Specification
BICYCLO (3.1.0) HEXANE- 2 , 6 –DICARBOXYLIC ACID DERIVATIVES AS MGLU2 RECEPTOR AGONIST
The present invention relates to mGlu2 receptor agonist compounds, particular
prodrugs thereof, and their salts as well as pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic
uses of such compounds, particular prodrugs, and their salts.
L-Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
and is referred to as an excitatory amino acid. The metabotropic glutamate (mGlu)
receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that modulate neuronal excitability. Treatment
of neurological or psychiatric disorders has been linked to selective activation of mGlu
excitatory amino acid receptors. Various studies support Group II mGlu receptor (which
includes mGlu2 and/or mGlu3) activation for the treatment of schizophrenia. More
particularly, recent data demonstrate that an mGlu2/3 receptor agonist has antipsychotic
properties and may provide a new alternative for the treatment of schizophrenia. Studies
in mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptor knockout mice suggest that the antipsychotic-like activity
of mGlu2/3 receptor agonists are mGlu2 mediated. Studies also demonstrate that
mGlu2/3 agonists have anxiolytic, antidepressant, and neuroprotective properties.
Therefore, mGlu2 receptor agonists may be useful in the treatment of psychiatric
disorders, such as bipolar disorder (also known as manic depressive disorder), also known
as manic depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety disorder.
W09717952 discloses certain 4-substituted bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane compounds
asserted to be antagonists or agonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors. WO03104217
discloses bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and heterobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane compounds asserted to be
prodrug forms of mGlu2 receptor agonist compounds.
Excessive glutamatergic tone has been implicated in many disease states of the
central nervous system; however, effective agents to correct such pathophysiological
states are lacking in clinical practice. In particular, clinical application has not been
realized due to a lack of mGlu2 agonists with appropriate drug-like properties. Thus,
there still exists a need for potent mGlu2 agonists. There also exists a need for ,
efficacious mGlu2 agonists. The present invention provides novel 4-substituted
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexanes, including particular prodrugs thereof which provide increased
bioavailability suitable for clinical development, that are potent and effective mGlu2
agonists. Such new compounds of the present invention could address the need for
potent, effective treatments of psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety disorder.
The present invention provides a compound of the formula:
wherein R1 is or
R2 is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl, wherein benzyl is
optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted
with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, or -C1-C3 alkoxy; R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl, wherein benzyl is optionally substituted with one to two
fluorine atoms, - C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, or-Ci-C3
alkoxy; R4 is hydrogen, (25)-2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl,
(25)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is -C1-C3 alkyl optionally
substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2
and/or R are not hydrogen then R4 is hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not hydrogen
then R2 and/or R3 are hydrogen; provided that R5 may be hydrogen when the sulfur atom
is attached to the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring system in the S configuration; or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
The present invention provides a method of treating a psychiatric disorder selected
from the group consisting of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety
disorder comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a
compound of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
The present invention also provides a method of treating pain comprising
administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of the
present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
The present invention also provides a method of treating substance abuse
comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound
of the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a
compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present
invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the
invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one or more
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, or excipients. In a particular embodiment,
the formulation further comprises one or more other therapeutic agents.
The present invention provides a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof for use in therapy, in particular for the treatment of a psychiatric
disorder. Further, the present invention provides the use of a compound of the invention
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the
treatment of a psychiatric disorder. The present invention also provides a compound of
the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of a
psychiatric disorder.
The present invention provides a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof for use in therapy, in particular for the treatment of pain. Further,
the present invention provides the use of a compound of the invention or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the
treatment of pain. The present invention also provides a compound of the invention or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of a pain.
The present invention provides a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof for use in therapy, in particular for the treatment of substance
abuse. Further, the present invention provides the use of a compound of the invention or
a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the
treatment of substance abuse. The present invention also provides a compound of the
invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of
substance abuse.
Additionally, this invention provides a pharmaceutical formulation adapted for the
treatment of a psychiatric disorder. Furthermore, the present invention provides preferred
embodiments of the methods and uses as described herein, in which the psychiatric
disorder is selected from the group consisting of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and
generalized anxiety disorder.
Further, this invention provides a pharmaceutical formulation adapted for the
treatment of pain. Even further, this invention provides a pharmaceutical formulation
adapted for the treatment of substance abuse.
The general chemical terms used in the formulae above and throughout the
specification have their usual meanings. For example, the term "-C1-C3 alkyl" is a
-C1-C3 alkyl group and refers to methyl, ethyl, propyl, and ' propyl. The term "-C1-C3
alkoxy" is a -C1-C3 alkyl group bonded to an oxygen atom and refers to methoxy, ethoxy,
propoxy, and 'sopropoxy.
The terms "nitrogen protecting group" or "amino protecting group" and "oxygen
protecting group" or "carboxyl protecting group" are taken to mean a moiety that is stable
to projected reaction conditions and yet may be selectively removed by reagents and
reaction conditions compatible with the regenerated amine or acid. Such groups are well
known by the skilled artisan and are described in the literature. See, e.g., Greene and
Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, Fourth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
(2007).
The skilled artisan will appreciate that compounds of the invention can exist in
tautomeric forms, as depicted for example in (1), below. When any reference in this
application to one of the specific tautomers of the compounds of the invention is given, it
is understood to encompass both tautomeric forms and all mixtures thereof.
(1)
The skilled artisan will appreciate that compounds of the invention are comprised
of a core that contains at least five chiral centers:
(2)
The compounds with the absolute configuration at the atoms labeled 2 through 5, as
illustrated in (2) above, are preferred compounds of the invention. At the atom labeled 1,
the R-configuration is defined when the sulfur atom is attached to the
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring system in the down position relative to planar position of the
ring as indicated by a hashed bond. Conversely, the S-configuration is defined when the
sulfur atom is attached to the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring system in the up position relative
to planar position of the ring as indicated by the solid wedge bond.
Additionally, the skilled artisan will appreciate that additional chiral centers may
be created in the compounds of the invention by the selection of certain variables. In
such an occurrence, the present invention contemplates all individual enantiomers or
diastereomers, as well as mixtures of the enantiomers and diastereomers of said
compounds including racemates.
The skilled artisan will also appreciate that the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (R) or (S)
designations for all chiral centers will vary depending upon the substitution patterns of
the particular compound. The single enantiomers or diastereomers may be prepared
beginning with chiral reagents or by stereoselective or stereospecific synthetic techniques.
Alternatively, the single enantiomers or diastereomers may be isolated from mixtures by
standard chiral chromatographic or crystallization techniques at any convenient point in
the synthesis of compounds of the invention. Single enantiomers and diastereomers of
compounds of the invention are a preferred embodiment of the invention.
The compounds of the present invention are capable of reaction, for example, with
a number of inorganic and organic acids to form pharmaceutically acceptable acid
addition salts or basic addition salts. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts and common
methodology for preparing them are well known in the art. See, e.g., P. Stahl, et al.
Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts: Properties, Selection and Use, (VCHA/Wiley-VCH,
2002); S.M. Berge, et al, "Pharmaceutical Salts," Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Vol. 66, No. 1, January 1977. Preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts are those
formed with hydrochloric acid.
Although all of the compounds of the invention are useful as agonists of mGlu2,
certain classes of compounds are preferred. The following paragraphs describe such
preferred classes:
R2 is hydrogen;
R2 is 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally substituted with one
to two fluorine atoms, -CF , or -OCH ;
R2 is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally
substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF , or -OCH 3;
R2 is benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -
OCH3;
R is hydrogen;
R is 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally substituted with one
to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3;
R3 is benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -
OCH3;
R3 is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally
substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3;
R4 is hydrogen;
R4 is (25)-2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (2S)-2-
amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl;
R5 is C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or
cyclopropyl;
The compound of the invention is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt;
The compound of the invention is the hydrochloride salt.
A preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention wherein
wherein R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl, wherein benzyl is optionally substituted with one to two
fluorine atoms, - C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, or -C1-C3
alkoxy; R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl, wherein benzyl is
optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted
with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, or-Ci-C3 alkoxy; R4 is hydrogen, (25)-2-aminopropanoyl,
(25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-
aminoacetyl; R5 is - C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2,
or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2 and/or R are not hydrogen then R4 is hydrogen;
provided that when R4 is not hydrogen then R2 and/or R3 are hydrogen; or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Another preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein
R is ; R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms,
-CF 3, or -OCH 3; R3 is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally
substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen, (2S)-2-
aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylpentanoyl,
or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is -C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine
atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2 and/or R3 are not hydrogen then R4 is
hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not hydrogen then R2 and/or R are hydrogen; or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
A further preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein
R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms,
-CF , or -OCH ; R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally
substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF , or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen, (2S)-2-
aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylpentanoyl,
or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is -Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1to 3 fluorine
atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2 and/or R3 are not hydrogen then R4 is
hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not hydrogen then R2 and/or R3 are hydrogen;
provided that R5 may be hydrogen when the sulfur atom is attached to the
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring system in the S configuration; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof.
