Annulation reaction enables the identification of an exocyclic amide tricyclic chemotype as retinoic acid Receptor-Related orphan receptor gamma (RORγ/RORc) inverse agonists.

RORγt is the master regulator of the IL-23/IL-17 axis, a pathway that is clinically validated for the treatment of various immunological disorders. Over the last few years, our group has reported different chemotypes that potently act as inverse agonists of RORγt. One of them, the tricyclic pyrrolidine chemotype, has demonstrated biologic-like preclinical efficacy and has led to our clinical candidate BMS-986251. In this letter, we discuss the invention of an annulation reaction which enabled the synthesis of a tricyclic exocyclic amide chemotype and the identification of compounds with RORγt inverse agonist activity. Preliminary structure activity relationships are disclosed.

Tricyclic sulfones as potent, selective and efficacious RORγt inverse agonists - Exploring C6 and C8 SAR using late-stage functionalization.

In order to rapidly develop C6 and C8 SAR of our reported tricyclic sulfone series of RORγt inverse agonists, a late-stage bromination was employed. Although not regioselective, the bromination protocol allowed us to explore new substitution patterns/vectors that otherwise would have to be incorporated at the very beginning of the synthesis. Based on the SAR obtained from this exercise, compound 15 bearing a C8 fluorine was developed as a very potent and selective RORγt inverse agonist. This analog's in vitro profile, pharmacokinetic (PK) data and efficacy in an IL-23 induced mouse acanthosis model will be discussed.

Identification of highly potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors.

Selective PI3Kδ inhibitors have recently been hypothesized to be appropriate immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of immunological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, few reports have highlighted molecules that are highly selective for PI3Kδ over the other PI3K isoforms. In this letter, isoform and kinome selective PI3Kδ inhibitors are presented. The Structural Activity Relationship leading to such molecules is outlined.

Discovery of Annulating Reagents Enabling the One-Step and Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopentyl and Cyclohexyl Cores.

The use of the unprecedented annulating reagents methyl N-(tert-butylsulfinyl)-4-chlorobutanimidate and methyl N-(tert-butylsulfinyl)-5-bromopentanimidate enables the diastereoselective preparation of 5- and 6-membered carbocycles bearing three contiguous stereocenters. These synthons undergo cycloaddition with a variety of Michael acceptors to form cyclopentane/cyclohexane rings with excellent stereochemical control, generating only one of the eight possible diastereomers. This novel methodology has enabled the highly enantioselective and high yielding synthesis of novel chemotypes of pharmacological relevance.

Tricyclic-Carbocyclic RORγt Inverse Agonists-Discovery of BMS-986313.

SAR efforts directed at identifying RORγt inverse agonists structurally different from our clinical compound 1 (BMS-986251) led to tricyclic-carbocyclic analogues represented by 3-7 and culminated in the identification of 3d (BMS-986313), with structural differences distinct from 1. The X-ray co-crystal structure of 3d with the ligand binding domain of RORγt revealed several key interactions, which are different from 1. The in vitro and in vivo PK profiles of 3d are described. In addition, we demonstrate robust efficacy of 3d in two preclinical models of psoriasis-the IMQ-induced skin lesion model and the IL-23-induced acanthosis model. The efficacy seen with 3d in these models is comparable to the results observed with 1.

Aryl Ether-Derived Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor (S1P1) Modulators: Optimization of the PK, PD, and Safety Profiles.

Efforts aimed at increasing the in vivo potency and reducing the elimination half-life of 1 and 2 led to the identification of aryl ether and thioether-derived bicyclic S1P1 differentiated modulators 3-6. The effects of analogs 3-6 on lymphocyte reduction in the rat (desired pharmacology) along with pulmonary- and cardiovascular-related effects (undesired pharmacology) are described. Optimization of the overall properties in the aryl ether series yielded 3d, and the predicted margin of safety against the cardiovascular effects of 3d would be large enough for human studies. Importantly, compared to 1 and 2, compound 3d had a better profile in both potency (ED50 < 0.05 mg/kg) and predicted human half-life (t 1/2 ∼ 5 days).

Discovery of BMS-986251: A Clinically Viable, Potent, and Selective RORγt Inverse Agonist.

