Pat Forgione

Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling Reaction Between Heteroaromatic Carboxylic Acids and Aryl Halides

A full overview of the decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction between heteroaromatic carboxylic acids and aryl halides is described. This transformation employs palladium catalysts with short reaction times providing facile synthesis of aryl-substituted heteroaromatics. The effect of each reaction parameter including solvent, base, and additive employed as well as the full substrate scope of this transformation are reported. Mechanistic evidence is also disclosed that sheds light on possible reaction pathways.

Combined Directed ortho and Remote Metalation−Suzuki Cross-Coupling Strategies. Efficient Synthesis of Heteroaryl-Fused Benzopyranones from Biaryl O-Carbamates

A concise synthesis of heteroaryl dibenzopyranones 9a,b, 10a,b, 11a-c, and 12a-c has been achieved by the LDA-induced migration of heterobiaryl O-carbamates 18, 21, 25, and 30 which, in turn, were prepared in good yield using a combined directed ortho lithiation (DoM)-transition-metal-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling strategy. An efficient and general route to a wide variety of heterocycles including coumestans 19a,c and the previously unknown isothiocoumestan ring system 22b has been thereby achieved.

Discovery of a potent and selective noncovalent linear inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease (BI 201335).

C-Terminal carboxylic acid containing inhibitors of the NS3 protease are reported. A novel series of linear tripeptide inhibitors that are very potent and selective against the NS3 protease are described. A substantial contribution to the potency of these linear inhibitors arises from the introduction of a C8 substituent on the B-ring of the quinoline moiety found on the P2 of these inhibitors. The introduction of a C8 methyl group results not only in a modest increase in the cell-based potency of these inhibitors but more importantly in a much better pharmacokinetic profile in rats as well. Exploration of C8-substitutions led to the identification of the bromo derivative as the best group at this position, resulting in a significant increase in the cell-based potency of this class of inhibitors. Structure-activity studies on the C8-bromo derivatives ultimately led to the discovery of clinical candidate 29 (BI 201335), a very potent and selective inhibitor of genotype1 NS3 protease with a promising PK profile in rats.

Magnesium mediated carbometallation of propargyl alcohols: direct routes to furans and furanones

The addition of vinyl and aryl Grignard reagents to propargyl alcohols for the direct synthesis of furans and butenolides from a one pot reaction is described. These products arise from a putative magnesium chelate intermediate 2 upon reaction with various electrophiles. This chelate was also generated in situ from alkynyl lithium addition to aldehydes followed by magnesium exchange and Grignard addition. Thus, the complete substitution pattern for the furan ring may be controlled, as desired, through the judicious choice of substrates and reagents.

Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Desulfinylative Cross-Coupling of Heteroaromatic Sulfinates

Beauty lies in simplicity: An efficient and environmentally benign palladium-catalyzed protocol has been developed using a sulfinate as a nucleophilic coupling partner. The sulfinate position is arylated chemoselectively in very good yields. The bench-stable, non-hygroscopic heteroaromatic sulfinate salts rapidly undergo cross-coupling without the need of a co-catalyst, base, or additives (see scheme; mw = microwave).

Enantiomeric Atropisomers Inhibit HCV Polymerase and/or HIV Matrix: Characterizing Hindered Bond Rotations and Target Selectivity.

An anthranilic acid series of allosteric thumb pocket 2 HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors exhibited hindered rotation along a covalent bond axis, and the existence of atropisomer chirality was confirmed by NMR, HPLC analysis on chiral supports, and computational studies. A thorough understanding of the concerted rotational properties and the influence exerted by substituents involved in this steric phenomenon was attained through biophysical studies on a series of truncated analogues. The racemization half-life of a compound within this series was determined to be 69 min, which was consistent with a class 2 atropisomer (intermediate conformational exchange). It was further found by X-ray crystallography that one enantiomer of a compound bound to the intended HCV NS5B polymerase target whereas the mirror image atropisomer was able to bind to an unrelated HIV matrix target. Analogues were then identified that selectively inhibited the former. These studies highlight that atropisomer chirality can lead to distinct entities with specific properties, and the phenomenon of atropisomerism in drug discovery should be evaluated and appropriately managed.

Potent triazolyl-proline-based inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease

The design and synthesis of tripeptide-based inhibitors of the HCV NS3 protease containing a novel P2-triazole is described. Replacement of the P2 quinoline with a triazole moiety provided a versatile handle which could be expediently modified to generate a diverse series of inhibitors. Further refinement by the incorporation of an aryl-substituted triazole and replacement of the P1 acid with an acyl sulfonamide ultimately provided inhibitors with interesting cellular activity.

Magnesium mediated carbometallation of propargyl alcohols: direct routes to dihydroxydienes and enediyne alcohols

The addition of vinyl and alkynyl Grignard reagents to propargyl alcohols for the direct synthesis of dihydroxydienes and enediyne alcohols from a one pot reaction is described. These products arise from the putative magnesium chelate intermediate 2 upon reaction with the appropriate electrophile.

Synthesis of 2,5‐Diaryl‐Substituted Thiophenes as Helical Mimetics: Towards the Modulation of Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP) Amyloid Fibril Formation and Cytotoxicity

A range of 2,5-diarylated thiophenes were synthesised as small molecule mimetics of the α-helix to modulate the amyloidogenesis and cytotoxic effect of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). 3-Substituted thiophene-2-carboxylic acids were used as key intermediates and functionalised by palladium decarboxylative cross-coupling and direct C-H activation successively with overall yields ranging from 23 to 95 %. The effect of the ligands on IAPP amyloid fibril formation was evaluated with the thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence-based assay. Furthermore, the capacity of these compounds to inhibit the cytotoxic effect of IAPP was assessed using β-pancreatic cells.

A One-Pot Double C–H Activation Palladium Catalyzed Route to a Unique Class of Highly Functionalized Thienoisoquinolines

The synthesis of a unique class of highly functionalized 3,4-thienoisoquinolines via an efficient palladium-catalyzed one-pot, regioselective double C-H activation is presented. This class of biologically relevant compounds has been prepared in five steps from commercially available starting materials with overall yields ranging from 27 to 62%. A masked carboxylic acid was used to direct C-H activation to the typically less reactive C4 position. Additionally, the carboxylic acid provides a synthetically useful handle for further functionalization.