Application of a novel [3+2] cycloaddition reaction to prepare substituted imidazoles and their use in the design of potent DFG-out allosteric B-Raf inhibitors.
B-Raf protein kinase, which is a key signaling molecule in the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, plays an important role in many cancers. The B-Raf V600E mutation represents the most frequent oncogenic kinase mutation known and is responsible for increased kinase activity in approximately 7% of all human cancers, establishing B-Raf as an important therapeutic target for inhibition. Through the use of an iterative program that utilized a chemocentric approach and a rational structure based design, we have developed novel, potent, and specific DFG-out allosteric inhibitors of B-Raf kinase. Here, we present efficient and versatile chemistry that utilizes a key one pot, [3+2] cycloaddition reaction to obtain highly substituted imidazoles and their application in the design of allosteric B-Raf inhibitors. Inhibitors based on this scaffold display subnanomolar potency and a favorable kinase profile.
Dietrich
Justin
J
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States. dietrich@pharmacy.arizona.edu
Gokhale
Vijay
V
Wang
Xiadong
X
Hurley
Laurence H
LH
Flynn
Gary A
GA
D000818:Animals; D003500:Cyclization; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D007093:Imidazoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf