Reactive metabolite trapping screens and potential pitfalls: bioactivation of a homomorpholine and formation of an unstable thiazolidine adduct.

Successful early attrition of potential problematic compounds is of great importance in the pharmaceutical industry. The lead compound in a recent project targeting neuropathic pain was susceptible to metabolic bioactivation, which produced reactive metabolites and showed covalent binding to protein. Therefore, as a part of the backup series for this compound several structural modifications were explored to mediate the reactive metabolite and covalent binding risk. A homomorpholine containing series of compounds was identified without compromising potency. However, when these compounds were incubated with human liver microsomes in the presence of GSH, Cys-Gly adducts were identified, instead of intact GSH conjugates. This article examines the formation of the Cys-Gly adduct with AZX ([M+H]+ 486) as a representative compound for this series. The AZX-Cys-Gly-adduct ([M+H]+ 662) showed evidence of ring contraction by formation of a thiazolidine-glycine and was additionally shown to be unstable. During its isolation for structural characterization by 1H NMR spectroscopy, it was found to have decomposed to a product with [M+H]+ 446. The characterization and identification of this labile GSH-derived adduct using LC-MS/MS and 1H NMR are described, along with observations around stability. In addition, various structurally related trapping reagents were employed in an attempt to further investigate the reaction mechanism along with a methoxylamine trapping experiment to confirm the structure of the postulated reactive intermediate.

Discovery of P2X3 selective antagonists for the treatment of chronic pain.

Purinergic receptor P2X3 has been linked to analgesia in a number of pre-clinical models of pain, and is expressed in the human pain perception pathway. Only few P2X3-selective antagonists have been reported to date. This Letter describes the SAR and in vivo analgesic profile of a novel scaffold of selective P2X3 antagonists.

Development of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine derivatives as novel SNSR4 antagonists.

2,4-Diaminopyrimidines derivatives were developed as a novel class of SNSR4 antagonists. Structure activity relationship of the diamino pyrimidine core was explored and a tool compound suitable for target validation was identified.

Discovery and pharmacological characterization of a small-molecule antagonist at neuromedin U receptor NMUR2.

Neuromedin U (NMU), through its cognate receptor NMUR2 in the central nervous system, regulates several important physiological functions, including energy balance, stress response, and nociception. By random screening of our corporate compound collection with a ligand binding assay, we discovered (R)-5'-(phenylaminocarbonylamino)spiro[1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-3,2'(3'H)-furo[2,3-b]pyridine] (R-PSOP), a highly potent and selective NMUR2 antagonist. R-PSOP is a nonpeptidic small-molecule with the chemical composition C(20)N(4)O(2)H(22). In competition binding experiments, this compound was found to bind to NMUR2 with high affinity; the K(i) values were determined to be 52 and 32 nM for the human and rat NMUR2, respectively. Moreover, in functional assays measuring phosphoinositide turnover or intracellular calcium mobilization, R-PSOP strongly inhibited the responses stimulated by peptide agonists NMU-25, NMU-23, and NMU-8 in human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing NMUR2. From Schild analyses, the functional K(b) values for R-PSOP were determined to be 92 and 155 nM at human and rat NMUR2, respectively. Highly selective for NMUR2, R-PSOP exhibited low affinity to the other subtype of NMU receptor, NMUR1, with a K(i) value >10 microM. R-PSOP in vivo attenuated NMU-23-evoked nociceptive responses in a rat spinal reflex preparation. To our knowledge, this is the first antagonist ever reported for NMU receptors. This compound could serve as a valuable tool for further understanding the physiological and pathophysiological roles of NMU system, while providing a chemical starting point that may lead to development of new therapeutics for treatment of eating disorders, obesity, pain, and stress-related disorders.

Design, synthesis, and thrombin-inhibitory activity of pyridin-2-ones as P2/P3 core motifs.

Guided by available X-ray crystal structure data on the serine protease thrombin, a series of pyridin-2-one derivatives were designed and synthesized having diverse functionality at the P(1) and P(3) sites. Potent in vitro activity against thrombin, with excellent selectivity over trypsin was found for selected analogues.

