Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-aryl-3-(4-phenoxy)-propionic acid as a novel series of G protein-coupled receptor 40 agonists.

High-throughput screening of a subset of the J&J compound library containing the carboxylic acid functional group uncovered a bromophenyl derivative as a moderate potent GPR40 agonist. Chemical elaboration of this bromophenyl led to the discovery of a novel series of GPR40 agonists with submicromolar potency. Among them, 22 and 24 behaved as full agonists when compared to the endogenous GPR40 ligand linolenic acid in a functional Ca+2 flux assay in HEK cells expressing GPR40 receptor. Several GPR40 agonists have also demonstrated the ability to induce glucose-mediated insulin secretion in the mouse MIN6 pancreatic beta-cell line. Our data supports the hypothesis that GPR40 may play an important role in fatty acid-mediated glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Compound 22 exhibited good pharmacokinetic profile in rat and may serve as a good candidate for in vivo study and may help to determine if GPR40 agonists would be beneficial in the treatment of type II diabetes.

Synthesis and identification of [1,2,4]thiadiazole derivatives as a new series of potent and orally active dual agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and delta.

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developed nations. To effectively target dyslipidemia to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, it may be beneficial to activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) PPARalpha and PPARdelta simultaneously through a single molecule. Replacement of the methylthiazole of 5 (the PPARdelta selective agonist) with [1,2,4]thiadiazole gave compound 13, which unexpectedly displayed submicromolar potency as a partial agonist at PPARalpha in addition to the high potency at PPARdelta. Optimization of 13 led to the identification of 24 as a potent and selective PPARalpha/delta dual agonist. Compound 24 and its close analogs represent a new series of PPARalpha/delta dual agonists. The high potency, significant gene induction, excellent PK profiles, and good in vivo efficacies in three animal models may render compound 24 as a valuable pharmacological tool in elucidating the complex roles of PPARalpha/delta dual agonists and as a potential treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

Synthesis and discovery of macrocyclic polyoxygenated bis-7-azaindolylmaleimides as a novel series of potent and highly selective glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibitors.

Attempts to design the macrocyclic maleimides as selective protein kinase C gamma inhibitors led to the unexpected discovery of a novel series of potent and highly selective glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) inhibitors. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were used to synthesize the key intermediates 17 and 22 that resulted in the synthesis of novel macrocycles. All three macrocyclic series (bisindolyl-, mixed 7-azaindoleindolyl-, and bis-7-azaindolylmaleimides) were found to have submicromolar inhibitory potency at GSK-3beta with various degrees of selectivity toward other protein kinases. To gain the inhibitory potency at GSK-3beta, the ring sizes of these macrocycles may play a major role. To achieve the selectivity at GSK-3beta, the additional nitrogen atoms in the indole rings may contribute to a significant degree. Overall, the bis-7-azaindolylmaleimides 28 and 29 exhibited little or no inhibitions to a panel of 50 protein kinases. Compound 29 almost behaved as a GSK-3beta specific inhibitor. Both 28 and 29 displayed good potency in GS cell-based assay. Molecular docking studies were conducted in an attempt to rationalize the GSK-3beta selectivity of azaindolylmaleimides.

Benzoxazinones as PPARgamma agonists. part 1: SAR of three aromatic regions.

A series of benzoxazinones was synthesized as PPARgamma agonists. The compounds were obtained in seven steps, and SAR was developed by variations to the core shown below. The compounds were tested as functional agonists in the induction of the aP2 gene in preadipocytes, and the most potent compound in the series has an EC(50)=0.51 microM. The potency was further confirmed through a PPAR-Gal4 construct. Efficacy has been demonstrated in the db/db mouse model of hyperglycemia.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel macrocyclic bis-7-azaindolylmaleimides as potent and highly selective glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta) inhibitors.

Palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were used to synthesize two key intermediates 3 and 5 that resulted in the synthesis of novel series of macrocyclic bis-7-azaindolylmaleimides. Among the three series of macrocycles, the oxygen atom and thiophene containing linkers yielded molecules with higher inhibitory potency at GSK-3 beta (K(i)=0.011-0.079 microM) while the nitrogen atom containing linkers yielded molecules with lower potency (K(i)=0.150->1 microM). Compound 33 and 36 displayed 1-2 orders of magnitude selectivity at GSK-3 beta against CDK2, PKC beta II, Rsk3 and little or no inhibitions to the other 62 protein kinases. Compound 46 was at least 100-fold more selective towards GSK-3 beta than PKC beta II, and it had little or no activity against a panel of 65 protein kinases, almost behaved as a GSK-3 beta 'specific inhibitor'. All three compounds showed good potency in GS assay. Molecular docking studies were conducted in an attempt to rationalize the GSK-3 beta selectivity of azaindolylmaleimides. The high selectivity, inhibitory potency and cellular activities of these non-crown-ether typed molecules may provide them as a valuable pharmacological tools in elucidating the complex roles of GSK-3 beta in cell signaling pathways and the potential usage for the treatment of elevated level of GSK-3 beta involved diseases.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 7-azaindolyl-heteroaryl-maleimides as potent and selective glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) inhibitors.

Two approaches were developed to synthesize the novel 7-azaindolyl-heteroarylmaleimides. The first approach was based upon the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling or Stille cross-coupling of 2-chloro-maleimide 5 with various arylboronic acids or arylstannanes. The second approach was based upon the condensation of ethyl 7-azaindolyl-3-glyoxylate 12 with various acetamides. The hydroxypropyl-substituted 7-azaindolylmaleimide template was first used to screen different heteroaryls attached to the maleimide. Replacement of hydroxypropyl with different chain lengths and different functional groups were studied next. Many compounds synthesized were demonstrated to have high potency at GSK-3beta, good GS activity in HEK293 cells and good to excellent metabolic stability in human liver microsomes. Three representative compounds (21, 33, and 34) were demonstrated to have good selectivity against a panel of 80 kinase assays. Among them, compound 33 exhibited very weak inhibitions at the other 79 kinase assays, and behaved as a highly selective GSK-3beta inhibitor.

Macrocyclic bisindolylmaleimides as inhibitors of protein kinase C and glycogen synthase kinase-3.

Efficient methods were developed to synthesize a novel series of macrocyclic bisindolylmaleimides containing linkers with multiple heteroatoms. Potent inhibitors (single digit nanomolar IC(50)) for PKC-beta and GSK-3beta were identified, and compounds showed good selectivity over PKC-alpha, -gamma, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta. Representative compound 5a also had high selectivity in a screening panel of 10 other protein kinases. In cell-based functional assays, several compounds effectively blocked interleukin-8 release induced by PKC-betaII and increased glycogen synthase activity by inhibiting GSK-3beta.

3-(7-Azaindolyl)-4-arylmaleimides as potent, selective inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3.

A novel series of acyclic 3-(7-azaindolyl)-4-(aryl/heteroaryl)maleimides was synthesized and evaluated for activity against GSK-3beta and selectivity versus PKC-betaII, as well as a broad panel of protein kinases. Compounds 14 and 17c potently inhibited GSK-3beta (IC(50)=7 and 26 nM, respectively) and exhibited excellent selectivity over PKC-betaII (325 and >385-fold, respectively). Compound 17c was also highly selective against 68 other protein kinases. In a cell-based functional assay, both 14 and 17c effectively increased glycogen synthase activity by inhibiting GSK-3beta.