Phosphatidyl inositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) plays several key roles in human biology and the lipid kinase that produces PI(4,5)P2, PIP5K, has been hypothesized to provide a potential therapeutic target of interest in the treatment of cancers. To better understand and explore the role of PIP5K in human cancers there remains an urgent need for potent and specific PIP5K inhibitor molecules. Following a high throughput screen of the AstraZeneca collection, a novel, moderately potent and selective inhibitor of PIP5K, 1, was discovered. Detailed exploration of the SAR for this novel scaffold resulted in the considerable optimization of both potency for PIP5K, and selectivity over the closely related kinase PI3Kα, as well as identifying several opportunities for the continued optimization of drug-like properties. As a result, several high quality in vitro tool compounds were identified (8, 20 and 25) that demonstrate the desired biochemical and cellular profiles required to aid better understanding of this complex area of biology.

N-(5-Bromo-3-methoxypyrazin-2-yl)-5-chlorothiophene-2-sulfonamide 1 was identified as a hit in a CCR4 receptor antagonist high-throughput screen (HTS) of a subset of the AstraZeneca compound bank. As a hit with a lead-like profile, it was an excellent starting point for a CCR4 receptor antagonist program and enabled the rapid progression through the Lead Identification and Lead Optimization phases resulting in the discovery of two bioavailable CCR4 receptor antagonist candidate drugs.

As part of a medicinal chemistry program, we adapted known synthetic methods for the late-stage diversification of 2,4-substituted 7-azaindoles. The strengths and weaknesses of these strategies are discussed. In the course of this work, three optimized conditions were identified from an iterative catalyst screen for the conversion of Boc-protected 4-chloro-2-(piperidin-4-yl)-7-azaindole to the corresponding pinacol borate ester. Additionally, a scalable route to previously unreported Boc-protected 4-bromo-2-(piperidin-4-yl)-7-azaindole and efficient conversion to the corresponding pinacol borate ester in 72% isolated yield are also disclosed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel estrogen receptor down-regulator, 7-hydroxycoumarin (5, SS5020), has been reported with antitumor effects against chemically induced mammary tumors. Here, we report on our own investigation of 7-hydroxycoumarins as potential selective estrogen receptor down-regulators, which led us to the discovery of potent down-regulating antagonists, such as 33. Subsequent optimization and removal of the 7-hydroxy group led to coumarin 59, which had increased potency and improved rat bioavailability relative to SS5020.

A novel estrogen receptor down-regulator, 7-hydroxycoumarin (5, SS5020), has been reported with antitumor effects against chemically induced mammary tumors. Here, we report on our own investigation of 7-hydroxycoumarins as potential selective estrogen receptor down-regulators, which led us to the discovery of potent down-regulating antagonists, such as 33. Subsequent optimization and removal of the 7-hydroxy group led to coumarin 59, which had increased potency and improved rat bioavailability relative to SS5020.

Although desirable from a medicinal chemistry perspective, the differentially substituted 3,6-diaminopyridazine moiety is a highly challenging target using current literature approaches. Recent methods of Ullmann-type couplings are evaluated and a mild route to prepare these structures from iodide precursors is presented.

A series of tetrahydroisoquinoline phenols was modified to give an estrogen receptor downregulator-antagonist profile. Optimization around the core, alkyl side chain, and pendant aryl ring resulted in compounds with subnanomolar levels of potency. The phenol functionality was shown to be required to achieve highly potent compounds, but unusually this was compatible with obtaining high oral bioavailabilities in rat.

We report a mild and efficient method for introducing deuterium into a range of heterocycles by reacting readily available halide analogues in a deuterodehalogenation reaction using D8-IPA or Et3SiD under palladium-catalysed conditions.

The treatment of alkyl or aryl halides with an excess of tetrakis(pyridine)lithium tetrakis(N-dihydropyridyl)aluminate affords the corresponding 3-substituted-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines in moderate to good yields via a tandem alkylation–reduction reaction.

A series of pyrazole inhibitors of the human FPR1 receptor have been identified from high throughput screening. The compounds demonstrate potent inhibition in human neutrophils and attractive physicochemical and in vitro DMPK profiles to be of further interest.

Either CO or Mo(CO)6 are used as carbon monoxide sources for the carbonylation of various ureas in the presence of aryl bromides.

Optimisation of a series of pyrazole inhibitors of the human FPR1 receptor has been achieved. The use of an in vitro media loss assay was utilised to identify sub-series with more robust DMPK profiles. These were subsequently improved to generate analogues with attractive overall profiles.

AbstractThe process can be applied to the formation of various amides, sulfonamides and carboxylic acids/esters.

A new, efficient and practical synthesis of quinazolin-4(3H)-ones is reported via molybdenum-mediated cyclocarbonylation using microwave irradiation. These methods allow access to a wide range of quinazolin-4(3H)-ones in reasonable yields without the need for gaseous carbon monoxide and palladium catalysts. A range of reactions illustrating the wide scope of this chemistry was carried out and all proceeded in reasonable yields.

The process can be applied to the formation of various amides, sulfonamides and carboxylic acids/esters.

A new, practical synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl N-acylureas has been developed via palladium-catalysed carbonylation of aryl or heteroaryl halides in the presence of urea nucleophiles. A range of reactions illustrating the wide scope of this reaction was carried out under microwave irradiation, using either carbon monoxide gas in a vessel equipped with a gas inlet adapter, or molybdenum hexacarbonyl as the carbon monoxide source in standard microwave vials. The reactions proceeded in good to excellent yields. To illustrate the usefulness of this method a one-step synthesis of the important insecticide diflubenzuron is reported.

A novel, simple synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl acyl sulfamides has been developed via palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl or heteroaryl halides in the presence of sulfamide nucleophiles. A range of reactions illustrating the wide scope of this reaction was carried out under microwave irradiation in a vessel equipped with a gas inlet adapter and proceeded in good to excellent yields.

A new, efficient, and practical molybdenum-mediated carbonylation of aryl and heteroaryl halides with a variety of nucleophiles is described using microwave irradiation. A range of reactions illustrating the wide scope of this chemistry were carried out and proceeded in good to excellent yields.