A covalent fragment-based strategy targeting a novel cysteine to inhibit activity of mutant EGFR kinase.

Several generations of ATP-competitive anti-cancer drugs that inhibit the activity of the intracellular kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been developed over the past twenty years. The first-generation of drugs such as gefitinib bind reversibly and were followed by a second-generation such as dacomitinib that harbor an acrylamide moiety that forms a covalent bond with C797 in the ATP binding pocket. Resistance emerges through mutation of the T790 gatekeeper residue to methionine, which introduces steric hindrance to drug binding and increases the Km for ATP. A third generation of drugs, such as osimertinib were developed which were effective against T790M EGFR in which an acrylamide moiety forms a covalent bond with C797, although resistance has emerged by mutation to S797. A fragment-based screen to identify new starting points for an EGFR inhibitor serendipitously identified a fragment that reacted with C775, a previously unexploited residue in the ATP binding pocket for a covalent inhibitor to target. A number of acrylamide containing fragments were identified that selectively reacted with C775. One of these acrylamides was optimized to a highly selective inhibitor with sub-1 µM activity, that is active against T790M, C797S mutant EGFR independent of ATP concentration, providing a potential new strategy for pan-EGFR mutant inhibition.

A novel Menin-MLL1 inhibitor, DS-1594a, prevents the progression of acute leukemia with rearranged MLL1 or mutated NPM1.

BACKGROUND: Mixed lineage leukemia 1-rearranged (MLL1-r) acute leukemia patients respond poorly to currently available treatments and there is a need to develop more effective therapies directly disrupting the Menin‒MLL1 complex. Small-molecule-mediated inhibition of the protein‒protein interaction between Menin and MLL1 fusion proteins is a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with MLL1-r or mutated-nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1c) acute leukemia. In this study, we preclinically evaluated the new compound DS-1594a and its salts. METHODS: We evaluated the preclinical efficacy of DS-1594a as well as DS-1594a·HCl (the HCl salt of DS-1594a) and DS-1594a·succinate (the succinic acid salt of DS-1594a, DS-1594b) in vitro and in vivo using acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) models. RESULTS: Our results showed that MLL1-r or NPM1c human leukemic cell lines were selectively and highly sensitive to DS-1594a·HCl, with 50% growth inhibition values < 30 nM. Compared with cytrabine, the standard chemotherapy drug as AML therapy, both DS-1594a·HCl and DS-1594a·succinate mediated the eradication of potential leukemia-initiating cells by enhancing differentiation and reducing serial colony-forming potential in MLL1-r AML cells in vitro. The results were confirmed by flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, RT‒qPCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses. DS-1594a·HCl and DS-1594a·succinate exhibited significant antitumor efficacy and survival benefit in MOLM-13 cell and patient-derived xenograft models of MLL1-r or NPM1c acute leukemia in vivo. CONCLUSION: We have generated a novel, potent, orally available small-molecule inhibitor of the Menin-MLL1 interaction, DS-1594a. Our results suggest that DS-1594a has medicinal properties distinct from those of cytarabine and that DS-1594a has the potential to be a new anticancer therapy and support oral dosing regimen for clinical studies (NCT04752163).

Synthesis of protected precursors of chitin oligosaccharides by electrochemical polyglycosylation of thioglycosides.

The synthesis of protected precursors of chitin oligosaccharides by electrochemical polyglycosylation of thioglycosides as monomer is described. Oligosaccharides up to the hexasaccharide were synthesized under optimized reaction conditions. Further, a modified method enabled the synthesis of oligosaccharides up to the octasaccharide by repeating electrolysis with additional monomers. The mechanism of the electrochemical polyglycosylation is also discussed, based on the oxidation potential of the monomer and oligosaccharides.

Synthesis of cyclic α-1,4-oligo-N-acetylglucosamine 'cyclokasaodorin' via a one-pot electrochemical polyglycosylation-isomerization-cyclization process.

Electrochemical synthesis of unnatural cyclic oligosaccharides composed of N-acetylglucosamine with α-1,4-glycosidic linkages has been accomplished. A thioglycoside monomer equipped with the 2,3-oxazolidinone protecting group was used to prepare linear oligosaccharides by electrochemical polyglycosylation. In the same pot, isomerization of the linear oligosaccharides and intramolecular electrochemical glycosylation for cyclization were also conducted sequentially to obtain the precursor of the cyclic α-1,4-oligo-N-acetylglucosamine 'cyclokasaodorin'.

The Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Exochomine.

Molecules that possess fully substituted chiral centers are often challenging to construct, particularly if those centers connect two seemingly different halves or include a nitrogen atom. Herein, we describe an efficient approach to a molecule that combines both challenges in a single center in the form of exochomine. Failures in direct coupling led to a design fueled by highly specific reaction conditions for several steps and the development of an improved protocol for 1,4-reduction in a hindered context where numerous side reactions were possible. These chemoselective solutions should have value to other problems. Challenges in obtaining matching spectral data for the synthesized natural product are also discussed.

Discovery of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines as IKKß inhibitors. Part 3: exploration of effective compounds in arthritis models.

We have discovered imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives that show suppressive activity of inflammation in arthritis models. We optimized the substructures of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives to combine potent IKKß inhibitory activity, TNFα inhibitory activity in vivo and excellent pharmacokinetics. The compound we have acquired, which had both potent activities and good pharmacokinetic profiles based on improved physicochemical properties, demonstrated efficacy on collagen-induced arthritis models in mice and rats.

