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A series of macrocyclic compounds containing a cyclic constraint in the P2–P4 linker region have been discovered and shown to exhibit excellent HCV NS3/4a genotype 3a and genotype 1b R155 K, A156T, A156 V, and D168 V mutant activity while maintaining high rat liver exposure. The effect of the constraint is most dramatic against gt 1b A156 mutants where ∼20-fold improvements in potency are achieved by introduction of a variety of ring systems into the P2–P4 linker.

A series of potent novel dihydroxypyridopyrazine-1,6-dione HIV-1 integrase inhibitors was identified. These compounds inhibited the strand transfer process of HIV-1 integrase and viral replication in cells. Compound 6 is active against replication of HIV with a CIC95 of 0.31 μM and exhibits no shift in potency in the presence of 50% normal human serum. It displays a good pharmacokinetic profile when dosed in rats and no covalent binding with microsomal proteins in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Previous reports from our laboratories described potent tripeptide thrombin inhibitors which incorporate heterocycle-substituted chlorophenyl groups in the P1 position. Using these as lead compounds for further optimization, we identified sites of metabolism and designed analogs with 4-fluoroproline in P2 and cyclopropane-containing side chains in P3 as an approach to reducing metabolism and improving their oral pharmacokinetic performance. The large (300-fold) difference in potency between analogs containing (4 R )- and (4 S )-4-fluoroproline was rationalized by analyzing inhibitor–enzyme interactions in crystal structures of related compounds and by molecular modeling which indicated that the more potent (4 R )-4-fluoroproline isomer stabilizes a proline ring conformation that is preferred for binding to the enzyme. An optimal compound from this work, 41 , exhibits high potency in a coagulation assay in human plasma (2×APTT = 190 nM), excellent selectivity versus the digestive enzyme trypsin ( K i = 3300 nM), and excellent oral bioavailability in dogs with moderate clearance ( F = 100%, CL = 12 mL/min/kg).

Thrombin-inhibitor X-ray crystal structures, in combination with the installation of binding elements optimized within the pyrazinone series of thrombin inhibitors, were utilized to transform a weak triazolopyrimidine lead into a series of potent oxazolopyridines. A modification intended to attenuate plasma protein binding (i.e., conversion of the P3 pyridine to a piperidine) conferred significant factor Xa activity to this series. Ultimately, these dual thrombin/factor Xa inhibitors demonstrated excellent in vitro and in vivo anticoagulant efficacy.

In this study, we have demonstrated that the critical hydrogen bonding motif of the established 3-aminopyrazinone thrombin inhibitors can be effectively mimicked by a 2-aminopyridine N-oxide. As this peptidomimetic core is more resistant toward oxidative metabolism, it also overcomes the metabolic liability associated with the pyrazinones. An optimization study of the P(1) benzylamide delivered the potent thrombin inhibitor 21 (K(i) = 3.2 nM, 2xaPTT = 360 nM), which exhibited good plasma levels and half-life after oral dosing in the dog (C(max) = 2.6 microM, t(1/2) = 4.5 h).

Modification of lead compound 1 by reducing lipophilicity in the P3 group produced a series of low molecular weight thrombin inhibitors with excellent potency in functional assays, metabolic stability, and oral bioavailability. These modifications led to the identification of two optimized compounds, 14 and 16.

In this manuscript we demonstrate that a modification principally directed toward the improvement of the aqueous solubility (i.e., introduction a P3 pyridine N-oxide) of the previous lead compound afforded a new series of potent orally bioavailable P1 N-benzylamide thrombin inhibitors. An expedited investigation of the P1 SAR with respect to oral bioavailability, plasma half-life, and human liver microsome stability revealed 5 as the best candidate for advanced evaluation.

A multi-kilogram scale synthesis of the orally efficacious thrombin inhibitor 1 has been achieved via construction of the pyrazinone core from an unsymmetric oxalic diamide. Key features include judicious choice of reagents to minimize side products, a key ruthenium catalyzed oxidation, and development of reaction conditions amenable to large-scale synthesis.

Removal of the β-ketoamide functionality from L-370,518 (Ki = 0.09 nM) provided a 5 nM Ki inhibitor of thrombin: L-371,912. Comparison of the enzyme-inhibitor crystal structures suggests a possible explanation for the relatively small change in affinity for thrombin. L-371,912 is selective for thrombin over related serine proteases and is efficacious in an animal model of arterial thrombosis.

