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CA2386411A1 - Nicotinyl aspartyl ketones as inhibitors of caspase-3 - Google Patents

Nicotinyl aspartyl ketones as inhibitors of caspase-3 Download PDF

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CA2386411A1
CA2386411A1 CA002386411A CA2386411A CA2386411A1 CA 2386411 A1 CA2386411 A1 CA 2386411A1 CA 002386411 A CA002386411 A CA 002386411A CA 2386411 A CA2386411 A CA 2386411A CA 2386411 A1 CA2386411 A1 CA 2386411A1
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3alkyl
6alkyl
aryl
hetcy
4alkenyl
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Cameron Black
Erich L. Grimm
Elise Isabel
Johanne Renaud
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Merck Frosst Canada and Co
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D213/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D213/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D213/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having no bond between the ring nitrogen atom and a non-ring member or having only hydrogen or carbon atoms directly attached to the ring nitrogen atom
    • C07D213/60—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having no bond between the ring nitrogen atom and a non-ring member or having only hydrogen or carbon atoms directly attached to the ring nitrogen atom with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C07D213/78—Carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms, with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals
    • C07D213/81—Amides; Imides
    • C07D213/82—Amides; Imides in position 3
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
    • A61P9/10—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D401/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, at least one ring being a six-membered ring with only one nitrogen atom
    • C07D401/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, at least one ring being a six-membered ring with only one nitrogen atom containing two hetero rings
    • C07D401/12—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, at least one ring being a six-membered ring with only one nitrogen atom containing two hetero rings linked by a chain containing hetero atoms as chain links
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D405/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom
    • C07D405/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom containing two hetero rings
    • C07D405/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom containing two hetero rings directly linked by a ring-member-to-ring-member bond
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D413/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms
    • C07D413/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms containing two hetero rings
    • C07D413/12—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms containing two hetero rings linked by a chain containing hetero atoms as chain links

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Abstract

Caspase-3 inhibiting compounds of formula (I): as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are disclosed. The compounds are usefu l for treating caspase-3 mediated diseases and conditions, among which are cardiac or cerebral ischemia or reperfusion injury, type I diabetes, immune deficiency syndrome, includings AIDS, cerebral and spinal cord trauma injury , organ damage during transplantation, alopecia, aging, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apoptotic cell suicide is a fundamentally important biological process that is required to maintain the integrity and homeostasis of multicellular organisms.
Inappropriate apoptosis, however, underlies the etiology of many of the most intractable of human diseases. In only the last few years, many of the molecules that participate in a conserved biochemical pathway that mediates the highly ordered process of apoptotic cell suicide have been identified. At the heart of this pathway are a family of cysteine proteases, the 'caspases', that are related to mammalian interleukin-lI3 converting enzyme (ICE/caspase-1) and to CED-3, the product of a gene that is necessary for apoptotic suicide in the nematode C. elegans (Nicholson et al., 1997, Trends Biochem Sci 22:299-306). The role of these proteases in cell suicide is to disable critical homeostatic and repair processes as well as to cleave key structural components, resulting in the systematic and orderly disassembly of the dying cell.
The central importance of caspases in these processes has been demonstrated with both macromolecular and peptide-based inhibitors (which prevent apoptosis from occurring in vitro and in vivo) as well as by genetic approaches.
Inhibition of apoptosis via attenuation of caspase activity should therefore be useful in the treatment of human diseases where inappropriate apoptosis is prominent or contributes to disease pathogenesis. Caspase inhibitors would thus be useful for the treatment of human diseases including, but not limited to, acute disorders such as cardiac and cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury (e.g. stroke), spinal cord injury and organ damage during transplantation, as well as chronic disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's, polyglutamine-repeat disorders, Down's, spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis), immunodeficiency (e.g.
HIV), diabetes, alopecia and aging.
Ten caspases have so far been identified in human cells. Each is synthesized as a catalytically dormant proenzyme containing an amino-terminal prodomain followed by the large and small subunits of the heterodimeric active enzyme. The subunits are excised from the proenzyme by cleavage at Asp-X
junctions (Nicholson et al., 1997, Trends Biochem Sci 22:299-306). The strict requirement by caspases for Asp in the P1 position of substrates is consistent with a mechanism whereby proenzyme maturation can be either autocatalytic or performed by other caspases. The three dimensional crystal structures of mature caspase-1 and -3 show that the large subunit contains the principle components of the catalytic machinery, including the active site Cys residue which is harbored within the conserved pentapeptide motif, QACxG, l and residues that stabilize the oxyanion of the tetrahedral transition state (Wilson et al., 1994, Nature 370:270-75;
Walker et al., 1994, Cell 78:342-52; Rotonda et al., 1996, Nat Struct Biol 3:619-25). Both subunits contribute residues which stabilize the P1 Asp of substrates while the small subunit appears to contain most of the determinants that dictate substrate specificity and, in particular, those which form the specificity-determining S4 subsite. One distinctive feature of these proteases is the absolute requirement for an aspartic acid residue in the substrate P1 position. The carboxylate side chain of the substrate P1 Asp is tethered by four residues in caspase-1 (Arg179, G1n238 from p20 and Arg341, Ser347 from p10) that are absolutely conserved in all caspase family members.
Catalysis involves a typical cysteine protease mechanism involving a catalytic dyad, composed of His237 and Cys285 (contained within an absolutely conserved QACxG
pentapeptide) and an 'oxyanion hole' involving G1y238 and Cys285. Inhibitors bind, however, in an unexpected non-transition state configuration (which raises important considerations for inhibitor design) with the oxyanion of the thiohemiacetal being stabilized by the active site His237.
Members of the caspase family can be divided into three functional subgroups based on their substrate specificities which have been defined by a positional-scanning combinatorial substrate approach. The principle effectors of apoptosis (group II caspases, which include caspases-2, -3 and -7 as well as C. elegans CED-3) have specificity for [P4]DExD[Pl], a motif found at the cleavage site of most proteins known to be cleaved during apoptosis. On the other hand, the specificity of group DI caspases (caspases-6, -8, -9 and -10, as well as CTL-derived granzyme B) is [P4](I,V,L)ExD[P1] which corresponds to the activation site at the function between the large and small subunits of other caspase proenzymes including group II
(effector) family members. This and other evidence indicates that group III caspases function as upstream activators of group II caspases in a proteolytic cascade that amplifies the death signal. The role of group I caspases (caspases-1, -4 and -5) appears to be to mediate cytokine maturation and their role in apoptosis, if any, has not been substantiated.
A tetrapeptide corresponding to the substrate P4-P1 residues is sufficient for specific recognition by caspases and as a consequence has formed the basis for inhibitor design. In addition to the requirement for a P1 Asp, the P4 residue in particular appears to be most important for substrate recognition and specificity.
Caspase-1, for example, prefers a hydrophobic residue such as Tyr in P4 (which corresponds to its YVHD cleavage site within proIL.-lf3) whereas caspase-3 (and other group II enzymes) has a preference for an anionic Asp residue (which corresponds to the DXXD cleavage sites within most polypeptides that are cleaved by these enzymes during apoptosis). Peptide aldehydes, nitrites and ketones are potent reversible inhibitors of these proteases while compounds that form thiomethylketone adducts with the active site cysteine (e.g. peptide (acyloxy)methylketones) are potent irreversible inhibitors. For example, the tetrapeptide aldehyde Ac-YVAD-CHO
(which was designed to mimic the YVHD caspase-1 recognition sequence within proIL-1(3) is a potent inhibitor of caspase-1 (Ki < 1 nM) but a poor inhibitor of caspase-3 (Ki = 12 p,M) (Thornberry et al., 1992, Nature 356:768-74). In contrast, the Ac-DEVD-CHO tetrapeptide aldehyde (which was designed to mimic the caspase-3 recognition site) is a very potent inhibitor of caspase-3 (Ki < 1 nM) although it is also a weaker but reasonable inhibitor of caspase-1, presumably owing to promiscuity in the S4 subsite of this enzyme (Nicholson et al., 1995, Nature 376:37-43).
Several features plague these peptide-derived inhibitors as a platform for drug design. In addition to their metabolic instability and membrane impermeability, the slow-binding time-dependent inhibition of activity (e.g.
kon caspase-l:Ac-YVAD-CHO = 3.8 x 105 M-ls-1; kon caspase-3:Ac-DEVD-CHO = 1.3 x 105 M-ls-1) precludes them from the rapid inhibition that may be necessary to abolish enzymatic activity in vivo. The present patent application describes the resolution of this issue with the discovery of several novel gamma-ketoacids that make highly suitable caspase inhibitors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to compounds represented by formula I:
R~ /N
O
H
N
R2 ~ Ra as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and esters thereof, wherein:
R1 represents H, NH2, NHC1_6alkyl, NHC(O)C1_6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1_6alkyl, or NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-3 members selected from the group consisting of: C02H, C02C1_6alkyl, aryl, NH2, NHC1_3alkyl, NH-Aryl, N(C1_3alkyl)2 and Hetcy R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) H, OH, halo, NH2, CN, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C2_6alkynyl, C02H, Aryl and Hetcy;
(b) OC1_6alkyl and OC3_6alkenyl;
(c) -S(O)yCl_6alkyl, -S(O)yC3_6alkenyl, -S(O)yAryl and S(O)yHetcy, wherein y is 0, 1 or 2;
(d) NHC 1 _6alkyl, NH-Aryl and NH-Hetcy;
(e) C(O)C1_6alkyl, C(O)C3_6alkenyl and C(O)Hetcy;
(f) C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_6alkyl, C(O)N(C1_6alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl and C(O)N(C 1 _6alkyl)-Aryl;
(g) NHC(O)C1_6alkyl, NHC(O)C3_6alkenyl, N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)C1_ (alkyl, N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)C3_6alkenyl and N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)Aryl;
(h) S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_6alkyl, S02NHHetcy, S(O)2NHC3_ galkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_6alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_galkyl)C3_galkenyl, S02NHAryI, S02NH-Hetcy, S02N(C1_6alkyl)Aryl and S02N(C1_6alkyl)Hetcy;
(i) NHS02C1_6alkyl, NHS02C3_6alkenyl, N(C1_6alkyl)S02C1_ 6alkyl and N(C1_6alkyl)S02C3_6alkenyl, said C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C3_6alkenyl and C2_(alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (i) above being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, NH2~ CN, C02H, Hetcy, Aryl, C02C1_6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl, O-Aryl, C02C3_4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_3alkyl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1_3alkyl, C(O)C3_ 4alkenyl, -S(O)yCl_3alkyl, -S(O)yC3_4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1_3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1_3alkyl-aryl), N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C1_ 3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1_ 3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3_4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)C3_ 4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Hetcy, NHS03H, NHS02C1_ 3alkyl, NHS02C3_4alkenyl, NHS02Ary1, NHS02Hetcy, N(C1_3alkyl)S03H, N(C1_ 3alkyl)S02C1_3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02Ary1 and N(C 1 _3alkyl)S02Hetcy;
R3 represents H, halo or C 1 _3alkyl, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C2_6alkynyl and Hetcy, said C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl and C2_6alkynyl groups being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of:
halo, OH, NH2~ NHC1_l0alkyl, N(C1-l0alkyl)2, CN, C02H, Hetcy, Aryl, C02C1_6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl, Oaryl, C02C1_3alkyl, C02C3_4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_3alkyl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1_3alkyl, C(O)C3_ 4alkenyl, -S(O)yCl_3alkyl, -S(O)yC3_4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1_3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C1_ 3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1_ 3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3_4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryI, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)C3_ q.alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Hetcy, NHS03H, NHS02C1_ 3alkyl, NHS02C3-4alkenyl, NHS02Aryl, NHS02Hetcy, N(C1_3alkyl)S03H, N(C1_ 3alkyl)S02C1_3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02Aryl and N(C 1 _3alkyl)S02Hetcy;
Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 2 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-C02H, -(CH2)0-3C02C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1_ 6alkyl, S02NH2 and S02CH3.
The invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable Garner.
The invention also encompasses a method of treating cardiac and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (e.g. stroke), type I diabetes, immune deficiency syndrome (including AIDS), cerebral and spinal cord trauma injury, organ damage during transplantation, alopecia, aging, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders, comprising administering to a mammalian patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound of formula I.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is described using the following definitions unless otherwise specified.
For purposes of this specification alkyl means linear, branched or cyclic structures and combinations thereof, containing one to twenty carbon atoms unless otherwise specified. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, s- and t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, eicosyl, 3,7-diethyl-2,2-dimethyl- 4-propylnonyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cycloheptyl, adamantyl, cyclododecylmethyl, 2-ethyl-bicyclo[4.4.0]decyl and the like.
Alkylcarbonyl signifies groups having the formula -C(O)-alkyl, wherein alkyl is defined as above.
Alkylsulfonyl signifies groups having the formula -S(O)2-alkyl, wherein alkyl is defined as above.
Fluoroalkyl means linear, branched,or cyclic alkyl groups and combinations thereof, of one to ten carbon atoms, in which one or more hydrogen but no more than six is replaced by fluorine. Examples are -CF3, -CH2CH2F, and -CH2CF3 and the like. Haloalkyl means linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having up to six halo groups attached.
Alkoxy means alkoxy groups of one to ten carbon atoms of a straight, branched or cyclic configuration. Examples of alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy and the like.
Alkoxycarbonyl signifies groups having the formula -C(O)-alkoxy, wherein alkoxy is defined as above.
Alkylthio means alkylthio groups of one to ten carbon atoms of a straight, branched or cyclic configuration. Examples of alkylthio groups include methylthio, propylthio, isopropylthio, etc. By way of illustration, the propylthio group signifies -SCH2CH2CH3.
Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system, optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-6-C02H, -(CH2)0-6C02C1-6alkyl, OH, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, pyridyl, piperidyl, pyrrolidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, NHCH3, C1_6alkyl, NHS03H, S02NH2, and S02CH3. Aryl is, for example, phenyl or naphthyl. When aryl is present in a substituent on alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or Hetcy, it is optionally substituted as described above.
The groups -(CH2)0-6-C02H and -(CH2)0-6C02C1-6alkyl refer to carboxylic acids and esters, alkanoic acids and alkyl esters thereof. Thus, these include C02H and C02C1_6alkyl.
Hetcy as used herein refers to a 5-14 membered ring system that is aromatic, non-aromatic or partially aromatic, and that contains at least one heteroatom. Up to 3 additional heteroatoms selected from O, S(O)y and N, with y representing 0, 1 or 2 are included. Hetcy is optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-6-C02H, -(CH2)0-6C02C1-6alkyl, OH, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, naphthyl, pyrrolyl, pyridyl, piperidyl, pyrrolidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, NHCH3, C1_6alkyl, NHS03H, S02NH2, and S02CH3.
Heteroaryl is an aromatic subset of Hetcy, and thus includes, e.g., , pyridyl, furyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzofuryl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl and coumarinyl.
Halo includes F, Cl, Br and I.
For purposes of this specification, the following abbreviations have the indicated meanings:
Alloc - allyloxycarbonyl APCI - atmospheric pressure chemical ionization BOC - t-butyloxycarbonyl CBZ - carbobenzoxy DCC - 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide DIBAL - diisobutyl aluminum hydride DIEA - N,N-diisopropylethylamine DMAP - 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine EDCI - 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride EDTA - ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, tetrasodium salt hydrate ESI - electrospray ionization FAB - fast atom bombardment FMOC - 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl HMPA - hexamethylphosphoramide HATU - O-(7-Azabenzotriazol-1-yl)N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate HOBt - 1-hydroxybenzotriazole HRMS - high resolution mass spectrometry ICl - iodine monochloride IBCF - isobutyl chloroformate KHIVV>nS - potassium hexamethyldisilazane LDA - lithium diisopropylamide MCPBA - metachloroperbenzoic acid Ms - methanesulfonyl = mesyl Ms0 - methanesulfonate = mesylate NBS - N-bromosuccinimide NMM - 4-methylmorpholine PCC - pyridinium chlorochromate PDC - pyridinium dichromate Ph - phenyl PPTS - pyridinium p-toluene sulfonate pTSA - p-toluene sulfonic acid r.t. - room temperature rac. - racemic Tf0 - trifluoromethanesulfonate = triflate _g_ TLC - thin layer chromatography Alkyl group abbreviations:

