1-Azaspiro[3.3]heptane as a Bioisostere of Piperidine.

1-Azaspiro[3.3]heptanes were synthesized, characterized, and validated biologically as bioisosteres of piperidine. The key synthesis step was thermal [2+2] cycloaddition between endocyclic alkenes and the Graf isocyanate, ClO2 S-NCO, to give spirocyclic ß-lactams. Reduction of the ß-lactam ring with alane produced 1-azaspiro[3.3]heptanes. Incorporation of this core into the anesthetic drug bupivacaine instead of the piperidine fragment resulted in a new patent-free analogue with high activity.

Oxa-spirocycles: synthesis, properties and applications.

A general approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules - oxa-spirocycles - was developed. The key synthetic step was iodocyclization. More than 150 oxa-spirocyclic compounds were prepared. Incorporation of an oxygen atom into the spirocyclic unit dramatically improved water solubility (by up to 40 times) and lowered lipophilicity. More potent oxa-spirocyclic analogues of antihypertensive drug terazosin were synthesized and studied in vivo.

Toward lead-oriented synthesis: one-pot version of Castagnoli condensation with nonactivated alicyclic anhydrides.

One-pot variation of Castagnoli condensation, that is, reaction of cyclic anhydrides, amines, and aldehydes, has been developed as a combinatorial approach to 1,2-disubstituted 5-oxopyrrolidine- and 6-oxopiperidine-3-carboxylic acids, as well as their benzo-analogues. Utility of the method to multigram preparation of building blocks and synthetic intermediates was also demonstrated. The final products are obtained in high yields and diastereoselectivity. The method fits well in the concept of lead-oriented synthesis; in particular, it can be used for the design of lead-like compound libraries, even if the strictest cut-offs are applied to the physicochemical properties of their members.

Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate as a condensing agent in one-pot parallel synthesis of unsymmetrical aliphatic ureas.

One-pot parallel synthesis of unsymmetrical aliphatic ureas was achieved with bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate. The procedure worked well for both the monosubstituted and functionalized alkyl amines and required no special conditions (temperature control, order, or rate of addition). A library of 96 diverse ureas was easily synthesized.

High throughput synthesis of extended pyrazolo[3,4-d]dihydropyrimidines.

Thirteen 5-hetarylaminopyrazoles were synthesized in 62-93% yield through the arylation of 1-isopropyl- and 1-phenyl-5-aminopyrazoles with electrophilic hetarylhalides under optimized conditions. Condensation of 5-hetarylaminopyrazoles with carbonyl compounds facilitated by AcOH or Me(3)SiCl furnished 23 pyrazolo[3,4-d]dihydropyrimidines in 69-86% yield. The target compounds were isolated through simple crystallization. The scope and limitation of the method are discussed.