Discovery and Characterization of (R)-6-Neopentyl-2-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-6,7-dihydropyrimido[2,1-c][1,4]oxazin-4(9H)-one (PF-06462894), an Alkyne-Lacking Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Negative Allosteric Modulator Profiled in both Rat and Nonhuman Primates.

We previously observed a cutaneous type IV immune response in nonhuman primates (NHP) with the mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator (NAM) 7. To determine if this adverse event was chemotype- or mechanism-based, we evaluated a distinct series of mGlu5 NAMs. Increasing the sp3 character of high-throughput screening hit 40 afforded a novel morpholinopyrimidone mGlu5 NAM series. Its prototype, (R)-6-neopentyl-2-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-6,7-dihydropyrimido[2,1-c][1,4]oxazin-4(9H)-one (PF-06462894, 8), possessed favorable properties and a predicted low clinical dose (2 mg twice daily). Compound 8 did not show any evidence of immune activation in a mouse drug allergy model. Additionally, plasma samples from toxicology studies confirmed that 8 did not form any reactive metabolites. However, 8 caused the identical microscopic skin lesions in NHPs found with 7, albeit with lower severity. Holistically, this work supports the hypothesis that this unique toxicity may be mechanism-based although additional work is required to confirm this and determine clinical relevance.

Discovery and preclinical characterization of 1-methyl-3-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)-6-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-1H-pyrazolo-[3,4-b]pyrazine (PF470): a highly potent, selective, and efficacious metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) negative allosteric modulator.

A novel series of pyrazolopyrazines is herein disclosed as mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs). Starting from a high-throughput screen (HTS) hit (1), a systematic structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was conducted with a specific focus on balancing pharmacological potency with physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. This effort led to the discovery of 1-methyl-3-(4-methylpyridin-3-yl)-6-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine (PF470, 14) as a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable mGluR5 NAM. Compound 14 demonstrated robust efficacy in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-rendered Parkinsonian nonhuman primate model of l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (PD-LID). However, the progression of 14 to the clinic was terminated because of a potentially mechanism-mediated finding consistent with a delayed-type immune-mediated type IV hypersensitivity in a 90-day NHP regulatory toxicology study.

Chiral separation of amides using supercritical fluid chromatography.

Nine amide derivatives bearing α-stereocenters as well as different substitutions on the amide nitrogen were synthesized via an n-propanephosphonic acid cyclic anhydride (T3P)-mediated coupling, and their enantiomeric pairs were separated using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Five polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs), Chiralcel OD-H, and OJ-H, and Chiralpak AD-H, AS-H and IC columns were explored for the chiral separation of these compounds. None of the compounds could be resolved on all five columns, and no single column could separate all nine pairs of enantiomers. Comparatively, the IC and OD-H columns showed the best results for this group of amides, yielding baseline separations for eight of nine pairs. The type of polar functional group and aromatic substitution in the CSPs and the substitutions on the amide nitrogen had a significant impact on the enantiomeric resolution of the compounds in the interaction between the analyte and the stationary phases. The potential separation mechanism and the effect of substitutions in the CSPs and amide solutes on the separation are discussed. The effects of the organic modifiers, modifier composition, mobile phase additives, and temperature were investigated for the separation of these amides on the IC or the OD-H column. Baseline resolution was achieved under optimized chromatographic conditions using an IC or an OD-H column. Linearity, reproducibility, and limit of quantitation were also demonstrated for the compound 9. Approximately three-fold improvement in signal-to-noise was observed using a SFC system with better instrument design.

General and scalable amide bond formation with epimerization-prone substrates using T3P and pyridine.

The mild combination of T3P (n-propanephosphonic acid anhydride) and pyridine has been developed for low-epimerization amide bond formation and implemented for the synthesis of a key intermediate to a glucokinase activator. This robust method is general for the coupling of various racemization-prone acid substrates and amines, including relatively non-nucleophilic anilines, and provides amides in high yields with very low epimerization. With easy reaction setup and product isolation, this protocol offers several practical and experimental benefits.

Total syntheses of (+)-tedanolide and (+)-13-deoxytedanolide.

