RESUMO
A series of highly substituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs), decorated with modifiable 2-aryl, 3-carboxy and 4-amino substituents, has been prepared for biological evaluation within the European Lead Factory. Diastereoselective reductive amination of pre-functionalised 4-oxofurans, readily prepared from cinnamate esters via oxa-Michael/Dieckmann annulation, provided the requisite THF cores on gram scale with three contiguous stereocentres, including full substitution at C-3. In a second series, a pyrrolidine ring was fused to the same oxofuran scaffold via an intramolecular reductive amination, inverting the configuration at C-4 relative to the other ring substituents. The resulting compounds, which displayed desirable physical properties as lead-like scaffolds, were derivatised into a small library of 24â compounds, demonstrating their ability to serve as starting points for drug discovery. Ultimately, this chemistry enabled the preparation of 1948 THF-containing compounds for inclusion in the Joint European Compound Library.
RESUMO
Parthenolide is a natural product that exhibits anti-leukaemic activity, however, its clinical use is limited by its poor bioavailability. It may be extracted from feverfew and protocols for growing, extracting and derivatising it are reported. A novel parthenolide derivative with good bioavailability and pharmacological properties was identified through a screening cascade based on in vitro anti-leukaemic activity and calculated "drug-likeness" properties, in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics studies and hERG liability testing. In vitro studies showed the most promising derivative to have comparable anti-leukaemic activity to DMAPT, a previously described parthenolide derivative. The newly identified compound was shown to have pro-oxidant activity and in silico molecular docking studies indicate a prodrug mode of action. A synthesis scheme is presented for the production of amine 7 used in the generation of 5f.