Inhibition of Src kinase activity by 7-ethynyl-4-phenylamino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles: identification of SKS-927

Of a series of 7-ethynyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles, the most potent Src inhibitory activity was observed with 4-[(2,4-dichloro-5-methoxyphenyl)amino]-6-methoxy-7-[4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)but-1-ynyl]-3-quinolinecarbonitrile (SKS-927). Variation of the solubilizing amine tail or removal of the methoxy group from either C-6 of the quinoline core or C-5 of the aniline headpiece led to reduced activity.     

7-(aryl/heteroaryl-2-ylethynyl)-4-phenylamino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles as new Src kinase inhibitors: addition of water solubilizing groups

New 4-phenylamino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles with a 7-ethynyl group substituted by a pyridine, phenyl or thiophene ring containing basic water solubilizing groups were prepared and evaluated as Src kinase inhibitors. Of these new analogs, potent activity was observed with compounds having a (2,4-dichloro-5-methoxyphenyl)amino group at C-4, a methoxy or ethoxy group at C-6, and a pyridyl group bearing a dimethylamine or N-methylpiperazine on the ethynyl group at C-7.     

4-Anilino-7-pyridyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles as Src kinase inhibitors

A series of 4-anilino-7-pyridyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles was prepared as Src kinase inhibitors. A systematic SAR study of substitutions on both the pyridine ring and the 3-quinolinecarbonitrile core established the requirements for optimal activity. The lead compound, 17, showed potent activity in both the Src enzyme assay and cell assays, and demonstrated in vivo anti-tumor activity in a xenograft model.     

Further studies on ethenyl and ethynyl-4-phenylamino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles: identification of a subnanomolar Src kinase inhibitor

Several new ethynyl- and ethenyl-4-phenylamino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles were synthesized and tested for Src inhibition. Derivatives bearing an ethenyl or ethynyl substituent at C-6 showed decreased Src inhibitory activity. Incorporation of an ethenylpyridine N-oxide group at C-7 provided 20b, a 0.6 nM inhibitor of Src enzymatic activity with excellent cellular potency.     

Substituted 4-anilino-7-phenyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles as Src kinase inhibitors

A series of substituted 4-anilino-7-phenyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles has been prepared as Src kinase inhibitors. Optimal activity is observed with compounds that have basic amines attached via the para position of the 7-phenyl ring, and a hydrogen atom at the C-6 position. The best compounds are low nanomolar inhibitors of Src kinase, and have potent activity against Src-transformed fibroblast cells.     

Optimization of 7-alkene-3-quinolinecarbonitriles as Src kinase inhibitors

The 7-alkene-3-quinolinecarbonitrile 20, a potent inhibitor of Src enzymatic and cellular activity with IC₅₀ values of 2.1 and 58 nM, respectively, had comparable efficacy to bosutinib in a colon tumor xenograft study.     

4-Anilino-7-alkenylquinoline-3-carbonitriles as potent MEK1 kinase inhibitors

A series of substituted 7-alkenyl 4[3-chloro-4-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylsulfanyl)]anilino-3-quinolinecarbonitrile analogs were synthesized and evaluated as MEK1 kinase inhibitors. The synthetic details, structure-activity relationships, biological activity, and selected oral exposure studies of these analogs are described. From these studies, compound 5m was chosen as a strong candidate for further evaluation. The selectivity of 5m was ascertained against a panel of 17 kinases, where activity was observed against EGFR, Src, Lyn, and IR kinases. Western blot studies in WM-266 cells demonstrated that 5m inhibited phosphorylation of ERK, while additional kinase pathways tested showed no inhibition at up to 10 microM of 5 m. PK studies, as well as a xenograft and in vivo biomarker studies are described for 5m.     

