Expedited Aminoglutarimide C-N Cross-Coupling Enabled by High-Throughput Experimentation.

A simple protocol for the Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl halides with unprotected aminoglutarimide to afford diverse cereblon binding motifs is disclosed. The development of this C-N cross-coupling method was enabled by high-throughput combinatory screening of solvents, bases, temperatures, and ligands. Scope studies revealed generality across various heteroaryl and aryl halides with the reaction proceeding under mild conditions.

Discovery of N-X anomeric amides as electrophilic halogenation reagents.

Electrophilic halogenation is a widely used tool employed by medicinal chemists to either pre-functionalize molecules for further diversity or incorporate a halogen atom into drugs or drug-like compounds to solve metabolic problems or modulate off-target effects. Current methods to increase the power of halogenation rely on either the invention of new reagents or activating commercially available reagents with various additives such as Lewis or Brønsted acids, Lewis bases and hydrogen-bonding activators. There is a high demand for new reagents that can halogenate otherwise unreactive compounds under mild conditions.

Simplified Modular Access to Enantiopure 1,2-Aminoalcohols via Ni-Electrocatalytic Decarboxylative Arylation.

Chiral aminoalcohols are omnipresent in bioactive compounds. Conventional strategies to access this motif involve multiple-step reactions to install the requisite functionalities stereoselectively using conventional polar bond analysis. This study reveals that a simple chiral oxazolidine-based carboxylic acid can be readily transformed to substituted chiral aminoalcohols with high stereochemical control by Ni-electrocatalytic decarboxylative arylation.

Simplifying Access to Targeted Protein Degraders via Nickel Electrocatalytic Cross-Coupling.

C-C linked glutarimide-containing structures with direct utility in the preparation of cereblon-based degraders (PROTACs, CELMoDs) can be assessed in a single step from inexpensive, commercial α-bromoglutarimide through a unique Brønsted-acid assisted Ni-electrocatalytic approach. The reaction tolerates a broad array of functional groups that are historically problematic and can be applied to the simplified synthesis of dozens of known compounds that have only been procured through laborious, wasteful, multi-step sequences. The reaction is scalable in both batch and flow and features a trivial procedure wherein the most time-consuming aspect of reaction setup is weighing out the starting materials.

Identification and Optimization of Small Molecule Pyrazolopyrimidine TLR7 Agonists for Applications in Immuno-oncology.

Small molecule toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 agonists have gathered considerable interest as promising therapeutic agents for applications in cancer immunotherapy. Herein, we describe the development and optimization of a series of novel TLR7 agonists through systematic structure-activity relationship studies focusing on modification of the phenylpiperidine side chain. Additional refinement of ADME properties culminated in the discovery of compound , which displayed nanomolar reporter assay activity and favorable drug-like properties.

Discovery of Novel TLR7 Agonists as Systemic Agent for Combination With aPD1 for Use in Immuno-oncology.

We have designed and developed novel and selective TLR7 agonists that exhibited potent receptor activity in a cell-based reporter assay. , these agonists significantly induced secretion of cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, TNFa, IFNa, and IP-10 in human and mouse whole blood. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in mice showed a significant secretion of IFNα and TNFα cytokines.

Nickel-Electrocatalytic Decarboxylative Arylation to Access Quaternary Centers.

There is a pressing need, particularly in the field of drug discovery, for general methods that will enable direct coupling of tertiary alkyl fragments to (hetero)aryl halides. Herein a uniquely powerful and simple set of conditions for achieving this transformation with unparalleled generality and chemoselectivity is disclosed. This new protocol is placed in context with other recently reported methods, applied to simplify the routes of known bioactive building blocks molecules, and scaled up in both batch and flow.

A Paradigm Shift in Catalysis: Electro- and Photomediated Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions.

ConspectusTransition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are fundamental reactions in organic chemistry, facilitating strategic bond formations for accessing natural products, organic materials, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Redox chemistry enables access to elusive cross-coupling mechanisms through single-electron processes as an alternative to classical two-electron strategies predominated by palladium catalysis. The seminal reports of Baran, MacMillan, Doyle, Molander, Weix, Lin, Fu, Reisman, and others in merging redox perturbation (photochemical, electrochemical, and purely chemical) with catalysis are pivotal to the current resurgence and mechanistic understanding of first-row transition metal-based catalysis.

