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A mild condition via PPh3/I2/imidazole for the deoxygenation of substituted methanol derivatives has been identified. This metal-free process was found to proceed well on secondary or tertiary alcohols substituted with one or two heteroaryl groups, and it tolerates acid-sensitive heterocycles. This condition works for methanol derivatives substituted with 2-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, or other heterocyclic groups, allowing the negative charge formed during the reaction to resonate to a nitrogen atom. Methanol derivatives substituted with 3-pyridyl or heterocyclic groups that do not allow the negative charge formed during the reaction to resonate to a nitrogen atom will not undergo deoxygenation under this condition.

GPR40 and GPR120 are fatty acid sensors that play important roles in glucose and energy homeostasis. GPR40 potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion and demonstrated in clinical studies robust glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. GPR120 improves insulin sensitivity in rodents, albeit its mechanism of action is not fully understood. Here, we postulated that the antidiabetic efficacy of GPR40 could be enhanced by coactivating GPR120. A combination of GPR40 and GPR120 agonists in db/db mice, as well as a single molecule with dual agonist activities, achieved superior glycemic control compared with either monotherapy. Compared with a GPR40 selective agonist, the dual agonist improved insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, preserved islet morphology, and increased expression of several key lipolytic genes in adipose tissue of Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Novel insights into the mechanism of action for GPR120 were obtained. Selective GPR120 activation suppressed lipolysis in primary white adipocytes, although this effect was attenuated in adipocytes from obese rats and obese rhesus, and sensitized the antilipolytic effect of insulin in rat and rhesus primary adipocytes. In conclusion, GPR120 agonism enhances insulin action in adipose tissue and yields a synergistic efficacy when combined with GPR40 agonism.

The discovery of novel 4-hydroxy-2-(heterocyclic)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylases (PHD) is described. These are potent, selective, orally bioavailable across several species, and active in stimulating erythropoiesis. Mouse and rat studies showed hematological changes with elevations of plasma EPO and circulating reticulocytes following single oral dose administration, while 4-week q.d. po administration in rat elevated hemoglobin levels. A major focus of the optimization process was to decrease the long half-life observed in higher species with early compounds. These efforts led to the identification of 28 (MK-8617), which has advanced to human clinical trials for anemia.

The synthesis, SAR, binding affinities and pharmacokinetic profiles are described for a series of cyclohexane-based prolylcarboxypeptidase (PrCP) inhibitors discovered by high throughput screening. Compounds show high levels of ex vivo target engagement in mouse plasma 20 h post oral dose.

GPR142 has been identified as a potential glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A class of triazole GPR142 agonists was discovered through a high throughput screen. The lead compound 4 suffered from poor metabolic stability and poor solubility. Lead optimization strategies to improve potency, efficacy, metabolic stability, and solubility are described. This optimization led to compound 20e, which showed significant reduction of glucose excursion in wild-type but not in GPR142 deficient mice in an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) study. These studies provide strong evidence that reduction of glucose excursion through treatment with 20e is GPR142-mediated, and GPR142 agonists could be used as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an ever increasing worldwide epidemic, and the identification of safe and effective insulin sensitizers, absent of weight gain, has been a long-standing goal of diabetes research. G-protein coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target for treating T2DM. Natural occurring, and more recently, synthetic agonists have been associated with insulin sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and fat metabolism effects. Herein we describe the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel spirocyclic GPR120 agonist series, which culminated in the discovery of potent and selective agonist 14. Furthermore, compound 14 was evaluated in vivo and demonstrated acute glucose lowering in an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT), as well as improvements in homeostatic measurement assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; a surrogate marker for insulin sensitization) and an increase in glucose infusion rate (GIR) during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp in diet-...

