Towards the second generation of Boceprevir: Dithianes as an alternative P2 substituent for 2,2-dimethyl cycloproyl proline in HCV NS3 protease inhibitors.
Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is a global health crisis leading to chronic liver disease. In our efforts towards a second generation HCV NS3 serine protease inhibitor with improved profile, we have undertaken SAR studies in various regions of Boceprevir including P2. Herein, we report the synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of inhibitors with (S)-1,4-dithia-7-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-8-carboxylic acid 2 as P2 substituent replacing the (1R,2S,5S)-6,6-dimethyl 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxylic acid. The systematic investigation led to the discovery of highly potent inhibitor 25 (K(i)( *)=7nM, EC(90)=30nM) with improved rat exposure of 2.56microM h.
Merck Research Laboratories, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA. latha.nair@spcorp.com
Latha G
LG
Nair
Stephane
S
Bogen
Sumei
S
Ruan
Weidong
W
Pan
Russel
R
Pike
Xiao
X
Tong
Kuo-Chi
KC
Cheng
Zhuyan
Z
Guo
Ronald J
RJ
Doll
F George
FG
Njoroge
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001665:Binding Sites; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011392:Proline; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D011807:Quinolizines; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C438055:dithiane; C512204:N-(3-amino-1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-2,3-dioxopropyl)-3-(2-((((1,1-dimethylethyl)amino)carbonyl)amino)-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl)-6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexan-2-carboxamide