Haspin is a mitotic protein kinase required for proper cell division by modulating Aurora B kinase localisation and activity as well as histone phosphorylation. Here a series of imidazopyridazines based on the CHR-6494 and Structure Activity Relationship was established. An assessment of the inhibitory activity of the lead structures on human Haspin and several other protein kinases is presented. The lead structure was rapidly optimised using a combination of crystal structures and effective docking models, with the best inhibitors exhibiting potent inhibitory activity on Haspin with IC 50 between 6 and 100 nM in vitro . The developed inhibitors displayed anti-proliferative properties against various human cancer cell lines in 2D and spheroid cultures and significantly inhibited the migration ability of osteosarcoma U-2 OS cells. Notably, we show that our lead compounds are powerful Haspin inhibitors in human cells, and did not block G2/M cell cycle transition due to improved selectivity against CDK1/CyclinB.

A convenient design of 3,5-disubstituted imidazo[1,2-d][1,2,4]thiadiazoles is reported from 2-mercaptoimidazole, which afforded a versatile platform that was then used to access a variety of original heterocycles.

This work reports the design of [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3',2':1,2]imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines using a Pictet-Spengler reaction. The scope of the reaction was achieved from 6-(2-aminophenyl)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives and available aldehydes. A wide range of aldehydes were employed to examine the scope of the cyclization. In parallel, a mechanism investigation was realized and showed a hydride transfer which led to a dismutation of the intermediate species. To complete this methodological study, a "sequential" oxidation/SAr procedure was performed to achieve C-2 nucleophilic substitution using several amine types.