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Title:
BUILDING BLOCKS DERIVED FROM 1,2-AMINOALCOHOLS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1998/050325
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
Disclosed are novel compounds represented by structural Formula (XX), (XXI) or (XXII); R�1?, R�21? and R�22? are independently an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group. R�2? and R�12? are independently -NR�4?R�5? or -N?+�$m(Z)C?-�. R�3? is -H or an alcohol protecting group. R�4? and R�5? are independently -H or an amine protecting group. R�11? is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid. R�1? and R�2?, and R�11? and R�12?, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by structural Formula (XXIII). R�6? is -H or an amine protecting group. R�7? is -H, -OH or -OR�8?. R�8? is an alcohol protecting group. Also disclosed are methods of preparing these compounds.

Inventors:
GABRIEL RICHARD L (US)
JURAYJ JURJUS (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US1998/009383
Publication Date:
November 12, 1998
Filing Date:
May 08, 1998
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
PHARM ECO LAB INC (US)
GABRIEL RICHARD L (US)
JURAYJ JURJUS (US)
International Classes:
C07D233/64; C07C209/40; C07C211/13; C07C211/15; C07C291/10; C07D207/09; C07D207/12; C07D263/04; C07B61/00; (IPC1-7): C07C/
Domestic Patent References:
WO1997009051A11997-03-13
Foreign References:
US4864051A1989-09-05
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Pierce, Scott N. (Brook Smith & Reynolds, P.C., Two Militia Driv, Lexington MA, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A compound represented by the following structural formula: and salts thereof, wherein: R1 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group; R2 is NR4R5 or N+#C; R3 is H or an alcohol protecting group; R4 and R5 are independently H or an amine protecting group; and R1 and R2, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R6 is H or an amine protecting group; R7 is H, OH or OR8; and R8 is an alcohol protecting group.
2. The compound of Claim 1 wherein R1 is a side chain of a naturallyoccurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.
3. The compound of Claim 2 wherein R2 is N+#C.
4. The compound of Claim 3 wherein: R1 is benzyl, secbutyl, the side chain of tryptophan, (CH2)4NH(tertbutoxycarbonyl), CM2COO(t butyl), CH(Obenzyl)CH3 or (CH2)2SCH3; and R3 is H.
5. The compound of Claim 2 wherein R2 is NR4R5, R4 is H and R5 is an amine protecting group.
6. The compound of Claim 5 wherein: R1 is benzyl, secbutyl, the side chain of tryptophan, (CH2)4 NH (tbutoxycarbonyl), CH2COO(t butyl), CH(Obenzyl)CH3 or (CH2)2SCH3; and R3 is H.
7. The compound of Claim 6 wherein R5 is tert butoxycarbonyl.
8. The compound of Claim 1 wherein R1 and R2, taken together, are represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R6 is an amine protecting group; and R7 is H or OR8.
9. The compound of Claim 8 wherein R6 and R8 are each tert butoxycarbonyl.
10. A compound represented by the following structural formula: and salts thereof wherein: R11 is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid; R12 is NR13R14; Rl3 and R14 are independently H or an amine protecting group; and R11 and R12, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R15 is H or an amine protecting group; and Rl6 is H, OH or OR1; and R17 is an alcohol protecting group.
11. The compound of Claim 10 wherein Rl3 is H.
12. The compound of Claim 11 wherein the compound is the 2S stereoisomer.
13. The compound of Claim 11 wherein the compound is the 2R stereoisomer.
14. The compound of Claim 11 wherein R1l is benzyl, sec butyl, the side chain of tryptophan, (CH2)4NH(t butoxycarbonyl), CH2COO(tbutyl), CH(Obenzyl)CH3 or (CH2)2SCH3; and R3 is H.
15. The compound of Claim 10 wherein R1l and R12, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by the following structural formula: and salts thereof wherein: R15 an amine protecting group; and R16 is H or OR1.
16. The compound of Claim 15 wherein the compound is the 2S stereoisomer.
17. The compound of Claim 15 wherein the compound is the 2R stereoisomer.
18. A compound represented by the following structural formula: and salts thereof, wherein R2l and R22 are independently H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group.
19. The compound of Claim 18 wherein: R21 is a C1C4 straight or branched chain alkyl group; and R22 is the side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.
20. A method of preparing a compound represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R1 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group; R2 is NR4R5 or R3 is an alcohol protecting group; and R4 and R5 are independently H or an amine protecting group, with the proviso that R4 and R are not both H; comprising the step of dehydrating a starting compound represented by the following structural formula: wherein R9 is NR4R5 orNHCH (O).