Another preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R is hydrogen or benzyl optionally
substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R3 is hydrogen or benzyl
optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen,
(25)-2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-
methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3
fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2 and/or R3 are not hydrogen
then R4 is hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not hydrogen then R2 and/or R3 are
hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
A further preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R is hydrogen or benzyl optionally
substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF , or -OCH ; R is hydrogen or benzyl
optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF , or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen,
(25)-2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-
methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3
fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2 and/or R are not hydrogen
then R4 is hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not hydrogen then R2 and/or R3 are
hydrogen; provided that R5 may be hydrogen when the sulfur atom is attached to the
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring system in the S configuration; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof.
A preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention wherein R1
is ; R2 is 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or
benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R3 is 2,2-
dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine
atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to
3 fluorine atoms, -NH2, or cyclopropyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Another preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R is 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -
CF3, or-OCH 3; R3 is 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally substituted
with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl
optionally substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that R5
may be hydrogen when the sulfur atom is attached to the bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring
system in the S configuration; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
An additional preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R is ; R is benzyl optionally substituted
with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF , or -OCH ; R is benzyl optionally substituted with
one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally
substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof.
A further preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R is benzyl optionally substituted
with one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R is benzyl optionally substituted with
one to two fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; R4 is hydrogen; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally
substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that R5 may be
hydrogen when the sulfur atom is attached to the bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring system in the
S configuration; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Another further preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present
invention wherein R is or ; R is hydrogen; R is
hydrogen; R4 is (2S -2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (2S)-2-
amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is Ci-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted
with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof.
An additional further preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present
invention wherein R is
hydrogen; R4 is (2,S)-2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (2S)-2-
amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted
with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that R5 may be hydrogen
when the sulfur atom is attached to the bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring system in the S
configuration; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
An especially preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R1 is ; R2 is hydrogen; R is hydrogen; R4 is
hydrogen; R5 is C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or
cyclopropyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
An especially preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present invention
wherein R1 is ; R2 is hydrogen; R is hydrogen; R4 is
hydrogen; R5 is C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or
cyclopropyl; provided that R5 may be hydrogen when the sulfur atom is attached to the
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring system in the S configuration; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof.
Another especiall preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present
invention wherein R1 is ; R2 is hydrogen; R3 is hydrogen, R4 is
hydrogen; R5 is C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or
cyclopropyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Another especially preferred embodiment relates to compounds of the present
invention wherein R1 is ; R2 is hydrogen; R is hydrogen, R4 is
hydrogen; R5 is C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or
cyclopropyl; provided that R5 may be hydrogen when the sulfur atom is attached to the
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring system in the S configuration; or a pharmaceutically
acceptable salt thereof.
The compounds of the present invention, or salts thereof, may be prepared by a
variety of procedures known in the art, some of which are illustrated in the Schemes,
Preparations, and Examples below. The specific synthetic steps for each of the routes
described may be combined in different ways, or in conjunction with steps from different
schemes, to prepare compounds of the invention, or salts thereof. The products of each
step in the schemes below can be recovered by conventional methods, including
extraction, evaporation, precipitation, chromatography, filtration, trituration, and
crystallization.
Certain stereochemical centers have been left unspecified and certain substituents
have been eliminated in the following schemes for the sake of clarity and are not intended
to limit the teaching of the schemes in any way. Furthermore, individual isomers,
enantiomers, or diastereomers may be separated at any convenient point in the synthesis
of compounds of the invention by methods such as chiral chromatography. Additionally,
the intermediates described in the following schemes contain a number of protecting
groups for carboxyl and amino groups. The variable protecting group may be the same or
different in each occurrence depending on the particular reaction conditions and the
particular transformations to be performed. The protection and deprotection conditions
are well known to the skilled artisan and are described in the literature. See. e.g. , Greene
and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, supra.
The abbreviations used herein are defined according to Aldrichimica Acta, Vol.
17, No. 1, 1984. Other abbreviations are defined as follows: "tosylate" is ptoluenesulfonyl;
"mesylate" is methanesulfonyl; "DIPEA" refers to
diisopropylethylamine; "DIC" refers to diisopropylcarbodiimide; "HATU" refers to 2-
(lH-7-azabenzotriazol- 1-yl)~ 1,1,3,3 -tetramethyl uronium hexafluorophosphate
methanaminium "HBTU" refers to 0-benzotriazole -N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-uroniumhexafluoro-
phosphate; "HOAt" refers to l-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole; "PyBOP" refers
to benzotriazol-l-yloxytripyrrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate; "PyBrop"
refers to bromo-tris-pyrrolidino phosphoniumhexafluoro phosphate; "DMAP" refers to 4-
dimethylaminopyridine; "THF" refers to tetrahydrofuran; "SCX" is strong cation
exchange; "Prep No" is Preparation Number; "Ex No" is Example Number.
In the schemes below, all substituents unless otherwise indicated, are as
previously defined. The reagents and starting materials are generally readily available to
one of ordinary skill in the art. Others may be made by standard techniques of organic
and heterocyclic chemistry which are analogous to the syntheses of known structurallysimilar
compounds and the procedures described in the Preparations and Examples which
follow including any novel procedures.
Scheme I
Scheme I illustrates the general synthesis of a compound of formula 5. "PG1" is a
protecting group developed for the carboxyl group, such as esters. "PG2" is a protecting
group developed for the amino group, such as carbamates and amides. Such protecting
groups are well known and appreciated in the art. "LG" is a leaving group, such as
tosylate or mesylate. Thus, "LG-halide" is a reagent, such as para-toluenesulfonyl
chloride or methanesulfonyl chloride.
A compound of formula 1 reacts with a compound of formula 2 in the presence of
an appropriate base, such as dimethylaminopyridine or triethylamine, in an appropriate
solvent, such as dichloromethane, to provide a compound of formula 3. A compound of
formula 5 results from the reaction of a compound of formula 3 with an appropriate
compound of formula 4 in the presence of a suitable base, such as potassium carbonate or
sodium carbonate, in an approprate solvent, such as dimethylformamide, followed by
conditions to facilitate the removal of the protecting groups, which are well known and
appreciated in the art. A compound of formula 5 can be isolated as a free base or an
appropriate salt, such as the hydrochloride salt.
Scheme II
Scheme II illustrates the general synthesis of a compound of formula 7. "PG1"
and "PG2" are the same as defined in Scheme I, above.
A compound of formula 1 is reacted with triphenyl phospine and ΐ 2 in a suitable
solvent, such as toluene or tetrahydrofuran, to provide the resulting bromo compound of
formula 6. A compound of formula 7 results from the reaction of a compound of formula
6 with an appropriate compound of formula 4 in the presence of a suitable base, such as
potassium carbonate, in an approprate solvent, such as dimethylformamide, followed by
conditions to facilitate the removal of the protecting groups, which are well known and
appreciated in the art. A compound of formula 7 can be isolated as a free base or an
appropriate salt, such as the hydrochloride salt.
heme III
8 9 11
Scheme III illustrates the general synthesis to generate a compound of formula 11.
"PG1" and "PG2" are the same as defined in Scheme I, above. R4 is not hydrogen.
A compound of formula 8 is subjected to the appropriate deprotection conditions
to effect removal of "PG2" to yield a compound of formula 9. Such conditions are well
known and appreciated in the art. A compound of formula 11 results from the reaction of
a compound of formula 9 with a compound of formula 10 under appropriate coupling
conditions followed by conditions to facilitate the removal of the protecting groups,
which are well known and appreciated in the art. One skilled in the art will recognize that
there are a number of methods and reagents for amide formation resulting from the
reaction of carboxylic acids and amines. For example, appropriate coupling conditions
include the reaction of an appropriate compound of formula 9 with an appropriate acid of
formula 10 in the presence of a coupling reagent and an amine base, such as DIPEA or
triethylamine. Coupling reagents include carbodiimides, such as DCC, DIC, EDCI, and
aromatic coupling reagents, such as HOBt and HOAt. Additionally, uronium or
phosphonium salts of non-nucleophilic anions, such as HBTU, HATU, PyBOP, and
PyBrOP can be used in place of the more traditional coupling reagents. Additives such as
DMAP may be used to enhance the reactions. A compound of formula 11 can be isolated
as a free base or an appropriate salt, such as the hydrochloride salt.
Scheme IV
Scheme IV illustrates the general synthesis to generate a compound of formula 14. "PG1"
and PG2" are defined as described in Scheme I above.
A compound of formula 1 is obtained by subjecting a compound of formula 8 to
the appropriate deprotection conditions to effect the deprotection of the acids only. Such
conditions are well known and appreciated in the art. A compound of formula 13 is
obtained by esterification of the resulting free carboxylic acid moieties with R OH under
the appropriate conditions. Note that R2 = R . The skilled artisan will appreciate that
there are a number of methods and reagents to effect the esterification of a free carboxylic
acid. For example, an excess of one of the reagents, such as the alcohol component, can
be added to the reaction mixture. Alternatively, the resulting water can be removed from
the reaction by distillation or dehydrating agent. Finally, the resulting compound of
formula 13 is subjected to appropriate conditions to effect the deprotection of the amine.
