Positive allosteric modulators of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: SAR investigation around PNU-120596.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a calcium permeable, ligand-gated ion channel that modulates synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. Previously disclosed work described PNU-120596 that acts as a powerful positive allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The initial structure-activity relationships around PNU-120596 were gleaned from screening a large thiazole library. Independent systematic examination of the aryl and heteroaryl groups resulted in compounds with enhanced potency and improved physico-chemical properties culminating in the identification of 16 (PHA-758454). In the presence of acetylcholine, 16 enhanced evoked currents in rat hippocampal neurons. In a rat model of impaired sensory gating, treatment with 16 led to a reversal of the gating deficit in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that aryl heteroaryl ureas, like compound 16, may be useful tools for continued exploration of the unique biology of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Synthesis of N-methyl-N-[(1S)-1-[(3R)-pyrrolidin-3-yl]ethyl]amine.

N-Methyl-N-[(1S)-1-[(3R)-pyrrolidin-3-yl]ethyl]amine (1)(1) is a key intermediate in the preparation of premafloxacin (2), which was under development as an antibiotic for use against pathogens of veterinary importance. This paper describes the development of a practical, efficient, and stereoselective process for the preparation of 1 from isobutyl (3S)-3-[methyl[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]amino]butanoate (5c). The key steps in the synthetic sequence are an asymmetric Michael addition, which yields 5c, and a stereoselective alkylation, which yields (3S,4S)-3-allyl-1,4-dimethylazetidin-2-one (17).

Synthesis of 8-desbromohinckdentine A1.

Hinckdentine A is an alkaloid isolated from the bryozoan Hincksinoflustra denticulate. This natural product contains a novel and unique 11b,12,13,14,15,16-hexahydroazepino[4',5':2,3]indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline ring system that has not previously been synthesized. We have synthesized 8-desbromohinckdentine A from a 2-aryl indole by first preparing the quaternary center of the natural product and then building the seven-membered lactam and dihydropyrimidine rings onto this intermediate to form the framework of hinckdentine A.

Study of the addition of Grignard reagents to 2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ones.

Grignard reagents are added to the carbonyl group of 2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ones to generate 3-alkyl(or phenyl)-2-aryl-3H-indol-3-ols, which are in turn rearranged to yield 2-alkyl(or phenyl)-2-aryl-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-ones.

Novel rearrangement of a 2-aryl-3-alkyl-3H-indol-3-ol to a 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,6-methano-1-benzazocin-3(2H)-one with implications for the biosynthesis of aspernomine.

[reaction: see text] Nominine (1) and aspernomine (2) are two biologically important indole diterpenoids that arise from a common digeranylindole precursor. The skeletal relationship of these two natural products was not heretofore understood. We have observed a novel rearrangement of 2-(2-bromophenyl)-3-(3-butenyl)-3H-indol-3-ol (5) to 7, which contains the uncommon 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,6-methano-1-benzazocin-3(2H)-one ring system, under acidic conditions. This rearrangement suggests that aspernomine (2) may arise biosynthetically from nominine (1).

Progress toward the synthesis of hinckdentine A.

Hinckdentine A is a structurally unique marine alkaloid containing an 11b,12,13,14,15,16-hexahydroazepino[4',5':2,3] indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline ring system. This review covers the literature on hinckdentine A. The indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline ring system is the foundation of the hinckdentine A structure. The literature on the chemistry of indoloquinazolines until the end of 1994 has been reviewed by Billimoria and Cava. Therefore, we review the research carried out on the synthesis of indolo[1,2-c]quinazolines and related ring systems in which hinckdentine A is described from 1995 to present. The construction of the quaternary center is the primary synthetic challenge posed by the hinckdentine A structure. We will present a selection of methods applicable to the synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted indolines. Finally, we present the three most significant attempts to synthesize hinckdentine A.