21. The method of Claim 20 wherein R1 is the side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid with an aliphatic side chain or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.
22. The method of Claim 21 wherein R2 is NC and R9 is NHCH (O).
23. The method of Claim 22 wherein: R1 is benzyl, secbutyl, the side chain of tryptophan, (CH2)4NH(tertbutoxycarbonyl), CH2COO(t butyl), CH(Obenzyl)CH3 or (CH2)2SCH3; and R3 is CH(O).
24. The method of Claim 23 wherein the starting compound is prepared by formylating an amino alcohol represented by the following structural formula:.
25. The method of Claim 22 wherein R2 is NHR5.
26. The method of Claim 25 wherein: R1 is benzyl, isobutyl, the side chain of tryptophan, (CH2)4NH(tbutoxycarbonyl), CH2COO(t butyl), CH(Obenzyl)CH3, or (CM2)2SCH3; and R3 is CH(O)H.
27. The method of Claim 26 wherein the starting compound is prepared by formylating a protected amino alcohol represented by the following structural formula:.
28. The method of Claim 26 wherein R5 is tert butoxycarbonyl.
29. A method of preparing a compound represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R3 is an alcohol protecting group; R6 is H or an amine protecting group; and R7 is H or OR8; and R8 is an alcohol protecting group; comprising the step of dehydrating the formamide group in a starting compound represented by the following structural formula:.
30. The method of Claim 29 wherein R6 and R8 are each tertbutoxycarbonyl.
31. The method of Claim 29 wherein R3 is a formyl group and the starting compound is prepared by formylating an amino alcohol represented by the following structural formula:.
32. A method of preparing a compound represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R1 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group; R2 is NR4R8 or N+=C; R4 and R5 are independently H or an amine protecting group; and R1 and R2, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R6 is H or an amine protecting group; and R7 is H, OH or OR8; and R8 is an alcohol protecting group; comprising the step of reacting trimethylsilyl cyanide and ZnI2 with a starting compound represented by the following structural formula:.
33. The method of Claim 32 wherein Rl is the side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid with an aliphatic side chain or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.
34. A method of preparing a compound represented by the following structural formula: wherein R2l and R22 are independently H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group; comprising the step of reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid and an ammonium salt of the aliphatic carboxylic acid with a compound represented by the following structural formula:.
35. The method of Claim 34 wherein the aliphatic carboxylic acid is acetic acid.
36. The method of Claim 35 wherein: R2l is a C1C4 straight or branched chain alkyl group; and R22 is the side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.
37. A method of preparing a compound represented by the following structural formula: and salts thereof wherein: R11 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group; R12 is NR13R14; R13 and R14 are independently H or an amine protecting group; and R11 and R12, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by the following structural formula: wherein: R15 is H or an amine protecting group; and R16 is H, OH or OR1; and R17 is an alcohol protecting group; said method comprising the step of reducing the oxime group of a starting compound represented by the following structural formula: wherein R18 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted or aromatic group.
38. The method of Claim 37 wherein R18 is a C1C3 alkyl group.
39. The method of Claim 38 wherein R11 is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.
40. The method of Claim 39 wherein R13 is H.
41. The method of Claim 40 wherein the oxime group of the starting compound is the syn geometric isomer or the anti geometric isomer and the reaction is carried out in the presence of a chiral auxillary agent, thereby preferentially forming the 2S or 2R stereoisomer.
42. The method of Claim 40 wherein the compound is reacted with a nitro reducing agent, thereby forming a compound represented by the following structural formula:.
Description:
BUILDING BLOCKS DERIVED FROM 1,2-AMINOALCOHOLS RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S.

Provisional Application Serial No. 60/046,129, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Combinatorial libraries have great utility for identifying leads in drug discovery. The "Ugi" reaction, shown schematically below, is commonly used to generate combinatorial libraries. The ability to identify new drug leads would be enhanced with the development of new combinatorial libraries with new, structurally diverse member compounds, which, in turn, can be prepared from new, structurally diverse reagents for reactions such as the Ugi reaction.

