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The DNA-PK complex is activated by double-strand DNA breaks and regulates the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway; thus, targeting DNA-PK by inhibiting the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is potentially a useful therapeutic approach for oncology. A previously reported series of neutral DNA-PKcs inhibitors were modified to incorporate a basic group, with the rationale that increasing the volume of distribution while maintaining good metabolic stability should increase the half-life. However, adding a basic group introduced hERG activity, and basic compounds with modest hERG activity (IC

Condensation of 2-vinylanilines and conjugated aldehydes followed by an efficient light-mediated cyclisation selectively yields either substituted tetrahydroquinolines with typically high dr, or in the presence of an iridium photocatalyst the synthesis of quinoline derivatives is demonstrated. These atom economical processes require mild conditions, with the substrate scope demonstrating excellent site selectivity and functional group tolerance, including azaarene-bearing substrates. A thorough experimental mechanistic investigation explores multiple pathways and the key role that imine and iminium intermediates play in the absorption of visible light to generate reactive excited states. The synthetic utility of the reactions is demonstrated on gram scale quantities in both batch and flow, alongside further manipulation of the medicinally relevant products.

A palladium-catalysed Buchwald-Hartwig amination for lenalidomide-derived aryl bromides was optimised using high throughput experimentation (HTE). The substrate scope of the optimised conditions was evaluated for a range of alkyl- and aryl- amines and functionalised aryl bromides. The methodology allows access to new cereblon-based bifunctional proteolysis targeting chimeras with a reduced step count and improved yields.

International audience; A systematic comparison of lipophilicity modulations upon fluorination of isopropyl, cyclopropyl and 3-oxetanyl substituents, at a single carbon atom, is provided using directly comparable, and easily accessible model compounds. In addition, comparison with relevant linear chain derivatives is provided, as well as lipophilicity changes occurring upon chain extension of acyclic precursors to give cyclopropyl containing compounds. For the compounds investigated, fluorination of the isopropyl substituent led to larger lipophilicity modulation compared to fluorination of the cyclopropyl substituent.

Given there is an optimal lipophilicity range for orally bioavailable drugs, structural modifications applied in the drug development process are not only focused on optimizing bioactivity but also on fine-tuning lipophilicity. Fluorine introduction can be used for both purposes. Insights into how fluorine introduction affects lipophilicity are thus of importance, and systematic series of fluorinated compounds with measured octanol–water partition coefficients are a powerful way to enhance our qualitative understanding in this regard and are essential as input for computational log P estimation programs. Here, we report a detailed comparison of all possible vicinal and skipped (1,3-substituted) fluorination motifs when embedded in structurally equivalent environments (X–CFnH2-n–CFmH2–m–X versus X–CFnH2–n–CH2–CFmH2–m–X, with n,m ≠ 0 and X = CH2OH) to compounds with isolated fluorination (n ≠ 0; m = 0, and including X–CH2–CFnH2–n–CH2–X, n = 0–2). It is shown that skipped fluorination is more powerful for log P reduction purposes compared to single or vicinal fluorination. Efficient stereoselective syntheses of the compounds with skipped fluorination motifs are reported, which where relevant can be made enantioselective using known chiral building blocks. These compounds, and some intermediates, will be of interest as advanced fluorinated building blocks.

In this article, we report our efforts towards improving in vitro human clearance in a series of 5-azaquinazolines through a series of C4 truncations and C2 expansions. Extensive DMPK studies enabled us to tackle high Aldehyde Oxidase (AO) metabolism and unexpected discrepancies in human hepatocyte and liver microsomal intrinsic clearance. Our efforts culminated with the discovery of 5-azaquinazoline 35, which also displayed exquisite selectivity for IRAK4, and showed synergistic in vitro activity against MyD88/CD79 double mutant ABC-DLBCL in combination with the covalent BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib.

PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional molecules consisting of two ligands; an “anchor” to bind to an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a “warhead” to bind to a protein of interest, connected by a chemical linker. Targeted protein degradation by PROTACs has emerged as a new modality for the knock down of a range of proteins, with the first agents now reaching clinical evaluation. It has become increasingly clear that the length and composition of the linker play critical roles on the physicochemical properties and bioactivity of PROTACs. While linker design has historically received limited attention, the PROTAC field is evolving rapidly and currently undergoing an important shift from synthetically tractable alkyl and polyethylene glycol to more sophisticated functional linkers. This promises to unlock a wealth of novel PROTAC agents with enhanced bioactivity for therapeutic intervention. Here, the authors provide a timely overview of the diverse linker classes in the published literature, along with their underlying design principles and overall influence on the properties and bioactivity of the associated PROTACs. Finally, the authors provide a critical analysis of current strategies for PROTAC assembly. The authors highlight important limitations associated with the traditional “trial and error” approach around linker design and selection, and suggest potential future avenues to further inform rational linker design and accelerate the identification of optimised PROTACs. In particular, the authors believe that advances in computational and structural methods will play an essential role to gain a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of PROTAC ternary complexes, and will be essential to address the current gaps in knowledge associated with PROTAC design.

The research leading to these results has received funding from the ERC under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/E.R.C. grant agreement n° 279850 and the EPSRC (EP/J500549/1). A.D.S. thanks the Royal Society for a Wolfson Research Merit Award. P.H.-Y.C. is the Bert and Emelyn Christensen Professor and gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Stone Family of OSU. Financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) (CHE-1352663) is acknowledged. D.M.W. acknowledges the Bruce Graham and Johnson Fellowships of OSU. D.M.W. and P.H.-Y.C. acknowledge computing infrastructure in part provided by the NSF Phase-2 CCI, Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry (CHE-1102637). A combination of experimental and computational studies have identified a C=O•••isothiouronium interaction as key to efficient enantiodiscrimination in the kinetic resolution of tertiary heterocyclic alcohols bearing up to three potential recognition motifs at the stereogenic tertiary carbinol center. This discrimination was exploited in the isothiourea-catalyzed acylative kinetic resolution of tertiary heterocyclic alcohols (38 examples, s factors up to > 200). The reaction proceeds at low catalyst loadings (generally 1 mol %) with either isobutyric or acetic anhydride as the acylating agent under mild conditions Postprint

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional compounds with molecular weights and other properties that lie outside the classic 'rule-of-five' space. Consequently, PROTACs have unique challenges associated with their development as potential therapeutic agents. This review summarizes and analyzes a representative set of recent PROTACs and highlights some of the potential future challenges facing this promising modality.

The research leading to these results (D-J.B.A.; C. F.) has received funding from the ERC under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement n° 279850. ADS thanks the Royal Society for a Wolfson Research Merit Award. The diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted trans-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives (15 examples, up to 96:4 dr, 95:5 er) via intramolecular Michael addition has been developed using keto-enone substrates and a bifunctional tertiary amine-thiourea catalyst. This methodology was extended to include non-activated ketone pronucleophiles for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted indane and 3,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives. Postprint