Asymmetric Synthesis of a Potent CXCR7 Modulator Featuring a Hindered Tertiary ß-Amino Amide Stereocenter.

A practical and asymmetric synthesis of a small-molecule CXCR7 modulator featuring a highly functionalized and hindered tertiary ß-amino amide framework is reported. The cornerstone of this strategy relied on the intermediacy of a reactive aziridinium species, which, following regioselective ring opening with cyanide, furnished the desired chiral ß-tertiary amino nitrile for further elaboration. As a means of further highlighting this synthetic strategy, an expanded scope of hindered ß-amino amide synthesis is also presented.

Structure-based design, synthesis, and memapsin 2 (BACE) inhibitory activity of carbocyclic and heterocyclic peptidomimetics.

Molecular modeling based on the X-ray crystal structure of the Tang-Ghosh heptapeptide inhibitor 1 (OM99-2) of BACE led to the design and synthesis of a series of constrained P(1)' analogues. A cyclopentane ring was incorporated in 1 spanning the P(1)' Ala methyl group and the adjacent methylene carbon atom of the chain. Progressive truncation at the P(2)'-P(4)' sites led to a potent truncated analogue 5 with good selectivity over Cathepsin D. Using the same backbone replacement concept, a series of cyclopentane, cyclopentanone, tetrahydrofuran, pyrrolidine, and pyrrolidinone analogues were synthesized with considerable variation at the P and P' sites. The cyclopentanone and 2-pyrrolidinone analogues 45 and 57 showed low nM BACE inhibition. X-ray cocrystal structures of two analogues 5 and 45 revealed excellent convergence with the original inhibitor 1 structure while providing new insights into other interactions which could be exploited for future modifications.

Phenolic P2/P3 core motif as thrombin inhibitors--design, synthesis, and X-ray co-crystal structure.

Prototypical thrombin inhibitors were synthesized based on a trisubstituted phenol as a core motif. A naphthylsulfonamide analogue showed excellent antithrombin activity. An X-ray co-crystal structure showed the expected interactions.

Stereoselective synthesis of constrained oxacyclic hydroxyethylene isosteres of aspartic protease inhibitors: aldol and Mukaiyama aldol methodologies for branched tetrahydrofuran 2-carboxylic acids.

The synthesis of diastereomeric 3-substituted-tetrahydrofuran 2-carboxylic acids in enantiopure form was achieved relying on aldol condensations of N-substituted alpha-amino aldehydes with enolates and enol silyl ethers of gamma-butyrolactone. Catalytic YbFOD leads to a high yield of a syn/syn-alpha-amino alcohol isomer. This was used as a constrained THF subunit in the synthesis of a peptidomimetic intended as an inhibitor of the enzyme BACE1, which is implicated in the cascade of events leading to plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease.

Design and synthesis of a novel class of constrained tricyclic pyrrolizidinone carboxylic acids as carbapenem mimics.

A series of tricyclic pyrrolizidinone carboxylic acids harboring an angular methano group were synthesized as mimics of carbapenems and carbapenams. A key reaction involved a novel intramolecular cyclopropanation mediated by a trimethylstannylmethyl group and an adjacent iminium ion. Enolate chemistry on a tricyclic lactam ring unit allowed the introduction of various substituents. Further elaboration afforded tricyclic pyrrolidinone carboxylic acids, which were found to be inactive as inhibitors against a panel of bacterial strains. However, the antibacterial activity of ceftazidine was enhanced in the presence of the tricyclic analogues.

Total synthesis of A-315675: a potent inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase.

A concise, stereocontrolled, and practical synthesis of a neuraminidase inhibitor consisting of a highly functionalized D-proline scaffold is described. Key features involve a stereocontrolled addition of a propiolate ester to a chiral nonracemic nitrone derived originally from D-serine and the manipulation of acyclic and cyclic motifs en route to the target in 12.8% overall yield over 22 steps. Several crystalline intermediates were suitable for single-crystal X-ray analysis.