A peptide mimetic is a compound which has sufficient structural similarity to a peptide so that the desirable properties of the peptide are retained by the mimetic. For example, peptide mimetics are already being used as protease inhibitors for treating HIV infection, as

disclosed in Tung et al., WO 94/05639, Vazquez et al., WO 94/04491, Vazquez et al., WO 94/10134 and Vaquez et al., WO 94/04493. The entire relevant teachings of these publications are incorporated herein by reference. To be useful as a drug, a peptide mimetic should retain the biological activity of a peptide, but also have one or more properties which are improved compared with the peptide which is being mimicked. For example, some peptide mimetics are resistant to hydrolysis or to degradation in vivo. One strategy for preparing a peptide mimetic is to replace one or more amino acid residues in a peptide with a group which is structurally related to the amino acid residue(s) being replaced and which can form peptide bonds.

The development of new reagents which can be used to replace amino acid residues in peptides with groups which have these properties will advance the development of new peptide mimetic drugs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes novel isonitriles, diisonitriles, triamines, oxazolidines, oxazolines and imidazoles. The present invention also includes methods of preparing these novel compounds.

One embodiment of the present invention is a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) R1 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group.

Preferably, R1 is the side chain of an amino acid or the protected side chain of an amino acid.

R2 is -NR4R5 or -N+#C-, R3 is -H or an alcohol protecting group.

R4 and R5 are independently -H or an amine protecting group. R4 is preferably -H.

R1 and R2, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by Structural Formula (II): R6 is -H or an amine protecting group.

R, is -H, -OH or -OR8.

R8 is an alcohol protecting group.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a compound represented by Structural Formula (III) : R1l is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

R12 is -NR13R14.

R13 and R14 are independently -H or an amine protecting group. Preferably, R13 is -H.

R1l and R12, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by Structural Formula (IV) R15 is -H or an amine protecting group.

R16 is -H, -OH or -OR17.

R17 is an alcohol protecting group.

Also included is the 2S stereoisomer of the compound represented by Structural Formula (III), the 2R stereoisomer, enantiomeric mixtures thereof, and mixtures enriched in either the 2S or 2R stereoisomer. The "two" position is indicated in Structural Formula (III) by the number"2".

Another embodiment of the present invention is a compound represented by Structural Formula (V) R21 and R22 are independently -H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group. R21 is preferably a C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl group. R22 is preferably the side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or the protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a compound represented by Structural Formula (VI) :

from a compound represented by Structural Formula (VII) : R1 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group.

R1 is preferably the aliphatic side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or the protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

R3 is an alcohol protecting group. Preferably, R3 is -CHO.

R4 and R5 are independently -H or an amine protecting group, with the proviso that R4 and R5 are not both -H.

R9 is -NR4R5 or -NH-CH(O).

The method comprises the step of dehydrating the starting compound represented by Structural Formula (VII), thereby forming the compound represented by Structural Formula (VI). The starting compound can be prepared by

formylating an amino alcohol represented by Structural Formulas (VIII) or (IX) R1 and R5 in Structural Formulas (VIII) and (IX) are as described in Structural Formulas (VI) and (VII).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a compound represented by Structural Formula (X) from a starting compound represented by Structural Formula (XI): R3 and R8 are independently an alcohol protecting group. R3 is preferably -CHO.

R6 is an amine protecting group.

R7 is -H or -OR8.

The method comprises the step of dehydrating a starting compound represented by Structural Formula (XI), thereby forming the compound represented by Structural Formula (X). The starting compound represented by Structural Formula (X) can be prepared by formylating an amino alcohol represented by Structural Formula (XII) : R6 and R7 for the compound represented by Structural Formula (XII) are as described for Structural Formulas (X) and (XI).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a compound represented by Structural Formula (I), wherein R3 is -H. The method comprises the step of reacting trimethylsilyl cyanide and ZnI2 with a starting compound represented by Structural Formula (XIII) R1 and R2 are as described for Structural Formula (I).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a compound represented by Structural Formula (XIV): R1l is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R1l is preferably the aliphatic side chain of a naturally- occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

R12 is -NR13R14.

R13 and R14 are independently -H or an amine protecting group, with the proviso than R13 and R14 are not both -H.

R1l and R12, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by Structural Formula (XV) : R1s is an amine protecting group.

R16 is -H or -OR17.

