The synthesis of the marine neurotoxin azaspiracid-1 has been accomplished. The individual fragments were synthesized by catalytic enantioselective processes: A hetero-Diels-Alder reaction to afford the E- and HI-ring fragments, a carbonyl-ene reaction to furnish the CD-ring fragment, and a Mukaiyama aldol reaction to deliver the FG-ring fragment. The subsequent fragment couplings were accomplished by aldol and sulfone anion methodologies. All ketalization events to form the non-acyclic target were accomplished under equilibrating conditions utilizing the imbedded configurations of the molecule to adopt one favored conformation. A final fragment coupling of the anomeric EFGHI-sulfone anion to the ABCD-aldehyde completed the convergent synthesis of (+)-azaspiracid-1.

Increased fructose consumption and its subsequent metabolism have been implicated in metabolic disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) and insulin resistance. Ketohexokinase (KHK) converts fructose to fructose-1-phosphate (F1P) in the first step of the metabolic cascade. Herein we report the discovery of a first-in-class KHK inhibitor, PF-06835919 (8), currently in phase 2 clinical trials. The discovery of 8 was built upon our originally reported, fragment-derived lead 1 and the recognition of an alternative, rotated binding mode upon changing the ribose-pocket binding moiety from a pyrrolidinyl to an azetidinyl ring system. This new binding mode enabled efficient exploration of the vector directed at the Arg-108 residue, leading to the identification of highly potent 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]­hexane acetic acid-based KHK inhibitors by combined use of parallel medicinal chemistry and structure-based drug design.

Dedicated to Professor Dieter Seebach on the occasion of his 70th birthdayWith a practical synthesis of the ABCD aldehyde in hand (2, Scheme 1), [1] herein we describe our progress that culminated in the synthesis of (+)-azaspiracid-1 (1) in 26 linear steps and 2.7 % overall yield.As outlined in Scheme 1, the addition of an anomeric sulfone anion derived from 3 to a C20-electrophile, as represented by aldehyde 2, could provide a highly convergent approach to the target. Since all nine rings of azaspiracid-1 (1) are formed prior to this final fragment coupling, the number of manipulations required after the coupling step would be minimal. Such anomeric sulfone anion additions have considerable precedent, both in the original investigations of anomeric sulfone anions derived from carbohydrates [2, 3] and subsequently in advanced fragment couplings in total synthesis, [4][5][6] although the crucial sulfone anion addition of 3 to electrophiles such as aldehyde 2 would represent the most complex anomeric sulfone anion addition to date.Conformational analysis of the HI spiroaminal portion of pentacyclic sulfone 3 (Figure 1) suggests, on the basis of anomeric stabilization and an analysis of steric effects, that this synthon exists in its favored configuration. Therefore, a number of ketalization events were incorporated into the assembly of 3, in which the molecule is anticipated to spontaneously form the desired tetracyclic FGHI system under equilibrating conditions. The fragment couplings to construct intermediate 4 (Scheme 1) would involve a boronmediated addition of the C27-methyl ketone of the FG ring fragment 6 to the E ring aldehyde 5, while a chelatecontrolled Mukaiyama aldol addition [7] of the enolsilane derived from the C35-methyl ketone of 7 to the aldehyde of 6 was anticipated to establish the stereocenter at C34. By inspection, two syn 1,3-dimethyl synthons of the same configuration are embedded in the azaspiracid structure in the E and the I rings. We were attracted to the possibility of constructing both of these subunits from the common

Lead-like drugs, or drugs below molecular weight 300, are an important and sometimes overlooked component of the current pharmacopeia and contemporary medicinal chemistry practice. To examine the recent state-of-the-art in lead-like drug discovery, we surveyed recent drug approvals from 2011 to 2017 and top 200 prescribed medications, as well as provide case studies on recently approved lead-like drugs. Many of these recent drugs are close analogs of previously known drugs or natural substrates, with a key focus of their medicinal chemistry optimization being the choice of a low molecular weight starting point and maintaining low molecular weight during the optimization. However, the identification of low molecular weight starting points may be limited by the availability of suitable low molecular weight screening sets. To increase the discovery rate of lead-like drugs, we suggest an increased focus on inclusion and prosecution of lead-like starting points in screening libraries.

Targeting of the human ribosome is an unprecedented therapeutic modality with a genome-wide selectivity challenge. A liver-targeted drug candidate is described that inhibits ribosomal synthesis of PCSK9, a lipid regulator considered undruggable by small molecules. Key to the concept was the identification of pharmacologically active zwitterions designed to be retained in the liver. Oral delivery of the poorly permeable zwitterions was achieved by prodrugs susceptible to cleavage by carboxylesterase 1. The synthesis of select tetrazole prodrugs was crucial. A cell-free in vitro translation assay containing human cell lysate and purified target mRNA fused to a reporter was used to identify active zwitterions. In vivo PCSK9 lowering by oral dosing of the candidate prodrug and quantification of the drug fraction delivered to the liver utilizing an oral positron emission tomography F-isotopologue validated our liver-targeting approach.