Oxidations of pyrrolidines and piperidines to afford CH-functionalized isopropyl-1-carboxylate congeners.

This article describes the action of iodine(III) reagents [diacetoxyiodobenzene, PhI(OAc)2, and iodosobenzene, (PhIO)n] in conjunction with TMSBr which act as functional bromine equivalents in unique oxidations of saturated, carbamate protected N-heterocycles. Interestingly, during this work, treatment of the same carbamates with molecular bromine alone afforded similar products, which were sequestered by the solvent methanol.

Differential BET Bromodomain Inhibition by Dihydropteridinone and Pyrimidodiazepinone Kinase Inhibitors.

BRD4 and other members of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of proteins are promising epigenetic targets for the development of novel therapeutics. Among the reported BRD4 inhibitors are dihydropteridinones and benzopyrimidodiazepinones originally designed to target the kinases PLK1, ERK5, and LRRK2. While these kinase inhibitors were identified as BRD4 inhibitors, little is known about their binding potential and structural details of interaction with the other BET bromodomains. We comprehensively characterized a series of known and newly identified dual BRD4-kinase inhibitors against all eight individual BET bromodomains. A detailed analysis of 23 novel cocrystal structures of BET-kinase inhibitor complexes in combination with direct binding assays and cell signaling studies revealed significant differences in molecular shape complementarity and inhibitory potential. Collectively, the data offer new insights into the action of kinase inhibitors across BET bromodomains, which may aid the development of drugs to inhibit certain BET proteins and kinases differentially.

Structural Insights into JAK2 Inhibition by Ruxolitinib, Fedratinib, and Derivatives Thereof.

The discovery that aberrant activity of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is a driver of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) has led to significant efforts to develop small molecule inhibitors for this patient population. Ruxolitinib and fedratinib have been approved for use in MPN patients, while baricitinib, an achiral analogue of ruxolitinib, has been approved for rheumatoid arthritis. However, structural information on the interaction of these therapeutics with JAK2 remains unknown. Here, we describe a new methodology for the large-scale production of JAK2 from mammalian cells, which enabled us to determine the first crystal structures of JAK2 bound to these drugs and derivatives thereof. Along with biochemical and cellular data, the results provide a comprehensive view of the shape complementarity required for chiral and achiral inhibitors to achieve highest activity, which may facilitate the development of more effective JAK2 inhibitors as therapeutics.

Targeting the BRD4-HOXB13 Coregulated Transcriptional Networks with Bromodomain-Kinase Inhibitors to Suppress Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Resistance to androgen receptor (AR) antagonists is a significant problem in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC). Identification of the mechanisms by which CRPCs evade androgen deprivation therapies (ADT) is critical to develop novel therapeutics. We uncovered that CRPCs rely on BRD4-HOXB13 epigenetic reprogramming for androgen-independent cell proliferation. Mechanistically, BRD4, a member of the BET bromodomain family, epigenetically promotes HOXB13 expression. Consistently, genetic disruption of HOXB13 or pharmacological suppression of its mRNA and protein expression by the novel dual-activity BET bromodomain-kinase inhibitors directly correlates with rapid induction of apoptosis, potent inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and cell migration, and suppression of CRPC growth. Integrative analysis revealed that the BRD4-HOXB13 transcriptome comprises a proliferative gene network implicated in cell-cycle progression, nucleotide metabolism, and chromatin assembly. Notably, although the core HOXB13 target genes responsive to BET inhibitors (HOTBIN10) are overexpressed in metastatic cases, in ADT-treated CRPC cell lines and patient-derived circulating tumor cells (CTC) they are insensitive to AR depletion or blockade. Among the HOTBIN10 genes, AURKB and MELK expression correlates with HOXB13 expression in CTCs of mCRPC patients who did not respond to abiraterone (ABR), suggesting that AURKB inhibitors could be used additionally against high-risk HOXB13-positive metastatic prostate cancers. Combined, our study demonstrates that BRD4-HOXB13-HOTBIN10 regulatory circuit maintains the malignant state of CRPCs and identifies a core proproliferative network driving ADT resistance that is targetable with potent dual-activity bromodomain-kinase inhibitors.

Ligand-mediated protein degradation reveals functional conservation among sequence variants of the CUL4-type E3 ligase substrate receptor cereblon.