R17 is an alcohol protecting group.

Said method comprises the step of reducing the oxime group at the two position of a starting compound represented by Structural Formula (XVI)

R1l and R12 are as described for Structural Formula (XIV).

R18 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted or aromatic group. R18 is preferably a C1-C3 alkyl group.

The reduction of the oxime in the compound represented by Structural Formula (XVI) can be carried out in the presence of a chiral auxillary agent, thereby preferentialy forming the 2S or 2R stereoisomer.

The compound represented by Structural Formula (XIV) can be further reacted with a nitro group reducing agent, thereby forming a compound represented by Structural Formula (III).

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a compound represented by Structural Formula (XVII) R21 and R22 are independently -H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group. R21 is preferably a C1-C4 straight or branched chain alkyl group. R22 is preferably the aliphatic side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or the protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

Said method comprises the step of reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid and an ammonium salt of the aliphatic carboxylic acid with a compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIII): R21 and R22 are as described for Structural Formula (XVII) A preferred aliphatic carboxylic acid is acetic acid.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIa) R41 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R41 is preferably the side chain of a naturally-occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

R42 is -NR44R45 R43 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R43 is preferably a C1-C3 alkyl group or substituted alkyl group.

R44 and R45 are independently -H or an amine protecting group. R44 is preferably -H.

R41 and R42, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIb) R46 is -H or an amine protecting group.

R47 is -H, -OH or -OR48.

R48 is an alcohol protecting group.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method of preparing a compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIc)

R41 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R41 is preferably the aliphatic side chain of a naturally- occurring amino acid or a protected side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

R42 is -NR44R45.

R43 is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R43 is preferably a C1-C3 alkyl group or substituted alkyl group.

R44 and R45 are independently -H or an amine protecting group, with the proviso that at least one of R44 or R45 is -H.

R41 and R42, taken together with the methine group to which they are bonded, can form a moiety represented by Structural Formula (XVIIId) : R46 is an amine protecting group.

R47 is -H or -OR48.

R48 is an alcohol protecting group.

The method comprises reacting an amino alcohol represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIe) and a compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIf) R4l43 are as described for Structural Formula (XVIIIa) X is -CHO, -COOR or -C(=NH)OR. R is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R is preferably a C1-C4 alkyl group.

The compounds of the present invention can be used to prepare peptide mimetics. The compounds of the present invention can also be used as reagents in the Ugi reaction, and can consequently be used to prepare new, structurally diverse combinatorial libraries. The compounds of the present invention can be obtained in optically pure form from the disclosed methods, if the starting materials are optically pure. Using optically pure reagents in combinatorial reactions such as the Ugi reaction should result in conformationally restricted adducts which can be utilized to map the three-dimensional structure of receptor sites.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The features and other details of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying examples and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

An "amino acid" is compound represented by NH2-CHR- COOH, wherein R is an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group. A "naturally-occurring amino acid" is found in nature. Examples include alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, threonine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine, lysine, ornithine, proline, hydroxyproline, phenylalanine,

tyrosine, tryptophan, cysteine, methionine and histidine.

R is the side chain of the amino acid. Examples of naturally occurring amino acid side chains include methyl (alanine), isopropyl (valine), sec-butyl (isoleucine), -CH2CH(-CH2)2 (leucine), benzyl (phenylalanine), p- hydroxybenzyl (tyrosine),-CH2OH (serine),-CHOHCH3 (threonine), 3-indoyl-CH2- (tryptophan),-CH2COOH (aspartic acid),-CH2CH2COOH (glutamic acid), -CH2NH2, (asparagine), -CH2CH2CONH2 (gultamine), -CHSSH, (cysteine0, -CH2CH2SCH3 (methionine) , -(CH2)4NH2 (lysine) , -(CH2)3NH2 (ornithine) - (CM)2j4NHC(=NM)NH2 and 3-imidazoyl-CM2- (histidine).

The side chains of alanine, valine, leucine and isoleucine are aliphatic, i.e., contain only carbon and hydrogen, and are each referred to herein as "the aliphatic side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid." The side chains of other naturally-occurring amino acids comprise a heteroatom-containing functional group, e.g., an alcohol (serine, tyrosine, hydroxyproline and threonine), an amine (lysine, ornithine, histidine and arginine), a thiol (cysteine) or a carboxylic acid (aspartic acid and glutamic acid). When the heteroatom- containing functional group is modified to include a protecting group, the side chain is referred to as the "protected side chain" of an amino acid.