Me - methyl Et - ethyl n-Pr - normal propyl i-Pr - isopropyl n-Bu - normal butyl i-Bu - isobutyl s-Bu - secondary butyl t-Bu - tertiary butyl An aspect of the invention that is of interest relates to compounds of formula I:
Ri /N
O
H
N
R2 ~ Ra ~ C02H
as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and esters thereof, wherein:
R 1 represents H, NH2, NHC 1 _6alkyl, NHC(O)C 1 _6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1_6alkyl, or NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-3 members selected from the group consisting of: C02H, C02C1_6alkyl, aryl, NH2, NHC1_3alkyl, NH-Aryl, N(C1_3alkyl)2 and Hetcy R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) H, OH, halo, NH2, CN, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, C02H, Aryl and Hetcy;
(b) OC1_6alkyl and OC3_6alkenyl;
(c) -S(O)yCl_6alkyl, -S(O)yC3_6alkenyl, -S(O)yAryl and S(O)yHetcy, wherein y is 0, 1 or 2;
(d) NHC 1 _6alkyl, NH-Aryl and NH-Hetcy;

(e) C(O)C1_6alkyl, C(O)C3_6alkenyl and C(O)Hetcy;
(f) C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_6alkyl, C(O)N(C1_6alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl and C(O)N(C1_galkyl)-Aryl;
(g) NHC(O)C1_6alkyl, NHC(O)C3_6alkenyl, N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)C1_ 6alkyl, N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)C3_6alkenyl and N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)Aryl;
(h) S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_6alkyl, S02NHHetcy, S(O)2NHC3_ (alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_galkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_(alkyl)C3_6alkenyl, S02NHAryl, S02NH-Hetcy, S02N(C1_6alkyl)Aryl and S02N(C1_6alkyl)Hetcy;
(i) NHS02C1_6alkyl, NHS02C3_6alkenyl, N(C1_6alkyl)S02C1_ 6alkyl and N(C1_6alkyl)S02C3_6alkenyl, said C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C3_6alkenyl and C2_6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (i) above being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, NH2~ CN, C02H, Hetcy, Aryl, C02C1_6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl, O-Aryl, C02C3_4alkenyl,,C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_3alkyl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1_3alkyl, C(O)C3_ 4alkenyl, -S(O)yCl_3alkyl, -S(O)yC3_4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC 1 _3alkyl-aryl, NH(C 1 _3alkyl-aryl), N(C 1 _3alkyl)C(O)C 1 _ 3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1_ 3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3_4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)C3_ 4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Hetcy, NHS03H, NHS02C1_ 3alkyl, NHS02C3_4alkenyl, NHS02Ary1, NHS02Hetcy, N(C1_3alkyl)S03H, N(C1_ 3alkyl)S02C1_3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02Ary1 and N(C 1 _3alkyl)S02Hetcy;
R3 represents H, halo or C1_3alkyl, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C2_6alkynyl and Hetcy, said C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl and C2_6alkynyl groups being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of:
halo, OH, NH2~ NHC 1 _ l palkyl ~ N(C 1 _ l0alkyl)2, CN, C02H, Hetcy, Aryl, C02C 1 _6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl, Oaryl, C02C1_3alkyl, C02C3_4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_3alkyl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1_3alkyl, C(O)C3_ 4alkenyl, -S(O)yCl_3alkyl, -S(O)yC3_4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1_3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1_3alkyl-aryl), N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C1_ 3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1_ 3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3-4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)C3_ 4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Hetcy, NHS03H, NHS02C1_ 3alkyl, NHS02C3_4alkenyl, NHS02Ary1, NHS02Hetcy, N(C1_3alkyl)S03H, N(C1_ 3alkyl)S02C1_3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02Aryl and N(C 1 _3alkyl)S02Hetcy;
Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 2 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-C02H, -(CH2)0-3C02C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1_ 6alkyl, S02NH2 and S02CH3.
A particular aspect of the invention that is of interest relates to a subset of compounds of formula I wherein:
R 1 represents H, NH2, NHC 1 _6alkyl, NHC(O)C 1 _6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1_6alkyl or NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: C02H, C02C1_6alkyl, aryl, NH2, NHC1_3alkyl, NH-Aryl and N(C1_3alkyl)2.
Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.
Another particular aspect of the invention that is of interest relates to a subset of compounds of formula I wherein:
R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) H, OH, halo, NH2, CN, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C2_6alkynyl, C02H, Aryl and Hetcy;
(b) OC1_6alkyl and OC3_6alkenyl;
(c) -S(O)yCl_6alkyl, -S(O)yC3-6alkenyl, -S(O)yAryl and S(O)yHetcy, wherein y is 0 or 2;
(d) NHC 1 _6alkyl;
(e) C(O)C1_6alkyl , C(O)C2_6alkenyl and C(O)Hetcy;
(f) C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_(alkyl, C(O)N(C1_6alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl and C(O)N(C1_6alkyl)-Aryl;

(g) NHC(O)C1_6alkyl, NHC(O)C3_6alkenyl, N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)C1_ 6alkyl, N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)C3_6alkenyl and N(C1_6alkyl)C(O)Aryl;
(h) S(O)2NH2, S(O)2~C1-6alkyl, S(O)2NHC3_6alkenyl, S(O)2NHHetcy~ S(O)2N(C1_6alkyl)2 and S(O)2N(C1_6alkyl)C3_6alkenyl, and (i) NHS02C1_6alkyl, NHS02C3_6alkenyl, N(C1_6alkyl)S02C1_ (alkyl and N(C1_6alkyl)S02C3_6alkenyl;
said C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C3_6alkenyl and C2_6alkynyl groups and the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl portions in (a) through (i) above being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, NH2, CN, C02H, Hetcy, Aryl, C02C1_6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl, C02C1-3alkyl, C02C3_ 4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_3alkyl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1_3alkyl, C(O)C3_4alkenyl, -S(O)yCl_3alkyl, -S(O)yC3_4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined;
OC1_ 3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1_3alkyl-aryl), N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C1_3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C3_ 4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_ 3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3_4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)C3_4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Hetcy, NHS03H, NHS02C1_3alkyl, NHS02C3_4alkenyl, NHS02Ary1, NHS02Hetcy, N(C1_3alkyl)S03H, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C1_3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02Aryl and N(C1_3alkyl)S02Hetcy;
Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-14 membered ring system, aromatic, non-aromatic or partially aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 3 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-C02H, -(CH2)0-3C02C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1_ (alkyl, S02NH2 and S02CH3. Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.
Another subset of compounds of the present invention that is of interest relates to compounds of formula I wherein:
R3 represents H or C1_3alkyl. Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.

Another subset of compounds of the present invention that is of interest relates to compounds of formula I wherein:
R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl, C2_6alkynyl and Hetcy, said C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkenyl and C2_6alkynyl groups being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, CN, C02H, Hetcy, N(C1_10 alkyl)2, Aryl, C02C1_6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl, Oaryl, C02C1_3alkyl, C02C3_4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1_3alkyl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1_3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1_3alkyl, C(O)C3_4alkenyl, -S(O)yCl_ 3alkyl, -S(O)yC3_4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1_3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1_3alkyl-aryl), N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)C1-3alkyl, N(C1_ 3alkyl)C(O)C3_4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1_3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1_3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3_4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)C3_4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1_ 3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1_3alkyl)Hetcy, NHS03H, NHS02C1_3alkyl, NHS02C3_ 4alkenyl, NHS02Ary1, NHS02Hetcy, N(C1_3alkyl)S03H, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C1_ 3alkyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02C3-4alkenyl, N(C1_3alkyl)S02Ary1 and N(C1_ 3alkyl)S02Hetcy;
Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system; aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 2 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-3 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-C02H, -(CH2)0-3C02C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1_ (alkyl, S02NH2 and S02CH3. Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.
A further subset of compounds within the present invention that is of particular interest relates to compounds of formula I wherein:
R1 is selected from the group consisting of: H, NH2, NHC1_6alkyl, NHC(O)C1_6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1_6alkyl and NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: C02H and C02C1_6alkyl, . Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.

Another subset of compounds of the present invention that is of particular interest relates to a subset of compounds of formula I wherein:
R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) H, OH, halo, NH2, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkynyl, C02H, Aryl and Hetcy;
(b) -S(O)yCl_6alkyl and S(O)yHetcy, wherein y is 0 or 2;
(c) C(O)Hetcy;
(d) C(O)NHC1_(alkyl and C(O)N(C1_6alkyl)2;
(e) NHC(O)C1_6alkyl;
(f) S(O)2NHC1_6alkyl, S(O)2NHHetcy and S(O)2N(C1_6alkyl)2, and (g) NHS02C 1_6 alkyl, said C1_6alkyl and C2_6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (g) above being optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CN, C02H, Aryl, O-Aryl, C02C 1 _6alkyl and OC 1 _6alkyl;
Aryl represents a 6-10 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 3 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-6-C02H and -(CH2)0-6C02C1-6alkyl. Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.
Another subset of compounds of the present invention that is of particular interest relates to compounds of formula I wherein R3 represents H.
Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.
Another subset of compounds of the present invention that is of particular interest relates to compounds of formula I wherein:
R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H and C1_4alkyl, optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of:
Hetcy, N(C 1 _ l0alkyl)2, Aryl, O-Aryl, OC 1 _6alkyl, S(O)yC 1 _3alkyl, S (O)y-(C 1 _3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is 0 or 2, OC1_3alkyl-aryl and NH(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein Aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups. Within this subset, all other variables are as originally defined.

