Richard A. Buzon

Discovery of azetidinyl ketolides for the treatment of susceptible and multidrug resistant community-acquired respiratory tract infections.

Respiratory tract bacterial strains are becoming increasingly resistant to currently marketed macrolide antibiotics. The current alternative telithromycin (1) from the newer ketolide class of macrolides addresses resistance but is hampered by serious safety concerns, hepatotoxicity in particular. We have discovered a novel series of azetidinyl ketolides that focus on mitigation of hepatotoxicity by minimizing hepatic turnover and time-dependent inactivation of CYP3A isoforms in the liver without compromising the potency and efficacy of 1.

Novel Synthesis of 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7-Hexahydro- s-indacen-4-yl)-3-[4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-furan-2-sulfonyl]urea, an Anti-inflammatory Agent

Abstract A novel synthesis of the anti-inflammatory agent 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7- hexahydro-s-indacen-4-yl)-3-[4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-furan-2-sulfonyl] urea 1 is described. Sulfonamide 5 was prepared starting from ethyl 3-furoate 2. Key steps were a one-pot sulfonylation with chlorosulfonic acid in methylene chloride followed by pyridinium salt formation and reaction with phosphorus pentachloride to provide ethyl 2-(chlorosulfonyl)-4-furoate 7. This sulfonyl chloride was treated with ammonium bicarbonate to form sulfonamide 8, followed by treatment with excess methyl magnesium chloride to provide 4-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-furan-2-sulfonamide 5. 4-Isocyanato-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-s-indacene 16 was prepared from indan in five steps. The formation of the desired sulfonyl urea was carried out both with the isolated isocyanate 16 and via an in situ method.

An Asymmetric Synthesis of (2S,5S)-5-Substituted Azepane-2-Carboxylate Derivatives

To facilitate a drug discovery project, we needed to develop a robust asymmetric synthesis of (2S,5S)-5-substituted-azepane-2-carboxylate derivatives. Two key requirements for the synthesis were flexibility for elaboration at C5 and suitability for large scale preparation. To this end we have successfully developed a scalable asymmetric synthesis of these derivatives that starts with known hydroxy-ketone 8. The key step features an oxidative cleavage of aza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonene 14, which simultaneously generates the C2 and C5 substituents in a stereoselective manner.