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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the development of antiviral agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 3C-like protease (3CL

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has urgently necessitated the development of antiviral agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) is a promising target for COVID-19 treatment. Here, we report the new class of covalent inhibitors for 3CLpro possessing chlorofluoroacetamide (CFA) as a cysteine reactive warhead. Based on the aza-peptide scaffold, we synthesized the series of CFA derivatives in enantiopure form and evaluated their biochemical efficiencies. The data revealed that 8a (YH-6) with R configuration at the CFA unit strongly blocks the SARS-CoV-2 replication in the infected cells and this potency is comparable to that of nirmatrelvir. The X-ray structural analysis shows that 8a (YH-6) forms a covalent bond with Cys145 at the catalytic center of 3CLpro. The strong antiviral activity and sufficient pharmacokinetics property of 8a (YH-6) suggest its potential as a lead compound for treatment of COVID-19.

The pandemic of COVID-2019 has urged the development of antiviral agents against its causative pathogen SARS-CoV-2. The main protease (Mpro), a cysteine protease essential for viral replication, is a promising protein target. Here we report an irreversible SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor possessing chlorofluoroacetamide (CFA) as the warhead for covalent modification of Mpro. Ugi multi-component reaction employing chlorofluoroacetic acid allowed rapid generation of CFA derivatives, of which diastereomers displayed significantly different inhibitory activity against Mpro. We established a practical protocol for the optical resolution of chlorofluoroacetic acid, which enable the isolation of the stereoisomers of the best CFA compound. Kinetic analysis revealed that (R)-CFA is crucial for both binding affinity and the rate of irreversible inactivation of Mpro. Our findings highlight the prominent influence of the CFA chirality on the covalent modification of cysteine, and provide the basis for improving the potency and selectivity in the development of novel CFA-based covalent inhibitors.

We recently designed guanidine-bridged nucleic acids (GuNA), and GuNA bearing a thymine (T) nucleobase was synthesized and successfully incorporated into oligonucleotides. The GuNA-T-modified oligonucleotides possessed high duplex-forming ability towards their complementary single-stranded RNAs and were highly stable against 3'-exonuclease. Therefore, GuNA is a promissing artificial nucleic acid for therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides. We herein report the facile synthesis of GuNA phosphoramidites bearing adenine (A), guanine (G), and 5-methylcytosine (mC) nucleobases and a robust method for the preparation of GuNA-modified oligonucleotides, even with sequences having acid-sensitive purine nucleobases. Oligonucleotides modified with GuNA-A, -G, or -mC possessed high duplex-forming ability, similar to those modified with GuNA-T. Moreover, some of the GuNA-modified oligonucleotides were revealed to have high base discriminating ability compared with that of their natural counterparts. GuNA nucleosides exhibited no genotoxicity in bacterial reverse mutation assays. Thus, all GuNAs (GuNA-T, -A, -G, and -mC) are now available to be examined in therapeutic applications.

In this study, research and development for the synthetic process of a PDE10A inhibitor are described; in particular, an efficient regioselective construction of the quinoxaline unit, a cost-effective pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine formation, and a cost-saving approach in a nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction by introducing oxazolidinone as an electron-withdrawing group to a chloropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine core are key points. The newly developed process has been successfully scaled up to 40 kg. Furthermore, a one-pot tandem reaction from aminopyrazole to dichloropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine by activating malonic acid with POCl3 was discovered. The finding contributed to avoiding isolation of the hygroscopic pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-one intermediate, which caused complicated filtration and drying processes observed in the first scale-up campaign.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 10A is a dual hydrolase of cAMP and cGMP and highly expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons. Inhibition of PDE10A modulates the activity of medium spiny neurons (MSN) via the regulation of cAMP and cGMP. Signal control of MSN is considered associated with psychotic symptoms. Therefore PDE10A inhibitor is expected as a therapeutic method for psychosis disease such as schizophrenia. Avanafil (1) is a PDE5 inhibitor (treatment for erectile dysfunction) discovered by our company. We paid attention to the homology of PDE10A and PDE5 and took advantage of PDE5 inhibitor library to discover PDE10A inhibitors, and found a series of compounds that exhibit higher potency for PDE10A than PDE5. We transformed the afforded derivatives, which had weak inhibitory activity against PDE10A, and discovered stilbene as a PDE10A inhibitor. Brain penetration of this compound was improved by further conversion of N-containing heterocycles and their substituents. The afforded dimethylaminopyrimidine was effective for rat conditioned avoidance response (CAR) test; however, it did not exhibit good brain penetration. We performed in-depth optimization focusing on substituents of the quinoxaline ring, and produced 3-methyl-7-fluoro quinoxaline. This compound was the most effective in rat CAR test due to its strong PDE10A inhibitory activity and good pharmacokinetics.