Another subset of compounds of the present invention that is of particular interest relates to compounds of formula I wherein:
R1 is selected from the group consisting of: H, NH2, NHC1_6alkyl, NHC(O)C1_6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1_6alkyl and NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: C02H and C02C1_6alkyl;
R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) H, OH, halo, NH2, C1_6alkyl, C2_6alkynyl, C02H, Aryl and Hetcy;, (b) -S(O)yCl_6alkyl and S(O)yHetcy, wherein y is 0 or 2;
(c) C(O)Hetcy;
(d) C(O)NHC 1 _6alkyl and C(O)N(C 1 _6alkyl)2;
(e) NHC(O)C 1 _6alkyl;
(f) S(O)2NHC1_6alkyl, S(O)2NHHetcy and S(O)2N(C1_6alkyl)2, and (g) NHS02C 1 _6 alkyl, said C1_6alkyl and C2_6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (g) above being optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CN, C02H, Aryl, O-Aryl, C02C1_6alkyl, OC1_6alkyl;
Aryl represents a 6-10 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 3 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-6-C02H and -(CH2)0-6C02C1-6alkyl;
R3 represents H, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H and C1_4alkyl optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of: Hetcy, Aryl, O-Aryl, OC 1 _6alkyl, S(O)yC 1 _3alkyl, N(C 1 _ l0alkyl)2, S(O)y-(C 1 _3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is 0 or 2, OC1_3alkyl-aryl and NH(C1_3alkyl-aryl), wherein Aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups.

Representative examples of compounds of formula I are found in Table I below.
TABLE I
Br O
N / N
[J H
O
~C02H
OH
O
N / N
[J H
O
~C02H

O
N / N

~COZH
H
O~N ~ O
O N ~ I N~H
O ~C02H
O
I \ H II
N ~ N J'~
H

~COZH

N / N
H
O
~C02H
H
HOZC~N I ~ H O
7 N~N
O '~ ~( H
O
~C02H
COzH
N \ O
B o N~N
H
O
~C02H
H
N ~ O
H02C~ I H
IOI N / N
H

COZH

N~N
'' ~ H
O
~C02H

I/ N.~S wI
B' ~C02H

N O
H u ~ N~S

12 Br w o ~COzH

F
13 ~ I / N .~s Ho ~COpH

F

I, N.~s ~I

~C02H

O F
HN I / N~S

~COZH

CH3 I Nw O / F
~ N
~N~S \ I

16 ~
I / O O
COZH

H
17 H3C02C~N N~ O
H ~
O I / N
H
O
~C02H
N~ O F
I H I
N~S

~C02H CI
N~ O CI /
I / N~O ~ I
19 Br \COzH F
CF3C02' H +
N O F
~O I / N~S ~ ~ chiral ~cozH
O F

~coZH
N O F
22 \ I , a -I / ° ~co2H
N S ~ ~ F
23 // o ~cozH

H3C N~ O , F
N~S

~COZH
N
I N S~F

~cozH
26 H3COZC~N I / N~g ~ I F
O O
~COZH
2.7 i N O / F
\ I N I / N~g ~ I
O O
~COZH
N~
NC~N I / N . S \ I F

~cozH
N~ F
H .
29 H3C02C~N / N
O O
~COzH
N~ OII / F
Eco2c " ~

~co2H

H
HOZC~N N~ O / F
31 '' ~o~ I / n"ys i ~COZH
N
H3C02C~ N I

~COpH
N O / F
33 H3~~S ~ ~ N~s ~C02H
N O / F
34 H3C~S02I ~
I
O
~C02H
N~ O / F
35 ~~so21 ~ N~S ~
i ~C02H
N O / F
SOZ I / N~S
'NH

~C02H

N~ O / F
3,~ NH.S02 / N~g O

N O / F
~N, I / N
38 Sp2 ~S \
I
O
~C02H
CH3 N~ O / F
39 N~SO2 ~ /

~C02H
N~ O
H II
40 ~N.SOZ ~ / N~O
'''' ~v \
O

N O
H ~ II /
41 ~N.S02I / N~O
i ''~~
O ~C02H O \
N~ O F
42 ~N.S02 ~ / N J1 N \
\~O
\C02H F

N~ O / F
43 ~'N N'SOZ I ~ N~S
I
O
~COzH
N~ O / F
44 \ ~ N,SO

COZH ~C02H
Br O
45 N~N W
v ~O
~C02H
N~
O ~ N : S
46 t o -~co2H
Nw H O
47 Br I ~ N
O
~C02H
CF3COZ ~ H +
N~ O / F
48 I ~ p ~ / N~g ~ ~ chirai o ~COZH

N~ O / F
49 H3COZC~N I / N~g ~COZH
N~ O / F
SO Ho2C~N I / N~g ~ I

~C02H
O I N~ H O / I F
S1 H3CpZC' v -NH / N~S
i O
~COZH
N~ O / F
/ N~S
S2 H3cp2S
O
~COZH
N O / F
S3 w~soz I / N~s i ~C02H
S4 N\ o NC N,SO I / N~S

O
~C02H

N O / F
H
55 CH3I ~ N~S
I
o ~C02H
N
H3CO2C~N_SO I / N~S

O
~COzH
N O
H
57 ~ N-S02 I / N J"
H
O
~C02H
N~ O
58 N, I / N N
sot ~ ~ _ ~/

~co2H
The compounds described herein, and in particular, in Table I, are intended to include salts, enantiomers, esters and hydrates, in pure form and as a mixture thereof.
While chiral structures are shown below, by substituting into the synthesis schemes an enantiomer other than the one shown, or by substituting into the schemes a mixture of enantiomers, a different isomer or a racemic mixture can be achieved. Thus, all such isomers and mixtures are included in the present invention.
In another embodiment, the invention encompasses a method of treating a caspase-3 mediated disease in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a compound of formula I in an amount effective to treat said caspase-3 mediated disease.

In another embodiment, the invention encompasses a method of treating cardiac and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (e.g. stroke), type I diabetes, immune deficiency syndrome (including AIDS), cerebral and spinal cord trauma injury, organ damage during transplantation, alopecia, aging, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders, comprising administering to a mammalian patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound of formula I.
In another embodiment, the invention encompasses a method of treating acute disorders, including cardiac and cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury (e.g. stroke), spinal cord injury and organ damage during transplantation, in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a compound of formula I in an amount effective to treat said acute disorder.
In another embodiment, the invention encompasses a method of treating chronic disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases (e.g.
Alzheimer's, polyglutamine-repeat disorders, Down's, spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis), immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV), diabetes, alopecia and aging, in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a compound of formula I in an amount effective to treat said chronic disorder.
In another embodiment, the invention encompasses a method of treating a caspase-3 mediated disease in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a compound of formula I in an amount effective to treat said caspase-3 mediated disease.
In particular, these compounds are preferably useful to treat, prevent or ameliorate in mammals and especially in humans, diseases including but not limited to:
cardiac and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (e.g. stroke) type I diabetes immune deficiency syndrome (including AIDS) cerebral and spinal cord trauma injury organ damage during transplantation alopecia aging Parkinson's disease Alzheimer s disease Down's syndrome spinal muscular atrophy multiple sclerosis neurodegenerative disorders.
The compound is administered to a mammalian patient in need of such treatment or prevention an amount of a compound as described herein that is effective to treat or prevent the disease or condition.
The compounds described typically contain asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to diastereomers and optical isomers. The present invention includes all such possible diastereomers as well as their racemic and resolved, enantiomerically pure forms and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
Some of the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds, and unless specified otherwise, are meant to include both E and Z
geometric isomers.
The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a compound of formula I as an active ingredient or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and optionally other therapeutic ingredients. The term " pharmaceutically acceptable salts"
refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable bases including inorganic bases and organic bases. Representative salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, ammonium, potassium, sodium, zinc and the like. Particularly preferred are the calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts. Representative salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic bases include salts of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines, and basic ion exchange resins, such as arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethyl-morpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tromethamine and the like.
When the compound of the present invention is basic, salts may be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids, including inorganic and organic acids. Examples of such acids include acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, malefic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like. Particularly preferred are citric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, malefic, phosphoric, sulfuric and tartaric acids.
In the discussion of methods of treatment which follows, reference to the compounds of formula I are meant to also include the pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
The ability of the compounds of formula I to inhibit caspase-3 make them useful research tools in the field of apoptosis.
The magnitude of therapeutic dose of a compound of formula I will, of course, vary with the nature of the severity of the condition to be treated and with the particular compound of formula I and its route of administration and vary upon the clinician's judgement. It will also vary according to the age, weight and response of the individual patient. An effective dosage amount of the active component can thus be determined by the clinician after a consideration of all the criteria and using his/her best judgement on the patient's behalf. A representative dose will range from 0.001 mpk/d to about 100 mpk/d.
An ophthalmic preparation for ocular administration comprising 0.001-1% by weight solutions or suspensions of the compounds of formula I in an acceptable ophthalmic formulation may be used.
Any suitable route of administration may be employed for providing an effective dosage of a compound of the present invention. For example, oral, parenteral and topical may be employed. Dosage forms include tablets, troches, dispersions, suspensions, solutions, capsules, creams, ointments, aerosols, and the like.
The compositions include compositions suitable for oral, parenteral and ocular (ophthalmic). They may be conveniently presented in unit dosage form and prepared by any of the methods well-known in the art of pharmacy.
In practical use, the compounds of formula I can be combined as the active ingredient in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques. The carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. In preparing the compositions for oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, alcohols, oils, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations, such as, for example, suspensions, elixirs and solutions; or carriers such as starches, sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case or oral solid preparations such as, for example, powders, capsules and tablets, with the solid oral preparations being preferred over the liquid preparations. Because of their ease of administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. If desired, tablets may be coated by standard aqueous or nonaqueous techniques.
Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention suitable for oral administration may be presented as discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient, as a powder or granules or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous liquid, a non-aqueous liquid, an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion. Such compositions may be prepared by any of the methods of pharmacy but all methods include the step of bringing into active ingredient with the carrier which constitutes one or more necessary ingredients. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired presentation. For example, a tablet may be prepared by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. For example, each dosage unit may contain from about 0.01 mg to about 1.0 g of the active ingredient.
Method of Synthesis Compounds of the present invention are conveniently prepared using the procedures described generally below and more explicitly described in the Example section thereafter.
Aspartyl aldehyde 1 is prepared as illustrated in Scheme 1. Reaction of N-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid ~3-tert-butyl ester (Fmoc-L-Asp (OtBu)-OH) (2) (Novabiochem) with iso-butyl chloroformate (IBCF) followed by treating the reaction mixture with sodium borohydride gives alcohol 3. This is oxidized under Swern conditions to give 1.
Scheme 1: Preparation of Aldehyde 1 O 1) IBCF, DIEA
FmocNH~OH ,h~~ -~goC - 0~C FmocNH' ~ OH
V '>
~C02-t-Bu 2) NaBH4, THF/MeOH ~CO~-t-Bu O
FmocNH~
Swern ~/ ~ H
~ C02-t-Bu This aldehyde may be loaded onto resin by the two-step procedure shown in Scheme 2. Treatment of compound 4 (Webb et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 3156 (1992)) with a commercial amino-Merrifield resin in the presence of EDCI
and HOBT in dichloromethane followed by removal of the Boc group with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in dichloromethane afforded Resin A. Cleavage of the Fmoc group using piperidine in DMF provided Resin B. An appropriately substituted 3-pyridylcarboxylic acid was then coupled with Resin B to provide Resin C using a peptide coupling reagent such as EDCI/HOBt or HATU/iPr2NEt. The desired compound was then cleaved from the resin with 9:1 TFA:H20 with concomitant cleavage of the t-butyl ester protecting group.

