Discovery of a novel aminopyrazine series as selective PI3Kα inhibitors.

We report the discovery of a novel aminopyrazine series of PI3Kα inhibitors, designed by hybridizing two known scaffolds of PI3K inhibitors. We describe the progress achieved from the first compounds plagued with poor general kinase selectivity to compounds showing high selectivity for PI3Kα over PI3Kß and excellent general kinase selectivity. This effort culminated with the identification of compound 5 displaying high potency and selectivity, and suitable physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties for oral administration. In vivo, compound 5 showed good inhibition of tumour growth (86% tumour growth inhibition at 50mg/kg twice daily orally) in the MCF7 xenograft model in mice.

Discovery of 1-(4-(5-(5-amino-6-(5-tert-butyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)pyrazin-2-yl)-1-ethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-3-hydroxypropan-1-one (AZD8835): A potent and selective inhibitor of PI3Kα and PI3Kδ for the treatment of cancers.

Starting from potent inhibitors of PI3Kα having poor general kinase selectivity (e.g., 1 and 2), optimisation of this series led to the identification of 25, a potent inhibitor of PI3Kα (wild type, E545K and H1047R mutations) and PI3Kδ, selective versus PI3Kß and PI3Kγ, with excellent general kinase selectivity. Compound 25 displayed low metabolic turnover and suitable physical properties for oral administration. In vivo, compound 25 showed pharmacodynamic modulation of AKT phosphorylation and near complete inhibition of tumour growth (93% tumour growth inhibition) in a murine H1047R PI3Kα mutated SKOV-3 xenograft tumour model after chronic oral administration at 25mg/kg b.i.d. Compound 25, also known as AZD8835, is currently in phase I clinical trials.

Design of selective PI3Kα inhibitors starting from a promiscuous pan kinase scaffold.

Starting from compound 1, a potent PI3Kα inhibitor having poor general kinase selectivity, we used structural data and modelling to identify key exploitable differences between PI3Kα and the other kinases. This approach led us to design chemical modifications of the central pyrazole, which solved the poor kinase selectivity seen as a strong liability for the initial compound 1. Amongst the modifications explored, a 1,3,4-triazole ring (as in compound 4) as a replacement of the initial pyrazole provided good potency against PI3Kα, with excellent kinase selectivity.

Structure-activity relationship of a series of non peptidic RGD integrin antagonists targeting α5ß1: part 1.

Potent antagonists of the integrin α(5)ß(1), which are RGD mimetics built from tyrosine are described. This letter describes the optimization of in vitro potency obtained by variation of two parts of the molecule, the basic group and the linker between the basic group and the phenyl central core.

Structure-activity relationship of a series of non peptidic RGD integrin antagonists targeting α5ß1: part 2.

Potent antagonists of the integrin α(5)ß(1), which are RGD mimetics built from tyrosine are described. This paper describes the optimization of in vitro potency obtained by variation of two parts of the molecule, the central aromatic core and the amide moiety.

Conjugate additions to alkylidene bis(sulfoxides).

A general study on the conjugate addition of anionic nucleophiles to alkylidene bis(sulfoxides) is presented. Alkoxides gave high yielding and diastereoselective addition reactions, which could be influenced by solvents and the counteranion. Azides provided an interesting entry into sulfinyl-substituted triazoles. Organometallics, mainly copper reagents, proved also to be valuable nucleophiles, and complete inversion of the stereoselectivity was achieved in the addition reaction with the latter. Modelizations provide a rationale for the observed diastereoselectivity.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of thieno[2,3-b]pyrroles as antagonists of the GnRH receptor.

A new class of small-molecule GnRH antagonists, the thieno[2,3-b]pyrroles, was designed. Herein, the synthesis and structure-activity relationships are described. Substitution at the C4 position was investigated; during this study, it was observed that introducing piperazines and piperidines improved the physical properties of the compounds while retaining good in vitro potency. This exploration led to the discovery of amidopiperidines with improved pharmacokinetic properties.

Novel 4-anilinoquinazolines with C-6 carbon-linked side chains: synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a series of potent, orally active, EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

The structure-activity relationship of a novel subseries of 4-anilinoquinazoline EGFR inhibitors substituted at the C-6 position with carbon-linked side chains has been investigated. This exploration has led to the discovery of novel aminomethyl carboxamides with good biological, pharmacokinetic and physical properties.

Recent developments in the construction of trans-fused polycyclic ethers.

The development of new synthetic methodology for the construction of trans-fused polycyclic ethers has stimulated significant attention since the late 1980s. This review provides an update on work reported between 2000 and 2002, emphasizing the development of iterative, convergent and cascade/two-directional cyclization strategies that provide direct and efficient approaches for the assembly of these complex structures. Recent developments in synthetic methodology have provided the tools necessary to accomplish the first total syntheses of ciguatoxin CTX3C and gambierol. Nonetheless, significant improvements in selectivity and versatility are clearly necessary for progress to be made in the construction of this class of molecules.

Radical Cyclization/ß-Elimination Tandem Reactions: Enantiopure Sulfoxides as Temporary Chiral Auxiliaries.

Alkylidene-substituted cyclopentane derivatives are formed in high enantiomeric purity by the reaction shown below. A highly diastereoselective radical cyclization is followed by elimination of a ß-sulfinyl radical. Interestingly, the addition of the Lewis acid methylaluminum bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide) (MAD) totally reverses the stereochemical outcome of the reaction. E=CO2 Me.