Capped diaminopropionamide-glycine dipeptides are inhibitors of CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2).

A new series of CCR2 antagonists has been discovered that incorporates intramolecular hydrogen bonding as a strategy for rigidifying the scaffold. The structure-activity relationship was established through initial systematic modification of substitution pattern and chain length, followed by independent optimization of three different substituents (benzylamine, carboxamide, and benzamide). Several of the acyclic compounds display 10-30 nM binding affinity for CCR2. Moreover, these antagonists are able to block both MCP-1-induced Ca(2+) flux and monocyte chemotaxis, and are selective for binding to CCR2 over CCR1 and CCR3.

Novel chimeric scaffolds to extend the exploration of receptor space: hybrid beta-D-glucose-benzoheterodiazepine structures for broad screening. Effect of amide alkylation on the course of cyclization reactions.

New molecular platforms which are hybrids of two scaffolds-namely, beta-d-glucose and benzodiazepine, each able to bind several proteins-were designed, synthesized and functionalized to serve as probes for broad biological screening. Herein, we describe the syntheses and chemical properties of these novel chimeric scaffolds. Attempted cyclization of the functionalized analogues (-)-96 and (-)-97 afforded the corresponding dimers (-)-98 and (-)-99, respectively, under a variety of reaction conditions, even at concentrations of only 0.001 N. Consideration of factors affecting the conformation of amide bonds and their effects on cyclization reactions led us to alkylate the amide bond. As expected, the cyclization of the N-methyl derivative (-)-110 afforded exclusively the unimolecular cyclization product (+)-111. These compounds are only now undergoing broad screening and represent therefore at present a "prospecting library."