No abstract

The nonselective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist mifepristone has been approved in the U.S. for the treatment of selected patients with Cushing's syndrome. While this drug is highly effective, lack of selectivity for GR leads to unwanted side effects in some patients. Optimization of the previously described fused azadecalin series of selective GR antagonists led to the identification of CORT125134, which is currently being evaluated in a phase 2 clinical study in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Rhodium-catalyzed carbozincation of ynamides using diorganozinc reagents or functionalized organozinc halides is described. Using a tri(2-furyl)phosphine-modified rhodium catalyst, the reaction course is altered to hydrozincation when diethylzinc is employed as the organozinc reagent. Trapping of the alkenylzinc intermediates produced in these reactions in further functionalization reactions is possible. Collectively, these processes enable access to a range of multisubstituted enamides in stereo- and regiocontrolled fashion.

A new rhodium-catalyzed carbozincation of ynamides has been developed, using diorganozinc reagents or functionalized alkylzinc halides. The reactions are highly regio- and stereoselective, allowing access to a wide range of multisubstituted enamides, which are increasingly important building blocks for organic synthesis. Utilization of the alkenylzinc intermediates in further carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions to form trisubstituted enamides is also possible.

A simplified route to regio-regular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s (P3AT) with predetermined molecular weights and low molecular weight distributions based on the chain-growth GRIM polymerisation of 2,5-dibromo-3alkylthiophenes is detailed. It is proposed by way of in-depth 13 C-, 1 H-and two-dimensional NMR characterisations that the resulting P3ATs are quasi-100% regio-regular except for one regio-irregular pair at one chain-end. It is probable that chain-end groups exhibit reduced conjugation with the rest of the polymer. A comparison of the preparation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT) is presented. New methods required for the hydrogenation, formylation and bromomethylation of the chain-ends of P3BT, necessary to overcome its poor solubility and low reactivity, are described.