Todd K. Jones

New nonsteroidal androgen receptor modulators based on 4-(trifluoromethyl)-2(1H)-pyrrolidino[3,2-g]quinolinone

A series of 2(1H)-pyrrolidino[3,2-g]quinolinones was prepared and tested for the ability to modulate the transcriptional activity of the human androgen receptor (hAR). The parent compound, 4-(trifluoromethyl)-2(1H)-pyrrolidino[3,2-g]quinolinone, displayed moderate interaction with hAR, but more substituted analogues, particularly 6,7-disubstituted compounds, were potent hAR agonists in vitro.

Non-imidazole heterocyclic histamine H3 receptor antagonists.

Continued exploration of the SAR around the lead imidazopyridine histamine H(3) antagonist 1 has led to the discovery of several related series of heterocyclic histamine H(3) antagonists. The synthesis and SAR of indolizine, indole and pyrazolopyridine based compounds are now described.

Nonsteroidal androgen receptor agonists based on 4-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-pyrano[3,2-g]quinolin-2-one

A series of 2H-pyrano[3,2-g]quinolin-2-ones was prepared and tested for the ability to modulate the transcriptional activity of the human androgen receptor (hAR). The parent compound, 4-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-pyrano[3,2-g]quinolin-2-one, displayed moderate interaction with hAR, but substituted analogues were potent hAR modulators in vitro as measured by an hAR cotransfection assay in CV-1 cells and bound to hAR with high affinity in a whole cell assay. Several analogues were able to activate hAR-mediated gene transcription more potently and efficaciously than dihydrotestosterone.

Lewis-acid catalyzed reaction of 2-isopropenylaniline with ketones: Improved synthesis of 2,2,4-trisubstituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines

Abstract The BF 3 ·OEt 2 -mediated reaction of 2-isopropenylaniline with a variety of ketones to form 2,2,4-trisubstituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines was studied. Treatment of 2-isopropenylaniline with a number of different ketones in the presence of BF 3 ·OEt 2 in toluene at elevated temperatures afforded cleanly and in moderate to excellent yields the requisite 2,2,4-trisubstituted dihydroquinolines. Sterically hindered and/or cyclopropyl ketones failed to afford the desired products.

Nonsteroidal progesterone receptor antagonists based on a conformationally-restricted subseries of 6-aryl-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinolines.

A series of nonsteroidal human progesterone receptor (hPR) antagonists based on conformationally-restricted analogues of a 6-aryl-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline pharmacophore were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to bind to the human progesterone receptor and inhibit progesterone-stimulated reporter gene expression in mammalian cells.

5-Alkyl 1,2-dihydrochromeno[3,4-f]quinolines: a novel class of nonsteroidal progesterone receptor modulators

A series of nonsteroidal human progesterone receptor (hPR) agonists, 5-alkyl 1,2-dihydrochromeno[3,4-f]quinolines, was synthesized and evaluated in cotransfection and competitive receptor binding assays. The 5-alkyl substitution was shown to be responsible for the agonist activity and substitution at C9 dramatically enhanced the potency. A number of analogues in this series showed activities similar to or better than progesterone in the cotransfection and binding assays and analogue 15 exhibited similar in vivo activity as medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in murine uterine wet weight/mammary gland morphology assays.

Discovery and SAR of novel pyrazole-based thioethers as cathepsin S inhibitors: part 1.

A series of pyrazole-based thioethers were prepared and found to be potent cathepsin S inhibitors. A crystal structure of 13 suggests that the thioether moiety may bind to the S3 pocket of the enzyme. Additional optimization led to the discovery of aminoethylthioethers with improved enzymatic activity and submicromolar cellular potency.

Discovery and SAR of novel pyrazole-based thioethers as cathepsin S inhibitors. Part 2: Modification of P3, P4, and P5 regions

A novel class of tetrahydropyrido-pyrazole thioether amines that display potency against human Cathepsin S have been previously reported. Here, further SAR investigations of the P3, P4, and P5 regions are described. In particular, 4-fluoropiperidine is identified as a competent P3 binding element when utilized in conjunction with a (S)-2-hydroxypropyl linker-containing P5 moiety and oxamide or sulfonamide P4 substitution.

Thioether acetamides as P3 binding elements for tetrahydropyrido-pyrazole cathepsin S inhibitors

A series of tetrahydropyrido-pyrazole cathepsin S (CatS) inhibitors with thioether acetamide functional groups were prepared with the goal of improving upon the cellular activity of amidoethylthioethers. This Letter describes altered amide connectivity, in conjunction with changes to other binding elements, resulting in improved potency, as well as increased knowledge of the relationship between this chemotype and human CatS activity.

Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibition in Human and Rodent Systems Supports Clinical Evaluation of Endocannabinoid Modulators

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) is the primary degradative enzyme for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The first MGLL inhibitors have recently entered clinical development for the treatment of neurologic disorders. To support this clinical path, we report the pharmacological characterization of the highly potent and selective MGLL inhibitor ABD-1970 [1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-yl 4-(2-(8-oxa-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)-4-chlorobenzyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate]. We used ABD-1970 to confirm the role of MGLL in human systems and to define the relationship between MGLL target engagement, brain 2-AG concentrations, and efficacy. Because MGLL contributes to arachidonic acid metabolism in a subset of rodent tissues, we further used ABD-1970 to evaluate whether selective MGLL inhibition would affect prostanoid production in several human assays known to be sensitive to cyclooxygenase inhibitors. ABD-1970 robustly elevated brain 2-AG content and displayed antinociceptive and antipruritic activity in a battery of rodent models (ED50 values of 1–2 mg/kg). The antinociceptive effects of ABD-1970 were potentiated when combined with analgesic standards of care and occurred without overt cannabimimetic effects. ABD-1970 also blocked 2-AG hydrolysis in human brain tissue and elevated 2-AG content in human blood without affecting stimulated prostanoid production. These findings support the clinical development of MGLL inhibitors as a differentiated mechanism to treat pain and other neurologic disorders.