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Janus kinases (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2) are involved in the signaling of multiple cytokines important in cellular function. Blockade of the JAK-STAT pathway with a small molecule has been shown to provide therapeutic immunomodulation. Having identified JAK1 as a possible new target for arthritis at Galapagos, the compound library was screened against JAK1, resulting in the identification of a triazolopyridine-based series of inhibitors represented by 3. Optimization within this chemical series led to identification of GLPG0634 (65, filgotinib), a selective JAK1 inhibitor currently in phase 2B development for RA and phase 2A development for Crohn's disease (CD).

Two new single-step reactions allowing the construction of two heterocyclic motifs are reported. Both processes involve 5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2- amines as starting materials. Reaction with 1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzenes in presence of Hünig's base permitted the convenient synthesis of various 3-substituted 1-aryl-5-amino-1,2,4-triazoles. Reaction with 2-chloro-3- nitropyridines and 2-chloro-5-nitropyridines in similar conditions readily gave access to a number of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines. In absence of base, adducts composed by one aromatic unit and two thiadiazole units were formed. This observation and previous work by Anders and co-workers led to the suggestion of plausible mechanisms for these reactions.

The synthesis and evaluation of benzetimide derivatives showing potent CXCR3 antagonism are described. Optimization of the screening hits led to the identification of more potent CXCR3 antagonists devoid of anti-cholinergic activity and identification of the key pharmacophore moieties of the series.

The interaction between CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) with monocyte chemoattractant proteins, such as MCP-1, regulates the activation and recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes. In this study, we characterized ( S )-3-[3,4-difluoro-phenyl)-propyl]-5-isoxazol-5-yl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1 H -imidazole-4-carboxyl acid methyl ester (JNJ-27141491) as a noncompetitive and orally active functional antagonist of human (h)CCR2. JNJ-27141491 strongly suppressed hCCR2-mediated in vitro functions, such as MCP-1-induced guanosine 5′- O -(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate binding; MCP-1, -3, and -4-induced Ca2+ mobilization; and leukocyte chemotaxis toward MCP-1 (IC50 = 7–97 nM), whereas it had little or no effect on the function of other chemokine receptors tested. The inhibition of CCR2 function was both insurmountable and reversible, consistent with a noncompetitive mode of action. JNJ-27141491 blocked the binding of 125I-MCP-1 to human monocytes (IC50 = 0.4 μM), but it failed to affect MCP-1 binding to mouse, rat, and dog cells (IC50 > 10 μM). Therefore, transgenic mice, in which the mouse (m) CCR2 gene was replaced by the human counterpart, were generated for in vivo testing. In these mice, oral administration of JNJ-27141491 dose-dependently [5–40 mg/kg q.d. (once daily) or b.i.d.] inhibited monocyte and neutrophil recruitment to the alveolar space 48 h after intratracheal mMCP-1/lipopolysaccharide instillation. Furthermore, treatment with JNJ-27141491 (20 mg/kg q.d.) significantly delayed the onset and temporarily reduced neurological signs in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis. Taken together, these results identify JNJ-27141491 as a noncompetitive, functional antagonist of hCCR2, capable of exerting oral anti-inflammatory activity in transgenic hCCR2-expressing mice.

A series of aniline-substituted tetrahydroquinoline C5a receptor antagonists were discovered. A functionality requirement of ortho substitution on the aniline was revealed. Secondary anilines, in general, outperformed tertiary analogs in inhibition of C5a-induced calcium mobilization. Further enhancement of activity was realized in the presence of an ortho hydroxyalkyl side chain. The functional IC(50) of selected analogs was optimized to the single-digit nanomolar level.

A novel series of substituted 2-aryl-5-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline C5a receptor antagonists is reported. Synthetic routes were developed that allow the substituents on the tetrahydroquinoline core to be efficiently varied, facilitating determination of structure-activity relationships. Members of the series display high binding affinity for the C5a receptor and are potent functional antagonists.

Ring-closing metathesis of dienes (I) in the presence of Umicor M2 catalyst followed by reaction with hydrazine hydrate provides pyrazolone fused tetrahydroazepinones (III).

