Miniaturization and parallel processing play an important role in the evolution of many technologies. We demonstrate the application of miniaturized high-throughput experimentation methods to resolve synthetic chemistry challenges on the frontlines of a lead optimization effort to develop diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) inhibitors. Reactions were performed on ∼1 mg scale using glass microvials providing a miniaturized high-throughput experimentation capability that was used to study a challenging SNAr reaction. The availability of robust synthetic chemistry conditions discovered in these miniaturized investigations enabled the development of structure-activity relationships that ultimately led to the discovery of soluble, selective, and potent inhibitors of DGAT1.

The synthesis of a novel class of piperazine benzamide (reverse amides) targeting the human β3-adrenergic receptor for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) is described. The SAR studies directed towards maintaining well established β3 potency and selectivities while improving the overall pharmacokinetic profile in the reverse amide class will be evaluated. The results and consequences associated with functional activity at the norepinephrine transporter (NET) will also be discussed.

The discovery of vibegron, a potent and selective human β3-AR agonist for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), is described. An early-generation clinical β3-AR agonist MK-0634 (3) exhibited efficacy in humans for the treatment of OAB, but development was discontinued due to unacceptable structure-based toxicity in preclinical species. Optimization of a series of second-generation pyrrolidine-derived β3-AR agonists included reducing the risk for phospholipidosis, the risk of formation of disproportionate human metabolites, and the risk of formation of high levels of circulating metabolites in preclinical species. These efforts resulted in the discovery of vibegron, which possesses improved druglike properties and an overall superior preclinical profile compared to MK-0634. Structure-activity relationships leading to the discovery of vibegron and a summary of its preclinical profile are described.

A series of conformationally restricted acetanilides were synthesized and evaluated as β3-adrenergic receptor agonists (β3-AR) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). Optimization studies identified a five-membered ring as the preferred conformational lock of the acetanilide. Further optimization of both the aromatic and thiazole regions led to compounds such as 19 and 29, which have a good balance of potency and selectivity. These compounds have significantly reduced intrinsic clearance compared to our initial series of pyridylethanolamine β3-AR agonists and thus have improved unbound drug exposures. Both analogues demonstrated dose dependent β3-AR mediated responses in a rat bladder hyperactivity model.

This report describes the discovery of a potent, orally bioavailable CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) antagonist which, while optimized for CCR2 potency, also had potent CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) activity.

A series of amide derived β3-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists is described. The discovery and optimization of several series of compounds derived from 1, is used to lay the SAR foundation for second generation β3-AR agonists for the treatment of overactive bladder.

This Letter describes optimization of ghrelin receptor antagonists and inverse agonists starting from a screening hit.

A series of novel 1-aminocyclopentyl-3-carboxyamides incorporating substituted tetrahydropyran moieties have been synthesized and subsequently evaluated for their antagonistic activity against the human CCR2 receptor. Among them analog 59 was found to posses potent antagonistic activity.

In an effort to shed light on the active binding conformation of our 3-amino-1-alkyl-cyclopentane carboxamide CCR2 antagonists, we prepared several conformationally constrained analogs resulting from backbone cyclization. Evaluation of CCR2 binding affinities for these analogs gave insight into the optimal relative positions of the piperidine and benzylamide moieties while simultaneously leading to the discovery of a new, potent lead type based upon a spirocyclic acetal scaffold.

A ruthenium-catalyzed carboxylative cyclization of 1,6-diynes has been developed. In the presence of catalytic amounts of [Ru(p-cymeme)Cl-2](2) (2.5 mol %), P(4-F-C6H4)(3) (7.5 mol %) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (10 mol %), a variety of carboxylic acids condense with 1,6-terminal diynes to give rise to cyclohexylidene enol carboxylates as the products with exclusive (E)-selectivity. A set of control experiments suggests that the reaction proceeds through a mechanism involving an anti attack of the carboxylate nucleophile on the pi-alkyne coordinated to a ruthenium vinylidene complex. Thus, the new reaction achieves C-C bond formation through a dual mode of alkyne activation-vinylidene formation and pi-complexation-mediated by a single ruthenium(II) catalyst.

This report describes replacement of the 4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperidine moiety in our CCR2 antagonists with 4-heteroaryl piperidine and 4-(carboxyphenyl)-piperidine subunits. Some of the resulting analogs retained potency in our CCR2 binding assay and had improved selectivity versus the IKr channel; poor selectivity against IKr had been a liability of earlier analogs in this series.