Upon binding to thalidomide and other immunomodulatory drugs, the E3 ligase substrate receptor cereblon (CRBN) promotes proteosomal destruction by engaging the DDB1-CUL4A-Roc1-RBX1 E3 ubiquitin ligase in human cells but not in mouse cells, suggesting that sequence variations in CRBN may cause its inactivation. Therapeutically, CRBN engagers have the potential for broad applications in cancer and immune therapy by specifically reducing protein expression through targeted ubiquitin-mediated degradation. To examine the effects of defined sequence changes on CRBN's activity, we performed a comprehensive study using complementary theoretical, biophysical, and biological assays aimed at understanding CRBN's nonprimate sequence variations. With a series of recombinant thalidomide-binding domain (TBD) proteins, we show that CRBN sequence variants retain their drug-binding properties to both classical immunomodulatory drugs and dBET1, a chemical compound and targeting ligand designed to degrade bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) via a CRBN-dependent mechanism. We further show that dBET1 stimulates CRBN's E3 ubiquitin-conjugating function and degrades BRD4 in both mouse and human cells. This insight paves the way for studies of CRBN-dependent proteasome-targeting molecules in nonprimate models and provides a new understanding of CRBN's substrate-recruiting function.

Potent Dual BET Bromodomain-Kinase Inhibitors as Value-Added Multitargeted Chemical Probes and Cancer Therapeutics.

Synergistic action of kinase and BET bromodomain inhibitors in cell killing has been reported for a variety of cancers. Using the chemical scaffold of the JAK2 inhibitor TG101348, we developed and characterized single agents which potently and simultaneously inhibit BRD4 and a specific set of oncogenic tyrosine kinases including JAK2, FLT3, RET, and ROS1. Lead compounds showed on-target inhibition in several blood cancer cell lines and were highly efficacious at inhibiting the growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells from patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm. Screening across 931 cancer cell lines revealed differential growth inhibitory potential with highest activity against bone and blood cancers and greatly enhanced activity over the single BET inhibitor JQ1. Gene drug sensitivity analyses and drug combination studies indicate synergism of BRD4 and kinase inhibition as a plausible reason for the superior potency in cell killing. Combined, our findings indicate promising potential of these agents as novel chemical probes and cancer therapeutics. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(6); 1054-67. ©2017 AACR.

Targeting Aurora kinase A and JAK2 prevents GVHD while maintaining Treg and antitumor CTL function.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a leading cause of nonrelapse mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. T cell costimulation by CD28 contributes to GVHD, but prevention is incomplete when targeting CD28, downstream mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), or Aurora A. Likewise, interleukin-6 (IL-6)-mediated Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling promotes alloreactivity, yet JAK2 inhibition does not eliminate GVHD. We provide evidence that blocking Aurora A and JAK2 in human T cells is synergistic in vitro, prevents xenogeneic GVHD, and maintains antitumor responses by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Aurora A/JAK2 inhibition is immunosuppressive but permits the differentiation of inducible regulatory T cells (iTregs) that are hyperfunctional and CD39 bright and efficiently scavenge adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Increased iTreg potency is primarily a function of Aurora A blockade, whereas JAK2 inhibition suppresses T helper 17 (TH17) differentiation. Inhibiting either Aurora A or JAK2 significantly suppresses TH1 T cells. However, CTL generated in vivo retains tumor-specific killing despite Aurora A/JAK2 blockade. Thus, inhibiting CD28 and IL-6 signal transduction pathways in donor T cells can increase the Treg/Tconv ratio, prevent GVHD, and preserve antitumor CTL.

Construction of functionalized tricyclic dihydropyrazino-quinazolinedione chemotypes via an Ugi/N-acyliminium ion cyclization cascade.

Dihydropyrazino-quinazolinedione chemotypes are complex and structurally challenging structures of biological interest, being found in the marine alkaloids such as brevianamide M-N and fumiquinazolines A-C. Herein we report the synthesis of this tricyclic system in three synthetic operations by means of an Ugi multi-component reaction (MCR) followed by a tandem N-acyliminium ion cyclization-intramolecular nucleophilic addition reaction sequence. Additional structural diversification for further library enrichment was also accomplished via sequential N-alkylation and N-acylation/sulfonation.

Bifunctional building blocks in the Ugi-azide condensation reaction: a general strategy toward exploration of new molecular diversity.

1,5-Disubstituted tetrazoles are an important drug-like scaffold known for their ability to mimic the cis-amide bond conformation. The scaffold is readily accessible via substitution of the carboxylic acid component of the Ugi multi-component reaction (MCR) with TMSN3 in what is herein denoted the Ugi-azide reaction. This full paper presents a concise, novel, general strategy to access a plethora of new heterocylic scaffolds utilizing tethered aldo/keto-acids/esters in the Ugi-azide reaction followed by a ring closing event that generates novel highly complex bis-heterocyclic lactam-tetrazoles.