DNA-dependent kinase (DNA-PK) plays an important role in the cellular response to DNA damage through the detection and repair of double strand breaks, and is a critical component of the DNA damage response (DDR). Double strand breaks can be induced by a range of agents, including chemotherapy, radiation or PARP inhibitors such as olaparib (Lynparza), and thus a DNA-PK inhibitor is likely to sensitise to these agents. DNA-PK inhibitors may also be effective as monotherapy in tumours with high endogenous levels of DNA damage resulting from defects in other DNA repair pathways. Our screening strategy focussed on identifying hits with good selectivity versus structurally related kinases. Significant improvements were made to permeability, metabolic stability and PK properties, whilst improving potency and selectivity with a structure-guided approach. This optimisation resulted in AZD7648, which is a potent inhibitor of DNA-PK (0.6 nM in biochemical assay, 89 nM in A549 cells) and >100x selective against 396 other kinases in a Thermofisher selectivity panel. In addition, AZD7648 has good crystalline solubility, metabolic stability and predictable pharmacokinetics in preclinical species. In murine xenograft models, PD was assessed using pRPA (S4/8) and was potently inhibited (in vivo IC50 = 52 nM). Tumour growth inhibition was observed with AZD7648 as monotherapy, and regressions were observed in combination with either olaparib or radiation. The efficacy observed when combining AZD7648 with olaparib was correlated to free cover over the in vivo IC90. AZD7648 is a potent and highly selective DNA-PK inhibitor, with good crystalline solubility, permeability and metabolic stability, good bioavailability and predictable pharmacokinetics in preclinical species, and potent knockdown of pRPA and regressions in murine xenograft models when combining with olaparib or radiation. These features make AZD7648 a suitable clinical candidate, and clinical studies evaluating AZD7648 as a potential cancer treatment are planned in 2019. Citation Format: Frederick W. Goldberg, Elaine Cadogan, Raymond Finlay, Antonio Ramos Montoya, David Beattie, Gillian Lamont, Charlene Fallan, Jacqueline Fok, Mercedes Vazquez-Chantada, Derek Barratt, Emma Dean, Jane Norris, Andrew Campbell, Anna Cronin, Joanna Harding, Attilla Ting, Simon Hollingsworth, Barry Davies. Discovery and first structural disclosure of AZD7648: A potent and selective DNA-PK inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr DDT01-02.

The authors thank the Royal Society for a University Research Fellowship (ADS), the EU (IEF for CS) and the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ERC Grant Agreement No. 279850 (JET and CF) and the EPSRC grant numbers EP/J018139/1 (DSBD) and EP/K00445X/1 (EG) for funding. The exploration and expansion of the scope of the isothiourea-mediated synthesis of dihydropyridinones is presented. The use of ketimines derived from α,β-unsaturated γ-ketoesters as the Michael acceptor in a Michael addition / lactamisation cascade gives access to a range of dihydropyridinones with high enantioselectivity. The nature of the N-sulfonyl group present on the ketimine is extensively investigated, with further studies into derivatisation of the dihydropyridinone core also reported. Postprint

The scope and limitations of a photoinitiated N- to C-sulfonyl migration process within a range of dihydropyridinones is assessed. This sulfonyl transfer proceeds without erosion of either diastereo- or enantiocontrol, and is general across a range of N-sulfonyl substituents (SO

This work is supported by funding from the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and EPSRC Readily prepared 2-arylacetic anhydrides act as convenient ammonium enolate precursors in isothiourea (HBTM-2.1)-mediated catalytic asymmetric intermolecular Michael addition-lactonisation processes, giving diverse synthetic building blocks in good yield with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol (up to 98 : 2 dr and > 99% ee). Postprint

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed redox asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with β-trifluoromethyl enones generates synthetically useful dihydropyranones containing a stereogenic trifluoromethyl substituent in good yields (up to 81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and >99% ee). The process is stereospecific, with use of either (E)- or (Z)-β-trifluoromethyl enones forming syn- or anti-dihydropyranone products, respectively. Mechanistic studies through in situ kinetic analysis of the reaction reveal key differences in reactivity between chiral NHC precursor 1 and an achiral NHC precursor.

NHC-mediated enantioselective formal [4+2] cycloadditions of alkylarylketenes with γ-substituted-β,γ-unsaturated α-ketophosphonates is described. A substrate-dependent switch in diastereoselectivity was observed, with γ-aryl α-ketophosphonates providing preferentially the syn-dihydropyranone-phosphonates and γ-methyl α-ketophosphonates favouring the anti-dihydropyranone-phosphonate. In addition, ketene generation in situ retained high levels of stereoselectivity and led to improved product yields when compared with the corresponding two-step procedure.