Synthesis and inhibitory activity of 4-alkynyl and 4-alkenylquinazolines: identification of new scaffolds for potent EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

The present study identified several 4-alkynyl and 4-alkenylquinazolines that serve as novel and potent EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The IC(50) values of these compounds are in the nanomolar range. In addition, the 4-(4-phenylbut-1-yn/en-yl)quinazolines provided scaffolds for potent enzyme inhibition. Chiral discrimination was observed to occur in one of the 4-alkynylquinazoline derivatives with the (R)-isomer being more than 150 times as potent as the (S)-isomer.     

Bone-targeted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-ones: potent inhibitors of Src tyrosine kinase as novel antiresorptive agents

The design of bone-targeted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-ones as Src tyrosine kinase inhibitors is described. Leveraging SAR from known compounds and using structure-based methods, we were able to rapidly incorporate bone binding components, which maintained, and even increased potency against the target enzyme. Compound 4 displayed a high affinity for hydroxyapatite, a major constituent of bone, and demonstrated antiresoprtive activity in our cell-based assay.     

Inhibition of Src kinase activity by 4-anilino-7-thienyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles

Based on a screening lead from a yeast-based assay to identify Src family kinase inhibitors, a series of 4-anilino-7-thienyl-3-quinolinecarbonitriles was prepared. When the thiophene ring was substituted with a water-solubilizing group in a 2,5-, 3,5- or 2,4-pattern, potent inhibition of Src kinase activity was observed.     

Novel series of pyrrolotriazine analogs as highly potent pan-Aurora kinase inhibitors

The synthesis and SAR for a novel series of pyrrolotriazines as pan-Aurora kinase inhibitors are described. Optimization of the cyclopropane carboxamide terminus of lead compound 1 resulted in analogs with high cellular activity and improved rat PK profiles. Notably, compound 17l demonstrated tumor growth inhibition in a mouse xenograft model.     

Antineoplastic kinase inhibitors: A new class of potent anti-amoebic compounds

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite which infects approximately 50 million people worldwide, resulting in an estimated 70,000 deaths every year. Since the 1960s E. histolytica infection has been successfully treated with metronidazole. However, drawbacks to metronidazole therapy exist, including adverse effects, a long treatment course, and the need for an additional drug to prevent cyst-mediated transmission. E. histolytica possesses a kinome with approximately 300–400 members, some of which have been previously studied as potential targets for the development of amoebicidal drug candidates. However, while these efforts have uncovered novel potent inhibitors of E. histolytica kinases, none have resulted in approved drugs. In this study we took the alternative approach of testing a set of twelve previously FDA-approved antineoplastic kinase inhibitors against E. histolytica trophozoites in vitro. This resulted in the identification of dasatinib, bosutinib, and ibrutinib as amoebicidal agents at low-micromolar concentrations. Next, we utilized a recently developed computational tool to identify twelve additional drugs with human protein target profiles similar to the three initial hits. Testing of these additional twelve drugs led to the identification of ponatinib, neratinib, and olmutinib were identified as highly potent, with EC₅₀ values in the sub-micromolar range. All of these six drugs were found to kill E. histolytica trophozoites as rapidly as metronidazole. Furthermore, ibrutinib was found to kill the transmissible cyst stage of the model organism E. invadens. Ibrutinib thus possesses both amoebicidal and cysticidal properties, in contrast to all drugs used in the current therapeutic strategy. These findings together reveal antineoplastic kinase inhibitors as a highly promising class of potent drugs against this widespread and devastating disease.     

Synthesis and inhibition of Src kinase activity by 7-ethenyl and 7-ethynyl-4-anilino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles

A series of 7-ethynyl and 7-ethenyl-4-anilino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles were synthesized and tested for Src inhibition. Derivatives bearing a C-6 methoxy group and 2,4-dichloro-5-methoxyaniline at C-4 showed optimal inhibition of Src enzymatic and cellular activity. The ethenyl and ethynyl groups were incorporated at C-7 utilizing a Stille, Heck, or Sonogashira coupling reaction.     

