Ligand Enabled Pd(II)-Catalyzed γ-C(sp)-H Lactamization of Native Amides.

γ-Lactams form important structural cores of a range of medicinally relevant natural products and clinical drugs, principal examples being the new generation of immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) and the brivaracetam family. Compared to conventional multistep synthesis, an intramolecular γ-C-H amination of aliphatic amides would allow for the direct construction of valuable γ-lactam motifs from abundant amino acid precursors. Herein we report a novel 2-pyridone ligand enabled Pd(II)-catalyzed γ-C(sp)-H lactamization of amino acid derived native amides, providing the convenient synthesis of γ-lactams, isoindolinones, and 2-imidazolidinones.

Substituted diaryl ether compounds as retinoic acid-related orphan Receptor-γt (RORγt) agonists.

The discovery of a series of substituted diarylether compounds as retinoic acid related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) agonists is described. Compound 1 was identified from deck mining as a RORγt agonist. Hit-to-lead optimization led to the identification of lead compound 5, which possesses improved potency (10x).

Substituted benzyloxytricyclic compounds as retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) agonists.

Substituted benzyloxy aryl compound 2 was identified as an RORγt agonist. Structure based drug design efforts resulted in a potent and selective tricyclic compound 19 which, when administered orally in an MC38 mouse tumor model, demonstrated a desired pharmacokinetic profile as well as a dose-dependent pharmacodynamic response. However, no perceptible efficacy was observed in this tumor model at the doses investigated.

Identification of a Potent, Selective, and Efficacious Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase δ (PI3Kδ) Inhibitor for the Treatment of Immunological Disorders.

PI3Kδ plays an important role controlling immune cell function and has therefore been identified as a potential target for the treatment of immunological disorders. This article highlights our work toward the identification of a potent, selective, and efficacious PI3Kδ inhibitor. Through careful SAR, the successful replacement of a polar pyrazole group by a simple chloro or trifluoromethyl group led to improved Caco-2 permeability, reduced Caco-2 efflux, reduced hERG PC activity, and increased selectivity profile while maintaining potency in the CD69 hWB assay.

Identification of highly potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors.

Selective PI3Kδ inhibitors have recently been hypothesized to be appropriate immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of immunological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, few reports have highlighted molecules that are highly selective for PI3Kδ over the other PI3K isoforms. In this letter, isoform and kinome selective PI3Kδ inhibitors are presented.

Discovery of 7-(3-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amine derivatives as highly potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors.

As demonstrated in preclinical animal models, the disruption of PI3Kδ expression or its activity leads to a decrease in inflammatory and immune responses. Therefore, inhibition of PI3Kδ may provide an alternative treatment for autoimmune diseases, such as RA, SLE, and respiratory ailments. Herein, we disclose the identification of 7-(3-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amine derivatives as highly potent, selective and orally bioavailable PI3Kδ inhibitors.

Discovery and SAR of pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amines as potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors.

Aberrant Class I PI3K signaling is a key factor contributing to many immunological disorders and cancers. We have identified 4-amino pyrrolotriazine as a novel chemotype that selectively inhibits PI3Kδ signaling despite not binding to the specificity pocket of PI3Kδ isoform. Structure activity relationship (SAR) led to the identification of compound 30 that demonstrated efficacy in mouse Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) and collagen induced arthritis (CIA) models.

Arylsulfonamidopiperidone derivatives as a novel class of factor Xa inhibitors.

The design, synthesis and SAR of a novel class of valerolactam-based arylsulfonamides as potent and selective FXa inhibitors is reported. The arylsulfonamide-valerolactam scaffold was derived based on the proposed bioisosterism to the arylcyanoguanidine-caprolactam core in known FXa inhibitors. The SAR study led to compound 46 as the most potent FXa inhibitor in this series, with an IC(50) of 7 nM and EC(2×PT) of 1.

Solid-phase synthesis of a library based on biphenyl-containing trypsin-like serine protease inhibitors.

The solid-phase synthesis of a library based on an unusual biphenyl-containing trypsin-like serine protease inhibitor is described. Key to this effort was the synthesis of a highly functionalized aryl boronic acid reagent which required the development of a novel and efficient method to convert a triflate to a pinacolboronate in large scale.

Discovery and structure-activity relationships of trisubstituted pyrimidines/pyridines as novel calcium-sensing receptor antagonists.

The trisubstituted pyrimidine 1 was identified through high-throughput screening as a novel calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) antagonist. Small molecule CaSR antagonists and/or negative allosteric modulators have the potential to act as an anabolic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis. The investigation of structure-activity relationships around 1 resulted in the identification of 18c and 18d, which showed efficacy at promoting PTH release in vivo and exhibited improved potency and solubility over the original lead 1.

Design and synthesis of a G-protein-coupled receptor antagonist library of aryloxyalkanolamines using a polymer-supported acyclic acetal linker.

A G-Protein-coupled receptor-targeted library of aryloxypropanolamines and aryloxybutanolamines was efficiently executed using a novel, polymer-supported acyclic acetal linker, producing compounds in good yields and purities.

Pyridine amides as potent and selective inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.

Several series of pyridine amides were identified as selective and potent 11beta-HSD1 inhibitors. The most potent inhibitors feature 2,6- or 3,5-disubstitution on the pyridine core. Various linkers (CH(2)SO(2), CH(2)S, CH(2)O, S, O, N, bond) between the distal aryl and central pyridyl groups are tolerated, and lipophilic amide groups are generally favored.

Solid-phase synthesis of 5-substituted amino pyrazoles.

An efficient method for the solid-supported synthesis of 5-N-alkylamino and 5-N-arylamino pyrazoles is described. This method is general and mild and utilizes readily accessible resin-immobilized beta-ketoamides 2 as starting materials for the preparation of 1. Resin-immobilized beta-ketoamide, aryl-, or alkylhydazine and Lawesson's reagent are suspended in a mixture of THF/Py and heated at 50-55 degrees C to give a resin-bound 5-aminopyrazole, that is liberated from the solid support by treatment with TFA.

Identification of novel functional inhibitors of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type III (17beta-HSD3).

Background: Endocrine therapy of prostate cancer (PCa) relies on agents which disrupt the biosynthesis of testosterone in the testis and/or by direct antagonism of active hormone on the androgen receptor (AR) in non-gonadal target tissues of hormone action such as the prostate.

Methods: In an effort to evaluate new therapies which could inhibit gonadal or non-gonadal testosterone biosynthesis, we developed high throughput biochemical and cellular screening assays to identify inhibitors of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type III (17beta-HSD3), the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of androstenedione (AdT) to testosterone.

Results: Initial screening efforts identified a natural product, 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid, and a novel derivative of AdT, 3-O-benzylandrosterone, as potent inhibitors of the enzyme.