Peter Michael Wovkulich

Direct α-iodination of cycloalkenones

Abstract The direct preparation of α-iodoenones by treatment of enones with I 2 /pyridine in CCl 4 is described.

MDM2 Small-Molecule Antagonist RG7112 Activates p53 Signaling and Regresses Human Tumors in Preclinical Cancer Models

MDM2 negatively regulates p53 stability and many human tumors overproduce MDM2 as a mechanism to restrict p53 function. Thus, inhibitors of p53-MDM2 binding that can reactivate p53 in cancer cells may offer an effective approach for cancer therapy. RG7112 is a potent and selective member of the nutlin family of MDM2 antagonists currently in phase I clinical studies. RG7112 binds MDM2 with high affinity (K(D) ~ 11 nmol/L), blocking its interactions with p53 in vitro. A crystal structure of the RG7112-MDM2 complex revealed that the small molecule binds in the p53 pocket of MDM2, mimicking the interactions of critical p53 amino acid residues. Treatment of cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 with RG7112 activated the p53 pathway, leading to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. RG7112 showed potent antitumor activity against a panel of solid tumor cell lines. However, its apoptotic activity varied widely with the best response observed in osteosarcoma cells with MDM2 gene amplification. Interestingly, inhibition of caspase activity did not change the kinetics of p53-induced cell death. Oral administration of RG7112 to human xenograft-bearing mice at nontoxic concentrations caused dose-dependent changes in proliferation/apoptosis biomarkers as well as tumor inhibition and regression. Notably, RG7112 was highly synergistic with androgen deprivation in LNCaP xenograft tumors. Our findings offer a preclinical proof-of-concept that RG7112 is effective in treatment of solid tumors expressing wild-type p53.

Discovery of RG7112: A Small-Molecule MDM2 Inhibitor in Clinical Development.

The p53 tumor suppressor is a potent transcription factor that plays a key role in the regulation of cellular responses to stress. It is controlled by its negative regulator MDM2, which binds directly to p53 and inhibits its transcriptional activity. MDM2 also targets p53 for degradation by the proteasome. Many tumors produce high levels of MDM2, thereby impairing p53 function. Restoration of p53 activity by inhibiting the p53-MDM2 interaction may represent a novel approach to cancer treatment. RG7112 (2g) is the first clinical small-molecule MDM2 inhibitor designed to occupy the p53-binding pocket of MDM2. In cancer cells expressing wild-type p53, RG7112 stabilizes p53 and activates the p53 pathway, leading to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition or regression of human tumor xenografts.

Total synthesis of acosamine and daunosamine utilizing a diastereoselective intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition

Abstract A total synthesis of daunosamine (3) and acosamine (4) has been accomplished via a diastereoselective intramolecular nitrone-olefin cyclization. In the key step the chiral nitrone 12a cyclized to give two isoxazolidines 13a and 14a in an 82:18 ratio. Further elaboration of 13a led to daunosamine and acosamine. The effects of olefin substitution on the diastereoselectivity of the cycloaddition was also examined.

Stereoselective total synthesis of 1α,25S,26-trihydroxycholecalciferol

A total synthesis of 1α,25S,26-trihydroxycholecalciferol (2) has been accomplished via an efficient convergent approach. The remote chiral center at C-25 was introduced by a regiospecific and diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the C-23 nitrone 27 with methyl methacrylate. Subsequent transformation of the resulting isoxazolidine led to the key synthon 3, which on coupling to the anion 4 and deprotection produced the metabolite 2.

Chemical conversion of vitamin D3 to its 1,35-dihydroxy metabolite

Vitamin D3 (6) has been converted to the 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 metabolite (1) and the 1α-fluoro derivative 2 via a new process. The strategy involved the cleavage of the ring A portion from the CD portion in vitamin D3 followed by the individual modification of each subunit to form 3, 4, and 5. The subsequent recombination of 3 and 5 formed 1 while 4 and 5 produced 2.

Control of stereoselectivity in samarium metal induced cyclopropanations. Synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol

Abstract 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol ( 23 ) was synthesized from A-ring precursor 18 and Windaus-Grundmann ketone 19 via cyclovitamin D 21 . Key reactions include highly stereoselective ( 5 to 6 ) and stereospecific ( 13 to 14 ) cyclopropanations.

Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines: Discovery and preliminary SAR of a novel series of DYRK1B and DYRK1A inhibitors.

DYRK1B is a kinase over-expressed in certain cancer cells (including colon, ovarian, pancreatic, etc.). Recent publications have demonstrated inhibition of DYRK1B could be an attractive target for cancer therapy. From a data-mining effort, the team has discovered analogues of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potent enantio-selective inhibitors of DYRK1B. Cells treated with a tool compound from this series showed the same cellular effects as down regulation of DYRK1B with siRNA. Such effects are consistent with the proposed mechanism of action. Progress of the SAR study is presented.

Asymmetric synthesis of a key 1α,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 ring a synthon

Abstract An efficient and highly stereoselective synthesis of the A-ring synthon 4 of 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 (1) is described. The aldehyde 12, which was used for an intramolecular ene reaction to form the main framework 18, was obtained by two different asymmetric approaches starting from olefin 6.

Identification of novel, potent and selective inhibitors of Polo-like kinase 1.

A series of pyrimidodiazepines was identified as potent Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors. The synthesis and SAR are discussed. The lead compound 7 (RO3280) has potent inhibitory activity against PLK1, good selectivity against other kinases, and excellent in vitro cellular potency. It showed strong antitumor activity in xenograft mouse models.