Discovery of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines as IKKß inhibitors. Part 2: improvement of potency in vitro and in vivo.

We have increased the potency of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives as IKKß inhibitors with two strategies. One is to enhance the activity in cell-based assay by adjusting the polarity of molecules to improve permeability. Another is to increase the affinity for IKKß by the introduction of additional substituents based on the hypothesis derived from an interaction model study. These improved compounds showed inhibitory activity of TNFα production in mice.

Catalytic asymmetric mannich-type reactions activated by ZnF2 chiral diamine in aqueous media.

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of an alpha-hydrazono ester with silicon enolates in aqueous media have been developed by using ZnF2 and chiral diamines as catalysts. In these reactions, both Zn2+ and a fluoride anion were necessary to achieve high yields and enantioselectivities, suggesting a double activation mechanism, in which Zn2+ activates the alpha-hydrazono ester and the fluoride anion simultaneously activates the silicon enolate. When chiral diamine ligands bearing methoxy-substituted aromatic rings were employed, the reactions in aqueous THF were markedly accelerated. Furthermore, the use of these diamines facilitated the asymmetric Mannich-type reactions in water without any organic cosolvents. It is noteworthy that either syn or anti adducts were stereospecifically obtained from (E)- or (Z)-silicon enolates, respectively. Interestingly, these reactions proceeded smoothly only in the presence of water. On the basis of several experimental results, it can be concluded that the reaction mechanism is likely to be a fluoride-catalyzed one, in which the ZnF2 chiral diamine complex is regenerated from the Me3SiF formed during the reaction.

Bismuth triflate-chiral bipyridine complexes as water-compatible chiral Lewis acids.

[reaction: see text] Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates with an aqueous formaldehyde solution has been developed using a chiral bismuth complex. This is the first example of highly enantioselective reactions using a chiral bismuth catalyst in aqueous media. In this paper, we have added Bi(OTf)(3)-1 complex as a "water-compatible Lewis acid". Bi(OTf)3 is unstable in the presence of water but is stabilized by the basic ligand.

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates using an aqueous solution of formaldehyde with a chiral scandium complex.

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxymethylation of silicon enolates has been achieved. In this reaction, an aqueous solution of formaldehyde can be used to realize an easy and safe procedure, and high enantioselectivities have been obtained. This is the first example of catalytic asymmetric reactions in aqueous media with a chiral scandium complex.

Enantio- and diastereoselective, stereospecific mannich-type reactions in water.

Catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions in water proceeded in high yields and selectivities using a combination of ZnF2 and a chiral diamine that has the methoxy groups on the aromatic rings. In these reactions, either syn- or anti-Mannich adducts were stereospecifically obtained from (E)- or (Z)-silicon enolate, in contrast with most asymmetric Mannich-type reactions.

Mechanistic studies on the catalytic cycle of metal fluoride-catalyzed allylation using allyltrimethoxysilane in protic solvents.

The catalytic cycles of CdF(2).1-catalyzed and AgF.BINAP-catalyzed allylation using allyltrimethoxysilane in protic solvents were investigated. The experimental and (19)F NMR studies strongly supported that metal fluorides were regenerated from silyl fluoride species, and that these reactions were truly fluoride-catalyzed reactions. It was revealed that these catalytic cycles were much different from that of TBAF-catalyzed allylation using allyltrimethylsilane in THF.

Allylation reactions of carbonyl compounds using an organosilicon reagent in aqueous media.

Allylation reactions of carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes and reactive ketones using allyltrimethoxysilane in aqueous media proceeded smoothly in the presence of 5 mol% of a CdF2-terpyridine complex; the presence of the ligand plays an important role for the catalytic activity; the catalyst was easily recovered and reused without loss of activity.

Catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions in aqueous media using chiral bis-pyridino-18-crown-6-rare earth metal triflate complexes.

Catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions in aqueous media have been developed using Pr(OTf)(3) and chiral bis-pyridino-18-crown-6 1. In the asymmetric aldol reaction using rare earth metal triflates (RE(OTf)(3)) and 1, slight changes in the ionic diameters of the metal cations greatly affected the diastereo- and enantioselectivities of the products. The substituents (MeO, Br) at the 4-position of the pyridine rings of the crown ether did not significantly affect the selectivities in the asymmetric aldol reaction, although they affected the binding ability of the crown ether with RE cations and the catalytic activity of Pr(OTf)(3)-crown ether complexes. From X-ray structures of RE(NO(3))(3)-crown ether complexes, it was found that they had similar structures regardless of the RE cations and the crown ethers used. Accordingly, the binding ability of the crown ether with the RE cation and the catalytic activity of the complex are important for attaining high selectivity in the asymmetric aldol reaction. Various aromatic and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and silyl enol ethers derived from ketones and a thioester can be employed in the catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions using Pr(OTf)(3) and 1, to provide the aldol adducts in good to high yields and stereoselectivities. In the case using the silyl enol ether derived from the thioester, 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine significantly improved the yields of the aldol adducts.

The catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions in aqueous media.

The catalytic, diastereo- and enantioselective Mannich-type reaction of a hydrazono ester with silyl enol ethers in aqueous media has been successfully achieved with ZnF(2), a chiral diamine ligand, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.