Discovery and SAR exploration of N-aryl-N-(3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)amines as potential therapeutic agents for prostate cancer

A new chemical series of antiproliferative compounds was identified via high-throughput screening on DU-145 human prostate carcinoma cell line (hit compound potency - 5.7 μM). Exploration of the two peripheral diversity vectors of the hit molecule in a hit-targeted library and testing of the resulting compounds led to SAR generalizations and identification of the 'best' pharmacophoric moieties. The latter were merged in a single compound that exhibited a 200-fold better potency than the original hit compound. Specific cancer cell cytotoxicity was confirmed for the most potent compounds.

Discovery and potency optimization of 2-amino-5-arylmethyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives as potential therapeutic agents for prostate cancer

A new chemical series was identified via high-throughput screening as having antiproliferative activity on DU-145 human prostate carcinoma cell line (hit compound potency - 2.9 microM). Medicinal chemistry optimization of two peripheral diversity vectors of the hit molecule, independently, led to SAR generalizations and identification of the 'best' moieties. The latter were merged in a single compound that exhibited an over 100-fold better potency than the hit compound. For the most potent compounds it was confirmed that the observed antiproliferative potency was not associated with the compounds' non-specific cytotoxicity.

Complexity-Enhancing Acid-Promoted Rearrangement of Tricyclic Products of Tandem Ugi 4CC/Intramolecular Diels−Alder Reaction

The unexpected rearrangement of 2,3,7,7a-tetrahydro-3a,6-epoxyisoindol-1-one products of the tandem Ugi 4CC/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction in 85% H3PO4 was discovered to provide diastereomerically pure tricyclic bislactam lactone-containing natural product-like products in high yield. Mechanistic rationale for the observed rearrangement was proposed and has been tentatively confirmed by additional experiments.

Natural products as templates for bioactive compound libraries: Part 2. Novel modifications of vasicine (peganine) core via efficient and regioselective generation of 3-lithiodeoxyvasicine and its stereoselective addition to aliphatic ketones

A general procedure for direct lithiation of deoxyvasicine was developed. 3-Lithiodeoxyvasicine intermediate was found to react with various aliphatic ketones providing derivatives of 3-(hydroxyalkyl)deoxyvasicine in good yields. Similar reaction with 4-alkylcyclohexanones yielded respective trans-adducts exclusively. This novel protocol was successfully scaled-up to result in multigram quantities of vasicine-containing core building blocks suitable for production of compound libraries. The described synthetic methodology offers access to a wide range of compounds with potentially beneficial biological profiles.

Natural products as templates for bioactive compound libraries: synthesis of biaryl derivatives of (±)-vasicine

A reliable and high-yielding procedure for preparation of 7-aryl and 7-heteroaryl derivatives of (+/-)-vasicine in two steps from the naturally occurring material is described. This protocol broadens the chemical space for selective modifications of the vasicine tricyclic structure, thereby making it a valuable starting point for the development of novel compound libraries with potentially beneficial biological profiles.