Novel tricyclic analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as RORγt inverse agonists. Several of these compounds were potent in an IL-17 human whole blood assay and exhibited excellent oral bioavailability in mouse pharmacokinetic studies. This led to the identification of compound 5, which displayed dose-dependent inhibition of IL-17F production in a mouse IL-2/IL-23 stimulated pharmacodynamic model. In addition, compound 5 was studied in mouse acanthosis and imiquimod-induced models of skin inflammation, where it demonstrated robust efficacy comparable to a positive control. As a result of this excellent overall profile, compound 5 (BMS-986251) was selected as a clinically viable developmental candidate.

TfNH2 as achiral hydrogen-bond donor additive to enhance the selectivity of a transition metal catalyzed reaction. Highly enantio- and diastereoselective rhodium-catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes using alpha-cyano diazoacetamide.

A highly stereoselective (up to 98% ee and 99:1 dr) Rh(II)-catalyzed formation of nitrile-substituted cyclopropanes is described. Alpha-cyano diazoacetamide reagents react with a variety of mono- and disubstituted olefins in good yields and excellent enantio- and diastereocontrol. Less reactive substrates, such as aliphatic olefins, also undergo the reaction. This new methodology features the unprecedented use of an achiral hydrogen-bond donor additive to enhance the selectivity and exploits the powerful trans-directing ability of amides solving the diastereocontrol issue of the formation of substituted 1-cyanocyclopropane-1-carboxy derivatives.

trans-Directing ability of the amide group: enabling the enantiocontrol in the synthesis of 1,1-dicarboxy cyclopropanes. Reaction development, scope, and synthetic applications.

In this article, we describe our efforts toward the enantioselective formation of 1,1-cyclopropane diesters via the metal-catalyzed cyclopropanation of olefins. The strategies envisioned to achieve such a goal are discussed as well as the results that led us to the discovery of the powerful trans-directing ability of the amide group in Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation reactions. We show how this feature enables a solution for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,1-dicarboxy cyclopropane derivatives. The scope and limitations are discussed as well as the demonstration that these newly formed cyclopropanes display reactivity similar to that of 1,1-cyclopropane diesters. Conversely, 1,1-cyclopropane diesters could be accessed in two steps from commercially available alkenes. The potential utility of this methodology is illustrated by several functional group transformations and its use in the expedient stereoselective formal synthesis of (S)-(+)-curcumene, (S)-(+)-nuciferal, (S)-(+)-nuciferol, (+)-erogorgiaene, (+/-)-xanthorrhizol, and (+/-)-2-hydroxycalamenene.

General method for the synthesis of phenyliodonium ylides from malonate esters: easy access to 1,1-cyclopropane diesters.

A general method to access phenyliodonium ylides from malonates has been developed. These ylides provide easy access to a variety of useful 1,1-cyclopropane diesters using rhodium or copper catalysis. Moreover, the iodonium ylide of dimethyl malonate was obtained in 78% yield using improved conditions that involve a simple filtration step to isolate the desired product. This ylide was shown to be a safer and convenient alternative to the corresponding diazo compound and a very efficient way to 1,1-cyclopropane diesters when used with a catalytic amount of Rh(2)(esp)(2).

One-Step Diastereoselective Pyrrolidine Synthesis Using a Sulfinamide Annulating Reagent.

This communication highlights the use of chiral sulfinamides as nitrogen nucleophiles in intermolecular aza-Michael reactions. When chiral sulfinamides are coupled to a chloroethyl group, the corresponding novel annulating reagents can be used to streamline the stereoselective synthesis of complex pyrrolidine-containing molecules. As a result, it has enabled a medicinal chemistry campaign for the synthesis of biologically active RORγt inverse agonists.

Rationally Designed, Conformationally Constrained Inverse Agonists of RORγt-Identification of a Potent, Selective Series with Biologic-Like in Vivo Efficacy.

