Hydroxyethylamine-based inhibitors of BACE1: P1–P3 macrocyclization can improve potency,selectivity, and cell activity

We describe a systematic study of how macrocyclization in the P₁–P₃ region of hydroxyethylamine-based inhibitors of β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme (BACE1) modulates in vitro activity. This study reveals that in a number of instances macrocyclization of bis-terminal dienes leads to improved potency toward BACE1 and selectivity against cathepsin D (CatD), as well as greater amyloid β-peptide (Aβ)-lowering activity in HEK293T cells stably expressing APP_SW. However, for several closely related analogs the benefits of macrocyclization are attenuated by the effects of other structural features in different regions of the molecules. X-ray crystal structures of three of these novel macrocyclic inhibitors bound to BACE1 revealed their binding conformations and interactions with the enzyme.     

The Asymmetric Imino-aldol Approach to the Enantioselective Synthesis of β-amino acids

Two approaches, based on imino-aldol additions, to the asymmetric synthesis of cyclic β-amino acids are reported. In each case a chiral auxiliary was employed attached either to the enolate or to the imine. The relative efficacy of these two synthetic methods is also briefly compared with the former still the preferred route as the latter is currently limited to the preparation of N-sulfonyl β-amino acids.