1
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Bobrovs R, Basens EE, Drunka L, Kanepe I, Matisone S, Velins KK, Andrianov V, Leitis G, Zelencova-Gopejenko D, Rasina D, Jirgensons A, Jaudzems K. Exploring Aspartic Protease Inhibitor Binding to Design-Selective Antimalarials. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:3263-3273. [PMID: 35712895 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Selectivity is a major issue in the development of drugs targeting pathogen aspartic proteases. Here, we explore the selectivity-determining factors by studying specifically designed malaria aspartic protease (plasmepsin) open-flap inhibitors. Metadynamics simulations are used to uncover the complex binding/unbinding pathways of these inhibitors and describe the critical transition states in atomistic resolution. The simulation results are compared with experimentally determined enzymatic activities. Our findings demonstrate that plasmepsin inhibitor selectivity can be achieved by targeting the flap loop with hydrophobic substituents that enable ligand binding under the flap loop, as such a behavior is not observed for several other aspartic proteases. The ability to estimate the selectivity of compounds before they are synthesized is of considerable importance in drug design; therefore, we expect that our approach will be useful in selective inhibitor designs against not only aspartic proteases but also other enzyme classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raitis Bobrovs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | | | - Laura Drunka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Iveta Kanepe
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Sofija Matisone
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | | | - Victor Andrianov
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Gundars Leitis
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | | | - Dace Rasina
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Aigars Jirgensons
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
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2
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Cheuka PM, Dziwornu G, Okombo J, Chibale K. Plasmepsin Inhibitors in Antimalarial Drug Discovery: Medicinal Chemistry and Target Validation (2000 to Present). J Med Chem 2020; 63:4445-4467. [PMID: 31913032 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Plasmepsins represent novel antimalarial drug targets. However, plasmepsin-based antimalarial drug discovery efforts in the past 2 decades have generally suffered some drawbacks including lack of translatability of target inhibition to potent parasite inhibition in vitro and in vivo as well as poor selectivity over the related human aspartic proteases. Most studies reported in this period have over-relied on the use of hemoglobinase plasmepsins I-IV (particularly I and II) as targets for the new inhibitors even though these are known to be nonessential at the asexual stage of parasite development. Therefore, future antimalarial drug discovery efforts seeking to identify plasmepsin inhibitors should focus on incorporating non-hemoglobinase plasmepsins such as V, IX, and X in their screening in order to maximize chances of success. Additionally, there is need to go beyond just target enzymatic activity profiling to establishing cellular activity, physicochemical as well as drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics properties and finally in vivo proof-of-concept while ensuring selectivity over related human host proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mubanga Cheuka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Godwin Dziwornu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, 701 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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3
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Snieckus V, Nerdinger S, Jagusch T, Lehnemann B, Scherer S, Meudt A, Neuner S, Schottenberger H. Ligand Assessment for the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross Coupling Reaction of Aryl and Heteroaryl Bromides with n-Butylboronic Acid. The Advantages of Buchwald’s S-Phos. HETEROCYCLES 2020. [DOI: 10.3987/com-19-s(f)54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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4
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Bobrovs R, Jaudzems K, Jirgensons A. Exploiting Structural Dynamics To Design Open-Flap Inhibitors of Malarial Aspartic Proteases. J Med Chem 2019; 62:8931-8950. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raitis Bobrovs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
| | - Aigars Jirgensons
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV1006, Latvia
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5
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Zhang YA, Yaw N, Snyder SA. General Synthetic Approach for the Laurencia Family of Natural Products Empowered by a Potentially Biomimetic Ring Expansion. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:7776-7788. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b01088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-An Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Natalie Yaw
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Scott A. Snyder
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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6
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Tang Y, Jiang C, Zhang X, Liu C, Lin J, Wang Y, Du C, Peng X, Li W, Liu Y, Cheng M. Collective Syntheses of 2-(3-Methylbenzofuran-2-yl)phenol-Derived Natural Products by a Cascade [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement/Aromatization Strategy. J Org Chem 2017; 82:11102-11109. [PMID: 28944672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.7b02066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A cascade [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/aromatization strategy to the synthesis of 2-(3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl)phenol derivatives was developed and applied to the collective syntheses of seven 2-arylbenzofuran-containing natural products, namely glycybenzofuran, glycyuralin E, lespedezol A1, puerariafuran, 7,2',4'-trihydroxy-3-benzofurancarboxylic acid, coumestrol, and 4'-O-methylcoumestrol. Among them, the total syntheses of glycybenzofuran, glycyuralin E, puerariafuran, 7,2',4'-trihydroxy-3-benzofurancarboxylic acid, and 4'-O-methylcoumestrol were reported for the first time. The practicality of this novel strategy in preparation of the key intermediates was demonstrated by performing the reaction on gram scale and by synthesizing a series of natural products with 2-(3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl)phenol scaffolds in a common strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingzhan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China
| | - Chongguo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China
| | - Xinhang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China.,Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China
| | - Chengjun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China.,Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China
| | - Jingsheng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China.,Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China
| | - Yanshi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China
| | - Chuan Du
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoshi Peng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University , Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
| | - Yongxiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China.,Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery (Shenyang Pharmaceutical University), Ministry of Education , Shenyang 110016, P. R. China.,Institute of Drug Research in Medicine Capital of China , Benxi 117000, P. R. China
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7
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Rasina D, Otikovs M, Leitans J, Recacha R, Borysov OV, Kanepe-Lapsa I, Domraceva I, Pantelejevs T, Tars K, Blackman MJ, Jaudzems K, Jirgensons A. Fragment-Based Discovery of 2-Aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones As Novel Class Nonpeptidomimetic Inhibitors of the Plasmepsins I, II, and IV. J Med Chem 2015; 59:374-87. [PMID: 26670264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
