The synthesis and preclinical characterization of novel 4-(R)-methyl-6,7-dihydro-4H-triazolo[4,5-c]pyridines that are potent and selective brain penetrant P2X7 antagonists are described. Optimization efforts based on previously disclosed unsubstituted 6,7-dihydro-4H-triazolo[4,5-c]pyridines, methyl substituted 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazines, and several other series lead to the identification of a series of 4-(R)-methyl-6,7-dihydro-4H-triazolo[4,5-c]pyridines that are selective P2X7 antagonists with potency at the rodent and human P2X7 ion channels. These novel P2X7 antagonists have suitable physicochemical properties, and several analogs have an excellent pharmacokinetic profile, good partitioning into the CNS and show robust in vivo target engagement after oral dosing. Improvements in metabolic stability led to the identification of JNJ-54175446 (14) as a candidate for clinical development. The drug discovery efforts and strategies that resulted in the identification of the clinical candidate are described herein.

The process development of Mavatrep (1), a potent transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) antagonist, is described. The two key synthetic transformations are the synthesis of (E)-6-bromo-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)styryl)1H-benzo[d]imidazole (4) and the Suzuki coupling of 4 with 3,3-dimethyl-3H-benzo[c][1,2]oxaborol-1-ol (5). Compound 1a was prepared in four chemical steps in 63% overall yield.

The preparation of a novel chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR-2) antagonist is described on a 135 g scale. The synthesis of an all-carbon bicyclic core was accomplished using a radical cyclization strategy using chiral precursors, wherein elaboration led to N-Boc carboxylic acid in good yield. After amidation using a traditional coupling reaction, a reductive amination using enantiomerically enriched 3-methoxy-4-pyranone led to the final compound. Although several steps of the syntheses involved reagents that would not be preferred in process and chromatography was used to provide the free-base diastereomer of the final succinate salt, the overall route went through stable intermediates that could be used for future scale-up. This lab-scale synthesis struck a balance between a quick scale-up and a more thorough process review of all possible methods and routes.

The preparation of a chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR-2) antagonist bearing a cyclopenta[b]furan core is described on a 600 g scale. Compared to our previously reported synthesis of the all-carbon core CCR-2 antagonist with a similar peripheral 3-methoxypyran appendage, our work required a redesign of the original Discovery Chemistry route and took advantage of a side product seen in the diastereoselective alkylation reaction. Elaboration by reduction and oxy-cyclization eventually led to the required N-Boc acid method. After amidation using a traditional coupling reaction, a reductive amination using enantiomerically enriched 3-methoxy-4-pyranone led to the final compound. Although several steps of the syntheses involved reagents such as selenium and chromium that would not be used in a large-scale process setting, the overall route went through intermediates that could certainly be used for future scale-up campaigns. The synthesis provided a method to make lab-scale quantities of the final succinate salt to support tox/toleration studies. Relative to the Discovery Chemistry route, this lab-scale route featured novel intermediates that could open new avenues for future research in this area.

The development of a reproducible process for multihundred gram production of (Z)-5-((1-(4-chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-1H-indazol-5-yl)methylene)-3-((3R,4R)-3-fluoro-1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (26), a potent and selective inhibitor of estrogen-related receptor 1 (ERR!), is described. This multihundred gram synthesis was achieved via magnesium perchlorate-catalyzed regioselective epoxide ring-opening of tert-butyl 7-oxa-3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-3-carboxylate (9) with thiazolidine-2,4-dione (6, TZD) to form a diastereomeric mixture tert-butyl 4-(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-3-yl)-3-hydroxypiperidine-1-carboxylate (17), of which the 3-hydroxyl group was functionally transformed to 3-fluoro derivative 19 after treatment with Deoxo-Fluor. Chiral separation of 19 provided the desired diastereomer (3R,4R)-21 that was converted to the secondary amine 23 TFA salt. Reductive amination of 23 produced the key intermediate N-methyl 24. Knoevenagel condensation of 24 with 1-(4-chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-1H-indazole-5-carbaldehyde (5) produced the final product 26 in 10% overall yield (99.7% HPLC area% with >= 99.5% de) after a convergent eight synthetic steps with the only column purification being the chiral HPLC separation of 3R,4R-21 from 3S,4S-22.

