The sirtuins SIRT1, SIRT2, and SIRT3 are NAD(+) dependent deacetylases that are considered potential targets for metabolic, inflammatory, oncologic, and neurodegenerative disorders. Encoded library technology (ELT) was used to affinity screen a 1.2 million heterocycle enriched library of DNA encoded small molecules, which identified pan-inhibitors of SIRT1/2/3 with nanomolar potency (e.g., 11c: IC50 = 3.6, 2.7, and 4.0 nM for SIRT1, SIRT2, and SIRT3, respectively). Subsequent SAR studies to improve physiochemical properties identified the potent drug like analogues 28 and 31. Crystallographic studies of 11c, 28, and 31 bound in the SIRT3 active site revealed that the common carboxamide binds in the nicotinamide C-pocket and the aliphatic portions of the inhibitors extend through the substrate channel, explaining the observable SAR. These pan SIRT1/2/3 inhibitors, representing a novel chemotype, are significantly more potent than currently available inhibitors, which makes them valuable tools for sirtuin research.

A general method for the formation of benzoxazoles via a copper-catalyzed cyclization of ortho-haloanilides is reported. This approach complements the more commonly used strategies for benzoxazole formation which require 2-aminophenols as substrates. The reaction involves an intramolecular C-O cross-coupling of the ortho-haloanilides and is believed to proceed via an oxidative insertion/reductive elimination pathway through a Cu(I)/Cu(III) manifold. The reaction is also applicable to the formation of benzothiazoles. A variety of ligands including 1,10-phenanthroline and N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine were shown to provide ligand acceleration/stabilization in the reaction. Optimal conditions for cyclization used a catalyst combination of CuI and 1,10-phenanthroline (10 mol %). The method was amenable to a parallel-synthesis approach, as demonstrated by the synthesis of a library of benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles substituted at various positions in the ring. Most examples utilized the cyclization of ortho-bromoanilides, but ortho-iodoanilides and ortho-chloroanilides also undergo a reaction under these conditions. The rate of reaction of the ortho-haloanilides follows the order I > Br > Cl, consistent with oxidative addition being the rate-determining step.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's oldest and deadliest diseases, killing a person every 20 s. InhA, the enoyl-ACP reductase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the target of the frontline antitubercular drug isoniazid (INH). Compounds that directly target InhA and do not require activation by mycobacterial catalase peroxidase KatG are promising candidates for treating infections caused by INH resistant strains. The application of the encoded library technology (ELT) to the discovery of direct InhA inhibitors yielded compound 7 endowed with good enzymatic potency but with low antitubercular potency. This work reports the hit identification, the selected strategy for potency optimization, the structure−activity relationships of a hundred analogues synthesized, and the results of the in vivo efficacy studies performed with the lead compound 65.

A DNA-encoded macrocyclic peptide library was designed and synthesized with 2.4 × 10 members composed of 4-20 natural and non-natural amino acids. Affinity-based selection was performed against two therapeutic targets, VHL and RSV N protein. On the basis of selection data, some peptides were selected for resynthesis without a DNA tag, and their activity was confirmed.

Two domino annulation approaches for benzoxazole synthesis have been developed. In the first approach, copper-catalyzed intermolecular cross-coupling of 1,2-dihaloarenes with primary amides initially forms the Ar-N bond of the benzoxazole ring, followed by copper-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization to form the Ar-O bond. Benzoxazoles were formed in good yields for the reaction of 1,2-dibromobenzene, but the reaction was not regioselective for the reaction of 3,4-dibromotoluene. Furthermore, the method is limited by the availability of 1,2-dihaloarenes. As a result of these limitations, an alternative more versatile one-pot domino annulation strategy was developed involving reaction of 2-bromoanilines with acyl chlorides in the presence of Cs2CO3, catalytic CuI, and the non-acylatable ligand 1,10-phenanthroline. Under these conditions initial acylation of the aniline is followed by copper-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of the resultant 2-haloanilide to form the Ar-O bond of the benzoxazole ring. Optimized conditions using microwave irradiation achieved much shorter reaction times than conventional heating (i.e., 210 degrees C for 15 min versus 95 degrees C for 24 h) and were applied to the synthesis of a small library of benzoxazoles. These copper-catalyzed approaches complement existing strategies for benzoxazole synthesis, which typically utilize 2-aminopheonls as precursors.