Discovery of Potent, Selective, and Orally Available IRE1α Inhibitors Demonstrating Comparable PD Modulation to IRE1 Knockdown in a Multiple Myeloma Model.

The lack of selective and safe in vivo IRE1α tool molecules has limited the evaluation of IRE1α as a viable target to treat multiple myeloma. Focus on improving the physicochemical properties of a literature compound by decreasing lipophilicity, molecular weight, and basicity allowed the discovery of a novel series with a favorable in vitro safety profile and good oral exposure. These efforts culminated in the identification of a potent and selective in vivo tool compound, G-5758, that was well tolerated following multiday oral administration of doses up to 500 mg/kg. G-5758 demonstrated comparable pharmacodynamic effects to induced IRE1 knockdown as measured by XBP1s levels in a multiple myeloma model (KMS-11).

Identification of BRaf-Sparing Amino-Thienopyrimidines with Potent IRE1α Inhibitory Activity.

Amino-quinazoline BRaf kinase inhibitor 2 was identified from a library screen as a modest inhibitor of the unfolded protein response (UPR) regulating potential anticancer target IRE1α. A combination of crystallographic and conformational considerations were used to guide structure-based attenuation of BRaf activity and optimization of IRE1α potency. Quinazoline 6-position modifications were found to provide up to 100-fold improvement in IRE1α cellular potency but were ineffective at reducing BRaf activity. A salt bridge contact with Glu651 in IRE1α was then targeted to build in selectivity over BRaf which instead possesses a histidine in this position (His539). Torsional angle analysis revealed that the quinazoline hinge binder core was ill-suited to accommodate the required conformation to effectively reach Glu651, prompting a change to the thienopyrimidine hinge binder. Resulting analogues such as 25 demonstrated good IRE1α cellular potency and imparted more than 1000-fold decrease in BRaf activity.

Di-tert-butyl Ethynylimidodicarbonate as a General Synthon for the ß-Aminoethylation of Organic Electrophiles: Application to the Formal Synthesis of Pyrrolidinoindoline Alkaloids (±)-CPC-1 and (±)-Alline.

The reagent di-tert-butyl ethynylimidodicarbonate is demonstrated as a ß-aminoethyl anion synthetic equivalent. It can be used to install ethyleneamine groups by exploiting its terminal alkyne reactivity with common organic electrophiles. Reactions exemplified with this terminal ynimide reagent include additions to imines, aldehydes, ketones, pyridinium salts, Michael acceptors, epoxides, and Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira couplings. Subsequent regioselective [3 + 2] cycloadditions of the alkynyl-imides (ynimides) generate N,N-di-Boc imide-functionalized triazole and isoxazole heterocycles. Reduction of the ynimides with Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation generates ethyleneimides with easily removable N,N-di-Boc-carbamate protecting groups, allowing for a flexible ynimide-based approach to ethyleneamine installation. The utility of this two-step aminoethylation strategy was demonstrated in the short formal syntheses of pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids (±)-CPC-1 and (±)-alline. Analogously, the reagent (N,N,N')-tri-Boc 2-ethynylhydrazine serves as a ß-hydrazinoethyl anion synthetic equivalent.

Evaluation and synthesis of polar aryl- and heteroaryl spiroazetidine-piperidine acetamides as ghrelin inverse agonists.

Several polar heteroaromatic acetic acids and their piperidine amides were synthesized and evaluated as ghrelin or type 1a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) inverse agonists. Efforts to improve pharmacokinetic and safety profile was achieved by modulating physicochemical properties and, more specifically, emphasizing increased polarity of our chemical series. ortho-Carboxamide containing compounds provided optimal physicochemical, pharmacologic, and safety profile. pH-dependent chemical stability was also assessed with our series.

Discovery of PF-5190457, a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonist Clinical Candidate.

The identification of potent, highly selective orally bioavailable ghrelin receptor inverse agonists from a spiro-azetidino-piperidine series is described. Examples from this series have promising in vivo pharmacokinetics and increase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human whole and dispersed islets. A physicochemistry-based strategy to increase lipophilic efficiency for ghrelin receptor potency and retain low clearance and satisfactory permeability while reducing off-target pharmacology led to the discovery of 16h. Compound 16h has a superior balance of ghrelin receptor pharmacology and off-target selectivity. On the basis of its promising pharmacological and safety profile, 16h was advanced to human clinical trials.

An organotrifluoroborate-based convergent total synthesis of the potent cancer cell growth inhibitory depsipeptides kitastatin and respirantin.

The total syntheses of the highly cytotoxic neo-antimycin macrocyclic depsipeptide natural products kitastatin and respirantin have been accomplished in a convergent manner using MNBA promoted esterifications and an efficient C- and N-terminus bis-deprotection/HATU promoted macrolactamization. The first examples of using a prenyltrifluoroborate reagent in additions to carbonyl groups are disclosed including a diastereoselective multigram scale montmorillonite K10 catalyzed prenylation of N-Boc-l-leucinal to install the structurally unique gem-dimethyl-ß-keto-ester fragment.

Total synthesis of the cytotoxic enehydrazide natural products hydrazidomycins A and B by a carbazate addition/Peterson olefination approach.

The first total syntheses of two natural antitumor enehydrazide compounds (hydrazidomycins A and B) and a related positional isomer of hydrazidomycin B (elaiomycin B) have been accomplished in a rapid and stereocontrolled fashion using a Peterson elimination approach. A regioselective silyl epoxide ring opening reaction with Boc-carbazate followed by base-mediated Peterson siloxide elimination stereospecifically installed the key Z-enehydrazide functionality. The use of Boc-carbazate allowed for the differential functionalization of the hydrazide nitrogens.

Terminal alkyne addition to diazodicarboxylates: synthesis of hydrazide linked alkynes (ynehydrazides).

A new route to form C(sp)-N bonds has been developed via addition of in situ generated lithium acetylides to sterically hindered diazodicarboxylates. The reaction provides straightforward access to a previously unexplored ynehydrazide class of stable N-linked alkynes directly from commercially available precursors. Preliminary results show that alkynyl hydrazides are useful reagents for the selective installation of nitrogen functional groups and as precursors to pharmaceutically relevant heterocycles using metal catalyzed cycloadditions and condensations.

Copper-catalyzed coupling of pyridines and quinolines with alkynes: a one-step, asymmetric route to functionalized heterocycles.

A copper (I)-catalyzed, asymmetric method to directly functionalize pyridines, quinolines, and isoquinolines with terminal alkynes is described. The reaction is readily diversified to incorporate a range of pyridine-based heterocycles and electron-rich or electron-poor alkynes. This provides a straightforward alternative to nucleophilic or cross-coupling approaches to directly derivatize these heterocycles, and yields useful propargylcarbamates.