Finding a stable crystalline form of a small molecule API can be a daunting task given short timelines and the importance of having a crystal form in the development of the molecule. Crystalline forms of small molecules are sought for various reasons, such as purity, chemical, and/or physical stability. In this report, we will highlight the design and process that was utilized to develop an inexpensive and simple screening platform. Our goal was to utilize existing equipment and to develop a straightforward workflow that would enable us to quickly define a set of scalable crystallization conditions and prepare a sample of the target cephalosporin and ERR-1 for preclinical testing.

Two cycloaddition methods were applied to chiral protected aminocyclopentenes 2 and 9 and provided novel bicyclic products 3 and 4 in good yields. The explanation for the observed stereochemistry was based on the sterically encumbered β-face forcing the cycloadditions to occur on the α-face of the cyclopentene ring. The stereochemistry of 4 was confirmed by X-ray of the fumarate salt 10 and showed the trans-relationship between the newly formed ring and the chiral –NHBoc group.

A practical synthesis of two N-glycoside indoles 1 and 2, identified as highly potent sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT) inhibitors is described. Highlights of the synthetic process include a selective and quantitative Vilsmeier acylation and a high-yielding Grignard coupling reaction. The chemistry developed has been applied to prepare two separate SGLT inhibitors 1 and 2 for clinical evaluation without recourse to chromatography.

The design and characterization of two, dual adenosine A2A/A1 receptor antagonists in several animal models of Parkinson's disease is described. Compound 1 was previously reported as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease. Further characterization of 1 revealed that it was metabolized to reactive intermediates that caused the genotoxicity of 1 in the Ames and mouse lymphoma L51784 assays. The identification of the metabolites enabled the preparation of two optimized compounds 13 and 14 that were devoid of the metabolic liabilities associated with 1. Compounds 13 and 14 are potent dual A2A/A1 receptor antagonists that have excellent activity, after oral administration, across a number of animal models of Parkinson's disease including mouse and rat models of haloperidol-induced catalepsy, mouse and rat models of reserpine-induced akinesia, and the rat 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion model of drug-induced rotation.

A novel series of benzyl substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines were identified as potent A2A receptor antagonists. Several five- and six-membered heterocyclic replacements for the optimized methylfuran were explored. Select compounds effectively reverse catalepsy in mice when dosed orally.

The complex (1-Cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-8-methoxy-4-(oxo-\κO)-3-quinolinecarboxylato-κO3) difluoro-boron crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 11.43400(10) Å, b = 9.16420(10) Å, c = 13.8745(2) Å, β = 106.6470(10)º, V = 1392.89(3) Å3, and Z = 4; which is a resonance hybrid with an almost tetrahedral boron which produces a 6-membered ring, where the boron atom is slightly bent out of plane.

The in vivo characterization of a dual adenosine A(2A)/A(1) receptor antagonist in several animal models of Parkinson's disease is described. Discovery and scale-up syntheses of compound 1 are described in detail, highlighting optimization steps that increased the overall yield of 1 from 10.0% to 30.5%. Compound 1 is a potent A(2A)/A(1) receptor antagonist in vitro (A(2A) K(i) = 4.1 nM; A(1) K(i) = 17.0 nM) that has excellent activity, after oral administration, across a number of animal models of Parkinson's disease including mouse and rat models of haloperidol-induced catalepsy, mouse model of reserpine-induced akinesia, rat 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion model of drug-induced rotation, and MPTP-treated non-human primate model.

Two reactive metabolites were identified in vivo for the dual A2A/A1 receptor antagonist 1. Two strategies were implemented to successfully mitigate the metabolic liabilities associated with 1. Optimization of the arylindenopyrimidines led to a number of amide, ether, and amino analogs having comparable in vitro and in vivo activity.

HCV NS5B polymerase, an essential and virus-specific enzyme, is an important target for drug discovery. Using structure-based design, we optimized a 1,5-benzodiazepine NS5B polymerase inhibitor chemotype into a new sulfone-containing scaffold. The design yielded potent inhibitor (S)-4c (K(D) = 0.79 nM), which has approximately 20-fold greater affinity for NS5B than its carbonyl analogue (R)-2c.