Convergent total syntheses of the potent cytotoxins (+)-tedanolide (1) and (+)-13-deoxytedanolide (2) are described. The carbon framework of these compounds was assembled via a stereoselective aldol reaction that unifies the C(1)-C(12) ketone fragment 5 with a C(13)-C(23) aldehyde fragment 6 (for 13-deoxytedanolide) or 52 (for tedanolide). Multiple obstacles were encountered en route to (+)-1 and (+)-2 that required very careful selection and orchestration of the stereochemistry and functionality of key intermediates. Chief among these issues was the remarkable stability and lack of reactivity of hemiketals 33b and 34 that prevented the tedanolide synthesis from being completed from aldol 4. Key to the successful completion of the tedanolide synthesis was the observation that the 13-deoxy hemiketal 36 could be oxidized to C(11,15)-diketone 38 en route to 13-deoxytedanolide. This led to the decision to pursue the tedanolide synthesis via C(15)-(S)-epimers, since this stereochemical change would destabilize the hemiketal that plagued the attempted synthesis of tedanolide via C(15)-(R) intermediates. However, use of C(15)-(S)-configured intermediates required that the side-chain epoxide be introduced very late in the synthesis, owing to the ease with which the C(15)-(S)-OH cyclized onto the epoxide of intermediate 50.

Concerning the synthesis of the tedanolide C(13)-C(23) fragment via anti-aldol reaction.

Synthesis of C(13)-C(23) aldehyde 4, an important intermediate in a planned total synthesis of tedanolide, is described. The stereoselectivity of the key anti-aldol reaction of aldehyde 5 and ketone 6 (en route to 4) perfectly tracks the enantiomeric purity of 5. It is demonstrated that aldehyde 24, a precursor of 5, undergoes facile epimerization during a Swern oxidation and stabilized ylide olefination sequence.

[2+2] Cycloaddition of ketenes with ynamides. A general method for the synthesis of 3-aminocyclobutenone derivatives.

Ynamides react with ketenes in [2+2] cycloadditions leading to a variety of substituted 3-aminocyclobut-2-en-1-ones. The ynamides employed in these reactions are readily available via the copper-promoted N-alkynylation of carbamates and sulfonamides with alkynyl bromides and iodides. The scope of the [2+2] cycloaddition with regard to both the ketene and ynamide component is described.

Pictet-Spengler reactions in multiphasic supercritical carbon dioxide/CO2-expanded liquid media. In situ generation of carbamates as a strategy for reactions of amines in supercritical carbon dioxide.

Acyl-Pictet-Spengler cyclizations can be achieved in scCO2/CO2-expanded liquid media via the in situ formation of carbamate derivatives of beta-arylethylamines.

Self-assembling porphyrin-modified peptides.

[structure: see text] We report the synthesis and characterization of a novel supramolecular assembly that features long-range electronic coupling between porphyrins covalently attached to a designed peptide scaffold. The resulting construct self-assembles to form extended organized aggregates in which the porphyrins engage in exciton coupling.

Synthesis of highly substituted indolines and indoles via intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of ynamides and conjugated enynes.

Ynamides react with conjugated enynes in intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions to afford substituted indolines that undergo oxidation with o-chloranil to furnish the corresponding indoles. The cycloaddition substrates are easily assembled from derivatives of 3-butynylamine by Sonogashira coupling with alkenyl halides followed by copper-catalyzed N-alkynylation with acetylenic bromides. Diynamides participate as particularly reactive 2pi components in the cycloaddition, providing access to indolines with carbon substituents at the C-7 position. Enynamides serve as 4pi components in a complementary version of the cycloaddition strategy which provides access to indoles and indolines substituted with carbon substituents at C-4. These enyne cycloadditions take place upon heating the substrates at 110-210 degrees C in toluene or 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and in some cases can be achieved at 0 degrees C to room temperature in the presence of Lewis acids such as Me2AlCl.

Copper-mediated N-alkynylation of carbamates, ureas, and sulfonamides. A general method for the synthesis of ynamides.

[reaction: see text] A general amination strategy for the N-alkynylation of carbamates, sulfonamides, and chiral oxazolidinones and imidazolidinones is described. A variety of substituted ynamides are available by deprotonation of amides with KHMDS followed by reaction with CuI and an alkynyl bromide.