Glasdegib Dimaleate: Synthesis, Characterization and Comparison of Its Properties with Monomaleate Analogue.

Glasdegib is a recently approved drug for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. It is formulated and marketed in monomaleate salt form. In our investigation, we were able to prepare a glasdegib dimaleate form, which could, in theory, exist in double-salt form or as a mixture of salt and co-crystal species. Therefore, the obtained crystals of glasdegib dimaleate were characterized via 15N ssNMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed that the obtained glasdegib dimaleate exists in double-salt form. This is a surprising finding based on the pKa values for glasdegib and maleic acid. Furthermore, we fully characterized the new dimaleate form using thermal analyses (DSC and TGA) and spectroscopy (IR and Raman). Finally, the physicochemical properties, such as solubility and chemical stability, of both forms were determined and compared.

Concise Six-Step Asymmetric Approach to Ramelteon from an Acetophenone Derivative Using Ir, Rh, Cu, and Ni Catalysis.

A concise six-step asymmetric synthesis of nearly enantiomerically pure ramelteon was developed from a monocyclic precursor with a 17% overall yield and a 97% ee in the asymmetric step. The synthetically challenging tricyclic 1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan core of ramelteon was assembled by using Ir-catalyzed O-vinylation and Rh-catalyzed vinyl ether annulation through directed C-H bond activation, while the chirality was introduced with enantioselective reduction of an α,ß-unsaturated nitrile moiety under hydrosilylation conditions using a CuII/Walphos type catalyst. The presented methodology represents the shortest synthetic approach to ramelteon.

Synthesis of enantiopure antiobesity drug lorcaserin.

Acylation of enantiomerically pure (R)-2-(3-chlorophenyl)propan-1-amine using chloroacetyl chloride, followed by borane reduction and aluminum chloride catalyzed cyclization yielded enantiopure lorcaserin.

Development and optimization of a new synthetic process for lorcaserin.

A two-step process to synthesize racemic lorcaserin was developed from 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol via formation of bromide or tosylate derivatives. These derivatives were reacted with allylamine in neat conditions to provide pure N-(4-chlorophenethyl)allylammonium chloride. This compound was cyclized in neat conditions using aluminum or zinc chloride to give racemic lorcaserin. After resolution of enantiomers, the wrong enantiomer was racemized and recycled to give new R-lorcaserin.

A highly productive, whole-cell DERA chemoenzymatic process for production of key lactonized side-chain intermediates in statin synthesis.

Employing DERA (2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase), we developed the first whole-cell biotransformation process for production of chiral lactol intermediates useful for synthesis of optically pure super-statins such as rosuvastatin and pitavastatin. Herein, we report the development of a fed-batch, high-density fermentation with Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) overexpressing the native E. coli deoC gene. High activity of this biomass allows direct utilization of the fermentation broth as a whole-cell DERA biocatalyst. We further show a highly productive bioconversion processes with this biocatalyst for conversion of 2-substituted acetaldehydes to the corresponding lactols. The process is evaluated in detail for conversion of acetyloxy-acetaldehyde with the first insight into the dynamics of reaction intermediates, side products and enzyme activity, allowing optimization of the feeding strategy of the aldehyde substrates for improved productivities, yields and purities. The resulting process for production of ((2S,4R)-4,6-dihydroxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methyl acetate (acetyloxymethylene-lactol) has a volumetric productivity exceeding 40 g L(-1) h(-1) (up to 50 g L(-1) h(-1)) with >80% yield and >80% chromatographic purity with titers reaching 100 g L(-1). Stereochemical selectivity of DERA allows excellent enantiomeric purities (ee >99.9%), which were demonstrated on downstream advanced intermediates. The presented process is highly cost effective and environmentally friendly. To our knowledge, this is the first asymmetric aldol condensation process achieved with whole-cell DERA catalysis and it simplifies and extends previously developed DERA-catalyzed approaches based on the isolated enzyme. Finally, applicability of the presented process is demonstrated by efficient preparation of a key lactol precursor, which fits directly into the lactone pathway to optically pure super-statins.

Structure-activity relationships of pyrazine-based CK2 inhibitors: synthesis and evaluation of 2,6-disubstituted pyrazines and 4,6-disubstituted pyrimidines.

