The nature and the size of the benzylic substituent are shown to be the key to controlling receptor selectivity (CCR5 vs M1, M2) and potency in the title compounds. Optimization of the lead benzylic methyl compound 3 led to the methoxymethyl analogue 30, which had excellent receptor selectivity and oral bioavailability in rats and monkeys. Compound 30 (Sch-417690/Sch-D), a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 entry into target cells, is currently in clinical trials.

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Truncation of the original piperidino-2(S)-methyl piperazine lead structure 2, from a family of muscarinic antagonists, gave compound 8 which has improved selectivity for the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 over muscarinic receptors. Further optimization for pharmacokinetic properties afforded Sch-350634 (1), a prototypical piperazine-based CCR5 antagonist, which is a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 entry and replication in PBMCs. The title compound (1) has excellent oral bioavailability in rat, dog, and monkey.

Aryl carboxamides are useful structural units found in several biologically active compounds. Unlike their benzoic acid counterparts, fluorinated versions of naphthoic acids are relatively unknown. In connection with a recent project, we needed viable syntheses of several mono- and difluorinated naphthoic acids. Herein we describe the synthesis of 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-fluoro-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acids and 5,7-, 5,8-, 6,7-, and 4,5-difluoro-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acids. The 5-fluoro derivative 1was obtained from the corresponding 5-bromo compound via electrophilic fluorination of the lithio-intermediate. The rest of the monofluoro (2, 3, and 4) and the difluoro acids (5, 6, and 7) were prepared by a new, general route which entailed the elaboration of commercial fluorinated phenylacetic acids to 2-(fluoroaryl)glutaric acids with differential ester groups; selective hydrolysis to a mono acid, intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization, and aromatization furnished the target structures. An alternative process to assemble a naphthalene skeleton is also presented for the difluoro acids 5 and 6. Finally, 4,5-difluoro-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (8) was prepared expeditiously from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene by adapting classical reactions.