Such conditions are well known and appreciated in the art. A compound of formula 14
can be isolated as a free base or an appropriate salt, such as the hydrochloride salt.
Alternatively, a di-ester wherein R2 and R are different can be achieved by
selective and stepwise protection and deprotection of an appropriate intermediate, such as
a compound of formula 7. Such conditions are well known and appreciated in the art.
As will be readily appreciated, compounds of formula 1 can be promptly prepared
by methods similar to those described herein and by procedures that are well-known and
established in the art. As will be readily understood, the steps to prepare the compounds
of the present invention are dependent upon the particular compound being synthesized,
the starting compound, and the relative lability of the substituted moieties.
Preparations and Examples
The following preparations and examples further illustrate the invention.
The names for the exemplified compounds of the present invention are provided
by SYMYX®Draw 3.2 or ACD/Name version 12.
Preparation 1
Ditert-butyl (IS, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-(p-tolylsulfonyloxy)
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Charge a 2-necked round bottom flask under nitrogen atmosphere with ditertbutyl
(IS, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-hydroxy-bicyclo[3 .1.0]hexane-
2,6-dicarboxylate (20.7 g, 0.5 mol, see WO03/104217/A2 for synthesis details), 4-
dimethylaminopyridine (10.4 g, 0.85 mol), triethylamine (6.98 mL, 0.5 mmol) and p -
toluenesulfonyl chloride (10.6 g, 0.55 mol) in dichloromethane (200 mL), and stir the
mixture at room temperature overnight. Add IN solution of potassium hydrogen sulfate
(200 mL), water (100 mL) and extract the organic layer. Wash with water (200 mL),
brine (200 mL), dry over magnesium sulfate, filter and evaporate to dryness. Add
tetrahydrofuran (30 mL) then heptanes (90 mL). Heat the mixture at 60°C and slowly add
more heptanes (200 mL). Cool the mixture to room temperature. Filter the solid and dry
under reduced pressure to yield the title compound as a white solid (24.6 g, 87%). MS
(m/z): 590 (M+23).
Preparation 2
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, 6R)-4-bromo-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)
bicyclo[3 .1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Dissolve triphenylphosphine (41.97 g, 158.4 mmol) in fresh toluene (660 mL) and
add bromine (8. 14 mL, 158.4 mmol) until a yellow color persists. Add dropwise a
solution of ditert-butyl (IS, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-hydroxybicyclo[
3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (32.75 g, 79.2 mmol) in toluene (176 mL) and
anhydrous pyridine (528 mL) during 45 min. Stir the reaction at 75°C overnight. Cool to
room temperature, dilute with ethyl acetate, filter and concentrate to dryness. Slurry the
crude in methyl tert-butyl ether, filter to remove the solids and concentrate the filtrate to
dryness. Purify the crude by silica gel chromatography (750 g) eluting with hexane: ethyl
acetate (0:100 to 80:20) to obtain the title compound as a white solid (29.52 g, 78 %).
MS (m/z): 498, 500 (M+23).
Preparation 3
Ditert-butyl 1R,2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-(/ert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3 -
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Add to a solution of ditert-butyl (1R, 2S,4R,5R, R)-4-bromo-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (2 g, 4.20 mmol) in
dimethylformamide (10 mL), lH-l,2,4-triazole-3 -thiol (525 mg, 5.04 mmol) and
potassium carbonate ( 1.16 g, 8.4 mmol). Stir the mixture at 80°C overnight. Cool to
room temperature and dilute with ethyl acetate, wash with 10% citric acid and brine, dry
over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filter and concentrate to dryness. Purify by silica gel
chromatography (80 g silica column) eluting with hexane: ethyl acetate (80: 20 to 0:100)
to obtain the title compound (l,64g, 78%). MS (m/z): 497 (M+1).
The following compounds in Table 1 are prepared from Preparation 1 or
Preparation 2 by essentially following the method of preparation 3.
Table 1
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, 6R)-2- N-N
H N \ (ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[(5-
methyl-4H- l,2,4-triazol-3-
v
5 11 (M+l)
yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-
2,6-dicarboxylate > °
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, 6R)-2-
(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[(5-
isopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3 - 539 (M+l)
yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-
2,6-dicarboxylate
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, 6R)-2- N-N
(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[(5-
cyclopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3 - Vo - 537 (M+l)
yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-
2,6-dicarboxylate >°
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, 6R)-2-
(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[(5-
cyclopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3 - 537 (M+l).
yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-
2,6-dicarboxylate
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, 6R)-2- S
XN
V(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[(5-
isopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3 - 539 (M+l)
yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-
2,6-dicarboxylate2
l
1 The base used in the reaction is a2C0 .
Heat the reaction via microwave.
Preparation 13
Ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4- [[5-(trifluoromethyl)- 1Hl,
2,4-triazol-3-yl]sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Purge with nitrogen a solution of ditert-butyl (1R, 2S,4R,5R, R)-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)-
4-(2 H-triazol-4-ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
( 11.8 mg, 20.77 mmol) and H-mercapto -(trifluoromethyl)-4H-l,2,4-triazole, sodium
salt (7.7 g, 38.5 mmol) in dimethylformamide (100 mL) and stir at 70°C overnight. Cool
to room temperature, dilute with water and extract with ethyl acetate. Wash the organic
layer with water, brine, dry over magnesium sulfate and concentrate to dryness. Purify by
flash column chromatography eluting with isohexane: ethyl acetate (95:5 to 60:40) to
yield the title compound (10.9 g, 93.5%). MS (m/z): 587 (M+23).
The following compounds in Table 2 are prepared essentially following method of
preparation 13.
Table 2
-2,6-dicarboxylate
Heat the reaction via microwave.
Preparation 18
Diethyl ( R,25',^5,,5R, R)-2-amino-4-(l H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride
H
HCI
Charge a round bottom flask with ditert-b y ( R,25',^5,,5R, R)-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)-
4-(4 H-l,2,4-triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-
dicarboxylate (3.7 g, 7.45 mmol) and ethanol (50 mL). Add slowly thionyl chloride (2.71
mL, 37.25 mmol) (exothermic reaction to 45°C) and stir the mixture at 80 °C overnight.
Remove the solvent under vacuum to give the title compound as a white solid (2.8 g,
99%). MS (m/z): 341 (M+l).
The following compounds in Table 3 are prepared essentially following the
method of preparation 18.
Table 3
Physical
Prep
Chemical name Structure data
No.
(MS(m/z)
Preparation 21
Diethyl(7R,25, 4S, 5R, R)-2-[[-2-(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)acetyl]amino]-4-(4 H-1,2,4-
triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
To diethyl ( R,25,455 R, R)-2-amino-4-(4H-l,2,4-triazol-3-
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride (0.869 g, 2.31 mmol)
add tetrahydrofuran ( 11.5 mL) and cool the mixture to 0-5°C with an ice water bath. Add
2-chloro-4,6-dimethoxy-l,3,5-triazine (404.9 mg, 2.31 mmol) and (2S)-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)
acetic acid (0.404 g, 2.3 1 mmol). Slowly add N -methylmorpholine
(0.55 mL, 5.07 mmol) and stir for 2 hours. Filter the mixture and wash the white solid
with tetrahydrofuran. Discard the solid and concentrate the solution to dryness. Purify by
OASIS® HLB cartridge (load in DMSO and elute with ammonium bicarbonate buffer
solution pH=9 / acetonitrile gradient). Desired compound elute with 3:1 (ammonium
bicarbonate /acetonitrile). Remove the solvent. Dissolve the residue in dichloromethane
and wash with water. Discard the aqueous phase. Dry over magnesium sulfate, filter and
concentrate to dryness to yield the title compound as a white solid (440 mg, 38%). MS
(m/z): 498 (M+l), 520 (M+23).
Preparation 22
Diethyl (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-((S)-2-/er/-butoxycarbonylamino-propionylamino)-4-(4 H-
[ 1,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3 .1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Combine diethyl ( R,2 5R, R)-2-amino-4-(4 H-l,2,4-triazol-3-
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride (354 mg, 0. 894 mmol),
(25)-2-(/er/-butoxycarbonylamino)propanoic acid (257 mg, 1.34 mmol), 4-
dimethylaminopyridine (10.92 mg, 89 mihoΐ), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate (219 mg,
1.41 mmol) and 1-(3 -dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (208 mg,
1.34 mmol) in dichloromethane (9 mL) and add triethylamine (373 m , 2.68 mmol). Stir
the mixture at room temperature overnight under a nitrogen atmosphere. Wash with 10%
citric acid solution, saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and brine. Discard the
aqueous layers, filter the organic layer through a diatomaceous earth cartridge and
remove the solvent under vacuum. Purify by flash chromatography eluting with
dichloromethane: methanol (1-15%) to yield the title compound (412.5mg, 90.2%). MS
(m/z): 552 (M+l), 534 (M+23).
