Discovery of Orally Bioavailable FGFR2/FGFR3 Dual Inhibitors via Structure-Guided Scaffold Repurposing Approach.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases that regulate multiple physiological processes. Aberrant activation of FGFR2 and FGFR3 has been linked to the pathogenesis of many tumor types, including cholangiocarcinoma and bladder cancer. Current therapies targeting the FGFR2/3 pathway exploiting small-molecule kinase inhibitors are associated with adverse events due to undesirable inhibition of FGFR1 and FGFR4. Isoform-specific FGFR2 and FGFR3 inhibitors that spare FGFR1 and FGFR4 could offer a favorable toxicity profile and improved therapeutic window to current treatments. Herein we disclose the discovery of dual FGFR2/FGFR3 inhibitors exploiting scaffold repurposing of a previously reported ALK2 tool compound. Structure-based drug design and structure-activity relationship studies were employed to identify selective and orally bioavailable inhibitors with equipotent activity toward wild-type kinases and a clinically observed gatekeeper mutant.

Discovery of Pyrazolopyridine Derivatives as HPK1 Inhibitors.

In spite of the great success of immune checkpoint inhibitors in immune-oncology therapy, an urgent need still exists to identify alternative approaches to broaden the scope of therapeutic coverage. Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1), also known as MAP4K1, functions as a negative regulator of activation signals generated by the T cell antigen receptor. Herein we report the discovery of novel pyrazolopyridine derivatives as selective inhibitors of HPK1. The structure-activity relationship campaign led to the discovery of compound 16, which has shown promising enzymatic and cellular potency with encouraging kinome selectivity. The outstanding pharmacokinetic profiles of 16 in rats and monkeys supported further evaluations of its efficacy and safety in preclinical models.

Potent and Selective Biaryl Amide Inhibitors of Hematopoietic Progenitor Kinase 1 (HPK1).

Herein we report the discovery of a novel biaryl amide series as selective inhibitors of hematopoietic protein kinase 1 (HPK1). Structure-activity relationship development, aided by molecular modeling, identified indazole 5b as a core for further exploration because of its outstanding enzymatic and cellular potency coupled with encouraging kinome selectivity. Late-stage manipulation of the right-hand aryl and amine moieties surmounted issues of selectivity over TRKA, MAP4K2, and STK4 as well as generating compounds with balanced in vitro ADME profiles and promising pharmacokinetics.

Discovery of Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Wild-Type and Gatekeeper Mutant Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) 2/3.

Upregulation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathway has been implicated in multiple cancer types, including cholangiocarcinoma and bladder cancer. Consequently, small molecule inhibition of FGFR has emerged as a promising therapy for patients suffering from these diseases. First-generation pan-FGFR inhibitors, while highly effective, suffer from several drawbacks. These include treatment-related hyperphosphatemia and significant loss of potency for the mutant kinases. Herein, we present the discovery and optimization of novel FGFR2/3 inhibitors that largely maintain potency for the common gatekeeper mutants and have excellent selectivity over FGFR1. A combination of meticulous structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis, structure-based drug design, and medicinal chemistry rationale ultimately led to compound 29, a potent and selective FGFR2/3 inhibitor with excellent in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), and pharmacokinetics in rat. A pharmacodynamic study of a closely related compound established that maximum inhibition of downstream ERK phosphorylation could be achieved with no significant effect on serum phosphate levels relative to vehicle.

Synthesis and electronic properties of a pentafluoroethyl-derivatized nickel pincer complex.

The synthesis of a bis(amino)amide nickel pincer complex bearing a perfluoroethyl ligand was effected by reaction of the corresponding nickel chloride complex with cesium fluoride and trimethyl(pentafluoroethyl)silane. Electrochemical experiments revealed that the oxidation of the LNi-C(2)F(5) complex occurs at the same potential as the LNi-Cl derivative, but reduction of the LNi-C(2)F(5) complex occurs at slightly more positive potentials. The similarity of the electrochemical data was corroborated by density functional theory (DFT), which predicts that the energies of the HOMOs (HOMO = highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMOs (LUMO = lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of the LNi-C(2)F(5) and LNi-Cl complexes are equal in magnitude. DFT also revealed that the HOMOs of the bis(amino)amide nickel pincer complexes are primarily ligand in character, while the LUMOs are predominantly metal in character, supporting redox-activity with this ligand.

