2-Aminoimidazoles represent useful synthons for incorporation into medicinal compounds. They provide hydrogen bonding loci, water solubilizing properties and convenient handles for further synthetic elaboration. The rapid and facile generation of diverse 2-aminoimidazoles via tandem addition cyclization reaction of vinyl azides and cyanamide has been investigated. These reactions proceeded through either thermal or photochemical activation of vinyl azides and demonstrated wide substrate scope. In the photochemical reaction, blue light (456 nm) alone triggered photolysis of the azide without the addition of a photocatalyst. Possible reaction mechanisms in the context of substrate reactivity are discussed.

A series of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) containing the 1-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl alcohol core have been optimized for androgen receptor (AR) potency and drug-like properties. We have taken advantage of the lipophilic ligand efficiency (LLE) parameter as a guide to interpret the effect of structural changes on AR activity. Over the course of optimization efforts the LLE increased over 3 log units leading to a SARM 43 with nanomolar potency, good aqueous kinetic solubility (>700 μM), and high oral bioavailability in rats (83%).

A series of benzisothiazole- and indolizine-β-d-glucopyranoside inhibitors of human SGLT2 are described. The synthesis of the C-linked heterocyclic glucosides took advantage of a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between a glucal boronate and the corresponding bromo heterocycle. The compounds have been evaluated for their human SGLT2 inhibition potential using cell-based functional transporter assays, and their structure-activity relationships have been described. Benzisothiazole-C-glucoside 16d was found to be an inhibitor of SGLT2 with an IC50 of 10 nM.

Bile acid sequestrants (BAS) have shown antidiabetic effects in both humans and animals but the underlying mechanism is not clear. In the present study, we evaluated cholestyramine in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Although control ZDF rats had continuous increases in blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and serum glucose and a decrease in serum insulin throughout a 5-week study, the cholestyramine-treated ZDF rats showed a dose-dependent decrease and normalization in serum glucose and HbA1c. An oral glucose tolerance test showed a significant increase in glucose-stimulated glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and insulin release in rats treated with cholestyramine. Quantitative analysis of gene expression indicated that cholestyramine treatment decreased farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activity in the liver and the intestine without liver X receptor (LXR) activation in the liver. Moreover, a combination of an FXR agonist with cholestyramine did not reduce the antihyperglycemic effect over cholestyramine alone, suggesting that the FXR-small heterodimer partner-LXR pathway was not required for the glycemic effects of cholestyramine. In summary, our results demonstrated that cholestyramine could completely reverse hyperglycemia in ZDF rats through improvements in insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell function. Enhancement in GLP-1 and PYY secretion is an important mechanism for BAS-mediated antidiabetic efficacy.

Optimization of a series of constrained melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH R1) antagonists has provided compounds with potent and selective MCH R1 activity. Details of the optimization process are provided and the use of one of the compounds in an animal model of diet-induced obesity is presented.

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The high expression of MCH in the hypothalamus with the lean hypophagic phenotype coupled with increased resting metabolic rate and resistance to high fat diet-induced obesity of MCH KO mice has spurred considerable efforts to develop small molecule MCHR1 antagonists. Starting from a lead thienopyrimidinone series, structure-activity studies at the 3- and 6-positions of the thienopyrimidinone core afforded potent and selective MCHR1 antagonists with representative examples having suitable pharmacokinetic properties. Based on structure-activity relationships, a structural model for MCHR1 was constructed to explain the binding mode of these antagonists. In general, a good correlation was observed between pKas and activity in the right-hand side of the template, with Asp123 playing an important role in the enhancement of binding affinity. A representative example when evaluated chronically in diet-induced obese mice resulted in good weight loss effects. These antagonists provide a viable lead series in the discovery of new therapies for the treatment of obesity.

ChemInformVolume 36, Issue 21 Isocyclic Compounds Lanthanoid(III) Triflate Catalyzed Thermal- and Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Benzyl Ethers form Benzyl Alcohols. Anthony L. Handlon, Anthony L. Handlon Dep. Med. Chem., GlaxoSmithKline Res. Dev., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USASearch for more papers by this authorYu Guo, Yu Guo Dep. Med. Chem., GlaxoSmithKline Res. Dev., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USASearch for more papers by this author Anthony L. Handlon, Anthony L. Handlon Dep. Med. Chem., GlaxoSmithKline Res. Dev., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USASearch for more papers by this authorYu Guo, Yu Guo Dep. Med. Chem., GlaxoSmithKline Res. Dev., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 25 April 2005 https://doi.org/10.1002/chin.200521088Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume36, Issue21May 24, 2005 RelatedInformation

The solid phase synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubsituted pyridin-2-ones is reported via selective (NH)-N-1- alkylation of 3-amino-5-carbomethoxy-1H-pyridin-2-one with a solid-supported halo-acid. Coupling of an acid to solid-supported 3-aminopyridinone was followed by saponification of the methyl ester to give the acid. Activation of the acid via the pentafluorophenyl ester allowed reaction with an amine, and cleavage from the solid support with TFA:H2O (95:5) provided 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyridin-2-ones. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The ability of thiols to reduce 3′-azidothymidine (AZT) to 3′-aminothymidine has been investigated. Incubation with glutathione, dithiothreitol (DTT), or mercaptoethanol at pH 7.2 and 37°C leads to quantitative reduction of the azido moiety to an amine. The reaction is first order in AZT and first order in reducing agent (mono- or dithiol). The second-order rate constants are 2.77 × 10−3, 6.55 × 10−5, and 6.35 × 10−6M−l sec−1 for the dithiothreitol, glutathione, and mercaptoethanol reductions, respectively. The thiol reduction of alkyl azide to amine under mild conditions is a synthetic method particularly suitable for water-soluble azido compounds that are sensitive to catalytic hydrogenation. The potential for the mono- or dithiol-mediated reduction of alkyl azides under biological conditions must be considered when conducting studies of azido drugs.