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Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR kinase pathway is associated with human cancers. A dual p70S6K/Akt inhibitor is sufficient to inhibit strong tumor growth and to block negative impact of the compensatory Akt feedback loop activation. A scaffold docking strategy based on an existing quinazoline carboxamide series identified 4-aminopyrimidine analog 6, which showed a single-digit nanomolar and a micromolar potencies in p70S6K and Akt enzymatic assays. SAR optimization improved Akt enzymatic and p70S6K cellular potencies, reduced hERG liability, and ultimately discovered the promising candidate 37, which exhibited with a single digit nanomolar value in both p70S6K and Akt biochemical assays, and hERG activities (IC 50  = 17.4 μM). This agent demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy in inhibiting mice breast cancer tumor growth and covered more than 90% pS6 inhibition up to 24 h at a dose of 200 mg/kg po., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mono- and dianion species of 1,8-naphthalene diamide 2 were generated under sec -BuLi/TMEDA conditions and trapped with a variety of electrophiles to give 2- and 2,7- substituted products 3 and 4 . Using Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, mono- and di-iodinated products were converted into the corresponding 2-aryl ( 5 ) and 2,7-diaryl ( 6 ) products, respectively. The amide-amide rotation barrier of 2 was established by VT NMR, and the structure of fluorenone structure 9 , obtained by remote metalation, was secured.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is a member of the Tec kinase family that is expressed in cells of hematopoietic lineage (e.g. B cells, macrophages, monocytes, and mast cells). Small molecule covalent irreversible Btk inhibitors targeting Cys481 within the ATP-binding pocket have been applied in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Starting from a fragment, we discovered a novel series of potent covalent irreversible Btk inhibitors that bear N-linked groups occupying the solvent accessible pocket (SAP) of the active site of the Btk kinase domain. The hit molecules, however, displayed high P-gp mediated efflux ratio (ER) and poor A-B permeability in Caco-2 assay. By decreasing tPSA, installing steric hindrance and adjusting clogP, one top molecule 9 was discovered, which showed a 99% decrease in efflux ratio and a 90-fold increase in A-B permeability compared to hit molecule 1., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)