The following compounds in Table 4 are prepared essentially following method of
Preparation 22.
Table 4
Preparation 25
Diethyl ( R,25',^R,5R, R)-2-[2-((S)-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-propionylamino]-4-(5-
trifluoromethyl-lH-[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Combine diethyl (lR, 2S, 4R, 5R, R>2-amino-4-(5-trifluoromethyl- 1H-
[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride
(657mg, 1.48mmol), o-(7-azabenzotriazol-l-yl)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium
hexafluorophosphate (730 mg, 1.92mmol) and (2S)-2-(tertbutoxycarbonylamino)
propanoic acid (363mg, 1.92mmol) in anhydrous
dimethylformamide (12 mL) at room temperature , add diisopropylethylamine (3.0 mL,
17.20mmol) and stir the mixture at room temperature overnight under a nitrogen
atmosphere. Dilute the reaction mixture with ethyl acetate (60 mL) and wash with
saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (30 mL). Extract the aqueous phase with
ethyl acetate. Combine organic phases, wash with water (30 mL) and brine (30 mL). Dry
the organic phase over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filter and remove the solvent under
vacuum. Purify by silica gel chromatography ( 110 g silica column) eluting with
isohexane : ethyl acetate (95:5 to 10:90) to yield the title compound (321 mg, 38%). MS
(m/z): 602 (M+23).
The following compounds in Table 5 are prepared essentially following method of
preparation 25.
Table 5
Physical
Prep
Chemical name Structure data
No.
MS(m/z)
Physical
Prep
Chemical name Structure data
No.
MS(m/z)
dicarboxylate
Diethyl (1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, 6R)-2-[2-
((Sytert- N-N
butoxycarbonylamino)-4- H 572
methylsulfanyl-butyrylamino]- (M+l),
30
4-(2H-[ 1,2,3 ]triazol-4- HN 594
ylsulfanyl)- (M+23)
bicyclo[3 .1.0]hexane-2,6-
dicarboxylate
Preparation 31
Diethyl ( R,25,,^5,,5R, R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-(l H-l,2,4-triazol-3-
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
To a suspension of diethyl ( R,25,,^5,,5R, R)-2-amino-4-(l H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-
ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride (2.04 g, 5.41 mmol) in
1,4-dioxane (27.07 mL, 317.02 mmol) add 2-/ert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(2 H-[ 1,2,3]triazol-4-ylsulfanyl)-
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (194 mg, 0.39 mmol) in dichloromethane (30
mL). Stir overnight at 50 °C. Add more zinc dibromide (0.44 g, 1.95 mmol) and
continue to stir at 50 °C until starting material is completely consumed. Evaporate
solvent and stir residue in 2M aqueous hydrochloric acid (5mL) at 50 °C until only
desired product is present. Cool reaction mixture and purify the residue by cationexchange
chromatography (DOWEX® 50WX8-100). Allow the compound to flow
through the column at a drip rate of about 1 drop every 1-2 seconds. After the initial
loading volume has dropped to the resin surface, rinse with water (5 to 10 mL) and repeat
3 times. Monitor the pH of the effluent and continue rinsing with water until application
complete (pH cycle observed: effluent from the column initially at pH=7 then drop to
pH=l and return back to pH=7). Wash the column with at least one column volume each
of water, water: tetrahydrofuran ( 1:1) then water. Displace the product from the resin
with 10% pyridine: water. Continue to elute with 10% pyridine: water until no additional
product is detected. Concentrate the fractions containing the product to obtain a colorless
solid. Dry the solid. Dissolve in 2M hydrochloric acid and evaporate to provide the title
compound as a white solid (94 mg, 75%). MS (m/z): 285 (M+l).
The following compounds in Table 8 are prepared essentially following method of
Example 1.
Table 8
4 Final compounds are isolated directly from cation-exchange chromatography and
concentrated to dryness.
Example 8
(1R,2S,4R,5R, R)-2-Amino-4-(5-difluoromethyl-l H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid hydrochloride
Add ditert-b y ( R,25',^R,5R, R)-2-(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[[5-
(difluoromethyl)-4H-l,2,4-triazol-3-yl]sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
(0.356 g, 651.3 mihoΐ) in 1,4-dioxane (1.63 mL) to a solution of hydrogen chloride (4M
in dioxane). Heat the mixture to 50°C with stirring. A solid precipitate out of solution
soon after heating commenced. Cool the reaction mixture and concentrate under reduced
pressure. Purify the residue by silica gel chromatography (40 g S1O2) eluting with 0-20%
hydrochloric acid (0.01 M aqueous) in acetonitrile gradient over 60 minutes at 40
mL/minute flow rate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to provide the crude material
as oil. Re-purify using same conditions. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the
title compound as a white solid (0.196 g, 93%). MS (m/z): 335 (M+1).
The following compound in Table 9 is prepared essentially following method of
Example 8.
Table 9
Example 10
(1R,2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-amino-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3 -ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3 .1.0]hexane-2,6-
dicarboxylic acid
Add 4M hydrogen chloride in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) to a solution of d -butyl
1R,2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(l H-[ 1,2,4]triazol-3 -ylsulfanyl)-
bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (1.64 g, 3.30 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) and
shake mixture at 50 °C overnight. Concentrate to dryness. Purify by cationic ion
exchange (DOWEX® Marathon C, Na+ Form strongly acidic). Dissolve the residue in a
minimum amount of water to solubilize the material and load onto the resin. Wash the
resin successively with 2 column volume of water, then 2 column volume of water:
tetrahydrofuran (1:1) and 2 column volumes of water. Elute the desired product with 2
column volumes of 10% pyridine in water to give the title compound as a white solid.
MS (m/z): 285 (M+1). IH NMR (300 MHz, D20): 4,25 (d, J= 7,3 Hz, IH), 2,53-2,38 (m,
3H), 2,23 (dd, J= 8,1, 16,1 Hz, IH), 1,95 (t, J= 3,3 Hz, IH).
The following compounds in Table 10 are prepared essentially following method
of Example 10.
Table 10
Add 2 M HCI to the resulting solution and concentrate under reduced pressure.
Example 13
(1R,2S, 4R, 5R, R)-2-amino-4-[(5-methyl-4 H-1,2,4-triazol-3-
yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid
Dissolve ditert-butyl (1R,2S, 4R, 5R, R)-2-(ter?-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-[(5-
methyl-4H- l,2,4-triazol-3-yl)sulfanyl]bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (85 mg,
0.166 mmol) acetic acid ( 1 mL) and water ( 1 mL). Heat the mixture to 160 °C at
approximately 40 Watts in a BIOTAGE® Initiator microwave for 6 minutes. Concentrate
reaction mixture under reduced pressure. Add water and remove under reduced pressure
twice to remove excess acetic acid to give the title compound as a white solid (40 mg,
88.6%). MS (m/z): 299 (M+1).
The following compounds in Table 11 are prepared essentially following method
of Example 13.
Table 11
Example 16
(1R, 2S, 4R, 5R, 6R)-2-[ [(2S)-2-Aminopropanoyl]amino-4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-
lH-l,2,4-triazol-3-yl]thio] bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid hydrochloride
Treat R,25,,^R ,5R, Rj-2-[2-((5)-tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-propionylamino]-4-
(5-trifluoromethyl-l H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic
acid (340mg, 0.65mmol) with aqueous hydrochloric acid (2M, 7 mL) and stir at room
temperature overnight. Concentrate the reaction mixture to dryness and purify the residue
by cation-exchange chromatography (DOWEX® 50WX8-100). Dissolve the compound
in water and adjust to pH=2. Allow the compound to flow through the column at a drip
rate of about 1 drop every 1-2 seconds. After the initial loading volume has dropped to
the resin surface, rinse with water (5 to 10 mL) and repeat 3 times. Monitor the pH of the
effluent and continue rinsing with water until application complete (pH cycle observed:
effluent from the column initially at pH=7 then drop to pH=l and return back to pH=7).
Wash the column with at least one column volume each of water, water: tetrahydrofuran
( 1:1) then water. Displace the product from the resin with 10% pyridine: water.
Continue to elute with 10% pyridine: water until no additional product is eluted.
Concentrate the fractions containing the product to obtain a colorless solid (204 mg).
Dissolve the solid in water add 2M hydrochloric acid (1.5eq) and freeze-dry the solution
for 48 hours to give the title compound as a white solid (225 mg, 75.4%). MS (m/z): 424
(M+l).
The following compounds in Table 12 are prepared essentially following method
of Example 16.
Table 12
Example 22
( R,25,,^5,,5R, R)-2-[(-2-Aminoacetyl)amino]-4-(4H-l,2,4-triazol-3-
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid hydrochloride
Dissolve (1R,2S, 4S,5R, R)-2-[[-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)acetyl]amino]-4-
(4H-l,2,4-triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (220 mg, 0.49
mmol) in a saturated solution of hydrogen chloride gas in ethyl acetate (7 mL) and stir at
room temperature for 2 hours. Remove the solvent to provide the title compound as a
white solid (180 mg, 98%). MS (m/z): 342 (M+1).