This paper describes the discovery of N-[(4R)-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl]-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (MK-5596, 12c) as a novel cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonist for the treatment of obesity. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of lead compound 3, which had off-target hERG (human ether-a-go-go related gene) inhibition activity, led to the identification of several compounds that not only had attenuated hERG inhibition activity but also were subject to glucuronidation in vitro providing the potential for multiple metabolic clearance pathways. Among them, pyrazole 12c was found to be a highly selective CB1R inverse agonist that reduced body weight and food intake in a DIO (diet-induced obese) rat model through a CB1R-mediated mechanism. Although 12c was a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter, its high in vivo efficacy in rodents, good pharmacokinetic properties in preclinical species, good safety margins, and its potential for a balanced metabolism profile in man allowed for the further evaluation of this compound in the clinic.

The synthesis, SAR and binding affinities of cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonists based on furo[2,3-b]pyridine scaffolds are described. Food intake, mechanism specific efficacy, pharmacokinetic, and metabolic evaluation of several of these compounds indicate that they are effective orally active modulators of CB1R.

The synthesis, SAR and binding affinities are described for cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) specific inverse agonists based on pyridopyrimidine and heterotricyclic scaffolds. Food intake and pharmacokinetic evaluation of several of these compounds indicate that they are effective orally active modulators of CB1R.

Synthesis, SAR, and binding affinities are described for a new class of 1,8-naphthyridinone CB1 receptor specific inverse agonists. Food intake, knockout mouse, and pharmacokinetic evaluation of 14 indicate that this compound is an effective orally active modulator of CB1.

A water-soluble, high molecular weight arabinoxylan was isolated from corn fiber. This arabinoxylan was a highly branched and complex polysaccharide composed of xylose, arabinose, galactose, glucuronic acid and glucose. Treatment of this arabinoxylan with a C2–C4 aliphatic anhydride using methanesulfonic acid as a catalyst or trifluoroacetic anhydride as a promoter rapidly and conveniently provided the corresponding arabinoxylan esters. The arabinoxylan esters were isolated as high molecular weight, amorphous solids with glass transition temperatures ranging from 61 to 138 °C. The arabinoxylan esters are soluble in a range of solvents and can tolerate significant amounts of water as a co-solvent. The arabinoxylan esters are thermally stable to near 200 °C but undergo significant and rapid thermal degradation when heated above the onset of thermal degradation. Optically clear films of arabinoxylan acetate and cellulose acetate were prepared by casting films from common solvents. Thermal analysis of these blends indicated that the blends were comprised of a single phase or two phases depending upon the composition of the solvent, solvent concentration, and rate of evaporation of the solvent.

In this review, we examine those areas of cellulose ester application in which there has been the greatest recent activity, and we choose to define the word ‘recent’ to include roughly the last 20 years. We focus on work that increases understanding of cellulose ester structure-property relationships, as well as how they relate to performance in specific applications. Our focus is on the performance of cellulose esters in modern coatings, controlled release of actives, plastics (with particular focus on biodegradable plastics), composites and laminates, optical films, and membranes and related separation media. We think that the review will prove useful to those who work with cellulose esters in these and related applications, as well as those who may wish to use this background to help them imagine new ones.

The ability of tetrachlorphthaloyl (TCP) sugars to act as glycosyl acceptors as well as the viability of TCP as a global amine protecting group in the syntheis of polyglucosamine natural products such as N-methyl-N-lipid nodulation factors have been examined. Disaccharides corresponding to the reducing end segments and the core region of the target nodulation factors were assembled from n-pentenlyl glycosides. TCP acceptors were successfully coupled with a variety of pentenyl glycosyl donors to produce β-(1→4) oligosaccharides in good yields. Model coupling reactions to produce trisaccharides provided clear evidence for the disarming effect of an ester at O3 on a C4-OH in the glycosyl acceptor. Also, a unique pentenyl donor, which contained the desired N-metyl-N-lipid moiety of the non-reducing end segments of the target compounds, was synthesized and its efficacy in a coupling reaction was tested.

