Bromodomain containing proteins PB1, SMARCA4, and SMARCA2 are important components of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes. We identified bromodomain inhibitors that target these proteins and display unusual binding modes involving water displacement from the KAc binding site. The best compound binds the fifth bromodomain of PB1 with a KD of 124 nM, SMARCA2B and SMARCA4 with KD values of 262 and 417 nM, respectively, and displays excellent selectivity over bromodomains other than PB1, SMARCA2, and SMARCA4.

Graphical abstract

An improved, scalable synthetic route to the quinazolinone natural product 2,3-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]quinazolin-5(1H)-one is reported. The applicability of this method to analogue synthesis and the synthesis of related natural products is explored. Finally, reactivity of the scaffold to a variety of electrophilic reagents, generating products stereoselectively, is reported.

We describe the design and synthesis of a non-peptidic β-strand mimetic composed of alternating aryl and imidazolidin-2-one rings that can be adapted to display diverse side-chains. Solid- and solution-phase data together with calculations suggest that the desired conformation for side-chain mimicry is readily accessible and well-populated.