Brian R. Dixon

Synthesis and structure activity relationships of novel small molecule cathepsin D inhibitors.

Cathepsin D, a lysosomal aspartyl protease, has been implicated in the pathology of Alzheimers disease as well as breast and ovarian cancer. A weakly active cathepsin D inhibitor was identified by high throughput screening. Subsequent optimization led to the discovery of a new class of small molecule inhibitors of this enzyme, culminating with the sulfonamide 13 (IC50 = 250 nM).

Protocols for amide high-speed analoging. Preparation of novel, small molecule cathepsin D inhibitors

Procedures for solution phase parallel synthesis of new, small molecule cathepsin D inhibitors by the coupling of acyl chlorides, sulfonyl chlorides and carboxylic acids with nitrogen nucleophiles have been established using polymer-bound reagents to facilitate the chemistry and/or to efficiently scavenge the unreacted starting materials and reaction by-products. Silver(I) benzoate was used to facilitate the coupling of acyl chlorides with less reactive anilines. Compound 4 was identified as a sub-micromolar cathepsin D inhibitor (IC50=320 nM).