RORγt is an important nuclear receptor that regulates the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17 and IL-22. As a result, RORγt has been identified as a potential target for the treatment of various immunological disorders such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Structure and computer-assisted drug design led to the identification of a novel series of tricyclic RORγt inverse agonists with significantly improved in vitro activity in the reporter (Gal4) and human whole blood assays compared to our previous chemotype. Through careful structure activity relationship, several potent and selective RORγt inverse agonists have been identified. Pharmacokinetic studies allowed the identification of the lead molecule 32 with a low peak-to-trough ratio. This molecule showed excellent activity in an IL-2/IL-23-induced mouse pharmacodynamic study and demonstrated biologic-like efficacy in an IL-23-induced preclinical model of psoriasis.

Protected Chloroethyl and Chloropropyl Amines as Conformationally Unrestricted Annulating Reagents.

The purpose of this letter is to document the use of protected chloroethyl and chloropropyl amines as conformationally unrestricted ambiphilic reagents that undergo annulation reactions with Michael acceptors. This reaction is wide in scope and utilizes reagents that are commercially available, inexpensive, and stable. Furthermore, this reaction is easy to execute and proceeds rapidly.

Removal, recovery, and recycling of triarylphosphonium-supported tin reagents for various organic transformations.

Phosphonium-supported tin reagents and catalysts were prepared and were shown to be effective in Stille couplings, radical dehalogenations, radical cyclizations, and carbonyl allylations. Not only could the tin residues be removed from the crude reaction mixture through a phase separation process but also they could be recovered and recycled.

Identification of potent tricyclic prodrug S1P1 receptor modulators.

Recently, our research group reported the identification of prodrug amino-alcohol 2 as a potent and efficacious S1P1 receptor modulator. This molecule is differentiated preclinically over the marketed drug fingolimod (Gilenya 1), whose active phosphate metabolite is an S1P1 full agonist, in terms of pulmonary and cardiovascular safety. S1P1 partial agonist 2, however, has a long half-life in rodents and was projected to have a long half-life in humans. The purpose of this communication is to disclose highly potent partial agonists of S1P1 with shorter half-lives relative to the clinical compound 2. PK/PD relationships as well as their preclinical pulmonary and cardiovascular safety assessment are discussed.

Identification of a Potent, Selective, and Efficacious Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase δ (PI3Kδ) Inhibitor for the Treatment of Immunological Disorders.

PI3Kδ plays an important role controlling immune cell function and has therefore been identified as a potential target for the treatment of immunological disorders. This article highlights our work toward the identification of a potent, selective, and efficacious PI3Kδ inhibitor. Through careful SAR, the successful replacement of a polar pyrazole group by a simple chloro or trifluoromethyl group led to improved Caco-2 permeability, reduced Caco-2 efflux, reduced hERG PC activity, and increased selectivity profile while maintaining potency in the CD69 hWB assay. The optimization of the aryl substitution then identified a 4'-CN group that improved the human/rodent correlation in microsomal metabolic stability. Our lead molecule is very potent in PK/PD assays and highly efficacious in a mouse collagen-induced arthritis model.

Asymmetric Hydroboration Approach to the Scalable Synthesis of ((1R,3S)-1-Amino-3-((R)-6-hexyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)cyclopentyl)methanol (BMS-986104) as a Potent S1P1 Receptor Modulator.

We describe a highly efficient route for the synthesis of 4a (BMS-986104). A key step in the synthesis is the asymmetric hydroboration of trisubstituted alkene 6. Particularly given the known difficulties involved in this type of transformation (6 → 7), the current methodology provides an efficient approach to prepare this class of compounds. In addition, we disclose the efficacy of 4a in a mouse EAE model, which is comparable to 4c (FTY720). Mechanistically, 4a exhibited excellent remyelinating effects on lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) induced demyelination in a three-dimensional brain cell culture assay.

Angiographic selective methylene blue staining of an occult small-bowel arteriovenous malformation.

This case report details a technique to intraoperatively define a segment of small bowel containing a bleeding arteriovenous malformation allowing definitive surgery. A patient with an arteriovenous malformation of the small intestine underwent angiographic localization using a highly selective microcatheter and intraoperative methylene blue dye allowing a specific segment of intestine to be resected. Angiographic identification and intraoperative location of small intestine arteriovenous malformations can allow the surgeon to more accurately define the affected segment allowing the surgery to be specific and successful.