Use of receptor chimeras to identify small molecules with high affinity for the dynorphin A binding domain of the kappa opioid receptor.

A series of 2-substituted sulfamoyl arylacetamides of general structure 2 were prepared as potent kappa opioid receptor agonists and the affinities of these compounds for opioid and chimeric receptors were compared with those of dynorphin A. Compounds 2e and 2i were identified as non-peptide small molecules that bound to chimeras 3 and 4 with high affinities similar to dynorphin A, resulting in K(i) values of 1.5 and 1.2 nM and 1.3 and 2.2 nM, respectively.

Amino acid conjugates as kappa opioid receptor agonists.

A novel series of kappa (kappa) opioid receptor agonists were synthesized by incorporating the key structural features of known kappa opioid agonists while replacing the aryl acetamide portion with substituted amino acid conjugates. Compounds 3j (Ki = 6.7 nM), 3k (Ki = 3.6 nM), 3l (Ki = 4.6 nM), 3m (Ki = 0.83 nM) and 3o (Ki = 2 nM) possessed potent affinities for the kappa opioid receptor in vitro with reasonable selectivity over other opioid receptors.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel peripherally restricted kappa-opioid receptor agonists.

A series of 3-substituted analogs (3) of the parent kappa agonist, 1, were prepared to limit access to the central nervous system. With the exception of compound 3j, all other compounds bound to the human kappa opioid receptor with high affinity (K(i)=0.31-9.5 nM) and were selective for kappa over mu and delta opioid receptors. Compounds 3c, d, and 3g-i produced potent antinociceptive activity in the rat formalin assay (i.paw) and the mouse acetic acid-induced writhing assay (s.c.), with weak activity in the mouse platform sedation test. The peripheral restriction indices of 3c, d, 3g, and 3i were improved 2- to 7-fold compared to the parent compound 1, and these compounds were approximately 2- to 5-fold more potent than the peripheral kappa agonist ICI 204448.

Design and synthesis of 6-substituted amino-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3,2,0]heptan-7-one derivatives as cysteine proteases inhibitors.

A series of 6-substituted amino-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3,2,0]heptan-7-one compounds was designed and synthesized as a new class of inhibitors for cysteine proteases cathepsins B, L, K, and S. One compound (5S,6S)-6-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl) amino-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3,2,0]heptan-7-one showed excellent cathepsin L and K inhibition activity with IC(50) at a low nanomolar range.

P3 cap modified Phe*-Ala series BACE inhibitors.

With the aim of reducing molecular weight and adjusting log D value of BACE inhibitors to more favorable range for BBB penetration and better bioavailability, we synthesized and evaluated several series of P3 cap modified BACE inhibitors obtained via replacement of the P3NHBoc moiety as seen in 3 with other polar functional groups such as amino, hydroxyl and fluorine. Several promising inhibitors emerging from this P3 cap SAR study (e.g., 15 and 19) demonstrated good enzyme inhibitory potencies (BACE-1 IC(50) <50 nM) and whole cell activities (IC(50) approximately 1 microM).

P1 and P3 optimization of novel bicycloproline P2 bearing tetrapeptidyl alpha-ketoamide based HCV protease inhibitors.

With the aim of discovering potent and selective HCV protease inhibitors, we synthesized and evaluated a series of 1a based tetrapeptidyl ketoamides with additional modification(s) at P1', P1, and P3 positions. As a result of this effort, we found that replacement of the P3 valine with tert-leucine resulted in the discovery of a series of inhibitors (e.g., 3a, 3c, and 4c) endowed with improved enzyme and/or cellular activity relative to 1a. When dosed to F-344 rats orally at 50mg/kg, 3a achieved 2.5x higher liver and plasma exposure in comparison to that detected with 1a.

3-Acylamino-azetidin-2-one as a novel class of cysteine proteases inhibitors.

A new class of inhibitors for cysteine proteases cathepsin B, L, K and S is described. These inhibitors are based on the beta-lactam ring designed to interact with the nucleophilic thiol of the cysteine in the active site of cysteine proteases. Some 3-acylamino-azetidin-2-one derivatives showed very potent inhibition activities for cathepsins L, K and S at the nanomolar or subnanomolar IC(50) values.

Phe*-Ala-based pentapeptide mimetics are BACE inhibitors: P2 and P3 SAR.

We describe herein the syntheses and evaluation of a series of C-termini pyridyl containing Phe*-Ala-based BACE inhibitors (5-19). In conjunction with four fixed residues at the P1 (Phe), P1' (Ala), P2' (Val), and P2' cap (Pyr.), rather detailed SAR modifications at P2 and P3 positions were pursued. The promising inhibitors emerging from this SAR investigation, 12 and 17 demonstrated very good enzyme potency (IC(50)=45 nM) and cellular activity (IC(50)=0.4 microM).