One-Pot C–N/C–C Cross-Coupling of Methyliminodiacetic Acid Boronyl Arenes Enabled by Protective Enolization

Iterative cross-coupling is a highly efficient and versatile strategy for modular construction in organic synthesis, though this has historically been demonstrated solely in the context of C–C bond formation. A C–N cross-coupling of haloarene methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates with a wide range of aromatic and aliphatic amines is reported. Successful cross-coupling of aliphatic amines was realized only through protective enolization of the MIDA group. This reaction paradigm was subsequently utilized to achieve a one-pot C–N/C–C cross-coupling sequence

Discovery of Small Molecule Splicing Modulators of Survival Motor Neuron-2 (SMN2) for the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular disorder, is the leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers. SMA is caused by the deletion or a loss of function mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. In humans, a second closely related gene SMN2 exists, however it codes for a less stable SMN protein. In recent years, significant progress has been made toward disease modifying treatments for SMA by modulating SMN2 pre-mRNA splicing. Herein, we describe the discovery of LMI070 / branaplam, a small molecule that stabilizes the interaction between the spliceosome and SMN2 pre-mRNA. Branaplam (1) originated from a high-throughput phenotypic screening hit, pyridazine 2, and evolved via multi-parameter lead optimization. In a severe mouse SMA model, branaplam treatment increased full-length SMN RNA and protein levels, and extended survival. Currently, branaplam is in clinical studies for SMA

Identification of NVP-TNKS656: The Use of Structure–Efficiency Relationships To Generate a Highly Potent, Selective, and Orally Active Tankyrase Inhibitor

Tankyrase 1 and 2 have been shown to be redundant, druggable nodes in the Wnt pathway. As such, there has been intense interest in developing agents suitable for modulating the Wnt pathway in vivo by targeting this enzyme pair. By utilizing a combination of structure-based design and LipE-based structure efficiency relationships, the core of XAV939 was optimized into a more stable, more efficient, but less potent dihydropyran motif <b>7</b>. This core was combined with elements of screening hits <b>2</b>, <b>19</b>, and <b>33</b> and resulted in highly potent, selective tankyrase inhibitors that are novel three pocket binders. NVP-TNKS656 (<b>43</b>) was identified as an orally active antagonist of Wnt pathway activity in the MMTV-Wnt1 mouse xenograft model. With an enthalpy-driven thermodynamic signature of binding, highly favorable physicochemical properties, and high lipophilic efficiency, NVP-TNKS656 is a novel tankyrase inhibitor that is well suited for further in vivo validation studies