Scheme 2: Preparation of aldehyde caspase inhibitors H H
,N N~ N~N~N~
H2N ~ 1 FmocNH~H IIO
~TFA O
EtOH. NH4CI _ ~C02tBU

/ I ~NH EDCI, HOBT
,N N~ N~N N~
N
H N ~ O FmocNH~ O
~H H
piperidine ~C02tBu DMF \C02tBu i _ ~ O i N O
\ ~ H \ ~ H
v Resin B
R1 ~N
OH HATU/DIEA

Resin A
H H
Rt ~N N~N~N' R2 \ ~ NH~H IOI 9:1 TFA/H20 R' N~ H O
R3 O ~ ~ R2 I / N~H
t-Bu-02C R3 O OH
Resin C

The semicarbazide Resin D is prepared according to Scheme 3.
Treatment of compound 6 (Webb et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 3156 (1992)) with a commercial amino-Merrifield resin in the presence of EDCI and HOBT in dichloromethane followed by removal of the Boc group with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in dichloromethane afforded Resin D.
Scheme 3: Preparation of semicarbazide Resin D
1. EDCI, HOBT
H ~ CHZCl2 Boc~ ~ N
2. TFA
O

COpH
H H
,N~N~
CF3CO2 +H3N
O
O
Resin D
Aspartyl ketone derivatives could be prepared as shown in Scheme 4.
An organometallic reagent such as an alkyl Grignard (RMgBr) can be added to aldehyde 7 (prepared in direct analogy to aldehyde 1), and the resulting alcohol oxidized to the ketone with an oxidizing agent such as Dess-Martin periodinane.
Ketone 9 can be loaded onto Resin D with catalytic HOAc in THF to provide Resin E.
Cleavage of the Alloc group may be accomplished with Pd(PPh3)4 in the presence of pyrrolidine or tributyltin hydride, generating Resin F. This may be coupled with pyridine carboxylic acid derivatives as shown in Scheme 2 to generate compounds of the present invention.

Scheme 4: Preparation of Ketone Derivatives O OH O
AIIocNH~ AIIocNH~ AIIocNH~
V 'H RMgBr V 'R Dess-Martin > >
~ COrt-Bu ~ COrt-Bu ~ COrt-Bu Resin D
H H
N~N~N~
H2N~ IOI N/N N~
R
Pd(PPhg)4 AIIocNH~
~ COptBu 1-- R
pyrrolidine O or ~C02tBu Bu3SnH
O
Resin F Resin E
Alternatively, ketone derivatives containing a heteroattim in the 0-position could be prepared from bromomethylketone 11. As shown in Scheme 5, reaction of N-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid D-tent-butyl ester (Fmoc-L-Asp (OtBu)-OH) (1) (Novabiochem) with iso-butyl chloroformate (IBCF) followed by treating the reaction mixture with an excess of diazomethane yields the diazomethylketone intermediate 10. This intermediate is subjected in situ to a 1:1 mixture of AcOH and 45°lo aqueous hydrobromic acid (HBr) to give compound 11 as a white powder.

Scheme 5: Preparation of Bromomethylketone 11 II 1) IBCF, DIEA O
FmocNH~ THF, -78°C - 0°C FmocNH /N2 \0H
2) CH2N2, Et20 ~C02-t-Bu ~C02-t-Bu O
FmocNH gr AcOH/45%HBr (1:1) ~C02-t-Bu The general procedure for the solid phase synthesis of nicotinic acid derivatives I incorporating a sulfide P1'sulfur side chain is illustrated in Scheme 6.
Bromomethyl ketone 11 is mixed with Resin D in THF in the presence of AcOH
overnight to furnish Resin G. Nucleophilic displacement with an appropriate thiol in the presence of suitable bases give Resin H as shown. The Fmoc group on Resin H is cleaved with 20% (v) piperidine in DMF and the resultant Resin I reacted with a substituted nicotinic acid using O-(7-Azabenzotriazol-1-yl)N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) as the activating agent and diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) as the base, affording Resin J. The final product I is released from solid support by treating Resin J with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water (9/l, v/v).

Scheme 6: Preparation of thiomethylketone derivatives H H
NfiN~N~
FmocNH~B~ O
Z-(CH2)a SH / base tt Rest ~ DMF
C02-t-BU
Resin G
R' N~
H O 9: t TFA/H20 RZ ~ / N~S-(CHz)a-Z
R3 O \ /OH
~O
Nicotinic acid derivatives bearing a carboxamide substituent in the 5-postion were prepared as shown in Scheme 7. Nucleophilic displacement of the bromine in Resin G with 4-fluorobenzylmercaptan in the presence of suitable bases followed by Fmoc cleavage with 20°l0 (v) piperidine in DMF gave Resin K. This resin was reacted with pyridinedicarboxylic acid using O-(7-Azabenzotriazol-1-yl)N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) as the activating agent and diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) as the base, affording Resin L. This resin may be coupled with primary or secondary amines, or anilines using HATU and DIEA to give the resin-bound amides (Resin M). The final product I is released from solid support by treating Resin M with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water (9/1, v/v).

R' ~N
Y 1 I 1) Pip/DMF
R2%~OH J 2) HATU/DIEA

Scheme 7: Preparation of pyridinedlamide derivatives F N~
HS I / HzN ' 1) iPr2NEt, DMF S(4-F-Bn) t-Bu-02C~
2) Piperidine, DMF
Resin K
HO ~ I OH ~ HATU/DIEA
O O
H H
Nw H O RZNH, HATU, ~ I NON N' R N I N~S-(CH2)a-Z DIEA HC~~NH O
z O O \'0H 9:1 TFA/H20 O O C/ S(4-F-Bn) t-Bu-02 la O WN
Nicotinic acid derivatives containing a sulfone in the 5-position were prepared as shown in Scheme 8. Thus 5-bromonicotinic acid underwent Fischer esterification followed by sodium thiomethoxide displacement of the bromine to give thioether 14. Oxidation of the sufide to the sulfoxide 15 could be accomplished with an oxidant such as MMPP. Pummerer rearrangement was achieved by warming with TFAA, then concentrating and treating the residue with triethylamine in MeOH
to give the thiol 16. This thiol may be alkylated with alkyl halides in DMF in the presence of an amine base. The resulting sulfide 17 can be oxidized to the sulfone with an oxidant such as MMPP, and the ester can be hydrolized under basic conditions to give nicotinic acid derivative 18. This acid may be coupled to Resin K
as previously described, and the resin cleaved with TFA/H20 to provide the sulfone derivatives which are examples of the present invention.

Scheme 8: Preparation of Sulfone Derivatives Br \ COOH
Br \ COOMe MeS \ COOMe MeOH I / MeSNa N ----~ N

MMPP
RS \ COOMe HS \ COOMe O COOMe E ~R-Br I ~ 1)TFAA
i N DIEA, DMF N
2) Et3N, MeOH N

1 ) MMPP
2) LiOH
O~ ~O O COOH
R~S \ COOH 1) Resin K, O~ ,O
HATU, DIEA R~S N S \
i N 2) TFA/H20 ~ ~ H O

Nicotinic acid derivatives containing a sulfonamide in the 5-position were prepared as shown in Scheme 9. The ester moiety of thiol 16 (or its 5 corresponding disulfide) may be hydrolized under basic conditions to give acid 20 (or its corresponding disulfide). Oxidation to the sulfonyl chloride 21 may be accomplished with chlorine gas in HOAc. Primary or secondary amines may be reacted with 21 to give sulfonamides 22 . These acids may be coupled to Resin K as previously described, and the resin cleaved with TFA/H20 to provide the sulfonamide 10 derivatives which are examples of the present invention.

Scheme 9: Preparation of Sulfonamide Derivatives HS \ COOMe HS \ COOH C~ SO \ COOH
LiOH ~ C12 i N HOAc N

R~NH
COOH
Q 1 ) Resin K, Q O
R2N~S \ N S \ H~ RzN~S/ \ COOH
H Q ~ / 2) T'FA/Hz0 N ~F N

Caspase inhibitors containing aryloxymethylketones and acyloxymethyl ketones may be prepared as shown in Scheme 10. Resin G in DMF
may be treated with a phenol or substituted phenol in the presence of a base such as cesium carbonate to give Resin M. Alternatively, Resin G in DMF may be treated with a carboxylic acid, preferably an aromatic acid, in the presence of a base such as potassium fluoride to give Resin M. Coupling of an appropriately substituted nicotinic acid under standard conditions then provides Resin N, which may be cleaved with TFA/H20 to provide compounds of the present invention.

Scheme 10: Preparation of oxymethylketones FmocN
1) ROH
base, DMF
2) Piperidine, DMF
R= aryl or acyl R' H O 9:1 TFA/H20 R I i N~OR4 z Rs O ~OH
IIO
Caspase inhibitors containing aryloxymethylketones and acyloxymethyl ketones may be prepared as shown in Scheme 11. Resin O is prepared from Alloc-L-Asp (OtBu)-OH as described in Schemes 5 and 6. Treatment of Resin O with a primary amine in DMF followed by Boc protection generates Resin P.
The Alloc group may then be removed using a palladium catalyst and a hydride source.
The resulting amine may be coupled with an appropriately substituted nicotinic acid under standard conditions to provide Resin Q. This may be cleaved with TFA/H20 to provide compounds of the present invention.

H H
R~ ,N
R ~ I OH ~ HATU/DIEA

Scheme 11: Preparation of aminomethylketones N~N~Nw N~N~Nw AIIocNH~B O AIIocNH~ O
1) RNH2, DMF NRBoc ~C02-t-Bu -t-Bu-02C
N O 2) Boc20 Ii H ~i H
Resin O Resin P
R= aryl or acyl 1 ) Pd(PPh3)a PhSiH3 R~ ,N
2) HATU/DIEA R2'~OH

R~ ~/~1 H O 4. 9:1 TFA/H20 R~ N I N
R2~~~N~NHR . R2%
'R3 IOI OH R3 O
t-Bu-02 Resin D
The invention is further illustrated using the following non-limiting examples.

(3S)-3-[(5-BROMO-3-PYR>DYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACID
O
N
Br - H
'C02H
Step 1:
t-Butyl (3S)-3-[(9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl]amino-4-hydroxy-butanoate (3) H
FmocN
OOH
~C02-tBu To a solution of N-Fmoc-L-aspartic acid ~i-tert-butyl ester (10.01 g, 24.3 mmol) in 100 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 0 °C was added N-methylmorpholine (NMM, 2.9 mL, 26.7 mmol) followed by isobutyl chloroformate (IBCF, 3.3 mL, 25.6 mmol). After stirnng for 45 minutes at 0 °C,. this mixture was cooled to -78 °C for 15 minutes. To the mixture was then added sodium borohydride (1.93 g, 51 mmol) followed by 20 mL MeOH. The mixture was stirred at -78 °C for 2h, the quenched with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride. The mixture was extracted three times with ethyl acetate (250 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated.
The crude product was purified by flash chromatography. Eluting with hexanes/ethyl acetate (1:1 to 1:9) afforded the desired product as a white powder (9.14 g).
1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 7.85 (d, 2H), 7.69 (d, 2H), 7.41 (t, 2H), 7.32 (t, 2H), 7.02 (bd, 1H, NH), 4.70 (dd, 1H), 4.51-4.41 (m, 2H), 4.38-4.30 (m, 2H), 4.25 (t, 1H), 2.85 (dd, 1H), 2.70 (dd, 1H), 1.41 (s, 9H).
Step 2 t-Butyl (3S)-3-[(9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl]amino-4-oxo-butanoate (1) O
FmocN
H
z NCO 2-tBu To a -78°C solution of oxalyl chloride (3.7 mL, 41.9 mmol) in 275 mL
CH2C12 was added DMSO (5.5 mL, 76.8 mmol) dropwise. The resulting solution was stirred 20 min, then a solution of the alcohol from Step 1 (13.88 g, 34.9 mmol) in 75 mL CH2C12 was added via cannula. The mixture was stirred for 1h, then diisopropylethylamine (18 mL, 105 mmol) was added . The mixture was stirred 1h at -78 °C, and -15 °C for 20 min, then poured into 1M HCI, and extracted with CH2CI2.
The organic phase was washed with NaHC03 solution, brine and dried over MgS04.
Evaporation provided 13.97 g of the title compound.
Step 3: Semicarbazone H i..,., N' N H
FmocN~ OH
H O
~C02-tBu To a solution of crude aldehyde 2 (13.97 g, 35 mmol) in 100 mL EtOH
was added NaOAc (3.11 g, 38 mmol), followed by the Webb semicarbazide, TFA
salt (11.36 g, 34.5 mmol) as a solution in 220 mL EtOH and 110 mL H20. The mixture was stirred 15 h at RT, giving a ppt. The reaction mixture was partitioned between 1M NaOH and EtOAc and extracted 3x with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with brine and dried over Na2S04. Purification by flash chromatography (10% MeOH in CH2 C12 to 10°1o MeOH, 10°1o THF in CH2Cl2) provided 17.56 g of the title compound.
Step 4 Resin A
To a solution of HOBt (3.26 g, 24.1 mmol) in 250 mL CH2CI2 was added a solution of semicarbazone (11.91 g, 20.1 mmol) in 100 mL CH2C12. Amino-Merrifield resin (19.14 g, 13.4 mmol) was then added, and the suspension was cooled to 0 °C. EDCI (4.62 g, 24.12 mmol) was added in three portions, and the mixture was stirred 23 h at RT. The resin was then filtered and washed with aq. NH4C1 (6x), water (2x), aq. NaHC03 (3x), water (3x), 50% aq THF (3x), THF (3x), EtOAc (lx) and CH2C12 (lx), then dried in vacuo to give 29.49 g of the title compound.
Step S Resin B
152 mg of resin was suspended in 2 mL DMF. Piperidine (0.4 mL) was added, and the mixture was rotated for 25 min. The resin was filtered and washed with DMF (3 x), THF (3x) and CH2Cl2 (3x) Step 6 (3S)-3-[(5-Bromo-3-pyridyl)carbamoyl)amino-4-oxo-butanoic acid The resin from Step 5 was suspended in 1.6 mL DMF and EDCI (87 mg, 0.45 mmol), HOBt (70 mg, 0.45 mmol) and 5-bromonicotinic acid (77 mg, 0.38 mmol) were added. The mixture was rotated at RT for 3h, then filtered and washed with DMF, THF, CH2C12 and EtOAc (3x each). The resin was then treated with 9:1 TFA:H20 (2.5 mL) and rotated for 35 min. The resin was filtered and washed with 9:1 TFA:H20 (2 x 2.5 mL), and the filtrates were concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 1:1 HOAc:H20 and lyophilized to provide 19.3 mg of the title compound.
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.65 (m, 2H), 8.23 (br s, 1H), 5.00 (d, 1H), 4.27 (m, 1H), 2.51 (dd, 1H), 2.32 (dd, 1H).