We have developed a new class of PDE10A inhibitor, a pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivative MT-3014 (1). A previous compound introduced was deprioritized due to concerns for E/Z-isomerization and glutathione-adduct formation at the core stilbene structure. We discovered pyrazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine as a new lead scaffold by structure-based drug design utilizing a co-crystal structure with PDE10A. The lead compound was optimized for in vitro activity, solubility, and selectivity against human ether-a-go-go related gene cardiac channel binding. We observed that MT-3014 shows excellent efficacy in rat conditioned avoidance response test and suitable pharmacokinetic properties in rats, especially high brain penetration.

A transglycosylation reaction of 2′-amino-locked nucleic acid (LNA) from thymine (T) to other nucleobases adenine (A), guanine (G), and 5-methylcytosine (mC) has been developed. This reaction proceeds in high yield and with high β-selectivity. The mild reaction conditions enable the coexistence of acid-labile protecting groups, including a 4,4′-dimethoxytrytyl (DMTr) group. 2′-Amino-LNAs bearing any nucleobase can now be easily synthesized.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 10A is a dual hydrolase of cAMP and cGMP and highly expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons. Inhibition of PDE10A modulates the activity of medium spiny neurons (MSN) via the regulation of cAMP and cGMP. Signal control of MSN is considered associated with psychotic symptoms. Therefore PDE10A inhibitor is expected as a therapeutic method for psychosis disease such as schizophrenia. Avanafil (1) is a PDE5 inhibitor (treatment for erectile dysfunction) discovered by our company. We paid attention to the homology of PDE10A and PDE5 and took advantage of PDE5 inhibitor library to discover PDE10A inhibitors, and found a series of compounds that exhibit higher potency for PDE10A than PDE5. We transformed the afforded derivatives, which had weak inhibitory activity against PDE10A, and discovered stilbene as a PDE10A inhibitor. Brain penetration of this compound was improved by further conversion of N-containing heterocycles and their substituents. The afforded dimethylaminopyrimidine was effective for rat conditioned avoidance response (CAR) test; however, it did not exhibit good brain penetration. We performed in-depth optimization focusing on substituents of the quinoxaline ring, and produced 3-methyl-7-fluoro quinoxaline. This compound was the most effective in rat CAR test due to its strong PDE10A inhibitory activity and good pharmacokinetics.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of thiophene-C-glucosides have been explored, and the human sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (hSGLT2) inhibitory activities and rat urinary glucose excretion (UGE) effects of 3a-f were evaluated. As a result, they showed good hSGLT2 inhibitory activities and rat UGE effects. In particular, the chlorothiophene derivative 3f showed remarkable inhibitory activity against hSGLT2.

Novel aryl-β-C-glucosidation method using glucal boronate was developed. This protocol can offer several advantages including use of non-toxic, easily handling glucal boronate as a crystalline solid and storable at room temperature for several months. Tri-O-methylnorbergenin (8,10-di-O-methylbergenin), an anti-HIV active bergenin derivative, was concisely synthesized by application of the aryl-β-C-glucosidation method.

In this study, we achieved the first total synthesis of natural prunustatin A ( 1 ), a novel inhibitor of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) expression. A key feature included a 15-membered ring macrocyclization, which was successfully accomplished by employing Shiina macrolactonization using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP).

Enantioselective C–C bond formation at an α-position of a nitrile group with an external electrophile can be realized, although in modest ee, with the aid of both the concerted process of an epoxysilane rearrangement and a carbamoyl group. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

The first total synthesis of prunustatin A (I) is achieved via a Reformatsky reaction and a Shiina macrolactonization in the presence of 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride and DMAP.

