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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.

Recent efforts in the field of thrombin inhibitor research have focused on the identification of compounds with good oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. In this manuscript we describe a metabolism-based approach to the optimization of the 3-(2-phenethylamino)-6-methylpyrazinone acetamide template (e.g., 1) which resulted in the modification of each of the three principal components (i.e., P1, P2, P3) comprising this series. As a result of these studies, several potent thrombin inhibitors (e.g., 20, 24, 25) were identified which exhibit high levels of oral bioavailability and long plasma half-lives.

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.

As part of an ongoing effort to prepare novel non-nucleoside inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT), a series of 4-(arylethynyl)-6-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-3,4-dihydroquinazolin -2(1H)-ones 4aa-l has been prepared. Target compounds 4a-e were synthesized via addition of various 1-lithio-2-(aryl)alkyne nucleophiles to a 1-protected-4-cyclopropylquinazolin-2(1H)-one (7), followed by deprotection. The 3-methyl compound 4aa was prepared in an analogous manner, with the 3-alkylation performed prior to deprotection. Alternatively, the target compounds 4f-l were prepared by addition of 1-lithio-2-(trimethylsilyl)acetylene to 7, followed by deprotection and subsequent palladium-catalyzed coupling with various aryl halides. By incorporating an aryl group onto the end of the 4-acetylene functionality, the requirement for a metabolically labile 3-methyl group on the dihydroquinazolinone nucleus has been eliminated. A number of the target compounds were shown to be potent inhibitors of HIV-1 RT. Compound 4a, which had exhibited the most favorable overall biological profile, was resolved via a four-step procedure to provide the enantiomers 13a and 13b. Compound 13a having the (-)-4(S) configuration was shown to be the active enantiomer and was selected as a candidate for further investigation.

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 systematic investigation was undertaken to determine the role of the P1' sidechain in a series of hydroxyethylene isostere based inhibitors of HIV-1 protease. Substitution and homologation of the benzyl P1' side chain of the Phe-Phe isostere based pseudo peptides 1 (L-682,679) and 2 (L-685,434) with various heteroalkyl groups leads to a series of extremely potent inhibitors of the enzyme. Several examples of the most potent inhibitors were very effective in an ex vivo cell based viral spread assay using human H9 T-lymphocytes and the IIIb isolate of HIV-1. Compound 19 is 120 times more potent than 1 and 16 times more potent than 2 in inhibiting the spread of infection in this assay.

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 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.

We have addressed the key deficiency of noncovalent pyridinone acetamide thrombin inhibitor L-374,087 (1), namely, its modest half-lives in animals, by making a chemically stable 3-alkylaminopyrazinone bioisostere for its 3-sulfonylaminopyridinone core. Compound 3 (L-375,378), the closest aminopyrazinone analogue of 1, has comparable selectivity and slightly decreased efficacy but significantly improved pharmacokinetics in rats, dogs, and monkeys to 1. We have developed an efficient and versatile synthesis of 3, and this compound has been chosen for further preclinical and clinical development.

The clinical benefit of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) is limited by the rapid selection of inhibitor-resistant viral variants. However, it may be possible to enhance the clinical utility of this inhibitor class by deriving compounds that express both high levels of antiviral activity and an augmented pharmacokinetic profile. Accordingly, we developed a new class of NNRTIs, the 1, 4-dihydro-2H-3, 1-benzoxazin-2-ones. L-743, 726 (DMP-266), a member of this class, was chosen for clinical evaluation because of its in vitro properties. The compound was a potent inhibitor of the wild-type HIV-1 RT (Ki = 2.93 nM) and exhibited a 95% inhibitory concentration of 1.5 nM for the inhibition of HIV-1 replicative spread in cell culture. In addition, L-7743, 7726 was found to be capable of inhibiting, with 95% inhibitory concentrations of < or = 1.5 microM, a panel of NNRTI-resistant mutant viruses, each of which expressed a single RT amino acid substitution. Derivation of virus with notably reduced susceptibility to the inhibitor required prolonged cell culture selection and was mediated by a combination of at least two RT amino acid substitutions. Studies of L-743, 726 in rats, monkeys, and a chimpanzee demonstrated the compound's potential for good oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics in humans.

Several hydrogenated derivatives of the potent NMDA antagonist 1 have been prepared and evaluated as competitive inhibitors of [ 3 H]-1 binding. These compounds were also tested for their ability to act as noncompetitive antagonists of NMDA in vitro. These studies indicate that two aromatic rings are not strictly required for high-affinity binding or NMDA antagonism

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.

6-Chloromethylbenzo[a]pyrene (6-CMBP) labeled with 13C in the chloromethyl group was used as a model for those carcinogens which form essentially free carbocations. Using 13C-NMR to identify products, the selectivity with which this electrophile modifies nucleosides was investigated. At pH 7, guanosine and deoxyguanosine are the most nucleophilic nucleosides toward the carbocation generated by solvolysis of 6-CMBP. Attack at N-7 predominates over attack at N-2. At higher pH, the nucleophilicity of guanosine and deoxyguanosines increases markedly. In addition, the site of modification changes to N-1 with secondary modification at O-6. The pH dependence of the rate of this reaction implicates a group with pK-value approx. 8.7 which was assigned to the hydrogen on N-1. The presence of a methyl group on the N-7 position of guanosine lowers this pK-value to approx. 7.2. Consequently, N7-methylguanosine shows the high nucleophilicity at physiological pH that guanosine has at high pH. These observations lead to the suggestion of a one base: two-site model for chemical carcinogenesis.

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.

Fluorescence lifetimes of t-stilbene and its structurally rigid derivatives, i.e. substituted tetrahydrochrysenes, are reported. Single component fluorescence decays are observed for all these compounds. These t-stilbene derivatives show the same spectral features as found in a spectrum of t-stilbene recorded at 77 K but with lower transition energies. All the t-stilbene derivatives have significantly longer fluorescence lifetimes in accordance with that of t-stilbene at lower temperatures.

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.

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.

A possible benefit of creating smaller and more rigid active analogs of somatostatin is the discovery of compounds which selectively inhibit the secretion of insulin, glucagon or growth hormone. A series of cyclic tetrapeptide analogs related to somatostatin was synthesized, and one member of this series was found to cause an unexpected stimulation of glucagon secretion while having little if any effect on either insulin or growth hormone secretion. A sustained increase in plasma glucose levels was also observed. Two possible modes of action are proposed.