Synthesis of Tetrazolo-Fused Benzodiazepines and Benzodiazepinones by a Two-Step Protocol Using an Ugi-Azide Reaction for Initial Diversity Generation.

A two-step strategy for the synthesis of arrays of tricyclic tetrazolo-fused benzodiazepines and benzodiazepinones has been investigated. The protocol uses ortho-N-Boc phenylisocyanides and phenylglyoxaldehydes or ethyl glyoxylate in the 4-component Ugi-Azide reaction to afford MCR (Multi Component Reactions) derived adducts equipped with the desired diversity inputs. A subsequent acidic treatment (TFA/DCE) allows a simultaneous deprotection-cyclization leading to the final products.

Concise route to a series of novel 3-(tetrazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones.

This report presents a novel three step solution phase protocol to synthesize 3-(tetrazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones. The strategy utilizes ethyl glyoxalate and mono-N-Boc-protected-o-phenylenediamine derivatives in the Ugi-Azide multi-component reaction (MCR) to generate a unique 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole. Subsequent acid treatment stimulates a simultaneous Boc deprotection and intramolecular cyclization leading to bis-3,4-dihydroquinoxalinone tetrazoles. Direct oxidation using a stable solid-phase radical catalyst (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in catalytic fashion initiating aerobic oxidation, completes the entire procedure to generate a series of original unique bis-quinoxalinone tetrazoles. The method was also expanded to produce a bis-benzodiazepine tetrazole.

Synthesis of peptidomimetics, δ- and ε-lactam tetrazoles.

A concise two-step procedure for the synthesis of novel δ-lactam tetrazoles has been established via the Ugi-azide reaction using 5-oxohexanoic acid along with primary amines, isocyanides, and azidotrimethylsilane followed by 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole-mediated intramolecular amide formation. Expansion to ε-lactam tetrazole scaffolds was accomplished using methyl 6-oxoheptanoate via the same Ugi-azide reaction followed by basic hydrolysis and SOCl(2) activation to enable lactam formation.

Concise one-pot preparation of unique bis-pyrrolidinone tetrazoles.

A one-pot, two-step synthesis of bis-pyrrolidinone tetrazoles has been established via the Ugi-Azide reaction using methyl levulinate, primary amines, isocyanides and azidotrimethylsilane with subsequent acid treatment to catalyze the lactam formation. The efficiency of the protocol was established followed by a successful transition to library production in four 24-well plates.

Concise Preparation of Novel Tricyclic Chemotypes: Fused Hydantoin-benzodiazepines.

The following article describes a concise synthesis of a collection of 4,5-dihydro-1H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepines fused to a hydantoin ring. Molecular complexity and biological relevance is high and structures are generated in a mere three steps, employing the Ugi reaction to assemble diversity reagents. The protocol represents a novel UDC (Ugi-deprotect-cyclize) strategy employed in the Ugi-5-component CO(2) mediated condensation, followed by further cyclization under basic conditions, to afford the fused hydantoin. Mechanistic caveats, dependent on aldehydes of choice will be revealed and a facile oxidation of final products to imidazolidenetriones briefly discussed.

2-Propyl 3,3-dibromo-2-hydroxy-pyrrolidine-1-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C(8)H(13)Br(2)NO(3), crystallizes as a non-merohedral twin with twin law -0.6 0 0.4/0 - 1 0 /1.6 0 0.6, and the structure has a refined twin domain ratio of 0.546 (5). The structure shows a compact conformation, with the ester unit roughly coplanar with a mean plane fitted through the non-H atoms of the pyrrolidine ring [dihedral angle = 8.23 (9)°]. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate an R(2) (2)(12) motif.

2-Butyl-11-phenyl-5,10-dihydro-1H-benzo[e]imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]diazepine-1,3(2H)-dione.

The title compound, C(21)H(21)N(3)O(2), was obtained following a five-step synthetic procedure yielding weakly diffracting rod and needle-shaped crystals which crystallized concomitantly. Structural analysis of a rod-shaped crystal showed that the central seven-membered heterocyclic ring adopts a conformation that is perhaps best described as a distorted boat, with the H-bearing (CH(2) and NH) atoms lying well out of the least-squares mean plane fitted through the other five atoms in the ring (r.m.s. deviation 0.075 Å). In the crystal, the compound packs as a twisted chain, which propagates along the b axis by means of an R(1) (2)(6) motif formed by one of the carbonyl O atoms acting as a bifurcated acceptor in an N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O inter-action. No diffraction was observed from the needle-shaped crystals.