Plasmepsin I and II inhibitors

Scheme 6.23 Synthesis of plasmepsin I and II inhibitors with elongated Pl/PT side chains.

Suzuki-Miyaura reactions with aryl bromides and triflates have been reported in the synthesis of plasmepsin I and II inhibitors using a hydroxyethylamine transition-state-mimicking scaffold [73], Four libraries of similar compounds were prepared where the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction was used for direct derivatization of the PI -position without protection of the hydroxyethylamine center. It was noted in this context that no epimerization occurred during the reaction and that exchange of cesium carbonate for sodium carbonate resulted in better yields (Scheme 15.33) [74]. 

Inhibitors for proteases plasmepsin I and II of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, with a good plasmepsin/human protease cathepsin D selectivity, have been identified via library construction involving rapid microwave-accelerated Suzuki reactions [57]. The phenyl ring of the biphenyl unit in the lead compound M-((lS)-l- [((lS,2S)-3- [(lS)-2-amino-l-(4-phenyl-benzyl)-2-oxoethyl]amino -2-hydroxy-l-phenoxypropyl)amino]carbonyl -2-methylpropyl)pyridine-2-carboxamide has been altered by performing Suzuki reactions on N-((lS)-l- [((lS,2S)-3- [(lS)-2-amino-l-(4-bromobenzyl)-2-oxoethyl]amino -2-hydroxy-l-phenoxypropyl)amino]carbonyl -2-methyl-propyl)pyridine-2-carboxamide (Scheme 37). In particular, a 2-benzofuryl moiety proved to be interesting since a Ki value of 13 nM for plasmepsin I and... 

Libraries of hundreds to thousands of spatially separate inhibitors have been prepared and screened to identify small molecule inhibitors of the human protease cathepsin D and the essential malarial proteases, plasmepsins I and II. The best inhibitors do not incorporate any amino adds and possess high affinity (Kj<5 nM).1241 Furthermore, these lead compounds were optimized by combinatorial methods for good physicochemical properties and minimal binding to human serum albumin. The optimized inhibitors effectively block cathepsin D-mediated proteolysis in human hippocampyl slices and are currently being used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of cathepsin D inhibition in the treatment of Alzheimer s disease. Additionally, the plasmepsin inhibitors serve as promising leads for the treatment of malaria. 

The Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of o-vinylaryl bromides using Mo(CO)6 as CO source with microwave irradiation gave indanone 338 and 3-acylaminoindanone 340, which are key intermediates for the synthesis of inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease and Plasmepsin I and II (Scheme 46). These polycyclic compounds were obtained in less than 30 min in high yields. The results clearly indicate the power and advantage of this protocol, especially for the combinatorial parallel synthesis of a library of compounds. 

Noteberg, D., Schaal, W., Hamelink, E., Vrang, L. and Larhed, M., High-speed optimization of inhibitors of the malarial proteases Plasmepsin I and Ii., J. Comb. Chem., 2003, 5, 456-464. 

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