2-Aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones were identified as a novel class of malaria digestive vacuole plasmepsin inhibitors by using NMR-based fragment screening against Plm II. Initial fragment hit optimization led to a submicromolar inhibitor, which was cocrystallized with Plm II to produce an X-ray structure of the complex. The structure showed that 2-aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones bind to the open flap conformation of the enzyme and provided clues to target the flap pocket. Further improvement in potency was achieved via introduction of hydrophobic substituents occupying the flap pocket. Most of the 2-aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-one based inhibitors show a similar activity against digestive Plms I, II, and IV and >10-fold selectivity versus CatD, although varying the flap pocket substituent led to one Plm IV selective inhibitor. In cell-based assays, the compounds show growth inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 with IC50 ∼ 1 μM. Together, these results suggest 2-aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones as perspective leads for future development of an antimalarial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dace Rasina
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Martins Otikovs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Janis Leitans
- Biomedical Research and Study Centre , Ratsupites 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Rosario Recacha
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Oleksandr V Borysov
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Iveta Kanepe-Lapsa
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Ilona Domraceva
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Teodors Pantelejevs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Kaspars Tars
- Biomedical Research and Study Centre , Ratsupites 1, Riga LV-1067, Latvia
| | - Michael J Blackman
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory , The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, U.K
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Aigars Jirgensons
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis , Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
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8
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Huizing AP, Mondal M, Hirsch AKH. Fighting malaria: structure-guided discovery of nonpeptidomimetic plasmepsin inhibitors. J Med Chem 2015; 58:5151-63. [PMID: 25719272 DOI: 10.1021/jm5014133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plasmepsins (Plms) are aspartic proteases involved in the degradation of human hemoglobin by Plasmodium falciparum. Given that the parasite needs the resulting amino acid building blocks for its growth and development, plasmepsins are an important antimalarial drug target. Over the past decade, tremendous progress has been achieved in the development of inhibitors of plasmepsin using two strategies: structure-based drug design (SBDD) and structure-based virtual screening (SBVS). Herein, we review the inhibitors of Plms I-IV developed by SBDD or SBVS with a particular focus on obtaining selectivity versus the human Asp proteases cathepsins and renin and activity in cell-based assays. By use of SBDD, the flap pocket of Plm II has been discovered and constitutes a convenient handle to obtain selectivity. In SBVS, activity against Plms I-IV and selectivity versus cathepsins are not always taken into account. A combination of SBVS, SBDD, and molecular dynamics simulations opens up opportunities for future design cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja P Huizing
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Milon Mondal
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna K H Hirsch
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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9
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Persch E, Dumele O, Diederich F. Molekulare Erkennung in chemischen und biologischen Systemen. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201408487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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10
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Persch E, Dumele O, Diederich F. Molecular recognition in chemical and biological systems. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015; 54:3290-327. [PMID: 25630692 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201408487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 424] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Structure-based ligand design in medicinal chemistry and crop protection relies on the identification and quantification of weak noncovalent interactions and understanding the role of water. Small-molecule and protein structural database searches are important tools to retrieve existing knowledge. Thermodynamic profiling, combined with X-ray structural and computational studies, is the key to elucidate the energetics of the replacement of water by ligands. Biological receptor sites vary greatly in shape, conformational dynamics, and polarity, and require different ligand-design strategies, as shown for various case studies. Interactions between dipoles have become a central theme of molecular recognition. Orthogonal interactions, halogen bonding, and amide⋅⋅⋅π stacking provide new tools for innovative lead optimization. The combination of synthetic models and biological complexation studies is required to gather reliable information on weak noncovalent interactions and the role of water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Persch
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich (Switzerland)
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11
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Aureggi V, Ehmke V, Wieland J, Schweizer WB, Bernet B, Bur D, Meyer S, Rottmann M, Freymond C, Brun R, Breit B, Diederich F. Potent inhibitors of malarial aspartic proteases, the plasmepsins, by hydroformylation of substituted 7-azanorbornenes. Chemistry 2012; 19:155-64. [PMID: 23161835 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201202941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum requires the urgent development of new therapeutic agents with novel modes of action. The vacuolar malarial aspartic proteases plasmepsin (PM) I, II, and IV are involved in hemoglobin degradation and play a central role in the growth and maturation of the parasite in the human host. We report the structure-based design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of a new generation of PM inhibitors featuring a highly decorated 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane core. While this protonated central core addresses the catalytic Asp dyad, three substituents bind to the flap, the S1/S3, and the S1' pockets of the enzymes. A hydroformylation reaction is the key synthetic step for the introduction of the new vector reaching into the S1' pocket. The configuration of the racemic ligands was confirmed by extensive NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis. In vitro biological assays revealed high potency of the new inhibitors against the three plasmepsins (IC(50) values down to 6 nM) and good selectivity towards the closely related human cathepsins D and E. The occupancy of the S1' pocket makes an essential contribution to the gain in binding affinity and selectivity, which is particularly large in the case of the PM IV enzyme. Designing non-peptidic ligands for PM II is a valid route to generate compounds that inhibit the entire family of vacuolar plasmepsins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Aureggi
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg HCI, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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12
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Biros S, Hof F. Supramolecular Approaches to Medicinal Chemistry. Supramol Chem 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/9780470661345.smc182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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13
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Enantiomerically Pure and Highly Substituted Alicyclic α,α-Difluoro Ketones: Potential Inhibitors for Malarial Aspartic Proteases, the Plasmepsins. European J Org Chem 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201000712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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