3-(Pyridin-2-yl-ethynyl)benzamide metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 negative allosteric modulators: hit to lead studies.

A series of 3-(pyridin-2-yl-ethynyl)benzamide negative allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5 NAMs) have been prepared. Starting from HTS hit 1 (IC(50): 926 nM), potent mGluR5 NAMs showing excellent potencies (IC(50)s<50 nM) and good physicochemical profiles were prepared by monitoring LipE values. One compound 26 showed excellent mGluR5 binding (K(i): 21 nM) and antagonism (IC(50): 8 nM), an excellent rat PK profile (CL: 12 mL/min/kg, %F: 85) and showed oral activity in a mouse 4-Plate Behavioral model of anxiety (MED: 30 mpk) and a mouse Stress Induced Hyperthermia model of anxiety (MED 17.8 mpk).

Design at the atomic level: design of biaryloxazolidinones as potent orally active antibiotics.

We have developed a first generation of hybrid sparsomycin-linezolid compounds into a new family of orally bioavailable biaryloxazolidinones that have activity against both linezolid-susceptible and -resistant gram-positive bacteria as well as the fastidious gram-negative bacteria Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrahalis. The convergent synthesis of these new compounds is detailed.

Design at the atomic level: generation of novel hybrid biaryloxazolidinones as promising new antibiotics.

From the X-ray crystal structures of linezolid and the non-selective antibiotic sparsomycin, we have derived a new family of hybrid oxazolidinones. From this initial compound set we have developed a new biaryloxazolidinone scaffold that shows both potent antimicrobial activity as well as selective inhibition of ribosomal translation. The synthesis of these compounds is outlined.

Cyclopentanone ring-cleaved pleuromutilin derivatives.

Ring-cleaved pleuromutilin derivatives comprised of a [5.3.1] bicyclic core structure have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro as antibacterial agents. Four of the compounds described were found to have MICs

Chemical conversion of nocathiacin I to nocathiacin II and a lactone analogue of glycothiohexide alpha.

Nocathiacin I (1) was converted to its deoxy indole analogue, nocathiacin II (2), another natural product, by a unique and facile chemical process. This process was applied to nocathiacin IV (4), generating the lactone analogue of glycothiohexide alpha (5), which was also prepared from nocathiacin II by a mild hydrolytic process. In contrast to glycothiohexide alpha (3), this lactone analogue (5) was found to exhibit in vivo antibacterial efficacy in an animal (mouse) infection model.

Anti-MRSA cephems. Part 2: C-7 cinnamic acid derivatives.

Forty-five novel cephalosporin derivatives with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are described. The compounds contain novel cinnamic acid moieties at C-7 that were synthesized using a key Heck reaction followed by nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. The most active compound (41) displayed an MIC(90) against MRSA of 1.0 microg/mL, and a PD(50) of 0.8 mg/kg. Compound 14 was found to be very safe in a mouse model of acute toxicity.

Anti-MRSA cephems. Part 3: additional C-7 acid derivatives.

Twenty-seven novel cephalosporin derivatives with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are described. The compounds contain novel acid moieties at C-7 that were synthesized using nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions and Stille couplings. The most interesting compound (6) displayed an MIC(90) against MRSA of 3.7 microg/mL, and an average PD(50) of 3.9 mg/kg.

Synthesis and activity of a C-8 keto pleuromutilin derivative.

A C-8 keto pleuromutilin derivative has been synthesized from the biotransformation product 8-hydroxy mutilin. A key step in the process was the selective oxidation at C-8 of 8-hydroxy mutilin using tetrapropylammonium perruthenate. The presence of the C-8 keto group precipitated interesting intramolecular chemistry to afford a compound (10) with a novel pleuromutilin-derived ring system.