UNLABELLED: Four novel phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) PET tracers have been synthesized, characterized in preclinical studies, and compared with the previously reported (11)C-MP-10.METHODS: On the basis of in vitro data, IMA102, IMA104, IMA107, and IMA106 were identified as potential PDE10A radioligand candidates and labeled with either (11)C via N-methylation or with (18)F through an SN2 reaction, in the case of IMA102. These candidates were compared with (11)C-MP-10 in pilot in vivo studies in the pig brain. On the basis of these data, (11)C-IMA106 and (11)C-IMA107 were taken into further evaluation and comparison with (11)C-MP-10 in the primate brain. Finally, the most promising radioligand candidate was progressed into human evaluation.RESULTS: All 5 tracers were produced with good radiochemical yield and specific activity. All candidates readily entered the brain and demonstrated a heterogeneous distribution consistent with the known expression of PDE10A. Baseline PET studies in the pig and baboon showed that (11)C-IMA107 and (11)C-MP-10 displayed the most favorable tissue kinetics and imaging properties. The administration of selective PDE10A inhibitors reduced the binding of (11)C-IMA107 and (11)C-MP-10 in the PDE10A-rich brain regions, in a dose-dependent manner. In the nonhuman primate brain, the tissue kinetics of (11)C-IMA107 and (11)C-MP-10 were well described by a 2-tissue-compartment model, allowing robust estimates of the regional total volume of distribution. Blockade with unlabeled MP-10 confirmed the suitability of the cerebellum as a reference tissue and enabled the estimation of regional binding potential as the outcome measure of specific binding.CONCLUSION: (11)C-IMA107 was identified as the ligand with the highest binding potential while still possessing reversible kinetics. The first human administration of (11)C-IMA107 has demonstrated the expected regional distribution and suitably fast kinetics, indicating that (11)C-IMA107 will be a useful tool for the investigation of PDE10A status in the living human brain.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of thiophene-C-glucosides have been explored, and the human sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (hSGLT2) inhibitory activities and rat urinary glucose excretion (UGE) effects of 3a-f were evaluated. As a result, they showed good hSGLT2 inhibitory activities and rat UGE effects. In particular, the chlorothiophene derivative 3f showed remarkable inhibitory activity against hSGLT2.

Inhibition of renal sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) increases urinary glucose excretion (UGE), and thus reduces blood glucose levels in hyperglycemia. A series of N-glucosides was synthesized for biological evaluation as human SGLT2 (hSGLT2) inhibitors. Among these compounds, N-glucoside 9d possessing an indole core structure showed good in vitro activity (IC50=7.1 nM against hSGLT2). Furthermore, 9d exhibited favorable in vivo potency with regard to UGE in rats based on good pharmacokinetic profiles.

We discovered that C-glucosides 4 bearing a heteroaromatic ring formed metabolically more stable inhibitors for sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) than the O-glucoside, 2 (T-1095). A novel thiophene derivative 4b-3 (canagliflozin) was a highly potent and selective SGLT2 inhibitor and showed pronounced anti-hyperglycemic effects in high-fat diet fed KK (HF-KK) mice.

Metalated O-silyl cyanohydrins of β-silyl-α,β-epoxyaldehyde have been found to serve as functionalized homoenolate equivalents by a tandem sequence involving a base-promoted ring opening of the epoxide, Brook rearrangement, and alkylation of the resulting allylic anion.

The first total synthesis of tetronolide ( 1 ) has been achieved via coupling of spirotetronate 3 with octahydronaphthalene aldehyde 17 and subsequent macrocyclization of ω-sulfone-α-aldehyde 2 , leading to confirmation of the absolute configuration of 1 .

Metalated O-silyl cyanohydrins of beta-silyl-alpha,beta-epoxyaldehyde have been found to serve as functionalized homoenolate equivalents by a tandem sequence involving base-promoted ring opening of the epoxide, Brook rearrangement, and alkylation of the resulting allylic anion. On the basis of mechanistic studies involving competitive experiments using the diastereomeric cyanohydrins, we propose a reaction pathway involving a silicate intermediate 36 formed by a concerted process via an anti-opening of the epoxide followed by the formation of an O-Si bond.

[reaction: see text]. Metalated O-silyl cyanohydrins of beta-silyl-alpha,beta-epoxyaldehyde have been found to serve as functionalized homoenolate equivalents by a tandem sequence involving a base-promoted ring opening of the epoxide, Brook rearrangement, and alkylation of the resulting allylic anion.

Three types of membranes of poly (γ-methyl D-glutamate) (PMDG), membrane A, B and C, were cast from 2% PMDG-ethylene dichloride solution under the different conditions. The membrane A was obtained by vacuum drying of the solution at 25°C for about 2 hrs. The membrane B and C were prepared by air-drying of the solution at 25°C for 3 days and 30 days, respectively. Sorption behaviors of these membranes could be described well by a dual sorption model which have been used effectively for gas-glassy polymer systems. The temperature dependence of Henry's law sorption parameter, kD, of membrane B and C had an inflection point at the second order transition temperature of the side chain. On the other hand, kD of membrane A linearly increased with increasing temperature. The Langmuir capacity term, C′H, of membrane A was considerably larger than those of B and C. The permeation behavior of membrane A involved the convectional flow, i.e., the permeability coefficient of CO2 through membrane A linearly increased with increasing upstream pressure. On the other hand, the permeation behaviors of membrane B and C could be interpreted by the dual mobility model. As a result, separate diffusion coefficients of CO2 for Henry's law and Langmuir modes, DD and DH, were estimated. It was found that the diffusivity for the Langmuir mode gas in the membranes was relatively high, DH/DD being almost equal to unity. All of these results were ascribed to the difference of the packing state of the α-helix chains in these membranes, which was caused by the different membrane preparation.