Three-dimensional rational approach to the discovery of potent substituted cyclopropyl urea soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors.

We have previously reported a series of cyclopropyl urea derivatives as potent orally available soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors. Here, we designed and synthesized three substituted cyclopropane derivatives that occupy all available pockets of sEH catalytic domain. Compound 14 with a diphenyl substituted cyclopropyl moiety showed good sEH inhibitory activity. Co-crystal structure of this compound and human sEH hydrolase catalytic domain revealed enzyme pockets occupied by the phenoxypiperidine part and the diphenyl cyclopropyl moiety. Furthermore, investigation of the phenoxypiperidine part of compound 14 resulted in the discovery of compound 19, which showed potent sEH inhibitory activity (sub-nM sEH IC50 values).

Structure-based optimization of cyclopropyl urea derivatives as potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors for potential decrease of renal injury without hypotensive action.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are known to have beneficial pharmacological effects on various cardiovascular events. However, EETs are biologically metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) to less active metabolites. In our search for potent sEH inhibitors, we optimized a series of cyclopropyl urea derivatives and identified compound 38 as a potent sEH inhibitor with minimal CYP inhibition and good oral absorption in rats. Administration of 38 to DOCA-salt rats suppressed urinary albumin and MCP-1 excretion without affecting systolic blood pressure.

Enantioselective synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted terminal epoxides via catalytic asymmetric Corey-Chaykovsky epoxidation of ketones.

Catalytic asymmetric Corey-Chaykovsky epoxidation of various ketones with dimethyloxosulfonium methylide using a heterobimetallic La-Li(3)-BINOL complex (LLB) is described. The reaction proceeded smoothly at room temperature in the presence of achiral phosphine oxide additives, and 2,2-disubstituted terminal epoxides were obtained in high enantioselectivity (97%-91% ee) and yield ( > 99%-88%) from a broad range of methyl ketones with 1-5 mol% catalyst loading. Enantioselectivity was strongly dependent on the steric hindrance, and other ketones, such as ethyl ketones and propyl ketones resulted in slightly lower enantioselectivity (88%-67% ee).

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted oxetanes from ketones by using a one-pot sequential addition of sulfur ylide.

Better the second time around: The title compounds were synthesized by using a one-pot double methylene transfer catalyzed by a heterobimetallic La/Li complex. Chiral amplification in the second step was the key to obtaining oxetanes in high enantiomeric excess (see scheme).

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted terminal epoxides via dimethyloxosulfonium methylide addition to ketones.

Catalytic asymmetric Corey-Chaykovsky epoxidation of ketones with dimethyloxosulfonium methylide 2 using an LLB 1a + Ar3P O complex proceeded smoothly at room temperature, and 2,2-disubstituted terminal epoxides were obtained in high enantioselectivity (91-97%) and yield (>88-99%) from a broad range of methyl ketones with 1-5 mol % catalyst loading. The use of achiral additive Ar3P O 5i was important to achieve high enantioselectivity.

A method for the synthesis of an oseltamivir PET tracer.

A protocol applicable for the synthesis of an oseltamivir positron emission tomography (PET) tracer was developed. Acetylation of amine 3 with CH(3)COCl, followed by deprotection and aqueous workup, produced oseltamivir 4 from 3 within 10 min. The obtained 4 was sufficiently pure for PET studies. This method can be extended to PET tracer synthesis using CH(3)(11)COCl.