The absolute configurations of two precursors, that is, 1-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-propanol and 1-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-propanamine, of a potent 2-mercapto-imidazoleCCR-2 receptor antagonist, JNJ-27553292, were determined using vibrational circular dichroism. As a consequence, the absolute configuration of the antagonist itself was also determined. The two precursor compounds were subjected to a thorough conformational analysis and rotational strengths were calculated at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Based on these data, vibrational circular dichroism spectra were simulated, which in turn were compared with experimental spectra. Agreement between the spectra allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration, which is in agreement with the proposed configuration based on stereospecific reactions on similar compounds. Chirality 18:609–620, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We describe the synthesis and SAR of a new class of CCR2 antagonists based on 2-mercaptoimidazole scaffold. The initial lead 1a was optimized to the 3,4-disubstituted analogues 1p-(S) and 1q-(S), which have IC(50) values in the MCP-1 induced Ca-flux below 0.01 microM.

A simple method for the synthesis of novel 3-fluoro pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidine analogues has been developed starting from fluoro acetonitrile and benzoyl chloride. The desired compounds are synthesized from a 3-amino-4-fluoro pyrazole intermediate. The versatility of the approach was demonstrated by the synthesis of a small library of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ispartof: Tetrahedron Letters vol:54 issue:21 pages:2612-2614 status: published

The presented organophosphorus-catalyzed diaza-Wittig reaction affords substituted pyridazine derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing groups with good to excellent yields.

The corresponding allenamides are formed in situ and are directly trapped with furan to give the Diels-Alder products.

The elaboration of the first organophosphorus-catalyzed diaza-Wittig reaction is reported. This catalytic reaction is applied to the synthesis of substituted pyridazine and phthalazine derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing groups with good to excellent yields from substrates containing a diazo functionality as the starting material and a phospholene oxide as the catalyst. ispartof: ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY vol:12 issue:36 pages:7159-7166 ispartof: location:England status: published

The novel three-step synthesis for the synthesis of phthalazines involves direct acyl-alkylation of in situ generated arynes, azide transfer reaction and Diaza-Wittig reaction.

A safe and convenient route to functionalized pyridazines of type (V) and (XII) is developed via diaza-Wittig reaction.

Condensation of pyrazole (III) with propenones (IV) or diester (VI) provides the desired heterocyclic skeleton.

The first synthesis of novel fused pyridazines has been realized starting from 1,3-diketones involving a Diaza-Wittig reaction as a key step. A convenient strategy was elaborated to access versatile pyridazine derivatives allowing the variation of substituents at position 6 of the heterocyclic ring. In a first part, pyridazines bearing an ester group were synthesized as a model to evaluate the methodology. In a second part, an improved procedure has been used for the synthesis of pyridazines bearing a ketone group and different methods of cyclization were carried out, leading to several hitherto unknown biheterocyclic compounds. This reaction scheme represents an attractive methodology for the synthesis of novel fused pyridazine derivatives. ispartof: Journal of Organic Chemistry vol:78 issue:16 pages:7845-58 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Two new single-step reactions allowing the construction of two heterocyclic motifs are reported. Both processes involve 5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amines as starting materials. Reaction with 1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzenes in presence of Hunig's base permitted the convenient synthesis of various 3-substituted 1-aryl-5-amino-1,2,4-triazoles. Reaction with 2-chloro-3-nitropyridines and 2-chloro-5-nitropyridines in similar conditions readily gave access to a number of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines. In absence of base, adducts composed by one aromatic unit and two thiadiazole units were formed. This observation and previous work by Anders and co-workers led to the suggestion of plausible mechanisms for these reactions.

A convenient and selective synthesis of 6-substituted-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl pyridazines has been developed via a diaza-Wittig reaction. The desired products substituted at the C6 position can be obtained from readily available starting materials under mild conditions. This represents an attractive new method for the synthesis of pyridazine derivatives.