TCP- and phthalimide-protected n-pentenyl glucosaminide (NPG) precursors have been utilized in a convergent stereocontrolled synthesis of the nodulation factor NodRf-III (C18:1, MeFuc) produced by Rhizobium fredii USDA257, 2. Nodulation factors are lipooligosaccharides that are secreted by bacteria which trigger the early steps in the formation of root nodules in leguminous plants. This symbiotic relationship between plant and bacteria plays a major role in the global nitrogen cycle. Key to our synthetic approach was the use of the TCP (tetrachlorophthaloyl) group to provide for N-differentiation of the linear glucosamine backbone and the use of FeCl3 for the removal of benzyl protecting groups from the tetrasaccharide. The saccharide skeleton was assembled via the NPG-based coupling of a linear β(1→4) glucosamine disaccharide to a 6-O-fucosylated glucosamine acceptor. Significant yield enhancements for NPG couplings were observed at lower temperatures. Subsequent exchange of benzyl to tert-butyldimethyls...

Recent synthetic efforts in the construction of oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids and other glycoconjugates containing a variety of 2-amino-2-deoxy sugars have led to the development of new methods for nitrogen protection. These new nitrogen-protecting groups have been removed from substrates using mild and often chemoselective conditions. In this microreview, the preparation, present uses, and deprotection of amino sugar derivatives employing these new agents are described. Applications of phthalimides with electron-withdrawing groups including the tetrachlorophthaloyl (TCP), dichlorophthaloyl (DCPhth), dithiasuccinoyl (Dts), N-pent-4-enoyl and N,N-diacetyl functionalities are discussed.

Debromination of 4,5-dibromopentanyl glycosides to (re)generate n-pentenyl glycosides has been accomplished using zinc, samarium(II) iodide, and sodium iodide, respectively. The choice of reagent is dependent upon the reactivity of the substrate, as well as the protecting groups thereon.

Anhydrous FeCl 3 in CH 2 Cl 2 at room temperature and 0 °C has been used to debenzylate monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in yields generally greater than 70%. Notably, alkenes, acetates, benzoates, phthalimides, acyl amides, and sensitive glycosidic linkages are unaffected by the reaction conditions.

Recent synthetic efforts in the construction of oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids and other glycoconjugates containing a variety of 2-amino-2-deoxy sugars have led to the development of new methods for nitrogen protection. These new nitrogen-protecting groups have been removed from substrates using mild and often chemoselective conditions. In this microreview, the preparation, present uses, and deprotection of amino sugar derivatives employing these new agents are described. Applications of phthalimides with electron-withdrawing groups including the tetrachlorophthaloyl (TCP), dichlorophthaloyl (DCPhth), dithiasuccinoyl (Dts), N-pent-4-enoyl and N,N-diacetyl functionalities are discussed.

The total syntheses of the amaryllidaceae alkaloids haemanthidine, pretazettine, and tazettine as optically pure enantiomers are reported. Using d-mannose as the starting material, the critical rel...

This paper describes the discovery of N-[(4R)-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl]-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (MK-5596, 12c) as a novel cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonist for the treatment of obesity. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of lead compound 3, which had off-target hERG (human ether-a-go-go related gene) inhibition activity, led to the identification of several compounds that not only had attenuated hERG inhibition activity but also were subject to glucuronidation in vitro providing the potential for multiple metabolic clearance pathways. Among them, pyrazole 12c was found to be a highly selective CB1R inverse agonist that reduced body weight and food intake in a DIO (diet-induced obese) rat model through a CB1R-mediated mechanism. Although 12c was a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter, its high in vivo efficacy in rodents, good pharmacokinetic properties in preclinical species, good safety margins, and its potential for a balanced metabolism profile in man allowed for the further evaluation of this compound in the clinic.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R) inverse agonists based on dihydro-pyrano[2,3-b] pyridine and tetrahydro-1,8-naphtyridine scaffolds are presented. Rat food intake and pharmacokinetic evaluation of 13g, 13i, 13k and 17a revealed these compounds to be highly efficacious orally active modulators of CB1R.