The following compounds in Table 13 are prepared essentially following method
of example 22.
Table 13
Example 26
Dibenzyl ( lR,25,4R,5R,6R)-2-amino-4-(l H-[l,2,3]triazol-4-ylsulfanyl)-
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride
Add trifluoroacetic acid (3 mL, 40 mmol) to a solution of (1R,2S,4R,5R, (¾?)-2-
tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(l H-[l,2,3]triazol-4-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-
dicarboxylic acid dibenzyl ester (0.4 g, 0.71 mmol) in dichloromethane (12 mL) and stir
at room temperature for 4.5 h. Concentrate the reaction mixture under reduced pressure,
dissolve in acetonitrile (10 mL) and load onto a 10 g SCX-2 cartridge (preconditioned
with acetonitrile). Wash the cartridge with acetonitrile (20 mL) then elute with a solution
of 90:10 v/v acetonitrile/ammonium hydroxide (5x20 mL fractions). Evaporate fractions
containing product and purify by silica gel chromatography (12 g silica column) eluting
with 90: 10: 1 dichloromethane/methanol/ammonium hydroxide to obtain the product
freebase as a colorless gum. Dissolve the gum in dichloromethane (10 mL), add
hydrochloric acid (0.25 mL of a 2M solution in diethyl ether; 0.5 mmol), and evaporate
solvent to obtain the title compound as a white solid (0.2 g, 56.3%). MS (m/z) 465
(M+l).
Example 27
Dibenzyl (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-amino-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
In a sealed tube, add p-toluensulfonic acid (5 eq) to a stirred solution of
ditert-butyl (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-(/er/-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3 -
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (l.OOg, 2.01 mmol) in benzyl alcohol
(0.15 M). Heat the reaction mixture with stirring at 80 °C for 4 days. Cool the reaction
mixture to room temperature. Pre-purify by SCX-2 column (10 g). Load the reaction
mixture onto a column pre-conditioned with methanol, wash with methanol (x3) to
remove the excess of the corresponding benzylic alcohol, and elute with 2N ammonia
solution in methanol. Evaporate the solvent under reduced pressure to give a oil. The
resulting oil is dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with a saturated solution of sodium
carbonate to remove the monoester formed in the reaction. The organic layer is dried and
concentrated to give an oil. Purify the oil by flash chromatography eluting with
dichlorometane/2N ammonium: methanol (98:2) to give the titled compound as a solid.
(270 mg, 28%) MS (m/z): 465 (M+1)
The following compound in Table 14 is prepared essentially following method of
Example 27.
Table 14
Example 29
5/s[[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl] ( R,25,,^5,,5R, R)-2-amino-4-(l H -l,2,4-triazol-3-
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3 .1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride
In a sealed tube, add p-toluensulfonic acid (3 eq) to a stirred solution oiditertbutyl
(1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3 -
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (500mg, 1.01 mmol) in 2-
trifluoromethylbenzylalcohol (30 eq). Heat the reaction mixture with stirring at 88 °C for
4 hours. Cool the reaction mixture to room temperature. Load the reaction mixture onto
a SCX-2 column (10 g) pre-conditioned with methanol, wash with methanol (x3) to
remove the excess of the corresponding benzylic alcohol then elute with 2N ammonia
solution in methanol. Evaporate the solvent under reduced pressure to give an oil. The
oil is treated with ethyl acetate resulting in a solid precipitate, which is the monoester.
The solid is filtered and the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure to give an oil.
Purify the oil by flash chromatography eluting with dichloromethane: methanol (95:5) to
give the title compound as an oil (40 mg, 6%)
Dissolve [[2 -(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] methyl] (1R,2S, S,5R, 6R)-2-amino-4-
(lH-l,2,4-triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (0.07 mmol), in a
saturated solution of hydrogen chloride gas in ethyl acetate ( 1 mL). Stir the mixture (30
min) at room temperature. Remove solvent under reduced pressure and dry the resulting
solid in a vacuum oven at 50°C overnight. (30 mg, 65%) MS (m/z): 601 (M+l)
The following compounds in Table 15 are prepared essentially following method
of example 29.
Table 15
Physica
Ex 1data
Chemical name Structure
No MS
(m/z)
Physica
Ex 1data
Chemical name Structure
No MS
(m/z)
hydrochloride
Bis[(4-
fluorophenyl)methyl]
(1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-amino- H
501
34 4-(l H-l,2,4-triazol-3-
V (M+1)
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3. 1.0]he
xane-2,6-dicarboxylate
hydrochloride
Example 35
5/s[(4-methoxybenzyl)(7 R,2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-amino-4-( 1H-[1,2,4]triazol-3 -
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Dissolve bis-(4-methoxy-benzyl)(7 R,2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-
(lH-[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (102 mg, 163.3
mmol) in a saturated solution of hydrogen chloride gas in ethyl acetate (0.5 mL) and stir at
room temperature for 10 min. Remove the solvent. Load the reaction mixture onto an
SCX column pre-conditioned with acetonitrile, wash with acetonitrile (x2) then elute with
2N ammonia solution in methanol : acetonitrile (2 column volumes then evaporate the
solvent under reduced pressure. Purify the crude residue via silica gel chromatography (4
g), eluting with a gradient of dichloromethane/ 6% 2N ammonia solution in methanol to
provide the title compound (30 mg, 37%). MS (m/z): 525 (M+1).
Example 36
Bis [3 -(trifluoromethyl)benzyl] (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-amino-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3 -
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride
( R,25,,^5',5R, R)-2-tert-Butoxycarbonylamino-4-(l H-[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-
bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid bis-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl) ester (200
mg, 285 mihoΐ) is dissolved in a saturated solution of hydrogen chloride gas in ethyl
acetate (2 mL) and stir at room temperature . After 2h, conversion to the desired product
is total. Therefore solvent is removed in vaquo. Solid washed with Ethyl Acetate and
dried at 50°C in vaquo overnight to give title , 0.17g ( 94%) , %). MS (m/z): 601 (M+1).
Example 37
Bis-(2,2-Dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl) (lR,2S,4S,5R,6R)-2- amino-4-(l H-
[l,2,4]triazol-3-yls ulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate
Dissolve bis(2,2-dimethylpropanoyloxymethyl) (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-( r -
butoxycarbonylamino)-4-(l H-l,2,4-triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-
dicarboxylate (98 mg, 156 mihoΐ) in a saturated solution of hydrogen chloride gas in ethyl
acetate (2 mL) and stir at room temperature for 2 hours. Remove the solvent. A white
solid obtained for desired compound (68 mg, 79%>). MS (m/z): 399 (M+1).
Example 38
4-Benzyl-6-ethyl(7 R,2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-amino-4-( 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3 -
ylsulfanyl)bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrochloride
H
Dissolve 2-benzyl-6-ethyl (1R, 2S, 4S, 5R, R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-( 1H-
[l,2,4]triazol-3-ylsulfanyl)-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (78 mg, 155.20 mmol)
in a saturated solution of hydrogen chloride gas in ethyl acetate (2 mL) and stir at room
temperature for 2 hours. Remove the solvent. The title compound is obtained as a white
solid (60 mg, 91%). MS (m/z): 403 (M+l).
The mGlu receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that modulate neuronal
excitability. Although dysregulated glutamate neurotransmission has been linked to
schizophrenia, all commonly prescribed antipsychotics act on dopamine receptors.
Various studies support Group II mGlu receptor (which includes mGlu2, mGlu3, or both)
activation for the treatment of schizophrenia. In particular, recent data demonstrate that a
mGlu 2/3 receptor agonist has antipsychotic properties and may provide a new alternative
for the treatment of schizophrenia (Patil et a , Nature Medicine (2007) 13(3), 1102-
1107). Preclinical studies using gene deletion mice suggest that the antipsychotic-like
activity of mGlu2/3 agonists are predominantly mGlu2 receptor mediated. Additional
preclinical efficacy models indicate anxiolytic, antidepressant, and neuroprotective
properties of mGlu2/3 receptor agonists. Therefore, mGlu2 agonists may be useful in the
treatment of psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression,
and generalized anxiety disorder.
Human mGlu2 Agonist FLIPR® Assay
AV-12 cell lines, derived from Syrian Hamster fibroblasts and stably expressing
the human mGlu2 receptor and co-transfected with the rat glutamate transporter EAAT 1
(Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1) and the Gal5 subunit, are used for these studies.
The expression of Gal 5 allows Gi-coupled receptors to signal through the phospholipase
C pathway, resulting in the ability to measure receptor activation by a fluorometric
calcium response assay. The cell lines are maintained by culturing in Dulbecco's
Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) with high glucose and pyridoxine hydrochloride
supplemented with 5% dialyzed fetal bovine serum, 1mM sodium pyruvate , 10 mM
HEPES [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-l-piperazineethanesulfonic acid], 1mM of L-glutamine, and
5 mg/mL blasticidin (all media are purchased from Invitrogen). Confluent cultures are
passaged biweekly using an enzyme-free dissociation solution (Chemicon S-004-B).