(3S)-3-[(5-HYDROXY-3-PYR>DYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXO
BUTANOIC AC>D
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.44 (m, 1H), 8.25 (m, 1H), 8.08 (m, 1H), 4.95 (d, 1H), 4.30 (m, 1H), 2.65 (dd, 1H), 2.48 (dd, 1H).

(3S)-3-[(5-AMINO-3-PYR117YL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC AC>D
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) S 8.22 (s, 1H), 7.98 (m, 1H), 7.95 (m, 1H), 4.95 (d, 1H), 4.28 (m, 1H), 2.65 (dd, 1H), 2.48 (dd, 1H).

(3S)-3-[(6-(9H-9-(FLUORENYLMETHOXY)CARBONYLAMINO)-3 PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACID
1H NMR (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 8 8.86 (m, 1H), 8.77 (m, 1H), 8.17 (m, 1 H), 7.89 (m, 2H), 7.80 (m, 2H), 7.42 (m, 2H), 7.33 (m, 2H), 4.97 (d, 1 H), 4.4-4.2 (m, 4H), 3.0 (m, 1H), 2.7 (m, 1H).

(3S)-3-[(3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACID
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.70 (br s, 1H), 8.50 (m, 1H), 8.02 (m, 1H), 7.40 (m, 1H), 4.96 (d, 1H), 4.27 (m, 1H), 2.50 (dd, 1H), 2.31 (dd, 1H).

(3S)-3-[(6-AMINO-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACm 1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.15 (m, 1H), 8.00 (m, 1H), 6.88 (d, 1H), 4.98 (d, 1H), 4.30 (m, 1 H), 2.68 (dd, 1 H), 2.49 (dd, 1 H).

(3S)-3-[((6-((3-CARBOXYPROPANOYL)AMINO)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL)]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACID
Resin B was reacted with 6-aminonicotinic acid as described in Example 1, Step 6. The resulting resin-bound aniline (104.8 mg) was suspended in 2 mL of pyridine with 77 mg of succinic anhydride and heated to 94°C for 4 h. The resin was washed with DMF (3 x), THF (3x) and CH2C12 (3x). The resulting resin was treated with TFA as described in Example 1, Step 6 to provide the title compound as a mixture of cyclic acetals.
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.7-8.1 (m, 2H), 7.35 (m, 1H), 4.95 (m, 0.6H), 4.80 (m, 0.4H), 4.28 (m,0.6H), 4.02 (m, 0.4H), 2.7-2.3 (m, 6H).

2-(((5-((((1S)-2-CARBOXY-1-FORMYLETHYL)AMINO)CARBONYL)-2-PYRLDYL)AMINO)CARBONYL)BENZOIC AC>D
1H NMR (D20/d6-acetone, 400 MHz) 8 8.55 (m, 1H), 8.15 (m, 1H), 7.95 (m, 1H), 7.83 (d, 1H), 7.56 (m, 1H), 7.50 (m, 1H), 7.44 (m, 1H), 5.00 (d, 1H), 4.32 (m, 1H), 2.68 (dd, 1H), 2.50 (dd, 1H).

(3S)-3-[((6-((4-CARBOXYBUTANOYL)AMINO)-3-PYR>DYL)CARBONYL)]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACID
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.50 (m, 1H), 8.26 (m, 1H), 7.45 (d, 1H), 4.95 (d, 1H), 4.28 (m, 1H), 2.65 (m, 2H), 2.43 (m, 2H), 2.27 (m, 2H), 1.75 (m, 2H).

4-(5-((((1S)-2-CARBOXY-1-FORMYLETHYL)AMINO)CARBONYL)-3-PYRLDYL)BENZOIC ACID
Resin B was reacted with 5-bromonicotinic acid as described in Example 1, Step 6. The resulting resin (0.5 mmol/g, 153 mg) was suspended in DME
(2 mL). Aq. sodium carbonate (2M, 0.19 mL), 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid (64 mg, 0.38 mmol) and Pd(Ph3P)4 (9 mg, 0.008 mmol) were added, and the mixture was heated at 90 °C for 16h, then cooled. The resin was filtered and washed with aq NH4Cl (3 x), H20 (3x), THF (3x) and CH2Cl2 (3x). The resulting resin was treated with TFA as described in Example 1, Step 6 to provide the title compound.
1H NMR (D20, 400 MHz) 8 8.82 (s, 1H), 8.79 (s, 1H), 8.30 (m, 1H), 7.82 (d, 2H), 7.64 (d, 2H), 4.98 (d, 1H), 4.27 (m, 1H), 2.49 (m, 2H), 2.32 (m, 2H).

(3S)-5-(BENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-BROMO-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO

Step 1: t-Butyl (3S)-5-bromo-3-[(9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl]amino-4-oxo-pentanoate (11) To a solution of N-Fmoc-L-aspartic acid (3-tert-butyl ester (21.0 g, 51.0 mmol) in 300 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) at -78 °C was added N-methylmorliholine (NMM, 7.9 mL, 71.4 mmol) followed by isobutyl chloroformate (IBCF, 8.6 mL, 66.3 mmol). After stirring for 30 minutes at -78 °C, this mixture was warmed to -15 °C
for 15 minutes. To the mixture was then added twice, in a 10 minutes interval, a solution of diazomethane in ether (1 M, 40 mL) with stirring. The mixture was allowed to warm to 0°C and to it was added another 60 mL of the diazomethane solution. The solution was then warmed to room temperature and stirred for 10 minutes, recooled back to 0 °C and treated with a solution of HBr (48%
aqueous)/AcOH (1/1, v/v, 100 mL) for 5 minutes, diluted with ethyl acetate and water.
The organic phase was separated, washed with water and brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography. Eluting with hexanes/ethyl acetate (3:1) afforded the desired product as a white powder (20 g, 81 % yield).
1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 7.85 (d, 2H), 7.69 (d, 2H), 7.41 (t, 2H), 7.32 (t, 2H), 7.02 (bd, 1H, NH), 4.70 (dd, 1H), 4.51-4.41 (m, 2H), 4.38-4.30 (2xd, 2H), 4.25 (t, 1H), 2.85 (dd, 1H), 2.70 (dd, 1H), 1.41 (s, 9H).
Step 2: Preparation of Resin D
A suspension of amino-Mernfield resin (Novabiochem, 30 grams, 31.2 mmol), acid 6 (14.7 g, 46.8 mmol), EDCI (10.77 g, 56.12 mmol) and HOBT (8.6 g, 56.16 mmol) in DMF (240 mL) was shaken on a orbital shaker at 190 rpm overnight.
The mixture was filtered and the residual resin washed sequentially with DMF, methanol, dichloromethane and methanol and dried under vacuum. The resin then was suspended in a solution of TFA/dichloromethane (1:2, 300 mL) and shaken for 2h on a orbital shaker. The suspension was filtered, washed with dichloromethane (5x) and methanol (5x) and then dried under vacuum overnight to yield Resin D (40.5 g, 0.81 mmol/g).
Step 3:
Loading of ketone 11 to Resin D
A suspension of ketone 11 (4.5 g, 9.22 mmol) and Resin D (8.8g, 7.13 mmol) in THF (70 mL) in the presence of AcOH (0.2 mL, 3.4 mmol) was shaken on a orbital shaker at 200 rpm overnight. The suspension was filtered and residual resin was washed sequentially with THF, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether.
Drying under high vacuum afforded Resin G (11.7 g).

Step 4:
Preparation of Resin I
O
O N ~~~'~
~NH
N

S
'COrt-Bu Resin I
To a suspension of Resin G (1.6 g) in DMF (6 mL) in a fritted reservoir was added a solution of benzylmercaptan (5.5 mL, 1 M in DMF) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) and the mixture was rotated on a disc (Glas-CoITM) for 3h and filtered. The resin was washed with DMF and then subjected to a solution of 20% piperidine in DMF for 20 minutes and then washed sequentially with DMF, methanol, dichloromethane and methanol and dried under high vacuum to afford Resin I.
Step 5:
(3S)-5-(Benzylsulfanyl)-3-[(5-bromo-3-pyridyl)carbonyl]amino-4-oxopentanoic acid Resin I (100 mg, 0.05 mmol) was suspended in 3 mL DMF and HATU
(96 mg, 0.25 mmol) and 5-bromonicotinic acid (51 mg, 0.25 mmol) were added.
DIEA (0.04 mL, 0.25 mmol) was then added and the mixture was rotated at RT for 3h, then filtered and washed with DMF, MeOH, THF, and CH2C12 (3x each). The resin was then treated with 9:1 TFA:H20 (2.5 mL) and rotated for 35 min. The resin was filtered and washed with CH3CN and the filtrates were concentrated to provide 16 mg of the title compound.
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.10 (br s, 1H, NH), 8.55 (br s, 1H), 8.45 (s, 2H), 7.35-7.20 (m, 5H), 5.25 (q, 1H), 3.75 (s, 2H), 3.50 (dd, 2H), 3.05 (dd, 1H), 2.88 (dd, 1H). MS: m/z 437.2, 439.2 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(PHENYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-BROMO-3-PYR>DYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-Step 1:
Resin G (100 mg), DMF (3 ml) and thiophenol (26 p1) were mixed together in a fritted syringe. It was shaken for 30 sec., then (iPr)2NEt (44 p,1) was added. It was rotated for 2h. The resin was washed with DMF (4x), MeOH (4x), THF (4x) and CH2C12 (4x). It was dried under a N2 flow for 10 min.
Step 2:
The resin thus obtained and 3.0 ml of a 20% piperidine/DMF v/v solution were mixed together in a fritted syringe and it was rotated for 25 min. The resin was washed with DMF (4x), THF (4x) and CH2C12 (4x). It was dried under flow for 10 min.
Step 3:
5-Bromonicotinic acid (51 mg) was coupled to the resin as described previously and the coupled resin was treated with TFA/H20 to afford the title compound ( 18 mg).
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.05 (br s, 1H, NH) 8.55 (br s, 1H), 8.40 (s, 2H), 7.35 (d, 2H), 7.25 (t, 2H), 7.16 (t, 1H), 5.20 (q, 1H), 4.20 (s, 1H), 3.05 (dd, 1H), 2.92 (dd, 1H). MS: m/z 423.0, 425.0 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(((3-(4-(FL,UOROBENZYL)SULFANYL)-1-CARBOXYMETHYL)-2 OXOPROPYL)AMINOCARBONYL)NICOTINIC AC)D
Step 1 A mixture of Resin K (1.52 g, 0.76 mmol), 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (1.44g, 8.6 mmol) and HATU (1.10 g, 2.9 mmol) was suspended in 10 mL DMF
and shaken. Diethylisopropylamine (1.2 mL, 6.9 mmol) was then added and the mixture rotated for 2.5 h. The resin was washed with DMF (3x), MeOH (3x), THF
(3x) and CH2Cl2 (3x) and dried to give Resin L.

