Michael Victor Voronkov

Novel Class of LIM-Kinase 2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Ocular Hypertension and Associated Glaucoma

The discovery of a pyrrolopyrimidine class of LIM-kinase 2 (LIMK2) inhibitors is reported. These LIMK2 inhibitors show good potency in enzymatic and cellular assays and good selectivity against ROCK. After topical dosing to the eye in a steroid induced mouse model of ocular hypertension, the compounds reduce intraocular pressure to baseline levels. The compounds also increase outflow facility in a pig eye perfusion assay. These results suggest LIMK2 may be an effective target for treating ocular hypertension and associated glaucoma.

Improved large-scale synthesis of phenylisoserine and the taxol C-13 side chain

Dihydrodihydroxycinnamic acids and their esters react with acetonitrile or benzonitrile in the presence of sulfuric acid to afford the corresponding syn-β-amino-α-hydroxypropionic acid derivatives. High yields and diastereoselectivity of this transformation allows preparation of various phenylisoserine derivatives on a practical scale.