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Triplet-triplet energy transfer (EnT) is a powerful activation pathway in photocatalysis that unlocks new organic transformations and improves the sustainability of organic synthesis. Many current examples, however, still rely on platinum-group metal complexes as photosensitizers, with associated high costs and environmental impacts. Photosensitizers that exhibit thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) are attractive fully organic alternatives in EnT photocatalysis.

Stereocontrolled Radical Thiophosphorylation.

The first practical, fully stereoselective P(V)-radical hydrophosphorylation is presented herein by using simple, limonene-derived reagent systems. A set of reagents have been developed that upon radical initiation react smoothly with olefins and other radical acceptors to generate -chiral products, which can be further diversified (with conventional 2e chemistry) to a range of underexplored bioisosteric building blocks. The reactions have a wide scope with excellent chemoselectivity, and the unexpected stereochemical outcome has been supported computationally and experimentally.

Overcoming Limitations in Decarboxylative Arylation via Ag-Ni Electrocatalysis.

A useful protocol for achieving decarboxylative cross-coupling (DCC) of redox-active esters (RAE, isolated or generated in situ) and halo(hetero)arenes is reported. This pragmatically focused study employs a unique Ag-Ni electrocatalytic platform to overcome numerous limitations that have plagued this strategically powerful transformation. In its optimized form, coupling partners can be combined in a surprisingly simple way: open to the air, using technical-grade solvents, an inexpensive ligand and Ni source, and substoichiometric AgNO, proceeding at room temperature with a simple commercial potentiostat.

Enhanced aqueous dissolution of hydrophobic apixaban via direct incorporation of hydrophilic nanographene oxide.

In this study, we have directly incorporated nanographene oxide (nGO) into a hydrophobic drug for enhanced dissolution performance through an antisolvent technique. Apixaban (APX) drug composites were synthesized with nGO incorporation ranging from 0.8% to 2.

Ni-electrocatalytic Csp-Csp doubly decarboxylative coupling.

Cross-coupling between two similar or identical functional groups to form a new C-C bond is a powerful tool to rapidly assemble complex molecules from readily available building units, as seen with olefin cross-metathesis or various types of cross-electrophile coupling. The Kolbe electrolysis involves the oxidative electrochemical decarboxylation of alkyl carboxylic acids to their corresponding radical species followed by recombination to generate a new C-C bond. As one of the oldest known Csp-Csp bond-forming reactions, it holds incredible promise for organic synthesis, yet its use has been almost non-existent.

An imidazoacridine-based TADF material as an effective organic photosensitizer for visible-light-promoted [2 + 2] cycloaddition.

Energy transfer (EnT) is a fundamental activation process in visible-light-promoted photocycloaddition reactions. This work describes the performance of imidazoacridine-based TADF materials for visible-light mediated triplet-triplet EnT photocatalysis. The TADF material ACR-IMAC has been discovered as an inexpensive, high-performance organic alternative to the commonly used metal-based photosensitizers for visible-light EnT photocatalysis.

Chemoselective, Scalable Nickel-Electrocatalytic O-Arylation of Alcohols.

The formation of aryl-alkyl ether bonds through cross coupling of alcohols with aryl halides represents a useful strategic departure from classical S 2 methods. Numerous tactics relying on Pd-, Cu-, and Ni-based catalytic systems have emerged over the past several years. Herein we disclose a Ni-catalyzed electrochemically driven protocol to achieve this useful transformation with a broad substrate scope in an operationally simple way.

A Stereocontrolled Synthesis of a Phosphorothioate Cyclic Dinucleotide-Based STING Agonist.

We describe a stereodefined synthesis of the newly identified non-natural phosphorothioate cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) STING agonist, BMT-390025. The new route avoids the low-yielding racemic approach using P(III)-based reagents, and the stereospecific assembly of the phosphorothioate linkages are forged via the recently invented P(V)-based platform of the so-called PSI (Ψ) reagent system. This P(V) approach allows for the complete control of chirality of the P-based linkages and enabled conclusive evidence of the absolute configuration.

