Positive allosteric modulators of the a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor

L-glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) and plays a fundamental role in the control of motor function, cognition and mood. The physiological effects of glutamate are mediated through two functionally distinct receptor families. While activation of metabotropic (G-protein coupled) glutamate receptors results in modulation of neuronal excitability and transmission, the ionotropic glutamate receptors (ligand-gated ion channels) are responsible for mediating the fast synaptic response to extracellular glutamate

Catalytic amidation of unactivated ester derivatives mediated by trifluoroethanol

A catalytic amidation method has been developed, employing 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol to facilitate condensation of unactivated esters and amines, enabling the synthesis of a range of amide products in good to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies indicate the reaction proceeds through a trifluoroethanol-derived active ester intermediate

Synthetic approaches to coronafacic acid, coronamic acid, and coronatine

The phytotoxin coronatine (COR) is a functional mimic of the active plant hormone (+)-7-iso-jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine (JA-IIe), which regulates stress responses. Structurally, COR is composed of a core unit, coronafacic acid (CFA), which is connected to coronamic acid (CMA), via an amide linkage. COR has been found to induce a range of biological activity in plants and based on its biological profile, COR, as well as CFA, and CMA are attractive starting points for agrochemical discovery, resulting in numerous total synthesis efforts. This review will discuss the synthetic approaches towards CFA, CMA and, ultimately COR, to date

Investigation of a bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane as a phenyl replacement within an LpPLA2 inhibitor

We describe the incorporation of a bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety within two known LpPLA2 inhibitors to act as bioisosteric phenyl replacements. An efficient synthesis to the target compounds was enabled with a dichlorocarbene insertion into a bicyclo[1.1.0]butane system being the key transformation. Potency, physicochemical, and X-ray crystallographic data were obtained to compare the known inhibitors to their bioisosteric counterparts, which showed the isostere was well tolerated and positively impacted on the physicochemical profile

Practical synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant molecules enriched in sp3 character

The expedient synthesis of compounds enriched in sp3 character is key goal in modern drug discovery. Herein, we report how a single pot Suzuki-Miyaura-hydrogenation can be used to furnish lead and fragment-like products in good to excellent yields. The approach has been successfully applied in formats amenable to parallel synthesis, in an asymmetric sense, and in the preparation of molecules with annotated biological activity

Cyrene as a bio-based solvent for HATU mediated amide coupling

Amide bonds are one of the underpinning linkages in all living systems and are fundamental within drug discovery. Current methods towards their synthesis frequently rely on the use of dipolar aprotic solvents; however, due to increasingly stringent regulations and growing societal pressures, safe and more sustainable alternatives are highly sought after. Herein, we evaluate the application of the bio-based solvent Cyrene™ in the HATU mediated synthesis of amides and peptides. We found that Cyrene functioned as a competent replacement for DMF in the synthesis of a series of lead-like compounds and dipeptides (25 examples, 63–100%).PostprintPeer reviewe

Identification of a novel class of autotaxin inhibitors through cross-screening

Three novel series were generated in order to mimic the pharmacophoric features displayed by lead compound AM095, a Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA1) receptor antagonist. Biological evaluation of this array of putative LPA1 antagonists led us to the discovery of three novel series of inhibitors of the ecto-enzyme Autotaxin (ATX), responsible for LPA production in blood, with potencies in the range 1 – 4 μM accompanied with good (> 100 μg/mL) solubility

Aktivnost Poslovnog udruženja

The authors thank the University of Strathclyde for a PhD studentship (KLW) and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for financial and material support.Palladium-catalyzed bond forming reactions, such as the SuzukiMiyaura and Mizoroki-Heck reactions, are some of the most broadly utilized reactions within the chemical industry. These reactions frequently employ hazardous solvents; however, to adhere to increasing sustainability pressures and restrictions regarding the use of such solvents, alternatives are highly sought after. Here we demonstrate the utility of dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) as a bio-derived solvent in several benchmark Pd-catalysed reactions: Suzuki– Miyaura (13 examples, 62–100% yield), Mizoroki–Heck (13 examples, 47– 91% yield), and Sonogashira (12 examples, 65–98% yield).PostprintPeer reviewe

Amidation of unactivated ester derivatives mediated by trifluoroethanol

A catalytic amidation protocol mediated by 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol has been developed, facilitating the condensation of unactivated esters and amines, furnishing both secondary and tertiary amides. The complete scope and limitations of the method are described, along with modified conditions for challenging substrates such as acyclic secondary amines and chiral esters with retention of chiral integrity

Synthesis and Evaluation of Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Androgen Receptor N-Terminal Domain

Acknowledgments We thank Craig Irving for his assistance with NMR spectroscopy and Pat Keating, Dr. Jessica Bame, and Dr. Graeme Anderson for their assistance with HRMS.Peer reviewe