Structurally related to the known CK2 inhibitors, 2,6-disubstituted pyrazine and 4,6-disubstituted pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and their inhibitory activities toward CK2alpha and CK2alpha' were evaluated. Structure-activity relationship study has revealed that several pyrazine derivatives bearing a (pyrrol-3-yl)acetic acid and a monosubstituted aniline possess potent inhibitory activities.

Design and synthesis of all diastereomers of cyclic pseudo-dipeptides as mimics of cyclic CXCR4 pentapeptide antagonists.

The four diastereomers of 2,5-bis[(3-guanidino)propyl]-1-[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl]-7-(2-naphthylacetyl)-1,4,7-triazacycloundec-9-en-3-one (-) and of 2,5-bis[(3-guanidino)propyl]-1-(4-hydroxyphenylacetyl)-7-(2-naphthylacetyl)-1,4,7-triazacycloundec-9-en-3-one (-) were synthesized by a divergent methodology from l- and D-glutamic acids. The 11-membered ring core was made by ring closing metathesis of linear bis(allylamines), and the guanidyl functions were introduced by a simultaneous double Mitsunobu reaction using bis(Boc)guanidine. These compounds were designed to mimic cyclic pentapeptide FC131 (c[Gly-D-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Nal]).

SAR and QSAR studies on the N-terminally acylated pentapeptide agonists for GPR54.

Kisspeptins (KPs) play important roles in the regulation of physiological and pathological states through activation of the cognate receptor GPR54. Our previous studies to downsize KP agonists to the essential GPR54 pharmacophore identified peptides 1-3 as low molecular weight GPR54 agonists. In this study, the effect of N-terminal acyl groups on the activity of a series of analogues (R-Phe-Gly-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2) was investigated in order to develop novel potent GPR54 agonists. Among the compounds developed, the most potent agonistic activity for GPR54 was observed for N-terminal 4-fluorobenzoyl analogue 29. Using quantitative structure-activity relationship studies, it was demonstrated that the inductively negative and small substituents were preferred at the 4-position of N-terminal benzoyl groups.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide analogues with aza and indolizidinone amino acid residues reveal conformational requirements for antagonist activity at the human calcitonin gene-related peptide 1 receptor.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists have potential for the treatment and prevention of disease states such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, migraine headache, pain, and inflammation. To gain insight into the spatial requirements for CGRP antagonism, three strategies were employed to restrict the conformation of the potent undecapeptide antagonist, [D31,P34,F35]CGRP27-37. First, aza-amino acid scanning was performed, and ten aza-peptide analogues were synthesized and examined for biological activity. Second, (3S,6S,9S)-2-oxo-3-amino-indolizidin-2-one amino acid (I2aa) and (2S,6S,8S)-9-oxo-8-amino-indolizidin-9-one amino acid (I9aa) both were introduced at positions 31-32, 32-33, 33-34, and 34-35, regions of the backbone expected to adopt turns. Finally, the conformation of the backbone and side-chain of the C-terminal residue, Phe35-Ala36-Phe37-NH2, was explored employing (2S,4R,6R,8S)-9-oxo-8-amino-4-phenyl-indolizidin-9-one amino acid (4-Ph-I9aa) as a constrained phenylalanine mimic. The structure-activity relationships exhibited by our 26 analogues illustrate conformational requirements important for designing CGRP antagonists and highlight the importance of beta-turns centered at Gly33-Pro34 for potency.

Structure-activity relationships of cyclic peptide-based chemokine receptor CXCR4 antagonists: disclosing the importance of side-chain and backbone functionalities.

Previously, we have identified a highly potent CXCR4 antagonist 2 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-Arg2-Arg3-Nal4-Gly5-)] and its Arg2 epimer 3 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-D-Arg2-Arg3-Nal4-Gly5-)] by the screening of cyclic pentapeptide libraries that were designed based on the structure-activity relationship studies on 14-residue peptidic CXCR4 antagonist 1. In the present study, a new series of analogues of 2 and 3 were synthesized to evaluate the influences of peptide side-chain and backbone modification on bioactivities. Based on the Ala-scanning study, in which each residue in 2 and 3 was replaced with Ala having the identical chirality, substitution of Arg3 and Nal4 [Nal = L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine] with Ala (compounds 6, 7, 10, 11) led to significant loss of the potency, indicating these amino acids are more important contributors to the bioactivity. For the cyclic peptide backbone, several modifications including d/l-Ala or cyclic amino acids substitution at the Gly5 position and sequential N-methylation on amide nitrogens were conducted. Among the analogues, compounds 13 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-Arg2-Arg3-Nal4-D-Ala5-)] and 32 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-D-MeArg2-Arg3-Nal4-Gly5-)] were close in potency to the most potent lead 2. NMR and conformational analysis indicated that both of these analogues favor the same backbone conformation as 2, whereas similar analysis of less potent analogues indicates that an altered backbone conformation is favored. The conformational analysis showed that steric repulsion by a 1,3-allylic strain-like effect across the planar peptide bond might contribute to the conformational preferences of cyclic pentapeptides.