Step 2 60 mg of Resin L was treated with 9:1 TFA:H20 and rotated for 15 min. The resin was, filtered and washed with acetonitrile, and the filtrates were concentrated to give 9 mg of the title compound.
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.28 (br s, 2H), 8.79 (m, 1H), 8.67 (d, 1H), 7.37 (m, 2H), 7.03 (m, 2H), 5.26 (dd, 1H), 3.73 (s, 2H), 3.58 (d, 1H), 3.45 (d, 1 H) 3 .10 (dd, 1 H), 2.90 (dd, 1 H).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((DIETHYLAMINO)CARBONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
A mixture of Resin L (74 mg) and HATU (60 mg) was suspended in DMF (2 mL). Excess diethylamine (~0.5 mL) was added and the mixture was rotated for 1.5h. The resin was washed with DMF (3x), MeOH (3x), THF (3x) and CH2C12 (3x). The resin was then treated with 9:1 TFA:H20 and rotated for 15 min. The resin was filtered and washed with acetonitrile, and the filtrates were concentrated to give 13 mg of the title compound.
MS (APCI, neg. ion) m/z 474 (M-1, 100), 419 (45), 334 (15), 288 (43).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((BENZYLAMINO)CARBONYL) 3-PYR)DYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS (APCI, neg. ion) m/z 508 (M-1, 100), 419 (45), 334 (15), 288 (43).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((N-PHENYL-N
METHYLAMINO)CARBONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARB AMOYL] -4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS (APCI, neg. ion) m/z 508 (M-l, 70), 419 (100), 279 (30).

(3S)-3-[((6-((3-(CARBOXYMETHYL)PROPANOYL)AMINO)-3 PYRll~YL)CARBONYL)]AMINO-4-OXO-BUTANOIC ACID
1H NMR ( 400MHz, acetone-d6): 810.35 (br s, 1H), 8.88 (s, 1H), 8.40-8.23 (m, 3H), 4.55 (t, 1H), 3.62 (s, 3H), 3.10 (dd, 1H), 2.91-2.83 (m, 2H), 2.75-2.65 (m, 2H), 2.60 (dd, 1H). MS: m/z 352.4 (M+1).

(3S)-5-[(2'CHLORO-6'-FLUOROBENZYL)SULFANYL]-3-[(5-BROMO-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.05 (br s, 1H), 8.85 (br s, 1H), 8.55 (br s, 1H, NH), 8.40 (br s, 1H), 7.35-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.12-7.06 (m, 1H), 5.18 (q, 1H), 3.90 (s, 2H), 3.75 (s, 2H), 3.05 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (dd, 1H). MS: m/z 489.6 (M+1).

(3S)-5-[(2' CHLORO-6'-FLUOROBENZYLOXY]-3-[(5-BROMO-3 PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC AC>D
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): b 9.13 (br s, 1H), 8.97 (br s, 1H), 8.55 (br s, 1 H), 8.45 (br s, 1 H), 7.48-7.37 (m, 1 H), 7.31 (t, 1 H), 7.15 (q, 1 H), 5.10 (q, 1H), 4.82-4.72 (m, 2H)4.58-4.45 (m, 2H), 2.98-2.80 (m, 2H). ). MS: m/z 473.2, 475.1, 477.0 (M+1).

(3S)-5-((4-FLUOROBENZYL)SULFANYL)-3-[(5-(ISOPROPOXYMETHYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC AC>D
Step 1 3-Bromo-5-hydroxymethylpyridine To a suspension of 5-bromonicotinic acid (8.5 g, 42 mmol) in 120 mL
EtOH was added conc. sulfuric acid (2 mL). The mixture was heated to reflux for 15h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was partitioned between ether and saturated NaHC03. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and evaporated to give 9.4 g of a colorless oil. This material was dissolved in 150 mL
of EtOH and treated with NaBH4 (10.3 g, 272 mmol). The mixture was stirred for days at room temperature, then was quenched with 30 mL water and was concentrated. The residue was diluted with water and was extracted 4x with CH2C12.
The combined organic phases were washed with brine, filtered through cotton and evaporated to give 7 g of an oil. Purification by flash chromatography (ether) gave 3.2 g of the title compound.
Step 2 3-Bromo-5-(isopropoxymethyl)pyridine To a 0 °C solution of 3-bromo-5-hydroxymethylpyridine (211 mg, 1.22 mmol) in CH2C12 (10 mL) was added Et3N (0.4 mL) and MsCI (0.13 mL, 1.7 mmol).
The solution was stirred for 45 min, then isopropanol (1 mL) was added, and the solution was stirred overnight. Concentration followed by flash chromatography (50% ether/hexanes) provided 130 mg of 3-bromo-5-chloromethylpyridine. This material was dissolved in isopropanol and treated with sodium hydride and tetramethylammonium iodide. The reaction mixture was warmed to 50 °C
overnight, then concentrated and partitioned between EtOAc and water. The organic phase was washed with brine and dried over MgS04 to give 130 mg of the title compound.
Step 3 5-(Isopropoxymethyl)nicotinic acid A mixture of 3-bromo-5-(isopropoxymethyl)pyridine (130 mg, 0.56 mmol), PdCl2(Ph3P)2 (9 mg, 0.013 mmol), PPh3 (26 mg, 0.10 mmol) and Bu3N (125 mg, 0.67 mmol) were combined in a 2 mL vial with a stirbar. Degassed water (0.03 mL, 1.6 mmol) was added and the vial was placed in a stainless steel bomb. The bomb was charged with CO (200 psi), and heated to 120 °C for 20 h (ref:
J. Org.
Chem. 46, 4614, 1981). The bomb was cooled and depressurized, and the reaction mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate and aq. ammonium chloride. The organic phase was washed with brine and dried over MgS04 to give 75 mg of the title compound contaminated with Ph3P.
Step 4 3S)-5-((4-Fluorobenzyl)sulfanyl)-3-[(5-(isopropoxymethyl)-3-pyridyl)carbonyl]amino-4-oxopentanoic acid Unpurified 5-(isopropoxymethyl)nicotinic acid (75 mg) was added to Resin K as described previously, then cleaved with TFA:H20 to provide 38 mg of the title compound.
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.17 (br s, 1H), 8.94 (br s, 1H), 8.6 (m, 2H), 7.37 (m, 2H), 7.05 (m, 2H), 5.26 (q, 1H), 4.78 (s, 2H), 3.80 (m, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H), 3.52 (dd, 2H), 3.07 (dd, 1H), 2.92 (dd, 1H).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5 ((DIISOPROPYLAMINO)CARBONYL)-3-PYR117YL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS (APCI, neg. ion) m/z 502 (M-1, 100), 362 (20), 316 (16).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-PHENYL-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.10 (m, 2H), 8.67-8.56 (m, 2H), 7.78 (d, 2H), 7.58-7.48 (m, 3H), 7.42-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.30 (m, 1H), 3.75 (s, 2H), 3.53 (dd, 2H), 3.10 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (dd, 1H). MS: m/z 453.3 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-4-OXO-3-[((5-(PHENYL-1-ETHYNYL)-3-PYR117YL)CARBONYL]AMINO)PENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.08 (br s, 1H), 8.92 (br s, 1H), 8.58 (d, 1H), 8.40 (s, 1H), 7.65-7.60 (m, 2H), 7.50-7.43 (m, 3H), 7.40-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.02 (t, 2H), 5.28 (q, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H), 3.52 (dd, 2H), 3.10 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (dd, 1H).
MS: m/z 477.2 (M+1).

((3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(6-METHYL-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.25 (br s, 1H), 8.88-8.75 (m, 2H), 7.98 (d, 1H), 7.40-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.28 (q, 1H), 3.71 (s, 2H), 3.50 (dd, 2H), 3.08 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (dd, 1H), 2.82 (s, 3H). MS: m/z 391.3 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-4-OXO-3-[(5-(PIPERIDINOCARB ONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARB ONYLJ AMINOPENTANOIC
ACID
1H NMR ( 300 MHz, acetone-d6): 88.7 (m, 2H), 8.6 (d, 1H),8.25 (m, 1H), 7.40-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.1-7.0 (m, 2H), 5.25 (m, 1H), 3.71 (s, 2H), 3.50 (dd, 2H), 3.35 (m, 2H), 3.1 (m, 3H), 2.90 (dd, 1H), 1.9-1.5 (m, 6H).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((((METHYLCARBOXY)PROPYL)AMINOCARBONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACLD
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.27 (br s, 1H), 9.20 (br s, 1H), 8.69 (br s, 1H), 8.64 (m, 1H), 7.40-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.28 (m, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H), 3.59 (s, 3H), 3.50 (dd, 2H), 3.47 (m, 2H), 3.08 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (dd, 1H), 2.43 (t, 2H), 1.90 (m, 2H). MS m/z 520.3 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((ETHYL(4 PYRIDYLMETHYL)AMINO)CARBONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS (APCI, neg. ion) m/z 537 (M-1, 100), 397 (40), 351 (45).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((BUTYL(2 CYANOETHYL)AMINO)CARB ONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARB ONYL] AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS (APCI, neg. ion) m/z 527 (M-1, 100), 474 (30), 387 (20), 288 (35).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5 (((METHYLCARBOXY)BUTYL)AMINOCARBONYL)-3 PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR ( 400MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.15 (br s, 1H), 8.65 (s, 1H), 8.58 (m, 1H), 8.15 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.40-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.28 (q, 1H), 3.75 (s, 2H), 3.58 (s, 3H), 3.50 (dd ABX, 2H), 3.50-3.43 (m, 2H), 3.05 (dd, 1H), 2.92 (dd, 1H), 2.35 (t, 2H), 1.67 (m, 4H). MS m/z 534.3 (M+1).

(3 S )-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[ (5 (((METHYLCARBOXY)ETHYL)AMINOCARBONYL)-3 PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR ( 400 MHz, acetone-d6): b 9.28 (br s, 1H, NH), 9.18 (br s, 1H), 8.68 (s, 1H), 8.62 (m, 1H), 8.27 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.39-7.34 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.25 (q, 1H), 4.09 (q, 2H), 3.73 (s, 2H), 3.68 (q, 2H), 3.50 (dd, ABX, 2H), 3.07 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (dd, 1H), 2.65 (t, 2H), 1.18 (t, 3H). MS: m/z 520.4 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[((6-((3 CARBOXYPROPANOYL)AM1N0)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL)]AMINO-4-OXO
PENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR (400 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.05 (s, 1H), 8.50 (m, 1H, NH), 8.38 (d, 1H), 7.45 (d, 1H), 7.39-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.25 (m, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H), 3.50 (dd, ABX, 2H), 3.08 (dd, 1H), 2.90 (s, 4H), 2.85 (dd, 1H). ~ MS: m/z 492.3 (M+1).