The selection of a suitable protecting group depends upon the functional group being protected, the conditions to which the protecting group is being exposed and to other functional groups which may be present in the molecule.

Suitable protecting groups for the functional groups discussed above are described in Greene and Wuts,

"Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", John Wiley & Sons (1991), the entire teachings of which are incorporated into this application by reference. The skilled artisan can select, using no more than routine experimentation, suitable protecting groups for use in the disclosed synthesis, including protecting groups other than those described below, as well as conditions for applying and removing the protecting groups.

Examples of suitable alcohol protecting groups include benzyl, allyl, trimethylsilyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, acetate, and the like. Benzyl is a preferred alcohol protecting group.

Examples of suitable amino protecting groups include benzyloxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, tert-butyl, benzyl and fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc). Tert-butoxycarbonyl is a preferred amine protecting group.

Examples of suitable carboxylic acid protecting groups include tert-butyl, Fmoc, methyl, methoxylmethyl, trimethylsilyl, benzyloxymethyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl and the like. Tert-butyl is a preferred carboxylic acid protecting group.

Examples of suitable thiol protecting groups include S-benzyl, S-tert-butyl, S-acetyl, S-methoxymethyl and the like.

Procedures for carrying out the dehydration reaction by which a compound represented by Structural Formula (VI) or (X) is prepared from a compound represented by Structural Formula (VII) or (XI), respectively, are disclosed in "Organic Functional Group Preparations" S.R.

Sandler and W. Karo, Volume III, 2nd edition, Academic

Press, Inc. San Diego, 1989, pages 206-235. The entire teachings of pages 206-235 in "Organic Functional Group Preparations" are incorporated herein by reference.

Procedures for formylating the amino alcohols represented by Structural Formulas (VIII), (IX) and (XII) to prepare a compound represented by Structural Formula (VII) or (XI) are described in Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", John Wiley & Sons (1991), pages 349-350. The amino alcohols can be prepared by methods described in U.S. Patent No. 5,475,138, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The compound represented by Structural Formula (I) can also be prepared by reacting trimethylsilylcyanide (TMS-CN) and a catalytic amount of ZnI2 with an epoxide represented by Structural Formula (XIII). The reaction is typically carried out in a polar aprotic solvent such as methylene chloride, chloroform or dichloroethane, preferably methylene chloride. The solvent is preferably dried before use. An excess of TMS-CN relative to the epoxide can be used, for example, from one to about ten equivalents of TMS-CN relative to epoxide, preferably from one to about two equivalents. The reaction is carried out at concentrations of from about 0.01 M to about 5.0 M, preferably 0.1 M to about 1.0 M, and at temperatures ranging from about 0" C to about 80" C, preferably at the reflux temperature of methylene chloride.

Epoxides represented by Structural Formula (XIII) can be prepared by methods disclosed in Vazquez et al., WO 94/04491, the entire relevant teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A compound represented by Structural Formula (XIV) can be prepared from an, for example, oxime ether represented by Structural Formula (XVI) using hydride reducing agents such as sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, lithium triethyl borohydride and the like, or by using a borane reudcing agent such as diborane.

The reaction is generally carried out in an ethereal solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, glyme, diglyme or dioxane using from one to about twenty reducing equivalents, preferably from about one to about three reducing equivalents. Typically, reaction temperatures range from about -20" C to about 50° C, and are preferably from about -5" C to ambient temperature. The concentration of the reagents range from about 0.01 M to about 2.0 molar, preferably about 0.1 M to about 1.0 M. Specific conditions for carrying out this reaction are disclosed in WO 96/39399 by Sun et al., the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The syn or anti geometric isomer of an oxime ether can be stereoselectively reduced to preferentially form one stereoisomer by performing the reduction in the presence of a suitable chiral auxillary agent. "Chiral auxillary agent" is a compound which, when added to a reaction mixture, results in a reaction having a higher degree of stereoselectivity than in the absence of the compound. For example, in the conversion of the oxime represented by Structural Formula (XVI) to the compound represented by Structural Formula (XIV), a larger enantiomeric excess of the 2S stereoisomer (or 2R stereoisomer) is formed in the presence of the chiral auxillary agent than in its absence.