Cells are harvested 24 hours prior to assay and dispensed using a Matrix Well-Mate cell
seeder at 85,000 (mGlu2) or 115,000 (mGlu3) cells per well into 96-well, black-walled,
poly-D-lysine-coated plates (BD BioCoat #354640) in medium containing only 250
(mGlu2) or 125 (mGlu3) mM L-glutamine (freshly added).
Intracellular calcium levels are monitored before and after the addition of
compounds using a Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR®, Molecular Devices).
The assay buffer is comprised of Hank's Buffered Salt Solution (HBSS; Sigma)
supplemented with 20 mM HEPES. The medium is removed and the cells are incubated
with 8 mM Fluo-3AM (Molecular Probes, F-1241; 50 mΐ per well) in assay buffer for 90
minutes at 25 C. The dye solution is removed and replaced with fresh assay buffer (50
m per well). A single-addition FLIPR® assay generating an 11-point concentration
response curve (3X dilutions starting at 10 mM) for the agonist glutamate (Fisher A125-
100) is conducted prior to each experiment to confirm the typical EC50 response. Results
are analyzed using PRISM® v4.03 (GraphPad Software). Exemplified compounds of the
present invention are tested in a single-addition FLIPR® assay using a 10-point
concentration response profile using 3X dilutions starting at a final concentration of 25
mM. Exemplified compounds of the present invention are solubilized as lOmM stocks in
0. IN NaOH and stored at -20C. They are diluted through a three-fold dilution series into
assay buffer. After taking an initial 5-sec fluorescent read on the FLIPR® instrument, a
compound of the present invention is added to the cell plate (50 mΐ per well). Data are
collected every second for the first 30 seconds and then every 3 seconds for a total of 90
seconds in order to detect agonist activity. The maximal response is defined as that
induced by ECmax (100 mM glutamate). The compound effect is measured as maximal
minus minimal peak heights in relative fluorescent units (RFUs) corrected for basal
fluorescence measured in the absence of glutamate. Determinations are carried out using
single plates. Agonist effects are quantified as percent stimulation induced by compound
alone relative to the maximal glutamate response. All data are calculated as relative EC50
values using a four-parameter logistic curve fitting program (ACTIVITY BASE®
V5 .3.1.22).
The compounds exemplified herein were tested essentially as described above and
exhibited a relative EC 0 value in the hMGLUR2 FLIPR® Assay of lower than 0.5 mM.
The following exemplified compounds in Table 16 were tested essentially
as described above and exhibited the following activity:
Table 16
These data summarize the activity of the compounds of Table 16 for functional
agonist activity in the hmGlu2 FLIPR® assay and demonstrate that the compounds are
mGlu2 agonists.
Reversal of Phencyclidine (PCP)-Induced Hyperlocomotor Activity in Rats
Administration of NMDA receptor antagonists, such as ketamine or phencyclidine
(PCP), produces psychotomimetic-like effects in humans that are similar to those
symptoms observed in patients with schizophrenia. The ability of agents to reverse the
locomotor-stimulating effects of NMDA antagonists are often used as an animal model of
psychosis, demonstrating good predictive validity for detecting clinical efficacy of
medications for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Motor activity is monitored by placing individual male, Sprague-Dawley (Harlan,
Indianapolis, IN) rats in transparent, plastic shoe-box cages of the dimensions 45 x 25 x
20cm, with 1 cm depth of wood chips as bedding, and a metal grill on top of the cage.
Motor monitors (Kinder Scientific) consist of a rectangular rack of 12 photobeams
arranged in an 8 x 4 formation, (or a high density grouping of 22 in a 15x7 pattern) at a
height of 5 cm, with a second rack (for measuring rearing behaviors) at a height of 15 cm.
The shoe box cage is placed inside of these racks, with the racks on a 3 foot high tabletop
in an isolated room. A compound of the present invention is dosed (intraperitoneal route
(i.p.), non-prodrug) within a range of 0.3 - 10 mg/kg, 30 minutes prior to a 5 mg/kg
challenge dose of phencyclidine (PCP). A compound of the present invention is dosed
(oral route, prodrug) within a range of 0.3 - 30 mg/kg, in overnight fasted rats, 4 hours
prior to a 5 mg/kg challenge dose of PCP. On the test day, rats are placed in the test cage
and allowed to acclimate for 30 minutes prior to PCP challenge; rats are monitored for an
additional 60 minutes following PCP administration.
Data analysis and ED 0 calculations are conducted using GraphPad PRISM® (San
Diego, CA. USA). Power analyses have determined that 8-10 rats per group are needed
to have appropriate statistical power for detecting treatment differences (power = 0.8). A
one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a post-hoc Dunnett's multiple comparison
test is conducted on the total 60 minute locomotor activity. ED 0 calculations are
performed using non-linear regression curve fitting on percent reversal transformed data
for each dose.
The compound of Example 10 and its corresponding prodrug (Example 25) were
measured in this assay, run substantially as above, resulted in ED 0 values of 0.9 mg/kg
(i.p. administration) and 6.4 mg/kg (oral administration), respectively. These results
demonstrate that the active parent and its prodrug form exhibit robust efficacy in this
pharmacological model predictive of efficacy in patients suffering from schizophrenia
and bipolar disorder.
Reversal of Phencyclidine (PCP)-Induced Hyperlocomotor Activity in Mice
This assay for Reversal of Phencyclidine (PCP)-Induced Hyperlocomotor Activity
in Mice is run substantially as the Reversal of Phencyclidine (PCP)-Induced
Hyperlocomotor Activity in Rats assay provided above, using mice instead of rats and
with the changes noted below.
Motor activity is monitored by placing individual male, ICR (CD-I), (Harlan,
Indianapolis, GN ) mice in transparent, plastic shoe-box cages of the dimensions 45 x 25 x
20cm, with 0.5 cm depth of wood chips as bedding, and plastic lid on top of the cage.
Motor monitors (Kinder Scientific) consist of a rectangular rack of 12 photobeams
arranged in an 8 x 4 formation, (or a high density grouping of 22 in a 15x7 pattern) at a
height of 2.5 cm. The shoe box cage is placed inside of these racks, with the racks on a 3
foot high tabletop in an isolated room. A compound of the present invention is dosed
(intraperitoneal route, non-prodrug) usually within a range of 0.3 - 30 mg/kg; though
higher doses may be used, 30 minutes prior to a 7.5 mg/kg challenge dose of
phencyclidine (PCP). On the test day, mice are placed in the test cage and allowed to
acclimate for 45 minutes prior to PCP challenge; mice are monitored for an additional 60
minutes following PCP administration.
Power analyses have determined that 7-8 mice per group are needed to have
appropriate statistical power for detecting treatment differences (power = 0.8).
Dose response experiments were conducted on Examples 1, 2, 3, and 11 following
i.p. administration. The ED 0 values were as follows: Example 1 = 18.4 mg/kg; Example
2 = 14.4 and 14.3 (2 independent experiments); Example 3 = 17.1 mg/kg; Example 1 1 =
1.2 mg/kg. Finally, Example 8 reversed PCP-induced locomotor activity by 52%
following a single dose of 10 mg/kg. These results demonstrate that exemplified
compounds within the scope of the present invention are useful medications for
schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Attenuation of Stress-Induced Hyperthermia in Rats
Hyperthermia, a rise in core body temperature, is a general phenomenon that has
been reliably demonstrated in many mammals, including humans, in response to stress.
In many anxiety disorders, hyperthermia occurs as part of the pathology and is considered
a symptom of the disease. Compounds which attenuate stress-induced hyperthermia in
animals are believed to be useful in treating anxiety disorders in humans. Generalized
anxiety disorder is an example of such disorders that may be treated with such
compounds. The conventional and minimally-invasive method for analyzing stressinduced
hyperthermia is by measuring body temperature, and stress-induced increases in
body temperature, via rectal thermometer. Male Fischer F-344 rats (Harlan, Indianapolis,
IN, USA) weighing between 275 - 350 g are tested. All animals are individually -housed
with food and automated water available ad libitum, and maintained on a 12 h light/dark
cycle (lights on at 06:00). Animals are fasted for approximately 12-18 hours before the
experiment, which is conducted during the light phase. Rats are dosed one hour prior to
the experiment by intraperitoneal (i.p.) route of administration in a dose volume of 1
mL/kg. The vehicle used was water with enough NaOH added to achieve a pH between 5-
7. The mGluR5 antagonist MTEP (3-[(2-methyl-l,3-thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl]pyridine) and
mGlu2/3 agonist LY3 17206 were used as quality controls, given that they produced
reliable efficacy in this model Immediately following dosing, rats are returned to their
home cage, and the experimenter turns off the lights and leaves the room. The dosing
room is darkened for the remainder of the 1- hr pretreatment period.