((3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-(((METHYLCARBOXY)PENTYL)AMINOCARBONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
1H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d6): 8 9.21 (s, 1H), 8.78 (s, 1H), 8.68 (d, 1H), 8.24 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.42-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.05 (t, 2H), 5.28 (q, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H), 3.60 (s, 3H), 3.50 (dd ABX, 2H), 3.45 (t, 2H), 3.08 (dd, 1H), 2.91 (dd, 1H), 2.30 (t, 2H), 1.69-1.58 (m, 4H), 1.49-1.38 (m, 2H). MS: m/z 548.3 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-(PROPYLTHIO)-3 PYR117YL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
Step 1 Methyl5-bromonicotinate To a solution of 5-bromonicotinic acid (10 g, 49.5 mmol) in MeOH
(200 mL) was added 2 mL conc H2S04. The mixture was heated to reflux overnight, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was diluted with aq NaHC03 and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and concentrated to give 8.75 g of the title compound.
Step 2 Methyl 5-(thiomethyl)nicotinate To a solution of methyl 5-bromonicotinate (5.0 g, 23.1 mmol) in DMF
(100 mL) was added NaSMe (1.78 g, 25.5 mmol). The mixture was heated to 80 °C
and stirred overnight. The mixture was cooled, diluted with aq NaHC03 and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and concentrated to give 2.0 g of the title compound.
Step 3 Methyl 5(sulfinylmethyl)nicotinate To a solution of methyl 5-(thiomethyl)nicotinate (2.93 g, 16.0 mmol) in 1:1 CH2C12/MeOH (160 mL) was added MMPP (80°l0, 4.94 g, 8.0 mmol) portionwise. The mixture was diluted with water, then concentrated. Aq. NaHC03 was added, and the mixture was extracted three times with CH2C12. The organic extracts were washed with brine, filtered through cotton and evaporated to give the title compound which was used in the next step without purification.
Step 4 Methyl5-mercaptonicotinate To a solution of unpurified sulfoxide in CH2C12 (110 mL) was added TFAA (50 mL). The solution was heated to reflux for 4h then cooled and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in 1:1 MeOH/Et3N (60 mL) and evaporated.
This was repeated two more times, then the residue was dissolved in CH2Cl2 and washed with aq NH4C1, and brine, filtered through cotton and concentrated to give the title compound as a mixture with the corresponding disulfide.
Step 5 5-Mercaptonicotinic acid To a solution of methyl 5-mercaptonicotinate (1.0 g, 5.9 mmol) in MeOH (30 mL) and water (20 mL) was added LiOH~H20 (744 mg, 17.7 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3h, then concentrated. The residue was dissolved in water, acidified to pH 3 with 1M HCI, and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over MgS04 and concentrated to give the title compound as a mixture with the corresponding disulfide.
Step 6 5-(Propylthio)nicotinic acid To a solution of 5-mercaptonicotinic acid (90 mg, 0.58 mmol) in DMF
was added DIEA (0.35 mL, 2.1 mmol) followed by 1-bromopropane (0.09 mL, 0.93 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24h, then partitioned between NaHC03 and EtOAc. The organic phase was evaporated to give 33 mg of propyl 5-(propylthio)nicotinate. The aqueous phase was acidified to pH 3 and extracted three times with EtOAc. The organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and concentrated to give 35 mg of the title compound.
S tep 7 (3S)-5-(4-Fluorobenzylsulfanyl)-3-[(5-(propylthio)-3-pyridyl)carbamoyl]amino-4-oxopentanoic acid Resin I (88 mg) was treated with of 5-(propylthio)nicotinic acid (35 mg) as described in Example 12 to provide 20 mg of the title compound.
MS m/z 451 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-4-OXO-3-([(5-(PROPYLSULFONYL)-3 PYR)T7YL)CARBONYL]AMINO)PENTANOIC ACID
Step 1 Propyl 5-(propylsulfonyl)nicotinate To a solution of propyl 5-(propylthio)nicotinate (33 mg, 0.14 mmol) in 1:1 CH2 Cl2:MeOH (1.2 mL) was added MMPP (80°10,110 mg, 0.22 mmol), and the mixture was stirred overnight, then partitioned between EtOAc and NaHC03 . The organic phase was washed with brine, dried over MgS04 and evaporated to give mg of the title compound.
Step 2 5-(Propylsulfonyl)nicotinic acid To a solution of propyl 5-(propylsulfonyl)nicotinate (21 mg, 0.08 mmol) in 1:1 MeOH:H20 (1 mL) was added LiOH~H20 (34 mg, 0.8 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 1h, then acidified to pH 3 with 1M HCI. The mixture was extracted three times with ethyl acetate, washed with brine and dried over MgS04 to give 13 mg of the title compound.
Step 3 (3S)-5-(4-Fluorobenzylsulfanyl)-3-[(5-(propylsulfonyl)-3-pyridyl)carbamoyl]amino-4-oxopentanoic acid Resin I (60 mg) was treated with 5-(propylsulfonyl)nicotinic acid (13 mg) as described in Example 12 to provide 15 mg of the title compound.
MS m/z 483 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((DIETHYLAMINO)SULFONYL) 3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS m/z 512 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5 ((ISOPROPYLSULFONYL)AMINO)-3-PYR117YL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS m/z 498 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5 ((CYCLOPROPYLAMINO)SULFONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS m/z 496 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-((PYRROLIDINO)SULFONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
Step 1 5-(Chlorosulfonyl)nicotinic acid To a solution of 5-mercaptonicotinic acid (130 mg) in AcOH (10 mL) was added a slow stream of chlorine gas for 5 min. The solution was then evaporated using toluene as an azeotrope to give 161 mg of the title compound.
Step 2 5-((Pyrrolidino)sulfonyl)nicotinic acid To a suspension of 5-(chlorosulfonyl)nicotinic acid (50 mg, 0.22 mmol) in CH2C12 (1.5 mL) was added pyrrolidine (10 drops), giving a solution.
After 2.5h, the reaction was partitioned between CH2C12 and dilute NaHC03. The aqueous phase was acidified to pH3 and extracted three times with CH2C12. The combined organic phases were filtered through cotton and evaporated to give 42 mg of the title compound.

Step 3 (3S)-5-(4-Fluorobenzylsulfanyl)-3-[(5-((pyrrolidino)sulfonyl)-3-pyridyl)carbonyl]amino-4-oxopentanoic acid Resin I (80 mg) was treated with 5-((pyrrolidino)sulfonyl)nicotinic acid (42 mg) as described in Example 12 to provide 20 mg of the title compound.
MS m/z 510 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(4-FLUOROBENZYLSULFANYL)-3-[(5-(((N-CYCLOPROPYL-N-METHYL)AMINO)SULFONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
MS m/z 510 (M+1).

(3S)-5-PHENOXY-3-[(5-((CYCLOPROPYLAMINO)SULFONYL)-3-PYRIDYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4-OXOPENTANOIC ACID
To a suspension of Resin G (200 mg, 0.086 mmol) in DMF (6 mL) was added phenol (41 mg, 0.43 mmol) and cesium carbonate (140 mg, 0.43 mmol). The suspension was rotated for 2.5 h, then washed with DMF (3x), water (3x), DMF
(3x), THF (3x), MeOH (3x), and CH2C12 (3x). The resulting resin was suspended in 20%
piperidine/DMF, rotated for 10 min, then washed with DMF (3x), THF (3x), MeOH
(3x), and CH2Cl2 (3x) to give Resin M.
Resin M (200 mg, 0.086 mmol), 5-((cyclopropylamino)sulfonyl) nicotinic acid (46 mg, 0.189 mmol), and HATU (72 mg, 0.189 mmol) were suspended in DMF (4 mL) then treated with DIEA (0.033 mL, 0.2 mmol). The suspension was rotated 2.5 h, then washed with DMF (3x), THF (3x), MeOH (3x), and CH2C12 (3x).
The resulting resin was rotated with 9:1 TFA:H20 for 10 min, then filtered and washed with acetonitrile. The filtrate was concentrated to give the title compound.
1H NMR (500 MHz , acetone-d6): 9.32 (m, 1H), 9.03 (m, 1H), 8.74 (m, 1H, NH), 8.62 (m, 1H), 8.45 (m, 1H, NH), 7.32-7.22 (m, 2H), 7.01-6.88 (m, 3H), 5.21-5.06 (m, 2H), 4.30 (q, 1H), 3.16-2.89 3.16 (m, 2H), 2.31 (m, 1H), 0.59 (m, 2H), 0.52 (m, 2H). MS m/z 448.3 (M+1).

(3S)-3-[(5-((CYCLOPROPYLAMINO)-SULFONYL)-3 PYR>DYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-5-(( 1-NAPHTHYLCARBONYL)OXY)-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
To a suspension of Resin G (200 mg, 0.086 mmol) in DMF (6 mL) was added 1-naphthoic acid (74 mg, 0.43 mmol) and potassium fluoride (25 mg, 0.43 mmol). The suspension was rotated for 2.5 h, then washed with DMF (3x), water (3x), DMF (3x), THF (3x), MeOH (3x), and CH2C12 (3x). The resulting resin was converted to the title compound in the same manner as described in Example 52.
1H NMR (500 MHz , acetone-d6): 9.38 (m, 1H), 9.15 (m, 1H), 8.95-8.8 (m, 2H, 2 NH), 8.29 (m, 1H), 8.17 (m, 1H), 7.99 (m, 1H), 7.65-7.51 (m, 3H), 7.15 (m, 1H), 5.49-5.35 (q, 2H), 5.30-5.22 (q, 1H), 3.20-2.97 (m, 2H), 2.32 (m, 1H), 0.58 (m, 2H), 0.51 (m, 2H). MS m/z 526.5 (M+1).

(3S)-5-(2,6-DIFLUOROBENZYLAMINO)-3-[(5 ((CYCLOPROPYLAMINO)SULFONYL)-3-PYR>DYL)CARBONYL]AMINO-4 OXOPENTANOIC ACID
To a suspension of Resin O (500 mg, 0.225 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added 2,6-difluorobenzylamine (0.11 mL, 1.12 mmol). The suspension was rotated for 1.5 h, then washed with DMF (3x), THF (3x), MeOH (3x), and CH2C12 (3x). The resin was resuspended in CH2C12 and treated with di-t-butyldicarbonate (0.15 mL, 0.67 mmol) and DIEA (0.12 mL, 0.67 mmol). The mixture was rotated for 2 h, then washed with DMF (3x), THF (3x), MeOH (3x), and CH2C12 (3x). The resulting Resin P was suspended in CH2C12 (15 mL) and treated with Pd(PPh3)4 (25 mg, 0.023 mmol) and phenylsilane (0.66 mL, 5.4 mmol). The mixture was rotated for min, then washed with DMF (3x), THF (3x), MeOH (3x), and CH2C12 (3x). The resulting resin was converted to the title compound in the same manner as described in Example 52.
30 MS m/z 497.3 (M+1).

Assays for Determining Biological Activity (a) Measurement of caspase activity by cleavage of a fluorogenic substrate (b) A fluorogenic derivative of the tetrapeptide recognized by caspase-3 and corresponding to the P1 to P4 amino acids of the PARP cleavage site, Ac-DEVD-AMC (AMC, amino-4-methylcoumarin) was prepared as follows: i) synthesis of N
Ac-Asp(OBn)-Glu(OBn)-Val-C02H, ii) coupling with Asp(OBn)-7-amino-4 methylcoumarin, iii) removal of benzyl groups.
COON

'N N Y 'N N Y 'N ~ O
H I H I H
O O
~ COOH
COOH
Standard reaction mixtures (300 p,L final volume), contained Ac-DEVD-AMC and purified or crude caspase-3 enzyme in 50 mM Hepes/KOH (pH
7.0), 10% (v/v) glycerol, 0.1 % (w/v) CHAPS, 2 mM EDTA, 5 mM dithiothreitol, and were incubated at 25°C. Reactions were monitored continuously in a spectrofluorometer at an excitation wavelength of 380 nm and an emission wavelength of 460 nm.
(c) Cell Death Detection ELISA (Whole Cell Assay) Photometric immunoassay. for the qualitative and quantitative in vitro determination of cytoplasmic histone-associated-DNA-fragments (mono- and oligonucleosomes) after induced cell death. This assay was performed using the commercially available kit from Boehringer Mannheim, cat. No. 1 920 685.
(d) In Vivo Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Rats Male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-400g) were fasted overnight, and then anesthetized with intraperitoneal administration of sodium pentobarbital (65 mg/kg).
To monitor heart rate and aortic pressure the left carotid artery was isolated and a cannula placed in the vessel. The aortic cannula was interfaced with a pressure transducer which was connected to a physiologic recorder. The left jugular vein was isolated and cannulated for administration of a caspase inhibitor compound or vehicle (2 % dimethylsulfoxide in 0.9% NaCI). A left thoracotomy was performed in the region overlying the heart and the pericardium opened, exposing the heart. The origin of the left coronary artery was visualized and a 4.0 suture passed under the artery approximately 2 - 3 mm from its origin. The ends of the suture were passed through a short length of 2 mm id tubing and coronary artery occlusion effected by placing tension on the suture such that the tube compressed the artery. After initial placement of the suture/occluder, the thoracotomy was closed with a small clamp and opened only to effect occlusion and reperfusion of the artery. A Lead II
electrocardiograph (ECG) signal was obtained by placing subdermal platinum leads and continuously monitored. After a baseline period of 20-30 minutes the left coronary artery was occluded for 45 minutes. The period of reperfusion was 3 hours. The caspase inhibitor or vehicle was administered as a first bolus 5 minutes before the onset of ischemia and a second bolus was administered again at the onset of reperfusion.
Additionally, an infusion was initiated immediately after the first bolus dose. Control animals received the vehicle alone in equal volumes to the caspase inhibitor treated animals. At the end of reperfusion the animals were euthanized and infarct size determined using a dual staining technique (1.5% w/v triphenyltetrazolium chloride to demarcate infarct tissue and 0.25% w/v Evan's blue to demarcate the area at risk of infarct. The heart was subsequently cut transversely into 4 slices of equal thickness, and infarct size and area at risk quantified using planimetry.
Using the above procedure, it is demonstrated that administration of a caspase inhibitor reduces infarct size in the rat subjected to 45 minutes of regional ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion.

