Discovery of LY3104607: A Potent and Selective G Protein-Coupled Receptor 40 (GPR40) Agonist with Optimized Pharmacokinetic Properties to Support Once Daily Oral Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

As a part of our program to identify potent GPR40 agonists capable of being dosed orally once daily in humans, we incorporated fused heterocycles into our recently disclosed spiropiperidine and tetrahydroquinoline acid derivatives 1, 2, and 3 with the intention of lowering clearance and improving the maximum absorbable dose (Dabs). Hypothesis-driven structural modifications focused on moving away from the zwitterion-like structure. and mitigating the N-dealkylation and O-dealkylation issues led to triazolopyridine acid derivatives with unique pharmacology and superior pharmacokinetic properties. Compound 4 (LY3104607) demonstrated functional potency and glucose-dependent insulin secretion (GDIS) in primary islets from rats. Potent, efficacious, and durable dose-dependent reductions in glucose levels were seen during glucose tolerance test (GTT) studies. Low clearance, volume of distribution, and high oral bioavailability were observed in all species. The combination of enhanced pharmacology and pharmacokinetic properties supported further development of this compound as a potential glucose-lowering drug candidate.

Scalable Synthesis of Enantiopure Bis-3,4-diazaphospholane Ligands for Asymmetric Catalysis.

An optimized route to enantiopure tetra-carboxylic acid and tetra-carboxamide bis(diazaphospholane) ligands that obviates chromatographic purification is presented. This synthesis, which is demonstrated on 15 and 100 g scales, features a scalable classical resolution of tetra-carboxylic acid enantiomers with recycling of the resolving agent. When paired with a rhodium metal center, these bis(diazaphospholane) ligands are highly active and selective in asymmetric hydroformylation applications.

Overcoming the "oxidant problem": strategies to use O2 as the oxidant in organometallic C-H oxidation reactions catalyzed by Pd (and Cu).

Oxidation reactions are key transformations in organic chemistry because they can increase chemical complexity and incorporate heteroatom substituents into carbon-based molecules. This principle is manifested in the conversion of petrochemical feedstocks into commodity chemicals and in the synthesis of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other complex organic molecules. The utility and function of these molecules correlate directly with the presence and specific placement of oxygen and nitrogen heteroatoms and other functional groups within the molecules. Methods for selective oxidation of C-H bonds have expanded significantly over the past decade, and their role in the synthesis of organic chemicals will continue to increase. Our group's contributions to this field are linked to our broader interest in the development and mechanistic understanding of aerobic oxidation reactions. Molecular oxygen (O(2)) is the ideal oxidant. Its low cost and lack of toxic byproducts make it a highly appealing reagent that can address key "green chemistry" priorities in industry. With strong economic and environmental incentives to use O(2), the commmodity chemicals industry often uses aerobic oxidation reactions. In contrast, O(2) is seldom used to prepare more-complex smaller-volume chemicals, a limitation that reflects, in part, the limited synthetic scope and utility of existing aerobic reactions. Pd-catalyzed reactions represent some of the most versatile methods for selective C-H oxidation, but they often require stoichiometric transition-metal or organic oxidants, such as Cu(II), Ag(I), or benzoquinone. This Account describes recent strategies that we have identified to use O(2) as the oxidant in these reactions. In Pd-catalyzed C-H oxidation reactions that form carbon-heteroatom bonds, the stoichiometric oxidant is often needed to promote difficult reductive elimination steps in the catalytic mechanism. To address this challenge, we have identified new ancillary ligands for Pd that promote reductive elimination, or replaced Pd with a Cu catalyst that undergoes facile reductive elimination from a Cu(III) intermediate. Both strategies have enabled O(2) to be used as the sole stoichiometric oxidant in the catalytic reactions. C-H oxidation reactions that form the product via ß-hydride or C-C reductive elimination steps tend to be more amenable to the use of O(2). The use of new ancillary ligands has also overcome some of the limitations in these methods. Mechanistic studies are providing insights into some (but not yet all) of these advances in catalytic reactivity.

Regiocontrolled aerobic oxidative coupling of indoles and benzene using Pd catalysts with 4,5-diazafluorene ligands.

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cross-couplings of indoles and benzene have been achieved by using 4,5-diazafluorene derivatives as ancillary ligands. Proper choice of the neutral and anionic ligands enables control over the reaction regioselectivity.

Allylic C-H acetoxylation with a 4,5-diazafluorenone-ligated palladium catalyst: a ligand-based strategy to achieve aerobic catalytic turnover.

Pd-catalyzed C-H oxidation reactions often require the use of oxidants other than O(2). Here we demonstrate a ligand-based strategy to replace benzoquinone with O(2) as the stoichiometric oxidant in Pd-catalyzed allylic C-H acetoxylation. Use of 4,5-diazafluorenone (1) as an ancillary ligand for Pd(OAc)(2) enables terminal alkenes to be converted to linear allylic acetoxylation products in good yields and selectivity under 1 atm O(2). Mechanistic studies have revealed that 1 facilitates C-O reductive elimination from a π-allyl-Pd(II) intermediate, thereby eliminating the requirement for benzoquinone in this key catalytic step.

ERbeta ligands. Part 6: 6H-Chromeno[4,3-b]quinolines as a new series of estrogen receptor beta-selective ligands.

A new class of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) ligands based on the 6H-chromeno[4,3-b]quinoline scaffold has been prepared. Several C7-substituted analogues displayed high affinity and modest selectivity for ERbeta.

Modular catalysts for diene cycloisomerization: rapid and enantioselective variants for bicyclopropane synthesis.

Deconstructing the tridentate (triphos)Pt(II) first-generation catalysts into mixed diphosphine/monophosphine combinations (P(2)P) has led to new, more active catalysts for the cycloisomerization of 1,6-, and 1,7-dienes into bicyclo-[3.1.0] and -[4.1.0] products. When the diphosphine was the small bite angle dppm, reaction rates were approximately 20-fold faster than with triphos, although reaction rates and diastereoselectivities were also sensitive to the monophosphine (PMe(3) being optimal for rate, PPh(3) being optimal for selectivity). When the diphosphine was xyl-BINAP or SEGPHOS, the catalysts were enantioselective, and enantio-ratios up to 98:2 were observed. Both sets of catalysts showed enhanced functional group tolerance in comparison to the original (triphos)Pt(2+) catalyst. X-ray structures for both precatalysts are also reported.