldol reaction during O-alkylation of a β-hydroxy lactam was found to be highly dependent on the temperature and shows a remarkable solvent effect. In DMF, O-alkylation is faster than retroaldol-aldol rearrangement giving exclusively products with retention of configuration. In THF, O-alkylation is slower than rearrangement, giving selectively products with inversion of stereochemistry.

Synthesis of potential thrombin inhibitors. Incorporation of tartaric acid templates as P2 proline mimetics.

With the objective to prepare novel non-peptidic thrombin inhibitors, bioisosteres of the inhibitory tripeptide D-Phe-Pro-Arg chain have been examined. Thus, the P1 Arg was replaced with p-amidinobenzylamine, an elongated homologue of the same and with 2,5-dichloro benzylamine. The P2-P3, D-Phe-Pro, was replaced with a novel tartaric acid template coupled to a series of readily available, mainly lipophilic, amines.

Synthesis of [4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dithiolan-2-yl]nucleosides as Potential Inhibitors of HIV(1).

The synthesis of [4,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dithiolan-2-yl]nucleosides is described. (2S,3S)-1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane (13) was reacted with potassium thiocyanate to give (2R,3R)-1,2:3,4-diepithiobutane (14). Thiiranering opening with acetate followed by deacetylation gave (2R,3R)-2,3-dithiothreitol (19) which was silylated and treated with trimethyl orthoformate to give the 2-methoxy-1,3-dithiolane 20.

Synthesis of [4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl]nucleosides as Potential Inhibitors of HIV via Stereospecific Base-Induced Rearrangement of a 2,3-Epoxy Thioacetate(1).

The synthesis of [4,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl]nucleosides is described. 2,3-Epoxy alcohol 10 was converted in one pot into thioacetate 11. Treatment of 11 under mild alkaline conditions gave thiirane 12 with inversion of configuration at C-2.

Synthesis of [4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]nucleosides as Potential Inhibitors of HIV.

The synthesis of 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylnucleosides and related chemistry is described. We have shown that 2-methoxy-1,3-dioxolane (6) reacts with silylated thymine and trimethylsilyl triflate to give the acyclic formate ester 1-[2-(formyloxy)ethyl]thymine (8) rather than 1-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)thymine (7). A tentative mechanism which could explain this result is discussed.