Examples of suitable chiral auxillary agents include chiral amines such as (-)-norephedrine, (+)-norephedrine, (-)-ephedrine, (+)-ephedrine and (+)-2-amino-1-(2- methylphenyl) -1-propanol and (-)-2-amino-1-(2- methylphenyl)-l-propanol. One geometric isomer of an oxime ether (e.g., syn) together with one enantiomer of a chiral auxillary agent (e.g., (+)-ephedrine) will preferentially form one stereoisomer product (e.g., 2S). Using either the opposite oxime geometric isomer or the opposite chiral auxillary enantiomer will preferentially form the opposite stereoisomer product (e.g., 2R). Using the opposite geometric isomer oxime and the opposite chiral auxillary enantiomer will preferentially form the same stereoisomer product (e.g., 2S). Other suitable chiral auxillary agents, as well as specific conditions for stereoselectively reducing an oxime ether, are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,200,561 to Konya et al., Itsuno et al., J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I, 1985:2039 and Sakito et al., Tetrahedron 29:223 (1988), the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Typically, between about 0.5 and about 1.0 moles of chiral auxillary agent per mole of reducing agent are used.

Oxime ethers represented by Structural Formula (XVI) can be prepared by reacting approximately equimolar amounts a nitroketone represented by Structural Formula (XIX) with the hydrochloride salt of -NH2OR18 in pyridine.

R1l, Rl2 and R18 are as described for Structural Formula (XVI). Specific conditions for performing this reaction are described, for example, in Sun et al., WO 96/39399.

The syn and anti isomers can be separated by column chromatography. The prepartion of nitroketone starting materials are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,475,138, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The nitro compound represented by Structural Formula (XIV) can be further reacted with a nitro group reducing agent to form a compound represented by Structural Formula (III). Reagents suitable for reducing a nitro group to an amine are well known in the art and include hydrogenation catalysts such as PtO2 and Pd. The nitro compound is dissolved in an alcoholic or ethereal solvent under a hydrogen atmosphere (from about one to about 100 pounds per square inch) in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst.

Other nitro reducing agents include hydride reducing agents such as lithium aluminum hydride, lithium triethyl borohydride and lithium aluminum trimethoxy hydride. The procedure used to perform this reduction is similar to those described above for the reduction of the oxime, modified to include a suitable nitro reducing agents.

Specific procedures are described in U.S. Patent No.

5,475,138 and in Brown et al., Aidrichimica Acta, 12:3 (1979) and references cited therein, the entire relevant teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The compound represented by Structural Formula (XVII) can be prepared by reacting an aliphatic carboxylic acid and an ammonium salt of the aliphatic carboxylic acid with a compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIII).

Specific procedures for carrying out this reaction are provided in von Geldern et al., J. Med. Chem. 39:957 (1996), the entire teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The nitro group in the compounds represented by Structural Formula (XVII) can be hydrogenated to form a product with an amine group. Suitable hydrogenation conditions are described hereinbelow. This amine product can be used as a reagent in the Ugi reaction to prepare new combinatorial libraries for drug discovery.

The compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIc) can be prepared by mixing an amino alcohol reprepsented by Structural Formula (XVIIId) and (XVIIIe) in a solvent such as acetonitrile, methylene chloride, chloroform or methanol (preferably an anhydrous solvent) and allowing the compounds to react. An excess of either reagent can be used. Preferably, a 5-10t excess of the compound represented by Structural Formula (XVIIIe) is used. The reaction is typically performed at concentrations of between about 0.01M to about 5.0 M, preferably from about 0.1 M to about 1.0 M at temperatures ranging from about 0° C to about 70" C, preferably at about

room temperature. Specific conditions for performing the reaction are provided in the Example.

Oxazolidines included in Structural Formula (XVIIIc) can be used as a reagent in the Ugi reaction to prepare new combinatorial libraries for drug discovery. For oxazolines included in Structural Formula (XVIIIc) , the amine represented by R42 can be deprotected by standard means.

The resulting compound has a free amine which can react in the Ugi reaction.

Aliphatic groups include straight chained, branched or cyclic C1-C8 hydrocarbons which are completely saturated or which contain one or more units of unsaturation. In one example, an aliphatic group is a C1-C4 alkyl group.