Isothiourea-catalyzed annulations of 2-acyl benzazoles and α,β-unsaturated acyl ammoniums are tuned to form lactams or lactones (up to 99% ee). Computations highlight the governing roles of S···O and CH···O interactions., Isothiourea-catalyzed annulations between 2-acyl benzazoles and α,β-unsaturated acyl ammonium intermediates are selectively tuned to form either lactam or lactone heterocycles in good yields (up to 95%) and high ee (up to 99%) using benzothiazole or benzoxazole derivatives, respectively. Computation gives insight into the significant role of two 1,5-S···O interactions in controlling the structural preorganization and chemoselectivity observed within the lactam synthesis with benzothiazoles as nucleophiles. When using benzazoles the absence of a second stabilizing non-bonding 1,5-S···O interaction leads to a dominant C–H···O interaction in determining structural preorganization and lactone formation.

Alkylidene malonates undergo efficient conjugate allylation upon treatment with allylstannanes or allylsilanes under the action of ytterbium catalysis.

Tetramisole-mediated reaction of 2-substituted acetic acids (I) and (IV) and α,β-unsaturated ketimines (II) gives the title compounds in good to high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities.

A highly enantioselective Lewis base-catalysed formal [3+2] cycloaddition of ammonium enolates and oxaziridines to give stereodefined oxazolidin-4-ones in high yield is described. Employing an enantioenriched oxaziridine in this process leads to a matched/mis-matched effect with the isothiourea catalyst and allowed the synthesis of either syn- or anti-stereodefined oxazolidin-4-ones in high d.r., yield and ee. Additionally, the oxazolidin-4-one products have been derivatised to afford functionalised enantioenriched building blocks.

Isothiourea HBTM-2.1 catalyzes the asymmetric Michael addition/lactonization of aryl- and alkenylacetic acids using α-keto-β,γ-unsaturated phosphonates as α,β-unsaturated ester surrogates, giving access to a diverse range of stereodefined lactones or enantioenriched functionalized diesters upon ring-opening.

Readily prepared 2-arylacetic anhydrides (I) act as convenient ammonium enolate precursors in isothiourea-mediated catalytic asymmetric intermolecular Michael addition-lactonization processes.

This work is in part supported by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ERC Grant Agreement No. 279850 Isothiourea HBTM-2.1 catalyzes the asymmetric Michael addition/lactonization of aryl- and alkenylacetic acids using α-keto-β,γ-unsaturated phosphonates as α,β-unsaturated ester surrogates, giving access to a diverse range of stereodefined lactones or enantioenriched functionalized diesters upon ring-opening. Postprint

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed redox asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of α-aroyloxyaldehydes with β-trifluoromethyl enones generates synthetically useful dihydropyranones containing a stereogenic trifluoromethyl substituent in good yields (up to 81%) and excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and >99% ee). The process is stereospecific, with use of either (E)- or (Z)-β-trifluoromethyl enones forming syn- or anti-dihydropyranone products, respectively. Mechanistic studies through in situ kinetic analysis of the reaction reveal key differences in reactivity between chiral NHC precursor 1 and an achiral NHC precursor.

A substrate-depending diastereoselectivity is observed which provides predominantly the syn products from γ-aryl α-ketophosphonates of type (II) and (VII).

Azaarylacetamides are reacting with the aromatic nitroalkenes with mostly high diastereoselectivity.

The asymmetric annulation of a range of alpha,beta-unsaturated acyl ammonium intermediates, formed from isothiourea HBTM 2.1 and anhydrides with either 1,3-dicarbonyls, beta-ketoesters or azaaryl ketones gives either functionalised esters (upon ring opening), dihydropyranones or dihydropyridones in good yields (up to 93%) and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee). Publisher PDF

Azaarylacetamides are reacting with the aromatic nitroalkenes with mostly high diastereoselectivity.