Photocatalytic Dearomative Intermolecular [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Heterocycles for Building Molecular Complexity.

Indole and indoline rings are important pharmacophoric scaffolds found in marketed drugs, agrochemicals, and biologically active molecules. The [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction is a versatile strategy for constructing architecturally interesting, sp-rich cyclobutane-fused scaffolds with potential applications in drug discovery programs. A general platform for visible-light mediated intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of indoles with alkenes has been realized.

Late-stage oxidative C(sp)-H methylation.

Frequently referred to as the 'magic methyl effect', the installation of methyl groups-especially adjacent (α) to heteroatoms-has been shown to dramatically increase the potency of biologically active molecules. However, existing methylation methods show limited scope and have not been demonstrated in complex settings. Here we report a regioselective and chemoselective oxidative C(sp)-H methylation method that is compatible with late-stage functionalization of drug scaffolds and natural products.

Synthesis of Cyclobutane-Fused Tetracyclic Scaffolds via Visible-Light Photocatalysis for Building Molecular Complexity.

We describe the synthesis through visible-light photocatalysis of novel functionalized tetracyclic scaffolds that incorporate a fused azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptan-2-one motif, which are structurally interesting cores with potential in natural product synthesis and drug discovery.

Photoredox-Catalyzed C-H Cyanation of Unactivated Secondary and Tertiary Aliphatic Amines: Late-Stage Functionalization and Mechanistic Studies.

This paper describes the development and mechanistic studies of a general, high-yielding amine C-H cyanation protocol via photoredox catalysis. Inexpensive NaCN is employed as the cyanide source and air is the external oxidant, resulting in mild and highly functional group tolerant conditions. Notably, efficient C-H cyanations of secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines and of complex, biologically active compounds (drugs) can be performed using the established methodology.

Visible-Light-Initiated Manganese Catalysis for C-H Alkylation of Heteroarenes: Applications and Mechanistic Studies.

A visible-light-driven Minisci protocol that employs an inexpensive earth-abundant metal catalyst, decacarbonyldimanganese Mn (CO) , to generate alkyl radicals from alkyl iodides has been developed. This Minisci protocol is compatible with a wide array of sensitive functional groups, including oxetanes, sugar moieties, azetidines, tert-butyl carbamates (Boc-group), cyclobutanes, and spirocycles. The robustness of this protocol is demonstrated on the late-stage functionalization of complex nitrogen-containing drugs.

Highly Chemoselective Iridium Photoredox and Nickel Catalysis for the Cross-Coupling of Primary Aryl Amines with Aryl Halides.

A visible-light-promoted iridium photoredox and nickel dual-catalyzed cross-coupling procedure for the formation C-N bonds has been developed. With this method, various aryl amines were chemoselectively cross-coupled with electronically and sterically diverse aryl iodides and bromides to forge the corresponding C-N bonds, which are of high interest to the pharmaceutical industries. Aryl iodides were found to be a more efficient electrophilic coupling partner.

Photoredox Mediated Nickel Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Thiols With Aryl and Heteroaryl Iodides via Thiyl Radicals.

Ni-catalyzed cross-couplings of aryl, benzyl, and alkyl thiols with aryl and heteroaryl iodides were accomplished in the presence of an Ir-photoredox catalyst. Highly chemoselective C-S cross-coupling was achieved versus competitive C-O and C-N cross-couplings. This C-S cross-coupling method exhibits remarkable functional group tolerance, and the reactions can be carried out in the presence of molecular oxygen.

Effects of Molecular Oxygen, Solvent, and Light on Iridium-Photoredox/Nickel Dual-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions.

In order to achieve reproducibility during iridium-photoredox and nickel dual-catalyzed sp(3)-sp(2) carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, we investigated the role that molecular oxygen (O2), solvent and light-source (CF lamp or blue LED) play in a variety of Ir-photoredox mediated transformations. The presence of O2 was discovered to be important for catalyst activation when air-stable Ni(II) precatalysts were used in DMF under CF lamp irradiation; however, O2 was not required for catalysis when conducted with Ni(COD)2 in the same reaction system. O2 is believed to promote rapid reduction of the Ni(II) precatalyst by Ir(II) to Ni(0).