No abstract

Electrophilic amination of primary aliphatic and aromatic amines is reported using a diethylketomalonate-derived oxaziridine to afford the corresponding N-Boc hydrazines in good to excellent yields. The method allows a one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles from primary amines. [Reaction: see text]

Because of their increased activity against activating mutants, first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors have had remarkable success in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but acquired resistance, through a secondary mutation of the gatekeeper residue, means that clinical responses only last for 8-14 months. Addressing this unmet medical need requires agents that can target both of the most common double mutants: T790M/L858R (TMLR) and T790M/del(746-750) (TMdel). Herein we describe how a noncovalent double mutant selective lead compound was optimized using a strategy focused on the structure-guided increase in potency without added lipophilicity or reduction of three-dimensional character. Following successive rounds of design and synthesis it was discovered that cis-fluoro substitution on 4-hydroxy- and 4-methoxypiperidinyl groups provided synergistic, substantial, and specific potency gain through direct interaction with the enzyme and/or effects on the proximal ligand oxygen atom. Further development of the fluorohydroxypiperidine series resulted in the identification of a pair of diastereomers that showed 50-fold enzyme and cell based selectivity for T790M mutants over wild-type EGFR (wtEGFR) in vitro and pathway knock-down in an in vivo xenograft model.

Inhibitors targeting the activating mutants of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have found success in the treatment of EGFR mutant positive non-small-cell lung cancer. A secondary point mutation (T790M) in the inhibitor binding site has been linked to the acquired resistance against those first generation therapeutics. Herein, we describe the lead optimization of a series of reversible, pan-mutant (L858R, del T790M/L858R, and T790M/del) EGFR inhibitors. By use of a noncovalent double mutant (T790M/L858R and T790M/del) selective EGFR inhibitor (2) as a starting point, activities against the single mutants (L858R and del) were introduced through a series of structure-guided modifications. The in vitro ADME-PK properties of the lead molecules were further optimized through a number of rational structural changes. The resulting inhibitor (21) exhibited excellent cellular activity against both the single and double mutants of EGFR, demonstrating target engagement in vivo and ADME-PK properties that are suitable for further evaluation. The reversible, noncovalent inhibitors described complement the covalent pan-mutant EGFR inhibitors that have shown encouraging results in recent clinical trials.