Structure-based design, synthesis and evaluation of a novel family of PEX5-PEX14 interaction inhibitors against Trypanosoma.

Trypanosomiases are neglected tropical diseases caused by Trypanosoma (sub)species. Available treatments are limited and have considerable adverse effects and questionable efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease, urgently calling for the identification of new targets and drug candidates. Recently, we have shown that impairment of glycosomal protein import by the inhibition of the PEX5-PEX14 protein-protein interaction (PPI) is lethal to Trypanosoma. Here, we report the development of a novel dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepin-11(10H)-one scaffold for small molecule inhibitors of PEX5-PEX14 PPI. The initial hit was identified by a high throughput screening (HTS) of a library of compounds. A bioisosteric replacement approach allowed to replace the metabolically unstable sulphur atom from the initial dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepin-11(10H)-one HTS hit with oxygen. A crystal structure of the hit compound bound to PEX14 surface facilitated the rational design of the compound series accessible by a straightforward chemistry for the initial structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis. This guided the design of compounds with trypanocidal activity in cell-based assays providing a promising starting point for the development of new drug candidates to tackle trypanosomiases.

Access to Enantio-enriched Substituted α-Trifluoromethyl Azepanes from l-Proline.

4-Substituted α-trifluoromethyl azepanes C were synthesized via the ring expansion of trifluoromethyl pyrrolidines A, which were synthesized from l-proline via a regioselective ring-opening of a bicyclic azetidinium intermediate B by various nucleophiles. The regioselectivity of the ring expansion is induced by the presence of a trifluoromethyl group. The chirality of the starting material was transferred to the azepanes with high enantiomeric excess.

Synthesis of Substituted α-Trifluoromethyl Piperidinic Derivatives.

A comprehensive survey of pathways leading to the generation of α-trifluoromethyl monocyclic piperidinic derivatives is provided (65 references). These compounds have been synthesized either from 6-membered rings e.g., pipecolic acid or lactam derivatives by introduction a trifluoromethyl group, from pyridine or pyridinone derivatives by reduction, and from 5-membered rings e.g., prolinol derivatives by ring expansion, from linear amines by cyclization or from dienes/dienophiles by [4 + 2]-cycloaddition.

Stereoselective Rearrangement of (Trifluoromethyl)prolinols to Enantioenriched 3-Substituted 2-(Trifluoromethyl)piperidines.

3-Substituted 2-(trifluoromethyl)piperidines B were synthesized by ring expansion of (trifluoromethyl)prolinols A, which were obtained from L-proline via an aziridinium intermediate C. The ring opening of the (trifluoromethyl)aziridinium intermediate by different nucleophiles is regio- and diastereoselective.