After the pretreatment period, rats are taken individually to a brightly lit adjacent
room where baseline body temperatures are determined by insertion of a rectal probe
lubricated with mineral oil. Body temperature is assessed using a PHYSITEMP BAT-
12® Microprobe Thermometer with a PHYSITEMP RET-2® rat rectal probe (Physitemp
Instruments Inc., Clifton, NJ, USA). The probe is inserted approximately 2 cm into the
rectum, to measure the core body temperature (this is the baseline body temperature, Tl,
in degrees Celsius). Ten minutes later a second body temperature measurement is
recorded (T2). The difference in body temperature (T2 - Tl) is defined as the stressinduced
hyperthermic response. The dose at which a compound of the present invention
produces a 35% reduction in stress-induced hyperthermic response, relative to the vehicle
response, is defined as the T dose.
The compound of Example 10 was measured in this assay run substantially as
above to have a T35 of 1.7 mg/kg and a maximal reduction of stress-induced hyperthermia
of 75% at 10 mg/kg. In comparison, MTEP (3 mg/kg) and LY3 17206 (20 mg/kg)
reduced stress-induced hyperthermia by 53% and 32%, respectively. These results
demonstrate that mGlu2 agonist activity produces an anxiolytic-like effect in this rat
model of stress-induced anxiety and are consistent with reported anxiolytic activity of
mGlu2/3 agonists in preclinical (Imre (2007) CNS Drug Rev. 13: 444-464) and clinical
(Dunayevich et al, (2008) Neuropsychopharm. 33: 1603-1610) studies. These results
suggest potential clinical utility of mGlu2 agonism for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Forced swim test in rodents
The rodent forced swim test assay is well characterized and displays good
predictive validity for detecting antidepressant-like activity of current medications for
major depressive disorder. In this assay, mechanisms with purported antidepressant-like
activity decrease immobility in a brief inescapable forced swim episode.
The forced-swim test was conducted in mice (male, NIH-Swiss mice, 20-25g,
Harlan Sprague-Dawley, Indianapolis, IN). Mice are placed in clear plastic cylinders
(diameter 10 cm; height: 25 cm) filled to 6 cm with 22-25 °C water for six min. The
duration of immobility is recorded during the last 4 min of a six-minute trial. The
compounds of Examples 2, 3, 8, 11, and 12 are tested following intraperitoneal dosing, 60
min prior to testing. Imipramine is used as a positive control for these studies.
Compounds are formulated in a water vehicle, with minimal NaOH added. The amount
of time spent immobile (defined as movements only necessary to keep the subject's head
above water) is the dependent measure and recorded by an observer blinded to the drug
treatment of the subjects. Data are analyzed by post-hoc Dunnett's test with alpha level
set at 0.05. An ED o value (60% of the amount of immobility relative to vehicle controls)
is calculated to estimate potency of the test compounds.
Example 2 was tested in two independent experiments and produced ED ovalues
of 9.8 and 4.2 mg/kg. Example 3 was more potent and the ED ovalue was estimated to be
less than the lowest dose tested of 3 mg/kg. The ED ofor Example 8 was 7.95 mg/kg.
Example 11 had an ED oof 0.88 mg/kg; however, efficacy was lost in a second study in
which higher doses (3 - 30 mg/kg) were evaluated. Example 12 produced and ED oof
3.31 mg/kg. These results demonstrate that compounds within the scope of the present
invention are potentially useful medications for depression.
In Vitro PepTl GlySar Inhibition Screen and IC50 Determination
PepTl assays are established to examine the ability of the amino acid prodrug
compounds to interact with the intestinal absorption transporter PepTl .
HeLa cells, derived from human cancer cells , (American Type Culture
Collection) are grown in Hyclone Medium (Invitrogen, Cat# SH30243) containing 10%
fetal bovine serum (FBS), 0.1 mM non essential amino acids (NEAA), and 100 units/mL
penicillin with 100 mg/mL streptomycin at 37°C in a 5% CO2 humidified atmosphere.
The cell line is used for up to 40 passages and then discarded. Frozen cells in 1mL vials
are thawed in water bath for 1-2 minutes and added to 5 mL of cell medium at 37°C.
Each of the T-flasks is provided with 8.5 mL of the fresh medium and 1.5 mL of the cell
stock. Cells are passaged twice during a week. This is achieved by rinsing the flasks
with 10 mL of phosphate buffered saline-ethylene diaminetetra acetic acid (PBS-EDTA),
adding 2 mL of trypsin for 2-5 minutes, to detach the cells, and adding 8 mL of fresh
medium to inhibit further activity of trypsin. Each new flask receives a combination of
8.5 n L of fresh medium and 1.5 mL of cell stock, in order to obtain 1:6 cell dilution.
Cells are incubated at 37°C, until ready for the uptake study.
Cells that are 70-80% confluent in the T-flasks are plated 1 day prior to the
transfection procedure. The flask with the cell stock is treated with PBS-EDTA and
trypsin to detach the cells, and transfection medium is used from this point. Transfection
medium consists of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) + NEAA. To each
well, 0.5 mL of the cell mixture is added (1.3xl0 5 is the desired cell concentration) and
the cells are incubated at 37°C overnight. Twenty four hours before the assay, cells are
transfected with PEPT1. Transfection mixture is prepared by mixing 600 m of serum
free transfection medium, 18 of FUGENE6® (Roche Diagnostics), and 11 g of the
PepT 1 DNA. The transfection reagent-DNA complex is incubated for 20 minutes and 24
m of the reagent-DNA complex is added to each well.
Inhibition of PEPT 1-mediated [glycyl-l-2- 14C]Glyclysarcosine (GlySar) uptake
activity is measured in the cells cultured in the 24-well plates 24-hours post transfection
as previously published (Zhang et al. 2004. J . Pharm. Exper Ther. 310:437-445). To
measure the ability of a compound of the present invention to inhibit the uptake of
[14C]Gly-Sar, prodrug compounds are incubated with 80 to 90% confluent PepTl
transiently transfected HeLa cells at 5 mM in pH 6.0 uptake medium in the presence of 5
mM [14C]Gly-Sar (Moravek Biochemicals) and 20 mM cold Gly-Sar. Uptake media
consists of 140 mM NaCl, 5.4 mM KC1, 1.8 mM CaCl2, 0.8 mM MgS0 4, 5 mM Glucose,
25 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer (TRIS). The solution is then brought to
pH 6.0 using 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid. The incubation volume is 500 mΐ
and is performed at room temperature for 3 minutes. To stop the uptake at the conclusion
of the incubation time, the uptake media is aspirated off of the cell monolayer and 500 m
of ice cold PBS added to the well. The cells are washed 3 times with 500 mΐ of room
temperature PBS without Ca+2 and Mg+2. The cells are then lysed with 300 mΐ of 1%
TRITON® I00 H2O solution. A 200 m aliquot is removed and radioactivity is
determined by liquid scintillation counting to measure the [14C]Gly-Sar present in each of
the incubation wells. A no inhibitor control is established and the percent inhibition of
each prodrug is calculated with respect to this control. A negative control (Glycine) and
two positive controls (cefadroxil and cefalexin) are performed in parallel with each
experiment to demonstrate viability of the assay system. Prodrug compounds with
GlySar uptake inhibition equal or better than cephalexin are considered acceptable. Mean
values ± standard deviation are 10.1±9.5% (n=19) for Glycine, 53.2 ± 13.2 % (n=19) for
Cefadroxil, and 37.5±14.7% (n=18) for Cephalexin.
For the PepT IC50 assay, prodrug compounds are incubated at a range of
concentrations (0.0625 to 25 mM) in the presence of 5 mM [14C]Gly-Sar and 20 mM cold
Gly-Sar. The incubation and sampling procedures are exactly the same as the PepTl
screen described above. [14C]Gly-Sar uptake data are evaluated for each of the prodrug
compound concentrations and IC50 values are calculated.
The following compounds were tested essentially as described above and
exhibited the following activity:
Table 17
These results demonstrate that the compounds of Table 17 are capable of being
orally absorbed via the PepTl transporter and are as good as or better than cefadroxil and
cephalexin (Zhang et al, 2004. JPET 310:437-445), which is predictive of human oral
absorption via the PepT 1 transporter.
In Vitro Intestinal Prodrug Hydrolysis Assay
Frozen human duodenum intestinal homogenates (1:2 tissue:buffer ratio using 100
mM Tris Phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) are obtained from Celsius In Vitro Technologies
(Baltimore, MD) that were both phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride (PMSF) and EDTA free.
Each lot of human duodenum is obtained from a single donor and the intestine is
scraped and the sections are frozen separate. All original tissue collections are performed
at 4°C and immediately frozen at -70°C. Human intestinal homogenates are thawed and
diluted to a final protein concentration of 0.5 mg/mL in 100 mM PBS buffer, pH 7.4
immediately prior to the incubations.
Incubations are conducted in 96-well plates and all prodrug compounds are run in
duplicate on each day. Stock prodrug compound solutions are prepared in water at a
concentration of 1mM. A 200 m aliquot of 0.5 mg/mL intestinal homogenate and 196
m of 100 mM PBS buffer are placed in a 96-well plate in a 37°C water bath. To ensure
hydrolysis is not due to chemical instability, prodrug compounds are also incubated with
PBS buffer alone without intestinal homogenate. Using a 96-well pipettor, 4 m of the 1
mM prodrug compound solution is transferred into the homogenate. Immediately after
addition of the prodrug compound (time zero) and after 1 hour incubation, 50 m samples
of the incubation mixture are removed using an automated disposable simultaneous 96
well pipettor and added directly to 200 m of methanol quench solution containing 100
ng/mL of Internal Standard. The samples are then centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 5 minutes
at 10 °C. The supernatant (200 m ) is transferred to a final 96 well PCR plate and sealed
for analysis by LC/MS/MS.
