The large-scale solid-phase continuous flow synthesis of the bicyclic peptide MEN 10627, a new potent Neurokinin A receptor antagonist, is described using the Fmoc-polyamide method on both macrosorb 125 and Macrosorb 250 resin. A new synthesizer designed in-house was realized by assembling Whitey valves and Waters pump in order to allow small-scale (0.0001 mol; 1 x 10 cm Omnifit columns) synthetic studies which were strongly predictive of the conditions required for large-scale (0.01-0.10 mol; 3.6 or 5.9 x 46 cm Büchi columns) production, performed on the same apparatus.

Recently we reported on the design and synthesis of a novel class of selective nonpeptide bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor antagonists (J. Med. Chem. 2006, 3602-3613). This work led to the discovery of MEN 15442, an antagonist with subnanomolar affinity for the human B2 receptor (hB2R), which also displayed significant and prolonged activity in vivo (for up to 210 min) against BK-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig at a dose of 300 nmol/kg (it), while demonstrating only a slight effect on BK-induced hypotension. Here we describe the further optimization of this series of compounds aimed at maximizing the effect on bronchoconstriction and minimizing the effect on hypotension, with a view to developing topically delivered drugs for airway diseases. The work led to the discovery of MEN 16132, a compound which, after intratracheal or aerosol administration, inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, BK-induced bronchoconstricton in the airways, while showing minimal systemic activity. This compound was selected as a preclinical candidate for the topical treatment of airway diseases involving kinin B2 receptor stimulation.

A preparative method for the preparation of large peptides is described. An advantageous theoretical weight of peptide/weight of starting resin ratio (tPw/Rw) of about 0.3 was successfully experimented. The esterification of the first amino acid was realized with a racemization of less than 1%. The study of the coupling conditions led to the use of a diluted acylating mixture that allowed a 56% consumption of the amino acid derivatives (percentage use of amino acids) introduced in the synthesis. The cost analysis of the synthesis showed that the recovery of the amino acid derivatives was not worthwhile.

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The large-scale solid-phase continuous flow synthesis of the bicyclic peptide MEN 10627, a new potent Neurokinin A receptor antagonist, is described using the Fmoc-polyamide method on both macrosorb 125 and Macrosorb 250 resin. A new synthesizer designed in-house was realized by assembling Whitey valves and Waters pump in order to allow small-scale (0.0001 mol; 1 x 10 cm Omnifit columns) synthetic studies which were strongly predictive of the conditions required for large-scale (0.01-0.10 mol; 3.6 or 5.9 x 46 cm Büchi columns) production, performed on the same apparatus.