Structure-activity relationship study on small peptidic GPR54 agonists.

Metastin (kisspeptin-54) is an endogenous ligand that modulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion through the interaction with a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR54. The short-chain C-terminal decapeptide amide, metastin (45-54) (kisspeptin-10), exerts the identical bioactivities to metastin, such as metastasis suppression of cancer cells and inhibition of trophoblast migration and invasion. In order to understand the structural requirement for GPR54 agonistic activity, structure-activity relationship (SAR) study on pentapeptide-based C-terminal metastin analogues was carried out. As a result, H-Amb-Nal(2)-Gly-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2 34 was identified as a novel GPR54 agonist that possessed the most potent GPR54 agonistic activity reported so far.

Design, synthesis, and application of azabicyclo[X.Y.0]alkanone amino acids as constrained dipeptide surrogates and peptide mimics.

Azabicyclo[X.Y.0]alkanone amino acids are challenging synthetic targets and useful tools for studying structure-activity relationships of native peptide ligands. They have been employed to increase potency and stability in conformationally rigid enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands. Since last reviewed in 1997, activity in their synthesis and application has increased significantly and access is now available to a wider diversity of these peptide mimics. This review focuses on recent syntheses of these heterocyclic amino acids and their application in the investigation of biologically active peptides and peptide mimics.

Structure-activity study of the ORL1 antagonist Ac-Arg-D-Cha-Qaa-D-Arg-D-p-ClPhe-NH2.

The structure-activity requirements of the ORL1 antagonist Ac-Arg-D-Cha-Qaa-D-Arg-D-p-ClPhe-NH(2) 4 were investigated by varying the position, structure, and charge of the Arg residues. Attempts to abridge the peptide by removal of the Arg, D-Cha, and D-p-ClPhe residues abolished affinity for the ORL1 receptor, whereas deletion of the acetamido N-terminus maintained receptor affinity and selectivity. This series of analogues has provided an improved potent and selective ORL1 receptor antagonist, Ac-Cit-D-Cha-Qaa-D-Arg-D-p-ClPhe-NH(2).

Conformationally constrained dipeptide surrogates with aromatic side-chains: synthesis of 4-aryl indolizidin-9-one amino acids by conjugate addition to a common alpha,omega-diaminoazelate enone intermediate.

Four methyl 9-oxo-8-(N-(Boc)-amino)-4-phenyl-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane carboxylates (11, 4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe) were synthesized from (2S,8S,5E)-di-tert-butyl-4-oxo-5-ene-2,8-bis[N-(PhF)amino]azelate [(5E)-7, PhF = 9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)] via a seven-step process featuring a conjugate addition/reductive amination/lactam cyclization sequence. Various nucleophiles were used in the conjugate addition reactions on enone (5E)-7 as a general route for making alpha,omega-diaminoazelates possessing different substituents in good yield albeit low diastereoselectivity except in the case of aryl Grignard reagents (9/1 to 15/1 drs). 6-Phenylazelates (6S)-8d and (6R)-8d were separated by chromatography and diastereoselective precipitation and independently transformed into 4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe. From (6S)-8d, (2S,4R,6R,8S)-4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe 11 was prepared selectively in 51% yield. Reductive amination of (6R)-8d provided the desired pipecolates 9 along with desamino compound 10, which was minimized by performing the hydrogenation in the presence of ammonium acetate. Subsequent ester exchange, lactam cyclization, and amine protection provided three products (2R,4S,6S,8R)-, (2R,4S,6S,8S)-, and (2S,4S,6R,8S)-4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe 11 in 10, 6, and 6% yields, respectively, from (6R)-8d. Ester hydrolysis of (2S,4R,6R,8S)-11 furnished 4-phenyl indolizidin-9-one N-(Boc)amino acid 3 as a novel constrained Ala-Phe dipeptide surrogate for studying conformation-activity relationships of biologically active peptides.