Aromatic groups include carbocyclic aromatic groups such as phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-anthracyl and 2- anthracyl, and heterocyclic aromatic groups such as N- imidazolyl, 2-imidazole, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-furanyl, 3-furanyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidy, 4- pyrimidyl, 2-pyranyl, 3-pyranyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 4-pyrazolyl, 5-pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazinyl, 2-thiazole, 4-thiazole, 5- thiazole, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl and 5-oxazolyl.

Aromatic groups also include fused polycyclic aromatic ring systems in which a carbocyclic aromatic ring or heteroaryl ring is fused to one or more other heteroaryl rings. Examples include 2-benzothienyl, 3-benzothienyl, 2-benzofuranyl, 3-benzofuranyl, 2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 2- quinolinyl, 3-quinolinyl, 2-benzothiazole, 2-benzooxazole, 2-benzimidazole, 2-quinolinyl, 3-quinolinyl, 1- isoquinolinyl, 3-quinolinyl, 1-isoindolyl, 3-isoindolyl, and acridintyl.

Suitable substituents for an aryl group and aliphatic group are those which are compatible with the disclosed reactions, i.e., do not significantly reduce the yield of the reactions and do not cause a significant amount of side reactions. Suitable substituents generally include aliphatic groups, substituted aliphatic groups, aryl groups, substituted aryl groups, halogens (e.g., fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo), halogenated alkyl groups (e.g., trihalomethyl), nitro, nitrile, -CONHR, -CON(R)2, -OR, -SR, -S(O)R, -S(O) 2R, wherein each R is independently an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. Although certain functional groups may not be compatible with one or more of the disclosed reactions, these functional groups may be present in a protected form. The protecting group can then be removed to regenerate the original functional group.

The skilled artisan will be able to select, using no more than routine experimentation, protecting groups which are compatible with the disclosed reactions.

Also included in the present invention are physiologically acceptable salts of the compounds represented by Structural Formulas (I), (III) or (V).

Salts of compounds containing an amine or other basic group can be obtained, for example, by reacting with a suitable organic or inorganic acid, such as hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, acetic acid, perchloric acid and the like. Compounds with a quaternary ammonium group also contain a counteranion such as chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, perchlorate and the like. Salts of compounds containing a carboxylic acid or other acidic functional

group can be prepared by reacting with a suitable base, for example, a hydroxide base. Salts of acidic functional groups contain a countercation such as sodium, potassium and the like.

In the structural formulas depicted herein, the single or double bond by which a chemical group or moiety is connected to the remainder of the molecule or compound is indicated by the following symbol: For example, the corresponding symbol in Structural Formula (II) indicates that the nitrogen-bonded methine carbon in the pyrollidine ring, is connected to the carbinol carbon in Structural Formula (I) by a single covalent bond.

An Ugi Reaction can be performed by mixing an amine, a carboxylic acid, an isonitrile and an aldehyde or ketone in a suitable solvent such as acetonitrile, methanol or dimethylsulfoxide at a concentration of about 250 mM for each reagent. Approximately equimolar amounts of each reagent are generally used. The reaction is typically carried out at temperatures between about 20° C and about 60° C, and preferably at room temperature.

The invention is illustrated by the following examples which are not intended to be limiting in any way.

EXEMPLIFICATION Example - Preparation of Chemical name, purity Amount mmoles 1-Amino-3- (S) -tert-butylcarbamido- 140.0 mg 0.5 2-(R)-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane Trimethylacetaldehyde, 97% 60 y1 0.55 Acetonitrile, anhydrous, 99% 30 ml -- Procedure: Pivalaldehyde was added to a suspension of the aminoalcohol in anhydrous acetonitrile (2 mL). The mixture became thinner as some of the solid went into solution, but after awhile became thick as a new solid-started to form.

More acetonetrile (1 mL) was added to facilitate stirring.

After 5h, a sample was withdrawn and dried under high

vacuum. 1HNMR analysis indicated that oxazolidine formation had proceeded to an appreciable extent. The reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature overnight.

The white precipitate was collected by suction filtration, washed with a small amount of anhydrous acetonifrile ( lmL) and dried under high vacuum. The filtrate was concentrated to dryness to give a white solid which was dried under high vacuum. The combined yield was 164.3 mg (94.4%). This solid could be used without any further manipulation.

EQUIVALENTS While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described specifically herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims.