Discovery of Potent and Selective Methylenephosphonic Acid CD73 Inhibitors.

Solid tumors are often associated with high levels of extracellular ATP. Ectonucleotidases catalyze the sequential hydrolysis of ATP to adenosine, which potently suppresses T-cell and NK-cell functions via the adenosine receptors (A2a and A2b). The ectonucleotidase CD73 catalyzes the conversion of AMP to adenosine. Thus, increased CD73 enzymatic activity in the tumor microenvironment is a potential mechanism for tumor immune evasion and has been associated with poor prognosis in the clinic. CD73 inhibition is anticipated to restore immune function by skirting this major mechanism of adenosine generation. We have developed a series of potent and selective methylenephosphonic acid CD73 inhibitors via a structure-based design. Key binding interactions of the known inhibitor adenosine-5'-(α,ß-methylene)diphosphate (AMPCP) with hCD73 provided the foundation for our early designs. The structure-activity relationship study guided by this structure-based design led to the discovery of 4a, which exhibits excellent potency against CD73, exquisite selectivity against related ectonucleotidases, and a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.

Discovery of AB680: A Potent and Selective Inhibitor of CD73.

Extracellular adenosine (ADO), present in high concentrations in the tumor microenvironment (TME), suppresses immune function via inhibition of T cell and NK cell activation. Intratumoral generation of ADO depends on the sequential catabolism of ATP by two ecto-nucleotidases, CD39 (ATP → AMP) and CD73 (AMP → ADO). Inhibition of CD73 eliminates a major pathway of ADO production in the TME and can reverse ADO-mediated immune suppression. Extensive interrogation of structure-activity relationships (SARs), structure-based drug design, and optimization of pharmacokinetic properties culminated in the discovery of AB680, a highly potent (Ki = 5 pM), reversible, and selective inhibitor of CD73. AB680 is further characterized by very low clearance and long half-lives across preclinical species, resulting in a PK profile suitable for long-acting parenteral administration. AB680 is currently being evaluated in phase 1 clinical trials. Initial data show AB680 is well tolerated and exhibits a pharmacokinetic profile suitable for biweekly (Q2W) iv-administration in human.

Discovery of Potent and Selective Non-Nucleotide Small Molecule Inhibitors of CD73.

CD73 is an extracellular mediator of purinergic signaling. When upregulated in the tumor microenvironment, CD73 has been implicated in the inhibition of immune function through overproduction of adenosine. Traditional efforts to inhibit CD73 have involved antibody therapy or the development of small molecules, the most potent of which mimic the acidic and ionizable structure of the enzyme's natural substrate, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP). Here, we report the systematic discovery of a novel class of non-nucleotide CD73 inhibitors that are more potent than all other nonphosphonate inhibitor classes reported to date. These efforts have culminated in the discovery of 4-({5-[4-fluoro-1-(2H-indazol-6-yl)-1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-6-yl]-1H-pyrazol-1-yl}methyl)benzonitrile (73, IC50 = 12 nM) and 4-({5-[4-chloro-1-(2H-indazol-6-yl)-1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-6-yl]-1H-pyrazol-1-yl}methyl)benzonitrile (74, IC50 = 19 nM). Cocrystallization of 74 with human CD73 demonstrates a competitive binding mode. These compounds show promise for the improvement of drug-like character via the attenuation of the acidity and low membrane permeability inherent to known nucleoside inhibitors of CD73.

Re-Orienting Coupling of Organocuprates with Propargyl Electrophiles from SN2' to SN2 with Stereocontrol.

Diorganocuprate(I) reagents derived from lithiated heterocycles and CuCN react with enantioenriched secondary propagryl bromides to give the corresponding propargylated heterocycles. While propargyl electrophiles typically undergo SN2' displacement, this transformation represents the first example of the reaction of hard carbanions with propargyl eletrophiles in an SN2 fashion and occurs with excellent levels of stereoinversion. The new method was applied to the formal synthesis of (+)-frondosin B.

Palladium-Catalyzed Trimethylenemethane Cycloaddition of Olefins Activated by the σ-Electron-Withdrawing Trifluoromethyl Group.

α-Trifluoromethyl-styrenes, trifluoromethyl-enynes, and dienes undergo palladium-catalyzed trimethylenemethane cycloadditions under mild reaction conditions. The trifluoromethyl group serves as a unique σ-electron-withdrawing group for the activation of the olefin toward the cycloaddition. This method allows for the formation of exomethylene cyclopentanes bearing a quaternary center substituted by the trifluoromethyl group, compounds of interest for the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and materials industries. In the diene series, the cycloaddition operates in a [3 + 4] and/or [3 + 2] manner to give rise to seven- and/or five-membered rings. This transformation greatly improves the scope of the TMM cycloaddition technology and provides invaluable insights into the reaction mechanism.

Allylic alcohols: ideal radical allylating agents?

Radical allylations represent effective routes to various alkenes, but to date they have relied chiefly on organostannane derivatives and still suffer from significant limitations with respect to the substitution pattern of the starting allylating agent. Indeed, while substituents at the ß-position relative to the radical leaving group are well-tolerated, introduction of α-substituents induces a major complication due to the rapid and usually irreversible isomerization of the starting allylating agents. Although a number of research groups have made substantial efforts to develop heavy-metal-free radical allylations, methods compatible with α-substitution of the allylating agent are still scarce. Furthermore, quite a few systems are limited by the relative inaccessibility of the substrates. This Account summarizes our sustained efforts regarding the development of allylic alcohols into "ideal" radical allylating agents and presents published as well as some unpublished results. The systems we have developed combine the use of readily available xanthates and allylic alcohol derivatives under metal-free conditions to furnish not only alkenes but also aldehydes and saturated and unsaturated ketones through the virtually unprecedented homolytic cleavage of the normally strong C-O or C-C bond. The former route hinges on first converting the allylic alcohol into a 2-fluoro-6-pyridoxy derivative by reacting the corresponding alcoholate with 2,6-difluoropyridine, while the latter relies on attaching a cumyl group to the carbon bearing the free allylic alcohol. Either substrate is then exposed to the action of a suitable xanthate in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of a peroxide, usually lauroyl peroxide (DLP) in refluxing ethyl acetate or di-tert-butyl peroxide (TBHP) in refluxing chlorobenzene for the more difficult cases. Even though C-O or C-C bond homolysis leads to a stabilized 2-fluoro-6-pyridinyloxyl radical or a cumyl radical, respectively, the ß-scission in both cases is relatively slow and at the lower limit of useful elementary radical steps. The kinetic barrier of the fragmentation can nevertheless be overcome because of the long relative lifetime of radicals generated by the degenerate transfer of the xanthate group, and this is a key element for success. This novel technology offers numerous advantages. The starting activated allylic alcohol derivatives are readily accessible in two steps from aldehydes or ketones. They can also be obtained by base-induced opening of epoxides. Numerous functional groups are tolerated under the mild reaction conditions for the radical addition-elimination, as nicely illustrated by over 150 examples of radical allylations, not all of which can be included in the present Account. In addition, substitution at both the α- and ß-positions of the allylating agent is possible, a rare feature in this area.

A two-step synthesis of α-keto vinyl carbinols from ketones.

Conjugate addition of lithium enolates onto terminal alkynyl- and allenyl-sulfoxides furnishes the corresponding allylic sulfoxides. The latter readily undergo a Mislow-Braverman-Evans rearrangement to yield the targeted α-keto vinyl carbinols. This two-step procedure does not require purification of the intermediates and constitutes the shortest approach to α-keto vinyl carbinols.

Tri- and tetrasubstituted functionalized vinyl sulfides by radical allylation.

