Discovery of MK-1462: GLP-1 and Glucagon Receptor Dual Agonist for the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes.

Peptide-based analogues of the gut-derived incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. Currently marketed GLP1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists are safe and effective in the management of Type 2 diabetes but often offer only modest weight loss. This has prompted the search for safe and effective alternatives to enhance the weight loss component of these treatments. We have demonstrated that concomitant activation GLP1R and the glucagon receptor (GCGR) can improve glucose metabolism and provide superior weight loss when compared to selective GLP1R agonism in preclinical species. This paper will highlight chemistry structure-activity relationship optimization and summarize in vivo efficacy studies toward the discovery of a once daily balanced dual agonist 12 (MK-1462), which was advanced into clinical trials.

Asymmetric routes toward polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines: Synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-galactitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-glucitol.

Herein the total synthesis of the pyrrolidine alkaloids 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-galactitol and its diastereoisomer 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-glucitol is described, starting from a common optically active precursor. The key step in our approach was the double diastereoselection in the asymmetric dihydroxylation of chiral vinyl azido alcohols, obtained by means of two different regio- and stereoselective nucleophilic openings of the corresponding chiral vinyl epoxide.

Double Stereodifferentiation in the Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of Optically Active Olefins.

A study of the stereochemical control on the asymmetric dihydroxylation of the double bond of optically active vinyl epoxides and their derivatives (bromo derivatives, azido derivatives, and vinyl aziridines) was carried out and the obtained results are herein reported. The most interesting results were obtained on trans α,ß-unsaturated epoxy esters, which were successfully converted with a diastereomeric ratio >80% into the corresponding diols using either the matched or the mismatched conditions, depending on the ligand used. Unprotected bromo derivatives and unprotected aziridines did not afford significant results, while for the protected bromo derivatives, azido derivatives, and N-Boc protected aziridines the matched conditions led to a diastereomeric ratio >95%. Chirality 28:387-393, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-1-deoxyaltronojirimycin.

A stereocontrolled, facile and high-yield approach for producing (+)-altroDNJ, has been developed starting from the inexpensive commercial cis 2-butene-1,4-diol. Sharpless epoxidation and a subsequent dihydroxylation were used for the introduction of all stereocentres; finally, the ring closure under basic conditions afforded the piperidine heterocycle.