Facile synthesis of new 4-aza-podophyllotoxin analogs via microwave-assisted multi-component reactions and evaluation of their cytotoxic activity

A series of new 4-aza-podophyllotoxin analogs containing thiazole unit were synthesized via multi-component reactions of aldehydes, tetronic acid and 2-methylbenzo[d]thiazol-5-amine under microwave irradiation. The method not only provides a valuable tool in design and synthesis of new 4-aza-podophyllotoxin analogs but also has the advantages of atom-economy, environmental-friendliness, good yields and operational simplicity. More importantly, the preliminary evaluation on the cytotoxic activity of this type of new 4-aza-podophyllotoxin analogs has resulted in the finding of several compounds with potent and efficacious cytotoxicity to three carcinoma cell lines M14, MCF7 and SW1116.     

Discovery of 4-alkylamino-7-aryl-3-cyanoquinoline LRRK2 kinase inhibitors

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are associated with familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). The kinase activity of this complex protein is increased by pathogenic mutations. Inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity has therefore emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of PD. Herein we report our findings on a series of 4-alkylamino-7-aryl-3-cyanoquinolines that exhibit kinase inhibitory activity against both wild type and G2019S mutant LRRK2. Activity was determined in both biochemical and cellular assays. Compound 14 was further evaluated in an in vivo pharmacodynamic study and found to significantly inhibit Ser935 phosphorylation after oral dosing.     

Facile one-pot synthesis of thio and selenourea derivatives: a new class of potent urease inhibitors

A facile, one-pot synthesis of thio and selenourea derivatives from amines using tetrathiomolybdate 1 and tetraselenotungstate 2 as sulfur and selenium transfer reagents, respectively, is reported. The compounds were tested for their activity as urease inhibitors and some of the compounds showed potent activity in the nanomolar range towards jack bean urease.     

Amino-substituted thalidomide analogs: potent inhibitors of TNF-alpha production.

Thalidomide, (1), is a known inhibitor of TNF-alpha release in LPS stimulated human PBMC. Herein we describe the TNF-alpha inhibitory activity of amino substituted analogs of thalidomide (1) and its isoindolin-1-one analog, EM-12 (2). The 4-amino substituted analogs were found to be potent inhibitors of TNF-alpha release in LPS stimulated human PBMC.     

Screening for caspase-3 inhibitors: a new class of potent small-molecule inhibitors of caspase-3

From the authors' 650,000 compound collection, they have selected approximately 15,000 potential small-molecule protease inhibitors, which were subjected to high-throughput screening against caspase-3. The screening yielded a series of hits that belong to 11 different scaffolds. Based on the structure of one of the hits, a new class of the small-molecule inhibitors with a double electrophilic warhead, 8-sulfonyl-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones (SPQ), was synthesized and tested in follow-up mechanistic and anti-apoptosis assays. Mechanistic analysis of a representative compound of this class, CD-001-0011, showed that the compound exhibited a high potency (IC (50)=130 nM), was reversible though noncompetitive, and had a broad selectivity profile to other caspases belonging to groups I to III. The compound was effective in preventing staurosporine induced apoptosis in a few cell lines and retinoic acid-induced apoptosis in zebrafish.     

Discovery of a new class of 4-anilinopyrimidines as potent c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors: Synthesis and SAR studies

A new series of 4-anilinopyrimidines has been synthesized and evaluated as JNK1 inhibitors. SAR studies led to the discovery of potent JNK1 inhibitors with good enzymatic activity as well as cellular potency represented by compound 2b. Kinase selectivity profile and the crystal structure of 2b are also described.     

Parallel synthesis of acylsemicarbazide libraries: preparation of potent cyclin dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors

Potent cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors were prepared using parallel synthesis methodology. Treating advanced intermediate 2 with a variety of hydrazides in DMSO at 80 degrees C for 30 min gave the desired acylsemicarbazides in good to excellent yield. Several compounds were active against cdk4/D1 and cdk2/E in the low nanomolar range. The SAR indicates a wide variety of substituents are tolerated at the acylsemicarbazide moiety.