Concentrations of hydrolyzed compounds of the present invention in the
incubation mixtures are determined using LC/MS/MS detection on a Sciex API 4000™
quadrapole mass spectrometer with Analyst version 1.4.2, TURBOIONSPRAY®,
positive ionization, and Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM). A Waters ATLANTIS®
T3 (20 x 2.1 mm, 5 mM) HPLC column is used at ambient temperature with a flow rate of
1.0 mL/min and a mobile phase gradient from 0.1% mobile phase A to 99% mobile phase
A. Mobile phase A is 1000:5 water: heptafluorobuteric acid and mobile phase B is 1:1
methanohglacial acetic acid.
Concentrations of hydrolyzed compounds of the present invention in the intestinal
incubation mixtures are determined from standard curves prepared by replicate two-fold
dilution starting at 10 mM in 100 mM PBS pH 7.4 and subsequently quenched with
methanol-internal standard solution identical to the samples. Averages and standard
deviations are calculated using MICROSOFT® Office EXCEL® 2007. Amount of
hydrolysis is determined as a molar percentage of compound formed relative to prodrug
compound concentration added. Hydrolysis of the positive control, Internal Prodrug
Compound A to Internal Compound Drug A, run in every batch averaged 75.3% (n=20).
Final values are then normalized relative to the formation of Internal Compound Drug A.
The following compounds were tested essentially as described above and
exhibited the following activity:
Table 18
These results demonstrate that the compounds of Table 18 are capable of being
hydrolyzed in the human intestine.
In Vitro Human Liver S-9 Homogenate Hydrolysis Assay
Liver S9 fractions are obtained from Xenotech LLC (Lenexa, MO). The lot is
from a pool of two donors, one male and one female. The liver S9 fraction is prepared
and diluted using a homogenization buffer consisting of 50mM Tris, pH 7.4 at 4°C and
150mM potassium chloride without EDTA. Prodrug compounds are incubated in the
liver homogenate for 2 hours at 37°C, after which the concentration of compound is
determined by LC/MS/MS. Hydrolysis of Clopidogrel to Clopidogrel Carboxylic Acid is
utilized as an assay positive control.
Incubations are conducted in 96-well format and all prodrug compounds are run in
duplicate on each day. Stock prodrug compound solutions are prepared in water at a
concentration of 1 mM. Human liver S9 fraction is diluted to a final protein concentration
of 0.5mg/mL in lOOmM PBS buffer, pH 7.4.
A 200 m aliquot of 0.5mg/mL human liver S-9 homogenate and 196m of
lOOmM PBS buffer are placed in a 96-well plate in a 37°C water bath. Using a 96-well
pipettor, A of the 1mM prodrug solution is transferred into the homogenate. To ensure
hydrolysis is not due to chemical instability, prodrug compounds are also incubated with
PBS buffer alone without liver S-9. Immediately after addition of the prodrug compound
(time zero) and after 1 hour incubation, 50 m samples of the incubation mixture are
removed using an automated disposable simultaneous 96-well pipettor and added directly
to 200 mΐ of methanol quench solution containing 100 ng/mL of Internal Standard. The
samples are then centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 5 minutes at 10°C. The supernatant (200uL)
is transferred to a final 96 well PCR plate and sealed for analysis by LC/MS/MS.
LC/MS/MS quantification of compound formed during the incubation is
performed on a Sciex API 4000, Analyst version 1.4.2, TURBOIONSPRAY®, positive
ionization, and Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM). The HPLC column used is a
Waters ATLANTIS® T3 (20 x 2.1 mm, 5mih) at ambient temperature with a mobile
phase flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Mobile phase A is 1000:5 water: heptafluorobuteric acid
and mobile phase B is 1:1 methanol/ glacial acetic acid. A mobile phase gradient is
utilized starting mobile phase ratio A/B of 99.9/ 0.1 and finishing at 1/99.
Concentrations of hydro lyzed compound in the incubation mixtures are
determined from standard curves prepared by replicate two-fold dilution starting at 10mM
in 100 mM PBS pH 7.4 and subsequently quenched with methanol-internal standard
solution identical to the samples. Averages and standard deviations are calculated using
MICROSOFT® Office EXCEL® 2007. Final values are presented as a molar percentage
of compound formed relative to prodrug compound concentration added. Hydrolysis of
Clopidogrel to Clopidogrel Carboxylic Acid is used as the positive control and averages
73.0% (n=27).
The following compounds were tested essentially as described above and
exhibited the following activity:
Table 19
These results demonstrate that the compounds of Table 19 are capable of being
hydrolyzed in the human liver.
The compounds of the present invention are preferably formulated as
pharmaceutical compositions using one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers,
diluents, or excipients and administered by a variety of routes. Preferably, such
compositions are for oral or intravenous administration. Such pharmaceutical
compositions and processes for preparing them are well known in the art. See, e.g.,
Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (A. Gennaro, et al, eds., 21st ed.,
Mack Publishing Co., 2005).
The compounds of the present invention are generally effective over a wide
dosage range. For example, dosages per day normally fall within the range of about 0.3
to about 30 mg/kg of body weight. In some instances dosage levels below the lower limit
of the aforesaid range may be more than adequate, while in other cases still larger doses
may be employed, and therefore the above dosage range is not intended to limit the scope
of the invention in any way. It will be understood that the amount of the compound
actually administered will be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevant
circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration,
the actual compound or compounds administered, the age, weight, and response of the
individual patient, and the severity of the patient's symptoms.
WE CLAIM:
1. A compound of the formula
wherein
R1 is ; R2 is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl, wherein benzyl is optionally substituted with one
to two fluorine atoms, -C1-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine
atoms, or-Ci-C alkoxy; R is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or
benzyl, wherein benzyl is optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -
C1-C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, or -C1-C 3 alkoxy;
R4 is hydrogen, (25)-2-aminopropanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl,
(25)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-aminoacetyl; R5 is - C - C3 alkyl optionally
substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, -NH 2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when
R2 and/or R are not hydrogen then R4 is hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not
hydrogen then R2 and/or R3 are hydrogen; provided that R5 may be hydrogen
when the sulfur atom is attached to the bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane ring system in the S
configuration; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
2. A compound of Claim 1 wherein R1 is R
is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl, wherein benzyl is
optionally substituted with one to two fluorine atoms, -C1-C 3 alkyl optionally
substituted with 1to 3 fluorine atoms, or -C1-C3 alkoxy; R3 is hydrogen, 2,2-
dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl, wherein benzyl is optionally substituted
with one to two fluorine atoms, -C1-C3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1to 3
fluorine atoms, or -C1-C3 alkoxy; R4 is hydrogen, (2,S)-2-aminopropanoyl, (2S)-2-
amino-4-methylsulfanyl-butanoyl, (25)-2-amino-4-methyl-pentanoyl, or 2-
aminoacetyl; R5 is - C - C 3 alkyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms,
-NH2, or cyclopropyl; provided that when R2 and/or R are not hydrogen then R4
is hydrogen; provided that when R4 is not hydrogen then R2 and/or R3 are
hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
3. A compound of any of Claims 1 to 2 wherein R2 is hydrogen, 2,2-
dimethyl- propionyloxymethyl, or benzyl optionally substituted with one to two
fluorine atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3 and R3 is hydrogen, 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl,
or benzyl optionally substituted with one to two fluorine
atoms, -CF 3, or -OCH 3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
A compound of any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein R1
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
5. A compound of any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein R2 is hydrogen; or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
6. A compound of any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein R3 is hydrogen; or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
7. A compound of any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein R4 is hydrogen; or a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of any of Claims 1 to 7,
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier, diluent, or excipient.
9. A pharmaceutical composition according to Claim 8 further comprising one or
more other therapeutic agents.
10. A method of treating a psychiatric disorder selected from the group consisting of
bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety disorder, comprising
administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the compound, or
pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, of any one of Claims 1to 7.
11. The method of Claim 10, wherein the psychiatric disorder is bipolar disorder.
12. The method of Claim 10, wherein the psychiatric disorder is schizophrenia.
13. The method of Claim 10 wherein the psychiatric disorder is generalized anxiety
disorder.
14. The compound of any of Claims 1to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof, for use in therapy.
15. The compound of any of Claims 1to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt
thereof, for use in the treatment of a psychiatric disorder selected from the group
consisting of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and generalized anxiety disorder.
16. The compound of Claim 15, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use
in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
17. The compound of Claim 15, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use
in the treatment of schizophrenia.
18. The compound of Claim 15, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use
in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
19. The use of a compound of any of Claims 1to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable
salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a psychiatric
disorder selected from the group consisting of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and
generalized anxiety disorder.