Richard S. Roberts

Chromatography-free synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles using ROMPGEL-supported acylating reagents.

1,2,4-Oxadiazoles were synthesized in solution from aromatic amidoximes and acylating agents supported on a ring opening metathesis polymer (ROMPGEL) backbone. High yields and purities of the 1,2,4-oxadiazoles were obtained with minimal purification.

Pyrrolidine synthesis on polystyrene supports: development of a ‘one-pot’ dipolar cycloaddition strategy

Abstract Preparation of substituted pyrrolidines was achieved by solid-phase synthesis via a room temperature 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a silver-azomethine ylide, generated in situ, with a polymer-supported maleimide.

Structure-activity relationships (SAR) and structure-kinetic relationships (SKR) of pyrrolopiperidinone acetic acids as CRTh2 antagonists.

Pyrrolopiperidinone acetic acids (PPAs) were identified as highly potent CRTh2 receptor antagonists. In addition, many of these compounds displayed slow-dissociation kinetics from the receptor. Structure-kinetic relationship (SKR) studies allowed optimisation of the kinetics to give potent analogues with long receptor residence half-lives of up to 23 h. Low permeability was a general feature of this series, however oral bioavailability could be achieved through the use of ester prodrugs.

2-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acids as chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 lymphocytes (CRTh2) antagonists

In this manuscript, the synthesis and biological activity of a series of pyrazole acetic acid derivatives as CRTh2 antagonists is presented. Biological evaluation in vitro revealed that the pyrazole core showed in several cases a different structure-activity relationship (SAR) to that of related indole acetic acid. A potent series of ortho-sulfonyl benzyl substituents was found, from which compounds 27 and 63 were advanced to in vivo profiling.

Chameleon catches in combinatorial chemistry: Tebbe olefination of polymer supported esters and the synthesis of amines, cyclohexanones, enones, methyl ketones and thiazoles

Tebbe olefination of supported esters R1CO2CH2–polymer gave the corresponding vinyl ethers R1C(CH2)OCH2–polymer which were released, under acidic conditions, to produce methyl ketones R1COMe; by reductive amination, to produce amines R1CH(Me)NHR2; by bromination and reaction of R1CBr(CH2Br)OCH2-polymer with thioureas to produce thiazoles; or, for supported dienyl ethers derived from α,β-unsaturated esters, by Diels–Alder reaction and acid mediated cleavage to produce cyclohexanone derivatives.

Structure-activity relationships (SAR) and structure-kinetic relationships (SKR) of bicyclic heteroaromatic acetic acids as potent CRTh2 antagonists III: the role of a hydrogen-bond acceptor in long receptor residence times.

The correct positioning and orientation of an hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) in the tail portion of the biaryl series of CRTh2 antagonists is a requirement for long receptor residence time. The HBA in combination with a small steric substituent in the core section (R(core) ≠ H) gives access to compounds with dissociation half-lives of ⩾ 24h.

The phenyldimethylsilyllithium reagent

Abstract The phenyldimethylsilyllithium reagent can be titrated using the double titration for organolithium reagents, in spite of the formation of silyl bromide on adding dibromoethane; the reagent is different from alkyllithiums in maintaining its titre over a long period even as traces of water seep in.

Structure–activity relationships (SAR) and structure–kinetic relationships (SKR) of bicyclic heteroaromatic acetic acids as potent CRTh2 antagonists II: Lead optimization

Extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) and structure-kinetic relationship (SKR) studies in the bicyclic heteroaromatic series of CRTh2 antagonists led to the identification of several molecules that possessed both excellent binding and cellular potencies along with long receptor residence times. A small substituent in the bicyclic core provided an order of magnitude jump in dissociation half-lives. Selected optimized compounds demonstrated suitable pharmacokinetic profiles.

The preparation and analysis of the phenyldimethylsilyllithium reagent and its reaction with silyl enol ethers

Phenyldimethylsilyllithium is formed from lithium and phenyldimethylsilyl chloride by slow cleavage of the Si–Si bond of 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-1,2-diphenyldisilane after the rapid formation of the disilane. 1,1,2,2-Tetramethyl-1,2-diphenyldisiloxane, produced from the silyl chloride by reaction with oxides and hydroxides on the lithium metal surface, is cleaved by dimethyl(phenyl)silyllithium to give lithium dimethyl(phenyl)silanoxide. Dimethyl(phenyl)silyllithium reacts with 1,2-dibromoethane to give dimethyl(phenyl)silyl bromide, which is so rapidly consumed by excess silyllithium reagent that it does not interfere with the double titration used to measure its concentration. Dimethyl(phenyl)silane, produced by protonation of the silyllithium reagent, is also consumed by the silyllithium reagent to give 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-1,2-diphenyldisilane, which regenerates the silyllithium reagent, as long as lithium is still present. By-products in the preparation of dimethyl(phenyl)silyllithium include 1,3-diphenyl-1,1,2,2,3,3-hexamethyltrisilane, dimethyldiphenylsilane and 1,4-bis[dimethyl(phenyl)silyl]benzene. Dimethyl(phenyl)silyllithium displaces the silyl group from the tert-butyldimethylsilyl enol ether of cyclohexanone to give the lithium enolate under relatively mild conditions.

Structure–activity relationships (SAR) and structure–kinetic relationships (SKR) of bicyclic heteroaromatic acetic acids as potent CRTh2 antagonists I

A knowledge-based design strategy led to the discovery of several new series of potent and orally bioavailable CRTh2 antagonists where a bicyclic heteroaromatic ring serves as the central core. Structure-kinetic relationships (SKR) opened up the possibility of long receptor residence times.