Alan S. Jessiman

Catalysis in flow: the practical and selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones

A safe, practical and selective process for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones has been developed using an Ru catalyst in a continuous flow reactor. Benzylic and allylic alcohols are oxidised selectively to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, including substrates containing N- and S-heteroatoms. The rate of turnover is compatible with that previously reported using batch or microchannel reactors under optimised conditions. A preliminary kinetic model is derived that is supported by experimental observations. Last but not least, tandem oxidation–olefination may be achieved without the need to isolate the alcohol intermediate or to switch solvent.

Catalysis in flow: Au-catalysed alkylation of amines by alcohols

By using a greater reaction space afforded by a flow reactor, commercially available Au/TiO2 can be used for highly selective direct alkylation of amines by alcohols, without the need for an inert atmosphere or base. A brief survey of substrates includes the alkylation of aromatic, aliphatic and chiral amines by a number of primary and secondary alcohols, in high yield and selectivity. The synthesis of Piribedil, a drug used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease, can be achieved in a single synthetic operation without the need for column chromatography. Mechanistic aspects of the reaction were revealed through modelling of reaction profiles, and the origin of selectivity is attributed to the accessibility of high temperature. The presence of water was found to be crucial for catalyst activity.

Skeletal diversity construction via a branching synthetic strategy

A branching synthetic strategy was used to efficiently generate structurally diverse scaffolds, which span a broad area of chemical descriptor space, and their biological activity against MRSA was demonstrated.

Multiparameter Optimization in CNS Drug Discovery: Design of Pyrimido[4,5-d]azepines as Potent 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2C (5-HT2C) Receptor Agonists with Exquisite Functional Selectivity over 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B Receptors

A series of 4-substituted pyrimido[4,5-d]azepines that are potent, selective 5-HT2C receptor partial agonists is described. A rational medicinal chemistry design strategy to deliver CNS penetration coupled with SAR-based optimization of selectivity and agonist potency provided compounds with the desired balance of preclinical properties. Lead compounds 17 (PF-4479745) and 18 (PF-4522654) displayed robust pharmacology in a preclinical canine model of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and no measurable functional agonism at the key selectivity targets 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B in relevant tissue-based assay systems. Utilizing recent advances in the structural biology of GPCRs, homology modeling has been carried out to rationalize binding and agonist efficacy of these compounds.

Pyrimido[4,5-d]azepines as potent and selective 5-HT2C receptor agonists: Design, synthesis, and evaluation of PF-3246799 as a treatment for urinary incontinence

New pyrimido[4,5-d]azepines 7 are disclosed as potent 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists. A preferred example, 7b had minimal activation at either the 5-HT(2A) or 5-HT(2B) receptors combined with robust efficacy in a preclinical canine model of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and attractive pharmacokinetic and safety properties. Based on this profile, 7b (PF-3246799) was identified as a candidate for clinical development for the treatment of SUI. In addition, it proved to be critical to build an understanding of the translation between recombinant cell-based systems, native tissue preparations and in vivo preclinical models. This was a significant undertaking and proved to be crucial in compound selection.

Designing rapid onset selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. 2: structure-activity relationships of substituted (aryl)benzylamines.

A series of substituted benzylamines 2-48 were prepared as part of a strategy to identify structurally differentiated and synthetically more accessible selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, relative to clinical candidate 1. In particular, 44 and 48; demonstrated low nanomolar potency and good selectivity, in a structurally simplified template and, in vivo, very low Vdu, significantly lower than l, and a more rapid T(max), consistent with our clinical objectives.

Designing rapid onset selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Part 3: Site-directed metabolism as a strategy to avoid active circulating metabolites: Structure–activity relationships of (thioalkyl)phenoxy benzylamines

A series of thio-alkyl containing diphenylethers were designed and evaluated, as a strategy to competitively direct metabolism away from unwanted amine N-demethylation and deliver a pharmacologically inactive S-oxide metabolite. Overall, sulfonamide 20 was found to possess the best balance of target pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and metabolism profile.