Background: Two pyridine derivatives were identified as promising drug candidates in animal models of Chagas disease. Results: They were tested as sterol 14␣-demethylase (CYP51) inhibitors, and x-ray co-structures with T. cruzi CYP51 were determined. Conclusion:The structures explain the potency and selectivity of the compound. Significance: Structural information contributes to a better understanding of P450 inhibition and will facilitate rational design of pathogen-specific drugs.

We report the discovery of nontoxic fungicide fenarimol (1) as an inhibitor of Trypanosoma cruzi ( T. cruzi ), the causative agent of Chagas disease, and the results of structure-activity investigations leading to potent analogues with low nM IC(50)s in a T. cruzi whole cell in vitro assay. Lead compounds suppressed blood parasitemia to virtually undetectable levels after once daily oral dosing in mouse models of T. cruzi infection. Compounds are chemically tractable, allowing rapid optimization of target biological activity and drug characteristics. Chemical and biological studies undertaken in the development of the fenarimol series toward the goal of delivering a new drug candidate for Chagas disease are reported.

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The tethered aminohydroxylation of cyclic allylic carbamates is described using catalytic amounts of potassium osmate. The mechanism of reaction involves formation of an imido-osmium complex which adds intramolecularly to alkenes with complete control of both regio- and stereoselectivity: the formation of syn-aminodiol motifs is now straightforward using this chemistry. Proof of the mechanism was obtained with an X-ray crystal structure of an azaglycolate osmate ester intermediate.

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