Thrombin has been identified as a key target for intervention in the blood coagulation cascade, as evidenced by the clinical success of the antithrombotic drugs warfarin and hirudin. Despite the utility of these agents, there is a deficit of orally bioavailable direct inhibitors of the enzymatic functions of thrombin. Substantial progress has been made toward the development of small-molecule inhibitors of thrombin that have the potential to be more effective and better tolerated therapies for a variety of thrombotic disorders. Recent developments suggest that these inhibitors will be a valuable addition to existing antithrombotic and thrombolytic treatments.

Optimization studies using an HIV RNase H active site inhibitor containing a 1-hydroxy-1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one core identified 4-position substituents that provided several potent and selective inhibitors. The best compound was potent and selective in biochemical assays (IC(50)=0.045 μM, HIV RT RNase H; 13 μM, HIV RT-polymerase; 24 μM, HIV integrase) and showed antiviral efficacy in a single-cycle viral replication assay in P4-2 cells (IC(50)=0.19 μM) with a modest window with respect to cytotoxicity (CC(50)=3.3 μM).

A series of 10-hydroxy-7,8-dihydropyrazino[1′,2′:1,5]pyrrolo[2,3- d ]pyridazine-1,9(2 H ,6 H )-diones was synthesized and tested for their inhibition of HIV-1 replication in cell culture. Structure–activity studies indicated that high antiviral potency against wild-type virus as well as viruses containing integrase mutations that confer resistance to three different structural classes of integrase inhibitors could be achieved by incorporation of small aliphatic groups at certain positions on the core template. An optimal compound from this study, 16 , inhibits integrase strand-transfer activity with an IC 50 value of ⩽10 nM, inhibits HIV-1 replication in cell culture with an IC 95 value of 35 nM in the presence of 50% normal human serum, and displays modest pharmacokinetic properties in rats (iv t 1/2 = 5.3 h, F = 17%).

A series of potent novel 8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1(2H)-one HIV-1 integrase inhibitors was identified. These compounds inhibited the strand transfer process of HIV-1 integrase and viral replication in cells. Compound 12 is active against replication of HIV-1 in cell culture with a CIC(95) of 0.31microM. Further SAR exploration led to the preparation of pseudosymmetrical tricyclic pyrrolopyrazine inhibitors 23 and 24 with further improvement in antiviral activity.

Starting from a 2-amino-6-methylpyridine P1 group and following a strategy of enlarging it whilst reducing its polarity, we have developed a series of potent, moderately basic azaindoles which are intrinsically much more selective for thrombin versus trypsin. Certain pyrazinone acetamide azaindole derivatives have pharmacokinetic parameters after oral administration to dogs, or efficacy in vitro, comparable to an optimized pyrazinone acetamide 2-amino-6-methylpyridine derivative.

A general synthetic pathway employed in the synthesis of 5,6,11,12-tetrahydrochrysene and six of its benzo- and phenyl-substituted derivatives is described. Development of an efficient synthesis of the required starting materials 2-(3-biphenylyl)ethyl bromide and 6-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-naphthalenone is also presented. Preliminary laser performance data of the tetrahydrochrysenes have been included. 4 tables.

The title compound 4 was prepared in 54% overall yield from eucarvone (5). On triplet sensitization 4 gives two products resulting from a 1,2-acyl shift (8 and 9), whereas singlet excitation of 4 causes decarbonylation and ketene elimination (4 10 and 11).

The synthesis and photolysis of the spirocyclobutanones 4–7 incorporating a cyclohexa-, cyclohepta- and cyclooctadiene moiety, respectively, is described. On triplet excitation, these compounds undergo isomerization via a 1,2-acyl shift involving one or both double bonds of the diene system. The presence of a gem-dimethyl group as in 1, 4 and 7 dramatically changes the photoproduct distribution, since only these substrates leads to the products 3, 29 and 34 resulting from vinylogous ring closure (Scheme 5). Those substrates without methyl substitution (5 and 6) give only products of a rearrangement involving one double bond.

On 1n,π*-excitation, the title compound 2 undergoes a photoinduced intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition affording the tetracyclic enol ether 3 as the only product in 79% yield. The assigned structure of 3 was confirmed by its conversion to the p-nitrobenzoate 6 whose structure was determined by X-ray analysis.