A structure-activity study of Ni-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl Kumada coupling. Improved catalysts for coupling of secondary alkyl halides.

A structure-activity study was carried out for Ni catalyzed alkyl-alkyl Kumada-type cross coupling reactions. A series of new nickel(II) complexes including those with tridentate pincer bis(amino)amide ligands ((R)N(2)N) and those with bidentate mixed amino-amide ligands ((R)NN) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The coordination geometries of these complexes range from square planar, tetrahedral, to square pyramidal. The complexes had been examined as precatalysts for cross coupling of nonactivated alkyl halides, particularly secondary alkyl iodides, with alkyl Grignard reagents. Comparison was made to the results obtained with the previously reported Ni pincer complex [((Me)N(2)N)NiCl]. A transmetalation site in the precatalysts is necessary for the catalysis. The coordination geometries and spin-states of the precatalysts have a small or no influence. The work led to the discovery of several well-defined Ni catalysts that are significantly more active and efficient than the pincer complex [((Me)N(2)N)NiCl] for the coupling of secondary alkyl halides. The best two catalysts are [((H)NN)Ni(PPh(3))Cl] and [((H)NN)Ni(2,4-lutidine)Cl]. The improved activity and efficiency was attributed to the fact that phosphine and lutidine ligands in these complexes can dissociate from the Ni center during catalysis. The activation of alkyl halides was shown to proceed via a radical mechanism.

Pd, Pt, and Ru complexes of a pincer bis(amino)amide ligand.

An improved synthesis of pincer ligand bis[(2-dimethylamino)phenyl]amine ((Me)N(2)NH) was reported. Reaction of the Li complex of (Me)N(2)N with suitable Pd, Pt, and Ru precursors gave the corresponding metal complexes. The structures of the Pd, Pt, and Ru complexes were determined. The Ru complex showed activity in catalytic transfer hydrogenation of aryl and alkyl ketones.

Carbon dioxide as the C1 source for direct C-H functionalization of aromatic heterocycles.

A simple and straightforward method has been developed for the direct carboxylation of aromatic heterocycles such as oxazoles, thiazoles, and oxadiazoles using CO(2) as the C1 source. The reactions require no metal catalyst and only Cs(2)CO(3) as the base. A good functional group tolerance is achieved.

Ni-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of nonactivated alkyl halides: orthogonal functionalization of alkyl iodides, bromides, and chlorides.

Ni-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of nonactivated, beta-H-containing alkyl halides, including chlorides, is reported. The coupling is tolerant to a wide range of functional groups, including ether, ester, amide, nitrile, keto, heterocycle, acetal, and aryl halide, in both coupling partners. The coupling can be selective for a specific C-X bond (X = I, Br, Cl) and allows for orthogonal functionalization of alkyl halides with multiple reactive sites.

Functional group tolerant Kumada-Corriu-Tamao coupling of nonactivated alkyl halides with aryl and heteroaryl nucleophiles: catalysis by a nickel pincer complex permits the coupling of functionalized Grignard reagents.

