Ipso Nitration of Aryl Boronic Acids Using Fuming Nitric Acid.

The ipso nitration of aryl boronic acid derivatives has been developed using fuming nitric acid as the nitrating agent. This facile procedure provides efficient and chemoselective access to a variety of aromatic nitro compounds. While several activating agents and nitro sources have been reported in the literature for this synthetically useful transformation, this report demonstrates that these processes likely generate a common active reagent, anhydrous HNO3. Kinetic and mechanistic studies have revealed that the reaction order in HNO3 is >2 and indicate that the •NO2 radical is the active species.

Synthesis of Substituted Pyridines via Formal (3+3) Cycloaddition of Enamines with Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones.

An organocatalyzed, formal (3+3) cycloaddition reaction is described for the practical synthesis of substituted pyridines. Starting from readily available enamines and enal/ynal/enone substrates, the protocol affords tri- or tetrasubstituted pyridine scaffolds bearing various functional groups. This method was demonstrated on a 50 g scale, enabling the synthesis of 2-isopropyl-4-methylpyridin-3-amine, a raw material used for the manufacture of sotorasib. Mechanistic analysis using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry revealed the transformation proceeds through the reversible formation of a stable reaction off-cycle species that precedes pyridine formation. In situ reaction progress kinetic analysis and control NMR studies were employed to better understand the role of FeCl3 and pyrrolidine hydrochloride in promoting the reaction.

Molecular Complexity as a Driver for Chemical Process Innovation in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

A Perspective of our work in the development of innovative synthetic methods within the discipline of Process Research and Development is presented. Through an overview of some of the programs that we have worked on during the past decade, we have selected cases studies to illustrate the challenges faced in development of robust chemical processes for molecules on a multi-kilogram scale. The examples have been selected to demonstrate the innovative chemistry being developed within our laboratories with a focus on fragment design, asymmetric synthesis, new synthetic reagents, and the methods that have allowed us to deliver cost-effective syntheses under reduced timelines in an increasingly competitive environment. The technical challenges are presented in the context of molecule complexity that while increasing in the portfolio of small molecules being developed inspires us to deliver new solutions. Overall, our goal is to highlight the exciting work that can be done within our field to support the discovery and delivery of medicines to patients.

Development of a Commercial Process To Prepare AMG 232 Using a Green Ozonolysis-Pinnick Tandem Transformation.

A robust process to manufacture AMG 232 was developed to deliver drug substance of high purity. Highlights of the commercial process development efforts include the following: (i) use of a novel bench-stable Vilsmeier reagent, methoxymethylene- N, N-dimethyliminium methyl sulfate, for selective in situ activation of a primary alcohol intermediate; (ii) use of a new crystalline and stable isopropyl calcium sulfinate reagent ensuring robust preparation of a sulfone intermediate; (iii) development of a safe ozonolysis process conducted in an aqueous solvent mixture in either batch or continuous manufacturing mode; and (iv) control of the drug substance purity by crystallization of a salt rejecting impurities effectively. The new process was demonstrated to afford the drug substance (99.9 LC area %) in 49.8% overall yield from starting material DLAC (1).

Telescoped Process to Manufacture 6,6,6-Trifluorofucose via Diastereoselective Transfer Hydrogenation: Scalable Access to an Inhibitor of Fucosylation Utilized in Monoclonal Antibody Production.

IgG1 monoclonal antibodies with reduced glycan fucosylation have been shown to improve antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by allowing more effective binding of the Fc region of these proteins to T cells receptors. Increased in vivo efficacy in animal models and oncology clinical trials has been associated with the enhanced ADCC provided by these engineered mAbs. 6,6,6-Trifluorofucose (1) is a new inhibitor of fucosylation that has been demonstrated to allow the preparation of IgG1 monoclonal antibodies with lower fucosylation levels and thus improve the ADCC of these proteins. A new process has been developed to support the preparation of 1 on large-scale for wide mAb manufacture applications. The target fucosylation inhibitor (1) was synthesized from readily available d-arabinose in 11% overall yield and >99.5/0.5 dr (diastereomeric ratio). The heavily telescoped process includes seven steps, two crystallizations as purification handles, and no chromatography. The key transformation of the sequence involves the diastereoselective preparation of the desired trifluoromethyl-bearing alcohol in >9/1 dr from a trimethylsilylketal intermediate via a ruthenium-catalyzed tandem ketal hydrolysis-transfer hydrogenation process.

Structural Elucidation and Absolute Stereochemistry for Pharma Compounds Using MicroED.

Microcrystal electron diffraction (microED) is an emerging technique for rapid crystallographic analysis of small molecule micro- and nanocrystals. In this report, we evaluate the applicability of microED to pharmaceutical compounds through the analysis of 30 samples obtained from the process and medicinal chemistry groups at Amgen Inc. Using only 40 h of microscope time, 15 of 30 crystal structures were elucidated. From these crystal structures, all chiral compounds had the correct absolute stereochemistry assigned by dynamical refinement of continuous rotation electron diffraction data, confirming dynamical refinement as a promising tool for the absolute stereochemistry determination of pharmaceutically relevant compounds.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a tertiary benzylic carbon center via phenol-directed alkene hydrogenation.

An expeditious synthetic approach to chiral phenol 1, a key building block in the preparation of a series of drug candidates, is reported. The strategy includes a cost-effective and readily scalable route to cyclopentanone 3 from isobutyronitrile (10). The sterically hindered and enolizable ketone 3 was subsequently employed in a challenging Grignard addition mediated by LaCl(3)·2LiCl. A novel preparation of the lanthanide reagent required for this transformation is described. To complete the process, a highly enantioselective hydrogenation step afforded the target (1). The importance of the phenol group to the success of this asymmetric transformation is discussed.