A novel three-step entry toward phthalazine derivatives has been elaborated. A strategy based on a sequential acyl-alkylation/diazo transfer reaction/Diaza-Wittig reaction led to the desired analogues in moderate to good yields from an aryne precursor. Various aryl groups were introduced on the annulated pyridazine, moreover the presence of an ester group allows further modifications. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ispartof: Tetrahedron Letters vol:54 issue:51 pages:7056-7058 status: published

The synthesis and SAR of a series of non-indole 5HT1D agonists is described. The most interesting molecule of this series is compound 13, alniditan. It is active as a constrictor of the saphenous vein of the dog and of the pig basilar artery with ED50 values of 9.09×10−9M and 2.29×10−8M respectively, and it has high affinities to the 5HT1D-receptor and to the 5HT1D-receptor with pKi values of 8.6 and 8.3 respectively.

A convenient and selective synthesis of 6-substituted-4-hydroxy-3- methoxycarbonyl pyridazines has been developed via a diaza-Wittig reaction. The desired products substituted at the C6 position can be obtained from readily available starting materials under mild conditions. This represents an attractive new method for the synthesis of pyridazine derivatives. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ispartof: Tetrahedron Letters vol:53 issue:48 pages:6489-6491 status: published

The interaction between CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) with monocyte chemoattractant proteins, such as MCP-1, regulates the activation and recruitment of inflammatory leukocytes. In this study, we characterized (S)-3-[3,4-difluoro-phenyl)-propyl]-5-isoxazol-5-yl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-4-carboxyl acid methyl ester (JNJ-27141491) as a noncompetitive and orally active functional antagonist of human (h)CCR2. JNJ-27141491 strongly suppressed hCCR2-mediated in vitro functions, such as MCP-1-induced guanosine 5'-O-(3-[(35)S]thio)triphosphate binding; MCP-1, -3, and -4-induced Ca(2+) mobilization; and leukocyte chemotaxis toward MCP-1 (IC(50) = 7-97 nM), whereas it had little or no effect on the function of other chemokine receptors tested. The inhibition of CCR2 function was both insurmountable and reversible, consistent with a noncompetitive mode of action. JNJ-27141491 blocked the binding of (125)I-MCP-1 to human monocytes (IC(50) = 0.4 microM), but it failed to affect MCP-1 binding to mouse, rat, and dog cells (IC(50)10 microM). Therefore, transgenic mice, in which the mouse (m)CCR2 gene was replaced by the human counterpart, were generated for in vivo testing. In these mice, oral administration of JNJ-27141491 dose-dependently [5-40 mg/kg q.d. (once daily) or b.i.d.] inhibited monocyte and neutrophil recruitment to the alveolar space 48 h after intratracheal mMCP-1/lipopolysaccharide instillation. Furthermore, treatment with JNJ-27141491 (20 mg/kg q.d.) significantly delayed the onset and temporarily reduced neurological signs in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis. Taken together, these results identify JNJ-27141491 as a noncompetitive, functional antagonist of hCCR2, capable of exerting oral anti-inflammatory activity in transgenic hCCR2-expressing mice.

We recently reported the discovery of a series of 2-thioimidazoles as CCR2 antagonists. The most potent molecules of this series, the 4,5-diesters, were rapidly hydrolyzed to the inactive acids and were found to be metabolically unstable. Herein we describe the synthesis of a number of analogues with heterocyclic bioisosteric replacements of the ester group(s). Small 5-membered heterocyclic substituents at the 4-position gave highly potent CCR2 antagonists. Hydrolysis of the 5-ester is diminished, thus imparting these compounds with sufficient stability and systemic exposure after oral administration to warrant further study of the in vivo pharmacology of these functional CCR2 inhibitors.

Novel tricyclic tetrahydroazepinones were synthesized via an in situ Diels–Alder reaction of furan with cyclic allenamides. These reactive intermediates are the first examples of cyclic seven-membered allenamides and were prepared starting from N-(2-chloroallyl)-2-allylglycine derivatives via ring-closing metathesis followed by dehydrochlorination. The trapping of the intermediate cycloallene with furan occurred endo- and regioselectively and provided a convenient entry into new building blocks for medicinal chemistry. The diastereoselectivity of the cycloaddition was confirmed using quantum chemical computations.