Summary The dynamic and reversible acetylation of proteins catalyzed by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) is a major epigenetic regulatory mechanism of gene transcription 1 associated with multiple diseases. While HDAC inhibitors are approved to treat certain cancers, progress on the development of drug-like HAT inhibitors has lagged 2. The HAT paralogs p300 and CBP (p300/CBP) are key transcriptional co-activators essential for a multitude of cellular processes and also implicated in human pathological conditions, including cancer 3. Current p300/CBP HAT domain inhibitors including natural products, 4 bi-substrate analogs (Lys-CoA) 5 and the widely utilized C646 6, 7 lack potency or selectivity. Here, we describe A-485, a potent, selective and drug-like p300/CBP catalytic inhibitor. We show the first high resolution (1.95Å) co-crystal structure of a small molecule bound to the catalytic active site of p300 and demonstrate that A-485 is acetyl-CoA competitive. A-485 selectively inhibited proliferation across lineage-specific tumor types, including several hematological malignancies and androgen receptor-positive prostate cancer. A-485 inhibited the androgen receptor transcriptional program in both androgen sensitive and castrate resistant prostate cancer and inhibited tumor growth in a castration resistant xenograft model. These results demonstrate the feasibility of selectively targeting the catalytic activity of histone acetyltransferases.

p300 and its paralog CBP can acetylate histones and other proteins and have been implicated in a number of diseases characterized by aberrant gene activation, such as cancer. A novel, highly selective, orally bioavailable histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain inhibitor has been identified through virtual ligand screening and subsequent optimization of a unique hydantoin screening hit. Conformational restraint in the form of a spirocyclization followed by substitution with a urea led to a significant improvement in potency. Replacement of the hydantoin moiety with an oxazolidinedione followed by fluoro substitution led to A-485, which exhibits potent cell activity, low clearance, and high oral bioavailability.

A highly atom-economical total synthesis of (+)-patulolide C has been accomplished in three steps from the known (2R)-8-nonyn-2-ol in 49% overall yield and 93% de. A Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation (AHF)/ intramolecular Wittig olefination cascade was utilized to set the C4-hydroxyl stereochemistry and E-olefin geometry as well as form the macrolactone.

A synthesis of the Prelog-Djerassi lactone [(+)-1] has been accomplished in three isolations and 57% overall yield from the known vinyl ortho ester 2. A Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation/crotylation tandem sequence has been developed and used to set the C2-C4 stereochemistry. A Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation was employed to set the C6 sterechemistry, resulting in an unusually short and efficient enantioselective synthesis of this touchstone molecule from achiral starting material.

Four different Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation (AHF) tandem reactions have been developed in the context of the total syntheses of (+)-patulolide C, (-)-pyrenophorol, (+)-decarestrictine L, and (+)-Prelog-Djerassi lactone. A total synthesis of (+)-patulolide C has been accomplished in three steps utilizing a Rh(I)-catalyzed Z-selective anti-Markovnikov hydroacetoxylation of a known alkyne to give a Z-enol acetate with excellent selectivity. An AHF/intramolecular Wittig olefination cascade was utilized to set the C4-hydroxyl stereochemistry, E-olefin geometry, and form the macrolactone. In addition, both (-)-pyrenophorol and (+)-decarestrictine L have been synthesized from the enantiomeric (4R)- and (4S)-4-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-1-pentyne in five and four steps, respectively. These syntheses feature Ru(II)-catalyzed Z-selective anti-Markovnikov hydroacetoxylation of terminal alkynes followed by AHF/Wittig olefination sequences to rapidly establish functionality and stereogenicity. A synthesis of (+)-Prelog-Djerassi lactone was accomplished in three isolations from the known 1-vinyl-4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ortho ester. An AHF/crotylation tandem sequence has been developed to set the C2-C4 stereochemistry. An asymmetric hydrogenation was employed to set the C6 stereochemistry, resulting in an especially efficient enantioselective synthesis from achiral starting material. In summary, these syntheses have greatly improved efficiency in terms of atom-economy, catalytic stereoselective transformations, inexpensive reagents, step-counts, and overall yield when compared with previous synthetic attempts.