Synthesis and optimization of novel 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexylbenzamide derivatives as potent 11ß-HSD1 inhibitors.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexylbenzamide inhibitors of 11ß-HSD1 are described. Optimization rapidly led to potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitors demonstrating efficacy in both rat and non-human primate ex vivo pharmacodynamic models.

Mechanistic Insights into the Racemization of Fused Cyclopropyl Isoxazolines.

Experimental and computational studies of the unexpected racemization of enantiopure fused cyclopropyl isoxazolines are reported. These studies offer insights into the mechanism of racemization, quantify the position of the transition state on the dipolar-diradical continuum, and establish a relationship between the structure and stability of this class of compounds. Experimental and computed energy barriers for racemization are also presented.

Two asymmetric syntheses of AMG 221, an inhibitor of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.

Two asymmetric syntheses of AMG 221 (2), an inhibitor of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) discovered in our laboratories, are reported. One of the syntheses utilizes chiral trimethylsilyl cyanohydrin 12 as starting material and the other utilizes its enantiomer ent-12. The displacement approach involves the conversion of 12 to 2 via a six-step sequence, occurs with net inversion of configuration, and employs amine 6 as starting material. This route features a novel approach toward chiral dialkylsubstituted alpha-mercaptoacids. The cyclization approach entails the synthesis of 2 from ent-12 in 2 steps, takes place with net retention of configuration, and uses thiourea 8 as starting material. The final step of this route exemplifies a novel synthesis of chiral C-5 dialkylsubstituted 2-aminothiazolones from chiral alpha-hydroxyacids and thioureas. Insights into the mechanism of this transformation and study of the effect of the medium on the stereochemical outcome of the reaction are presented.

Optimization of novel di-substituted cyclohexylbenzamide derivatives as potent 11 beta-HSD1 inhibitors.

Novel 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexylbenzamide inhibitors of 11beta-HSD1 were optimized to account for liabilities relating to in vitro pharmacokinetics, cytotoxicity and protein-related shifts in potency. A representative compound showing favorable in vivo pharmacokinetics was found to be an efficacious inhibitor of 11beta-HSD1 in a rat pharmacodynamic model (ED(50)=10mg/kg).

Facile Modulation of Antibody Fucosylation with Small Molecule Fucostatin Inhibitors and Cocrystal Structure with GDP-Mannose 4,6-Dehydratase.

The efficacy of therapeutic antibodies that induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity can be improved by reduced fucosylation. Consequently, fucosylation is a critical product attribute of monoclonal antibodies produced as protein therapeutics. Small molecule fucosylation inhibitors have also shown promise as potential therapeutics in animal models of tumors, arthritis, and sickle cell disease. Potent small molecule metabolic inhibitors of cellular protein fucosylation, 6,6,6-trifluorofucose per-O-acetate and 6,6,6-trifluorofucose (fucostatin I), were identified that reduces the fucosylation of recombinantly expressed antibodies in cell culture in a concentration-dependent fashion enabling the controlled modulation of protein fucosylation levels. 6,6,6-Trifluorofucose binds at an allosteric site of GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase (GMD) as revealed for the first time by the X-ray cocrystal structure of a bound allosteric GMD inhibitor. 6,6,6-Trifluorofucose was found to be incorporated in place of fucose at low levels (<1%) in the glycans of recombinantly expressed antibodies. A fucose-1-phosphonate analog, fucostatin II, was designed that inhibits fucosylation with no incorporation into antibody glycans, allowing the production of afucosylated antibodies in which the incorporation of non-native sugar is completely absent-a key advantage in the production of therapeutic antibodies, especially biosimilar antibodies. Inhibitor structure-activity relationships, identification of cellular and inhibitor metabolites in inhibitor-treated cells, fucose competition studies, and the production of recombinant antibodies with varying levels of fucosylation are described.

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of styrenes directed by 2'-hydroxyl groups.

A new synthetic strategy that turns styrene-type olefins into excellent substrates for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation by installing a 2'-hydroxyl substituent is described. This methodology accommodates trisubstituted olefinic substrates in various E/Z mixtures, leading to valuable benzylic chiral compounds including (R)-tolterodine. It is also demonstrated that the 2'-hydroxyl groups could be readily removed in high yield without loss of ee from the products. Thus, this technology represents an attractive alternative to the Ir(P-N) catalyst system for the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins.

New methods for the synthesis of 2-aminothiazolones.

Two new methods for the synthesis of 2-aminothiazolones from 2-(4-methoxybenzylthio)acetic acids are described. A single reagent and simple experimental conditions are used in the key tandem deprotection-cyclization process. In the first approach 2-aminothiazolones are directly accessed via cyclization of the corresponding N-acylisothioureas. The second complementary approach provides access to a variety of 2-thiomethylthiazolones via cyclization of N-acyldithioimidates. The product 2-thiomethylthiazolones are then efficiently converted to 2-aminothiazolones via amine displacement.

Diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of 4-substituted cyclohexyl esters.

A diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed arylation of 4-substituted cyclohexyl esters has been developed. The reaction proceeds at room temperature in the presence of [(t-Bu3P)PdBr]2 providing products in up to 37:1 dr.

Discovery of novel, potent benzamide inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) exhibiting oral activity in an enzyme inhibition ex vivo model.

We report the discovery of potent benzamide inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD1). The optimization and correlation of in vitro and in vivo metabolic stability will be described. Through modifications to our initial lead 2, we discovered pyridyl compound 13. This compound has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile across three species and showed a dose-dependent decrease in adipose 11beta-HSD1 activity in a monkey ex vivo pharmacodynamic model.