No abstract

A highly stereocontrolled synthesis of tetrasubstituted acyclic all-carbon olefins has been developed via a stereoselective enolization and tosylate formation, followed by a palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of the tosylates and pinacol boronic esters in the presence of Pd(OAc)2/RuPhos catalytic system. Both the enol tosylation and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions tolerate an array of electronically and sterically diverse substituents and generate high yield and stereoselectivity of the olefin products. Judicious choice of substrate and coupling partner provides access to either E- or Z-olefin with excellent yield and stereochemical fidelity. Olefin isomerization was observed during the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. However, under the optimized cross-coupling reaction conditions, the isomerization was suppressed to <5% in most cases. Mechanistic probes indicate that the olefin isomerization occurs via an intermediate, possibly a zwitterionic palladium carbenoid species.

Herein we report on the structure-based discovery of a C-2 hydroxyethyl moiety which provided consistently high levels of selectivity for JAK1 over JAK2 to the imidazopyrrolopyridine series of JAK1 inhibitors. X-ray structures of a C-2 hydroxyethyl analogue in complex with both JAK1 and JAK2 revealed differential ligand/protein interactions between the two isoforms and offered an explanation for the observed selectivity. Analysis of historical data from related molecules was used to develop a set of physicochemical compound design parameters to impart desirable properties such as acceptable membrane permeability, potent whole blood activity, and a high degree of metabolic stability. This work culminated in the identification of a highly JAK1 selective compound (31) exhibiting favorable oral bioavailability across a range of preclinical species and robust efficacy in a rat CIA model.

The commercial-scale synthesis of the DPP-IV inhibitor, saxagliptin (1), is described from the two unnatural amino acid derivatives 2 and 3. After the deprotection of 3, the core of 1 is formed by the amide coupling of amino acid 2 and methanoprolinamide 4. Subsequent dehydration of the primary amide and deprotection of the amine affords saxagliptin, 1. While acid salts of saxagliptin have proven to be stable in solution, synthesis of the desired free base monohydrate was challenging due to the thermodynamically favorable conversion of the free amine to the six-membered cyclic amidine 9. Significant process modifications were made late in development to enhance process robustness in preparation for the transition to commercial manufacturing. The impetus and rationale for those changes are explained herein.

Herein we report the discovery of the C-2 methyl substituted imidazopyrrolopyridine series and its optimization to provide potent and orally bioavailable JAK1 inhibitors with selectivity over JAK2. The C-2 methyl substituted inhibitor 4 exhibited not only improved JAK1 potency relative to unsubstituted compound 3 but also notable JAK1 vs JAK2 selectivity (20-fold and >33-fold in biochemical and cell-based assays, respectively). Features of the X-ray structures of 4 in complex with both JAK1 and JAK2 are delineated. Efforts to improve the in vitro and in vivo ADME properties of 4 while maintaining JAK1 selectivity are described, culminating in the discovery of a highly optimized and balanced inhibitor (20). Details of the biological characterization of 20 are disclosed including JAK1 vs JAK2 selectivity levels, preclinical in vivo PK profiles, performance in an in vivo JAK1-mediated PK/PD model, and attributes of an X-ray structure in complex with JAK1.

A concise and scalable second generation synthesis of HIV maturation inhibitor BMS-955176 is described. The synthesis is framed by an oxidation strategy highlighted by a Cu mediated aerobic oxidation of betulin, a highly selective PIFA mediated dehydrogenation of an oxime, and a subsequent Lossen rearrangement which occurs through a unique reaction mechanism for the installation of the C17 amino functionality. The synthetic route proceeds in 7 steps with 47% overall yield and begins from the abundant and inexpensive natural product betulin.

The development work toward the robust and efficient manufacturing process to vismodegib, the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in Erivedge, is described. The optimization of the four-stage manufacturing process was designed to produce the API with the required critical quality attributes: (1) the selective catalytic hydrogenation reduction of the nitro compound 3 to the corresponding aniline 4 while minimizing the formation of potential genotoxic (mutagenic) impurities; (2) the control of the polymorphic phase and multipoint specification for particle size distribution.

BMS-919373 is a highly functionalized quinazoline under investigation as a selective, potent I Kur current blocker. By utilizing the aminomethylpyridine side chain at C-4, a selective C−H functionalization at C-5 was invented, enabling the efficient synthesis of this molecule. The strategy of leveraging this inherent directing group allowed the synthesis of this complex heterocycle in only six steps from commodity chemicals. The scope of the C−H activation was further investigated, and the generality of the transformation across a series of bicyclic aromatic heterocycles was explored.