A nickel(II) pincer complex [((Me)NN(2))NiCl] (1) catalyzes Kumada-Corriu-Tamao cross coupling of nonactivated alkyl halides with aryl and heteroaryl Grignard reagents. The coupling of octyl bromide with phenylmagnesium chloride was used as a test reaction. Using 3 mol % of 1 as the precatalyst and THF as the solvent, and in the presence of a catalytic amount of TMEDA, the coupling product was obtained in a high yield. The reaction conditions could be applied to cross coupling of other primary and secondary alkyl bromides and iodides. The coupling is tolerant to a wide range of functional groups. Therefore, alkyl halides containing ester, amide, ether, thioether, alcohol, pyrrole, indole, furan, nitrile, conjugated enone, and aryl halide moieties were coupled to give high isolated yields of products in which these units stay intact. For the coupling of ester-containing substrates, O-TMEDA is a better additive than TMEDA. The reaction protocol proves to be efficient for the coupling of Knochel-type functionalized Grignard reagents. Thus aryl Grignard reagents containing electron-deficient and/or sensitive ester, nitrile, amide, and CF(3) substituents could be successfully coupled to nonactivated and functionalized alkyl iodides. The catalysis is also efficient for the coupling of alkyl iodides with functionalized heteroaryl Grignard reagents, giving rise to pyridine-, thiophene-, pyrazole-, furan-containing molecules with additional functionalities. Concerning the mechanism of the catalysis, [((Me)NN(2))Ni-(hetero)Ar] was identified as an intermediate, and the activation of alkyl halides was found to take place through a radical-rebound process.

Nickel complexes of a pincer amidobis(amine) ligand: synthesis, structure, and activity in stoichiometric and catalytic C-C bond-forming reactions of alkyl halides.

The synthesis, properties, and reactivity of nickel(II) complexes of a newly developed pincer amidobis(amine) ligand ((Me)NN(2)) are described. Neutral or cationic complexes [((Me)NN(2))NiX] (X = OTf (6), OC(O)CH(3) (7), CH(3)CN (8), OMe (9)) were prepared by salt metathesis or chloride abstraction from the previously reported [((Me)NN(2))NiCl] (1). The Lewis acidity of the {((Me)NN(2))Ni} fragment was measured by the (1)H NMR chemical shift of the coordinated CH(3)CN molecule in 8. Electrochemical measurements on 1 and 8 indicate that the electron-donating properties of NN(2) are similar to those of the analogous amidobis(phosphine) (pnp) ligands. The solid-state structures of 6-8 were determined and compared to those of 1 and [((Me)NN(2))NiEt] (3). In all complexes, the (Me)NN(2) ligand coordinates to the Ni(II) ion in a mer fashion, and the square-planar coordination sphere of the metal is completed by an additional donor. The coordination chemistry of (Me)NN(2) thus resembles that of other three-dentate pincer ligands, for example, pnp and arylbis(amine) (ncn). Reactions of 2 with alkyl monohalides, dichlorides, and trichlorides were investigated. Selective C-C bond formation was observed in many cases. Based on these reactions, efficient Kumada-Corriu-Tamao coupling of unactivated alkyl halides and alkyl Grignard reagents with 1 as the precatalyst was developed. Good yields were obtained for the coupling of primary and secondary iodides and bromides. Double C-C coupling of CH(2)Cl(2) with alkyl Grignard reagents by 1 was also realized. The scope and limitations of these transformations were studied. Evidence was found for a radical pathway in Ni-catalyzed C-C cross-coupling reactions, which involves Ni(II) alkyl intermediates.

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of non-activated and functionalized alkyl halides with alkyl Grignard reagents.

Reacting in the 'Ni'ck of time: The title reaction is realized by using an isolated Ni(II) complex (1). The catalysis tolerates a wide range of important functional groups that are often incompatible with Grignard reagents in cross-coupling reactions.

Nickel complexes of a pincer NN2 ligand: multiple carbon-chloride activation of CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 leads to selective carbon-carbon bond formation.

A new pincer-type bis(amino)amine (NN2) ligand and its lithium and nickel complexes, including Ni(II) methyl, ethyl, and phenyl complexes, were synthesized. The Ni(II) alkyl complexes react cleanly with alkyl halides including chlorides to form C-C coupled products and Ni(II) halides. More interestingly, the Ni(II) alkyls undergo unprecedented reactions with CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 to cleave all the C-Cl bonds and replace them with C-C bonds. The reactions are highly selective and lead to the first efficient catalytic coupling of CH2Cl2 with alkyl Grignards. A conversion of 82% and a turnover number of 47 are achieved within minutes. Coupling of CD2Cl2 and 1,1-dichloro-3,3-dimethylbutane with nBuMgCl is also realized. Preliminary mechanistic study suggests a radical initiated process for these reactions.