Timothy P. Connolly

Inhibitors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Attachment 6. Preclinical and Human Pharmacokinetic Profiling of BMS-663749, a Phosphonooxymethyl Prodrug of the HIV-1 Attachment Inhibitor 2-(4-Benzoyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-(4,7-dimethoxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-3-yl)-2-oxoethanone (BMS-488043)

BMS-663749, a phosphonooxymethyl prodrug 4 of the HIV-1 attachment inhibitor 2-(4-benzoyl-1-piperazinyl)-1-(4,7-dimethoxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-3-yl)-2-oxoethanone (BMS-488043) (2) was prepared and profiled in a variety of preclinical in vitro and in vivo models designed to assess its ability to deliver parent drug following oral administration. The data showed that prodrug 4 had excellent potential to significantly reduce dissolution rate-limited absorption following oral dosing in humans. Clinical studies in normal healthy subjects confirmed the potential of 4, revealing that the prodrug significantly increased both the AUC and C(max) of 2 compared to a solid capsule formulation containing the parent drug upon dose escalation. These data provided guidance for further efforts to obtain an effective HIV-1 attachment inhibitor.

Synthesis and activity of a C-8 keto pleuromutilin derivative

A C-8 keto pleuromutilin derivative has been synthesized from the biotransformation product 8-hydroxy mutilin. A key step in the process was the selective oxidation at C-8 of 8-hydroxy mutilin using tetrapropylammonium perruthenate. The presence of the C-8 keto group precipitated interesting intramolecular chemistry to afford a compound (10) with a novel pleuromutilin-derived ring system.

A short synthesis of 4-substituted 1-(hydroxyalkyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines☆

Abstract A simple and practical procedure was developed for the preparation of 4-substituted-1-(hydroxyalkyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines. This was achieved by reacting nucleobase 3a or 3b with cesium carbonate or DBU in the presence of various alkyl iodides at 0°C in DMF. This procedure appears to be of general utility, proceeds in reasonable yield, and is applicable to different alkyl chain lengths including protected and unprotected alcohols. The synthetic utility of this approach is demonstrated by the facile synthesis of ST 689, a potent immunostimulatory drug.

Tandem Ring-Closing Metathesis/Transfer Hydrogenation: Practical Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Alkenes

An operationally simple chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of alkenes using ruthenium metathesis catalysts is presented. Of great practicality, the transfer hydrogenation reagents can be added directly to a metathesis reaction and effect hydrogenation of the product alkene in a single pot at ambient temperature without the need to seal the vessel to prevent hydrogen gas escape. The reduction is applicable to a range of alkenes and can be performed in the presence of aryl halides and benzyl groups, a notable weakness of Pd-catalyzed hydrogenations. Scope and mechanistic considerations are presented.

The discovery and preclinical evaluation of BMS-707035, a potent HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor

BMS-707035 is an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) discovered by systematic optimization of N-methylpyrimidinone carboxamides guided by structure-activity relationships (SARs) and the single crystal X-ray structure of compound 10. It was rationalized that the unexpectedly advantageous profiles of N-methylpyrimidinone carboxamides with a saturated C2-substitutent may be due, in part, to the geometric relationship between the C2-substituent and the pyrimidinone core. The single crystal X-ray structure of 10 provided support for this reasoning and guided the design of a spirocyclic series 12 which led to discovery of the morpholino-fused pyrimidinone series 13. Several carboxamides derived from this bicyclic scaffold displayed improved antiviral activity and pharmacokinetic profiles when compared with corresponding spirocyclic analogs. Based on the excellent antiviral activity, preclinical profiles and acceptable in vitro and in vivo toxicity profiles, 13a (BMS-707035) was selected for advancement into phase I clinical trials.