2-Fluoropyridinyl-6-oxy- precursors derived from phenyl vinyl sulfide react with radicals generated from xanthates via an addition-elimination process to furnish the corresponding vinyl sulfides in good yields. This convergent method is operationally simple and enables a straightforward synthesis of the difficult to access tetrasubstituted vinyl sulfides. Vinyl sulfides were used as more robust enol ether surrogates in highly stereoselective reactions with N-acylium cations leading to nitrogen-containing polycyclic structures.

From a remarkable manifestation of polar effects in a radical fragmentation to the convergent synthesis of highly functionalized ketones.

A new radical addition/C-C bond fragmentation process is reported. Vinyl carbinols derived from 2-methyl-2-phenylpropanal react with radicals generated from xanthates to give the corresponding ketones. The radical cleavage reaction proceeds under mild conditions, in good to high yield, and in the presence of the unprotected carbinol. Highly functionalized 1,5-diketones and pyridines are readily available using this approach.

Three-carbon homologation of diorganozincs with lithiated acetylenic epoxides.

Reaction of dialkylzincs with lithiated acetylenic epoxides is described to give zincates that undergo a 1,2-metallate rearrangement by an anti-S(N)2' pathway. This rearrangement occurs with the transfer of an alkyl or a silyl group affording allenylzinc intermediates. Allenic and/or homopropargylic alcohols are obtained upon hydrolysis. Quenching the reaction mixture with aldehydes or ketones is shown to give access to 2-alkynyl-1,3-diols in a stereoselective manner.

A convergent, unified approach to functionalized fluoro- and trifluoromethyl alkenes.

A modular, convergent, and operationally simple route to trifluoromethyl alkenes and vinyl fluorides involving a unique carbon-oxygen bond homolysis is reported. Highly functionalized trifluoromethyl alkenes and vinyl fluorides were obtained in good yields and good selectivity.

Modular approach to saturated and α,ß-unsaturated ketones.

2-Fluoro-6-pyridinyloxy derivatives of 2-ethoxyvinyl carbinols react with radicals derived from xanthates by an addition-fragmentation pathway to give highly functionalized ketones after acid hydrolysis. 1,4-Diketones are readily accessible by this approach. α,ß-Unsaturated ketones can be obtained by starting with geminal acetoxy xanthates prepared by addition of a simpler xanthate to vinyl acetate.

Inhibitors of Leishmania GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase identified by high-throughput screening of small-molecule chemical library.

The current treatment for leishmaniasis is based on chemotherapy, which relies on a handful of drugs with serious limitations, such as high cost, toxicity, and a lack of efficacy in regions of endemicity. Therefore, the development of new, effective, and affordable antileishmanial drugs is a global health priority. Leishmania synthesizes a range of mannose-rich glycoconjugates that are essential for parasite virulence and survival. A prerequisite for glycoconjugate biosynthesis is the conversion of monosaccharides to the activated mannose donor, GDP-mannose, the product of a reaction catalyzed by GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GDP-MP). The deletion of the gene encoding GDP-MP in Leishmania led to a total loss of virulence, indicating that the enzyme is an ideal drug target. We developed a phosphate sensor-based high-throughput screening assay to quantify the activity of GDP-MP and screened a library containing approximately 80,000 lead-like compounds for GDP-MP inhibitors. On the basis of their GDP-MP inhibitory properties and chemical structures, the activities of 20 compounds which were not toxic to mammalian cells were tested against ex vivo amastigotes and in macrophage amastigote assays. The most potent compound identified in the primary screen (compound 3), a quinoline derivative, demonstrated dose-dependent activity in both assays (50% inhibitory concentration = 21.9 microM in the macrophage assay) and was shown to be nontoxic to human fibroblasts. In order to elucidate signs of an early structure-activity relationship (SAR) for this class of compounds, we obtained and tested analogues of compound 3 and undertook limited medicinal chemistry optimization, which included the use of a number of SAR probes of the piperazinyl aryl substituent of compound 3. We have identified novel candidate compounds for the design and synthesis of antileishmanial therapeutics.