Discovery of TAK-925 as a Potent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant Orexin 2 Receptor Agonist.

TAK-925, a potent, selective, and brain-penetrant orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) agonist, [methyl (2R,3S)-3-((methylsulfonyl)amino)-2-(((cis-4-phenylcyclohexyl)oxy)methyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate, 16], was identified through the optimization of compound 2, which was discovered by a high throughput screening (HTS) campaign. Subcutaneous administration of compound 16 produced wake-promoting effects in mice during the sleep phase. Compound 16 (TAK-925) is being developed for the treatment of narcolepsy and other related disorders.

Organophotoredox-Catalyzed Decarboxylative C(sp3)-O Bond Formation.

This manuscript reports a visible-light-mediated organosulfide catalysis that enables the decarboxylative coupling between simple aliphatic alcohol and tertiary or secondary alkyl carboxylic acid-derived redox active esters to produce a C(sp3)-O-C(sp3) fragment. Results of the coupling using other heteroatom nucleophiles such as water, amides, and thiols are also described.

Discovery of Benzofuran Derivatives that Collaborate with Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) to Promote Neuroprotection.

A series of benzofuran derivatives with neuroprotective activity in collaboration with IGF-1 was discovered using a newly developed cell-based assay involving primary neural cells prepared from rat hippocampal and cerebral cortical tissues. A structure-activity relationship study identified compound 8 as exhibiting potent activity and brain penetrability. An in vitro pharmacological study demonstrated that although IGF-1 and 8 individually exhibited the neuroprotective effect, the latter acted in collaboration with IGF-1 to enhance neuroprotective activity.

Structure-Based Design and Synthesis of 3-Amino-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazolopyridin-4-one Derivatives as Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibitors.

We report herein the discovery and optimization of 3-amino-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazolopyridin-4-one TYK2 inhibitors. High-throughput screening against TYK2 and JAK1-3 provided aminoindazole derivative 1 as a hit compound. Scaffold hopping of the aminoindazole core led to the discovery of 3-amino-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazolopyridin-4-one derivative 3 as a novel chemotype of TYK2 inhibitors. Interestingly, initial SAR study suggested that this scaffold could have a vertically flipped binding mode, which prompted us to introduce a substituent at the 7-position as a moiety directed toward the solvent-exposed region. Introduction of a 1-methyl-3-pyrazolyl moiety at the 7-position resulted in a dramatic increase in TYK2 inhibitory activity, and further optimization led to the discovery of 20. Compound 20 inhibited IL-23-induced IL-22 production in a rat PD assay, as well as inhibited IL-23 signaling in human PBMC. Furthermore, 20 showed selectivity for IL-23 signaling inhibition against GM-CSF, demonstrating the unique cytokine selectivity of the novel TYK2 inhibitor.

Rhodium/chiral diene-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to arylmethylene cyanoacetates.

Asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to (E)-methyl 2-cyano-3-arylpropenoates proceeded in the presence of a rhodium catalyst (3 mol %) coordinated with a chiral diene ligand, (R,R)-Ph-bod*, to give high yields of the corresponding methyl 3,3-diaryl-2-cyanopropanoates with high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee). This catalytic asymmetric transformation was applied to the asymmetric synthesis of (R)-tolterodine.

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to coumarins: asymmetric synthesis of (R)-tolterodine.

[reaction: see text]. Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to coumarins proceeded with high enantioselectivity in the presence of a rhodium catalyst (3 mol %) generated from Rh(acac)(C2H4)2 and (R)-Segphos to give the corresponding (R)-4-arylchroman-2-ones in over 99% ee. This asymmetric reaction was applied to the synthesis of (R)-tolterodine.

C2-symmetric bicyclo[3.3.1]nonadiene as a chiral ligand for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)arylimines.

[Reaction: see text] Asymmetric synthesis of diarylmethylamines with high enantioselectivity (95-99% ee) was realized by use of a new C2-symmetric diene ligand, (1R,5R)-2,6-diphenylbicyclo[3.3.1]nona-2,6-diene (Ph-bnd), for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)arylimines with arylboroxines.

C2-symmetric bicyclo[2.2.2]octadienes as chiral ligands: their high performance in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-tosylarylimines.

Asymmetric synthesis of diarylmethylamines with high enantioselectivity (95-99% ee) was realized by use of a new C2-symmetric diene ligand, (1R,4R)-2,5-diphenylbicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene (Ph-bod*), for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-tosylarylimines with arylboroxines.

A new entry of nucleophiles in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions: addition of organozinc reagents for the synthesis of 2-aryl-4-piperidones.

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reaction has been applied to the synthesis of 2-aryl-4-piperidones. While other conventional nucleophiles fail, organozinc reagents have been successfully utilized for the construction of these useful compounds in very good yield and enantiomeric excess.

Mechanistic studies on the catalytic cycle of rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of aryltitanate reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones.

Addition of lithium aryl(tetraisopropoxy)titanates [ArTi(OPr-i)(4)(-)Li(+)] to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones proceeded with high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) in the presence of an excess amount of chlorotrimethylsilane and a rhodium catalyst (3 mol % Rh), generated from [RhCl(C(2)H(4))(2)](2) and (S)-binap, in tetrahydrofuran at 20 degrees C to give high yields of the corresponding silyl enolates as 1,4-addition products. The presence of chlorotrimethylsilane is essential for the 1,4-addition to take place. (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies revealed that the catalytic cycle consists of three transformations, that is, (i) insertion of an enone into arylrhodium species forming (oxa-pi-allyl)rhodium intermediate, (ii) silylation of the (oxa-pi-allyl)rhodium with chlorotrimethylsilane giving silyl enolate and a chloro-rhodium complex, and (iii) transmetalation of aryl group from aryltitanate to the chloro-rhodium regenerating the aryl-rhodium.

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of aryltitanates to enynones giving axially chiral allenes.

[reaction: see text] The addition of aryltitanate reagents ArTi(OPr-i)4Li to 3-alkynyl-2-en-1-ones in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and a rhodium-(R)-segphos as a catalyst proceeded in a 1,6-fashion to give a high yield of axially chiral allenylalkenyl silyl enol ethers with up to 93% ee.

A chiral chelating diene as a new type of chiral ligand for transition metal catalysts: its preparation and use for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition.

As a new type of chiral ligand, a C2-symmetric norbornadiene derivative (1R,4R)-2,5-dibenzylbicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (1) was prepared and used for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of organoboron and -tin reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, which gave high yields of the 1,4-addition products with up to 99% enantioselectivity.

Functionalization on silica gel with allylsilanes. A new method of covalent attachment of organic functional groups on silica gel.

Treatment of an (allyl)organosilane with silica gel in refluxing toluene brought about deallylation forming an Si-O-Si bond with the silicon on the silica gel. This Si-O-Si bond formation provides us with a new reliable method for the functionalization of a silica gel surface.

Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of aryltitanium reagents generating chiral titanium enolates: isolation as silyl enol ethers.

The addition of aryltitanium triisopropoxide (ArTi(OPr-i )3) to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones proceeded with high enantioselectivity (94-99.8% ee) in the presence of 3 mol % of [Rh(OH)((S )-binap)]2 in THF at 20 degrees C to give high yields of the titanium enolates as 1,4-addition products. The titanium enolates were converted into silyl enol ethers by treatment with chlorotrimethylsilane and lithium isopropoxide.