1-Oxo-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-4-carboxamides as novel druglike inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) with favourable ADME characteristics.

A novel 3,4-dihydroisoquinol-1-one-4-carboxamide scaffold was designed as the basis for the development of novel inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Synthesis of 3,4-dihydroisoquinol-1-one-4-carboxylic acids was achieved using the previously developed protocol based on the modified Castagnoli-Cushman reaction of homophthalic anhydrides and 1,3,5-triazinanes as formaldimine synthetic equivalents. Employment of 2,4-dimethoxy groups on the nitrogen atom of the latter allowed preparation of 2,3-unsubatituted 3,4-dihydroquinolone core building blocks. Iterative synthesis and in vitro biological testing of the amides resulting from the amidation of these carboxylic acids allowed not only drawing important structure-activity generalisations (corroborated by in silico docking simulation) but also the identification of the lead compound, 4-([1,4'-bipiperidine]-1'-carbonyl)-7-fluoro-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-one, as the candidate for further preclinical development. The lead compound as well as its des-fluoro analog were compared to the approved PARP1 inhibitor, anticancer drug Olaparib, in terms of their molecular characteristics defining druglikeness as well as experimentally determined ADME parameters. The newly developed series demonstrated clear advantages over Olaparib in terms of molecular weight, hydrophilicity, human liver microsomal and plasma stability as well as plasma protein binding. Further preclinical investigation of the lead compound is highly warranted.

Three-component Castagnoli-Cushman reaction with ammonium acetate delivers 2-unsubstituted isoquinol-1-ones as potent inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP).

An earlier described three-component variant of the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction employing homophthalic anhydrides, carbonyl compound and ammonium acetate was applied towards the preparation of 1-oxo-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-4-carboxamides with variable substituent in position 3. These compounds displayed inhibitory activity towards poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a clinically validated cancer target. The most potent compound (PARP1/2 IC50 = 22/4.0 nM) displayed the highest selectivity towards PARP2 in the series (selectivity index = 5.5), more advantageous ADME prameters compared to the clinically used PARP inhibitor Olaparib.

Exploration of the nitrogen heterocyclic periphery around the core of the advanced FFA1 agonist fasiglifam (TAK-875).

Three types of heterocyclic moieties-piperidines fused to a heteroaromatic moiety-were explored as potential periphery motifs for the pharmacophoric core of fasiglifam (TAK-875), with fasiglifam being the most advanced agonist of free fatty acid receptor 1, a promising target for therapeutic intervention in type 2 diabetes. Several observed structure-activity relationship trends were corroborated by in silico docking results. Balanced selection based on potency and Caco-2 permeability advanced six compounds to cellular efficacy tests (glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rat insulinoma INS1E cells). This led to the nomination of compound 16a (LK1408, 3-[4-({4-[(3-{[(2-fluorobenzyl)oxy]methyl}-1-methyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)methyl]benzyl}oxy)phenyl]propanoic acid hydrochloride) as the lead for further development.