MRL-1, a cannabinoid receptor-1 inverse agonist, was a member of a lead candidate series for the treatment of obesity. In rats, MRL-1 is eliminated mainly via metabolism, followed by excretion of the metabolites into bile. The major metabolite M1, a glutathione conjugate of MRL-1, was isolated and characterized by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic methods. The data suggest that the t-butylsulfonyl group at C-2 of furopyridine was displaced by the glutathionyl group. In vitro experiments using rat and monkey liver microsomes in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH) showed that the formation of M1 was independent of NADPH and molecular oxygen, suggesting that this reaction was not mediated by an oxidative reaction and a glutathione S-transferase (GST) was likely involved in catalyzing this reaction. Furthermore, a rat hepatic GST was capable of catalyzing the conversion of MRL-1 to M1 in the presence of GSH. When a close analog of MRL-1, a p-chlorobenzenesulfonyl furopyridine derivative (MRL-2), was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of GSH, p-chlorobenzene sulfinic acid (M2) was also identified as a product in addition to the expected M1. Based on these data, a mechanism is proposed involving direct nucleophilic addition of GSH to sulfonylfuropyridine, resulting in an unstable adduct that spontaneously decomposes to form M1 and M2.

Structure–activity relationship studies for two series of 2-benzyloxy-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)pyridines having either a 3-cyano or 3-carboxamide moiety resulted in the preparation of the 2-(3,4-difluorobenzyloxy)-3-nitrile analog 10d and the 2-(3,4-difluorobenzyloxy)-3-(N-propylcarboxamide) analog 16c, (hCB1 IC50 = 1.3 and 1.7 nM, respectively) as potent and selective hCB1 inverse agonists. Their synthesis and biological activities are described herein.

[structures: see text] The total syntheses of the amaryllidaceae alkaloids haemanthidine, pretazettine, and tazettine as optically pure enantiomers are reported. Using D-mannose as the starting material, the critical relative stereochemical relationships are established with an intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition reaction. The synthetic route leads successively to (-)-haemanthidine and then to (+)-pretazettine and (+)-tazettine, taking advantage of the well-established complex relationships among these three alkaloids.

The tetrachlorophthaloyl (TCP) group can be utilized when imidic protection of an amine is desired and durability of the protecting group to conditions ranging from mildly basic to harshly acidic is required. Installation can be accomplished in two steps by treating the free base with the commercially available TCP anhydride, and then closing the imidic ring with acetic anhydride and pyridine. Cleavage is effected by 2–4 eq of ethylenediamine under very mild conditions under which esters and glycopeptides have been shown to be stable, and racemization of amino acid residues does not occur. Unsubstituted phthalimides, even within the same molecule, are also unaffected during TCP cleavage. TCP protecting groups serve as β-directors on donors and can also be present on acceptor species during electrophilic couplings in oligosaccharide synthesis.

Laura C. Meurer,* Paul E. Finke, Sander G. Mills, Thomas F. Walsh, Richard B. Toupence, John S. Debenham, Mark T. Goulet, Junying Wang, Xinchun Tong, Tung M. Fong, Julie Lao, Marie-Therese Schaeffer, Jing Chen, Chun-Pyn Shen, D. Sloan Stribling, Lauren P. Shearman, Alison M. Strack and Lex H. T. Van der Ploeg Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA Department of Metabolic Disorders, Merck Research Laboratories, PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA Department of Pharmacology, Merck Research Laboratories, PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA

Anhydrous FeCl 3 in CH 2 Cl 2 at room temperature and 0 °C has been used to debenzylate monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in yields generally greater than 70%. Notably, alkenes, acetates, benzoates, phthalimides, acyl amides, and sensitive glycosidic linkages are unaffected by the reaction conditions.