Claims (18)

  1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

    A compound represented by formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof, wherein:
    R1 represents H, NH2, NHC1-6alkyl, NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1-6alkyl, or NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-3 members selected from the group consisting of: CO2H, CO2C1-6alkyl, aryl, NH2, NHC1-3alkyl, NH-Aryl, N(C1-3alkyl)2 and Hetcy;
    R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
    (a) H, OH, halo, NH2, CN, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, CO2H, Aryl and Hetcy;
    (b) OC1-6alkyl and OC3-6alkenyl;
    (c) -S(O)y C1-6alkyl, -S(O)y C3-6alkenyl, -S(O)y Aryl and S(O)y Hetcy, wherein y is 0, 1 or 2;
    (d) NHC1-6alkyl, NH-Aryl and NH-Hetcy;
    (e) C(O)C1-6alkyl, C(O)C3-6alkenyl and C(O)Hetcy;
    (f) C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1-6alkyl, C(O)N(C1-6alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl and C(O)N(C1-6alkyl)-Aryl;
    (g) NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, NHC(O)C3-6alkenyl, N(C1-6alkyl)C(O)C1-6alkyl, N(C1-6alkyl)C(O)C3-6alkenyl and N(C1-6alkyl)C(O)Aryl;
    (h) S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1-6alkyl, SO2NHHetcy, S(O)2NHC3-6alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1-6alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1-6alkyl)C3-6alkenyl, SO2NHAryl, SO2NH-Hetcy, SO2N(C1-6alkyl)Aryl and SO2N(C1-6alkyl)Hetcy, and;
    (i) NHSO2C1-6alkyl, NHSO2C3-6alkenyl, N(C1-6alkyl)SO2C1-6alkyl and N(C1-6alkyl)SO2C3-6alkenyl, said C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C3-6alkenyl and C2-6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (i) above being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, NH2, CN, CO2H, Hetcy, Aryl, CO2C1-6alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, O-Aryl, CO2C3-4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1-3alkyl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1-3alkyl, C(O)C3-4alkenyl, -S(O)y C1-3alkyl, -S(O)y C3-4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1-3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1-3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3-4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)C3-4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Hetcy, NHSO3H, NHSO2C1-3alkyl, NHSO2C3-4alkenyl, NHSO2Ary1, NHSO2Hetcy, N(C1-3alkyl)SO3H, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Ary1 and N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Hetcy;
    R3 represents H, halo or C1-3alkyl, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl and Hetcy, said C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl and C2-6alkynyl groups being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of:
    halo, OH, NH2, NHC1-10alkyl, N(C1-10alkyl)2, CN, CO2H, Hetcy, Aryl, CO2C1-6alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, Oaryl, CO2C1-3alkyl, CO2C3-4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1-3alkyl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1-3alkyl, C(O)C3-4alkenyl, -S(O)y C1-3alkyl, -S(O)y C3-4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1-3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1-3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3-4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)C3-4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Hetcy, NHSO3H, NHSO2C1-3alkyl, NHSO2C3-4alkenyl, NHSO2Ary1, NHSO2Hetcy, N(C1-3alkyl)SO3H, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Ary1 and N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Hetcy;
    Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system and Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 2 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-CO2H, -(CH2)0-3CO2C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1-6alkyl, SO2NH2 and SO2CH3.
  2. 2. A compound in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
    R1 represents H, NH2, NHC1-6alkyl, NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1-6alkyl or NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CO2H, CO2C1-6alkyl, aryl, NH2, NHC1-3alkyl, NH-Aryl and N(C1-3alkyl)2.
  3. 3. A compound in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
    R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
    (a) H, OH, halo, NH2, CN, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl, CO2H, Aryl, Hetcy;
    (b) OC1-6alkyl and OC3-6alkenyl;
    (c) -S(O)y C1-6alkyl, -S(O)y C3-6alkenyl, -S(O)y Aryl, S(O)y Hetcy, wherein y is 0 or 2;
    (d) NHC1-6alkyl;
    (e) C(O)C1-6alkyl , C(O)C2-6alkenyl or C(O)Hetcy;
    (f) C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1-6alkyl, C(O)N(C1-6alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1-6alkyl)-Aryl, (g) NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, NHC(O)C3-6alkenyl, N(C1-6alkyl)C(O)C1-6alkyl, N(C1-6alkyl)C(O)C3-6alkenyl, N(C1-6alkyl)C(O)Aryl;
    (h) S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1-6alkyl, S(O)2NHC3-6alkenyl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-6alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1-6alkyl)C3-6alkenyl;
    (i) NHSO2C1-6alkyl, NHSO2C3-6alkenyl, N(C1-6alkyl)SO2C1-6alkyl and N(C1-6alkyl)SO2C3-6alkenyl;
    said C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C3-6alkenyl and C2-6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (i) above being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, NH2, CN, CO2H, Hetcy, Aryl, CO2C1-6alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, CO2C1-3alkyl, CO2C3-4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1-3alkyl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1-3alkyl, C(O)C3-4alkenyl, -S(O)y C1-3alkyl, -S(O)y C3-4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1-3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1-3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3-4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)C3-4alkenyl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Hetcy, NHSO3H, NHSO2C1-3alkyl, NHSO2C3-4alkenyl, NHSO2Ary1, NHSO2Hetcy, N(C1-3alkyl)SO3H, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Aryl and N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Hetcy, Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system;
    Hetcy represents a 5-14 membered ring system, aromatic, non-aromatic or partially aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 3 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-CO2H, -(CH2)0-3CO2C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1-6alkyl, SO2NH2 and SO2CH3.
  4. 4. A compound in accordance with claim 1 wherein R3 represents H or C1-3alkyl.
  5. 5. A compound in accordance with claim 1 wherein R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C2-6alkynyl and Hetcy, said C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl and C2-6alkynyl groups being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: halo, OH, CN, CO2H, Hetcy, N(C1-10 alkyl)2, Aryl, CO2C1-6alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, Oaryl, CO2C1-3alkyl, CO2C3-4alkenyl, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHC1-3alkyl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)2, C(O)NH-Aryl, C(O)N(C1-3alkyl)-Aryl, C(O)C1-3alkyl, C(O)C3-4alkenyl, -S(O)y C1-3alkyl, -S(O)y C3-4alkenyl, S(O)y-(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is as previously defined; OC1-3alkyl-aryl, NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Aryl, N(C1-3alkyl)C(O)Hetcy, S(O)2NH2, S(O)2NHC1-3alkyl, S(O)2NHC3-4alkenyl, S(O)2NHAryl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)2, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)C3-4alkenyl, S(O)2NC1-3alkyl)Aryl, S(O)2N(C1-3alkyl)Hetcy, NHSO3H, NHSO2C1-3alkyl, NHSO2C3-4alkenyl, NHSO2Aryl, NHSO2Hetcy, N(C1-3alkyl)SO3H, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C1-3alkyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2C3-4alkenyl, N(C1-3alkyl)SO2Ary1 and N(C1-3 alkyl)SO2Hetcy, Aryl represents a 6-14 membered aromatic ring system;
    Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 2 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S(O)y with y as defined above and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-3 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-4-CO2H, -(CH2)0-3CO2C1-3alkyl, halo, CN, NH2, phenyl, pyrrolidinyl, NHCH3, C1-(alkyl, SO2NH2 and SO2CH3.
  6. 6. A compound in accordance with claim 2 wherein:
    R1 is selected from the group consisting of: H, NH2, NHC1-6alkyl, NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1-6alkyl and NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CO2H and CO2C1-6alkyl.
  7. 7. A compound in accordance with claim 3 wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
    (a) H, OH, halo, NH2, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkynyl, CO2H, Aryl, Hetcy, (b) -S(O)y C1-6alkyl, S(O)y Hetcy, wherein y is 0 or 2;
    (c) C(O)Hetcy, (d) C(O)NHC1-6alkyl, C(O)N(C1-6alkyl)2, (e) NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, (f) S(O)2NHC1-6alkyl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-6alkyl)2, (g) NHSO2C1-6 alkyl, said C1-6alkyl and C2-6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (g) above being optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CN, CO2H, Aryl, O-Aryl, CO2C1-6alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, Aryl represents a 6-10 membered aromatic ring system;

    Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 3 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-6-CO2H, -(CH2)0-6CO2C1-6alkyl.
  8. 8. A compound in accordance with claim 4 wherein R3 represents H.
  9. 9. A compound in accordance with claim 5 wherein R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-4alkyl, optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of: Aryl, O-Aryl, OC1-6alkyl, S(O)y C1-3alkyl, S(O)y-(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is 0 or 2, OC1-3alkyl-aryl and NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein Aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups.
  10. 10. A compound in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
    R1 is selected from the group consisting of: H, NH2, NHC1-6alkyl, NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, NHC(O)OC1-6alkyl and NHC(O)Aryl, said alkyl and the alkyl and aryl portions of which are optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CO2H and CO2C1-6alkyl;
    R2 is selected from the group consisting of:
    (a) H, OH, halo, NH2, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkynyl, CO2H, Aryl, Hetcy, (b) -S(O)y C1-6alkyl, S(O)y Hetcy, wherein y is 0 or 2;
    (c) C(O)Hetcy, (d) C(O)NHC1-6alkyl, C(O)N(C1-6alkyl)2, (e) NHC(O)C1-6alkyl, (f) S(O)2NHC1-6alkyl, S(O)2NHHetcy, S(O)2N(C1-6alkyl)2, (g) NHSO2C 1-6 alkyl, said C1-6alkyl and C2-6alkynyl groups and portions in (a) through (g) above being optionally substituted with 1-2 members selected from the group consisting of: CN, CO2H, Aryl, O-Aryl, CO2C1-6alkyl, OC1-6alkyl, Aryl represents a 6-10 membered aromatic ring system;

    Hetcy represents a 5-10 membered ring system, aromatic or non-aromatic, containing at least one heteroatom and optionally containing up to 3 additional heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from O, S and N, said Aryl and Hetcy groups and portions thereof being optionally substituted with 1-6 members selected from the group consisting of: -(CH2)0-6-CO2H, -(CH2)0-6CO2C1-6alkyl;
    R3 represents H, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of: H and C1-4alkyl, optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of:
    Hetcy, Aryl, O-Aryl, OC1-6alkyl, S(O)y C1-3alkyl, N(C 1-10 alkyl)2, S(O)y-(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein y is 0 or 2, OC1-3alkyl-aryl and NH(C1-3alkyl-aryl), wherein Aryl represents phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 halo groups.
  11. 11. A compound in accordance with claim 1 as shown in Table I
    below:

    or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof.
  12. 12. A pharmaceutical composition comprised of a compound in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11 in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  13. 13. A method of treating or preventing a caspase-3 mediated disease or condition in a mammalian patient in need of such treatment or prevention, comprising admininstering to said patient a compound in accordance with claim 1 in an amount effective to treat or prevent said caspase-3 mediated disease.
  14. 14. A method of treating or preventing a caspase-3 mediated disease or condition in accordance with claim 13 wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of:
    cardiac or cerebral ischemia or reperfusion injury;
    type I diabetes;
    immune deficiency syndrome, including AIDS;
    cerebral and spinal cord trauma injury;
    organ damage during transplantation;
    alopecia;
    aging;
    Parkinson's disease;
    Alzheimer's disease;
    Down's syndrome;
    spinal muscular atrophy;
    multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
  15. 15. A method of treating or preventing a caspase-3 mediated disease or condition in accordance with claim 14 wherein the disease or condition is Alzheimer's disease.
  16. 16. Use of a compound of formula I, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a caspase-3 mediated disease or condition in a mammalian patient.
  17. 17. A caspase-3 inhibitor pharmaceutical composition comprising an acceptable caspase-3 inhibiting amount of a compound of formula I, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  18. 18. A compound of formula I, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or ester thereof, for use in the treatment or prevention of a caspase-3 mediated disease or condition selected from the group consisting of:
    cardiac or cerebral ischemia or reperfusion injury;
    type I diabetes;
    immune deficiency syndrome, including AIDS;
    cerebral and spinal cord trauma injury;
    organ damage during transplantation;
    alopecia;
    aging;
    Parkinson's disease;
    Alzheimer's disease;
    Down's syndrome;
    spinal muscular atrophy;
    multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
CA002386411A 1999-10-13 2000-10-11 Nicotinyl aspartyl ketones as inhibitors of caspase-3 Abandoned CA2386411A1 (en)

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WO2004014843A1 (en) * 2002-08-09 2004-02-19 Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. Substituted amino compounds and use thereof
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