Tram N. Huynh

Synthesis of 3-Arylpropenyl, 3-Arylpropynyl and 3-Arylpropyl 2-Azetidinones as Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: Application of the Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation of Alkenes and Alkynes

A series of 3-(3′-arylpropenyl)-2-azetidinones 8a–8k and 3-(3′-arylpropynyl)-2-azetidinones 16m–16p were prepared by the palladium-catalyzed arylation of 3-(3′-propenyl)-2-azetidinone 7, or by arylation of 4-pentenoic acid, or via ethyl 4-pentynoate followed by 2-azetidinone ring construction. The unsaturated 2-azetidinones were transformed to their saturated analogs 9a–9p by catalytic hydrogenation. Azetidinones 8a–8k, 9a–9p, and 16m–16p were evaluated for their biological activity as cholesterol absorption inhibitors in hamsters.

Dimethyl-diphenyl-propanamide derivatives as nonsteroidal dissociated glucocorticoid receptor agonists.

A series of 2,2-dimethyl-3,3-diphenyl-propanamides as novel glucocorticoid receptor modulators is reported. SAR exploration led to the identification of 4-hydroxyphenyl propanamide derivatives displaying good agonist activity in GR-mediated transrepression assays and reduced agonist activity in GR-mediated transactivation assays. Compounds 17 and 30 showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable to prednisolone in the rat carrageenan-induced paw edema model, with markedly decreased side effects with regard to increases in blood glucose and expression of hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase. A hypothetical binding mode accounting for the induction of the functional activity by a 4-hydroxyl group is proposed.

Discovery of ((S)-5-(Methoxymethyl)-7-(1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6-yl)((S)-2-(3-methylisoxazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)methanone As a Potent and Selective IKur Inhibitor

Previously disclosed dihydropyrazolopyrimidines are potent and selective blockers of I(Kur) current. A potential liability with this chemotype is the formation of a reactive metabolite which demonstrated covalent binding to protein in vitro. When substituted at the 2 or 3 position, this template yielded potent I(Kur) inhibitors, with selectivity over hERG which did not form reactive metabolites. Subsequent optimization for potency and PK properties lead to the discovery of ((S)-5-(methoxymethyl)-7-(1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6-yl)((S)-2-(3-methylisoxazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)methanone (13j), with an acceptable PK profile in preclinical species and potent efficacy in the preclinical rabbit atrial effective refractory period (AERP) model.