CERTAIN CHEMICAL ENTITIES, COMPOSITIONS, AND METHODS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Number

60/732,962, filed November 2, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. [0002] Provided are chemical entities which are inhibitors of one or more mitotic kinesins and are useful in the treatment of cellular proliferative diseases, for example cancer, hyperplasias, restenosis, cardiac hypertrophy, immune disorders, fungal disorders, and inflammation.

[0003] Among the therapeutic agents used to treat cancer are the taxanes and vinca alkaloids, which act on microtubules. Microtubules are the primary structural element of the mitotic spindle. The mitotic spindle is responsible for distribution of replicate copies of the genome to each of the two daughter cells that result from cell division. It is presumed that disruption of the mitotic spindle by these drugs results in inhibition of cancer cell division, and induction of cancer cell death. However, microtubules form other types of cellular structures, including tracks for intracellular transport in nerve processes. Because these agents do not specifically target mitotic spindles, they have side effects that limit their usefulness. [0004] Improvements in the specificity of agents used to treat cancer is of considerable interest because of the therapeutic benefits which would be realized if the side effects associated with the administration of these agents could be reduced. Traditionally, dramatic improvements in the treatment of cancer are associated with identification of therapeutic agents acting through novel mechanisms. Examples of this include not only the taxanes, but also the camptothecin class of topoisomerase I inhibitors. From both of these perspectives, mitotic kinesins are attractive targets for new anti-cancer agents.

[0005] Mitotic kinesins are enzymes essential for assembly and function of the mitotic spindle, but are not generally part of other microtubule structures, such as in nerve processes. Mitotic kinesins play essential roles during all phases of mitosis. These enzymes are "molecular motors" that transform energy released by hydrolysis of ATP into mechanical force which drives the directional movement of cellular cargoes along microtubules. The catalytic domain sufficient for this task is a compact structure of approximately 340 amino acids. During mitosis, kinesins organize microtubules into the bipolar structure that is the mitotic spindle. Kinesins mediate

movement of chromosomes along spindle microtubules, as well as structural changes in the mitotic spindle associated with specific phases of mitosis. Experimental perturbation of mitotic kinesin function causes malformation or dysfunction of the mitotic spindle, frequently resulting in cell cycle arrest and cell death. [0006] Provided is at least one chemical entity chosen from compounds of Formula I .

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures thereof, wherein

Ri is chosen from optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

X is chosen from -CO and -SO ₂ -;

R ₂ is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted lower alkyl;

W is chosen from -CR ₈ -, -CH ₂ CR ₈ -, and N;

R ₃ is chosen from -CO-R ₇ , hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, cyano, sulfonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally and substituted heteroaryl;

R ₄ is chosen from halo, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl, arninocarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl;

R ₅ is chosen from halo, hydroxy, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted cycloalkyl,

optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl; and optionally substituted lower alkyl;

R ₆ is chosen from optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl;

R ₇ is chosen from optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, hydroxy, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted aralkoxy, optionally substituted alkoxy; and

R ₈ is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl; or

R ₄ and R ₅ , taken together with the carbon to which they are attached, form an oxo group; or

R ₄ and R ₈ , taken together with the carbons to which they are attached, form an C=C group wherein R ₅ is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted lower alkyl.

[0007] Also provided is a composition comprising a pharmaceutical excipient and at least one chemical entity described herein.

[0008] Also provided is a method of modulating CENP-E kinesin activity which comprises contacting said kinesin with an effective amount of at least one chemical entity described herein.

[0009] Also provided is a method of inhibiting CENP-E which comprises contacting said kinesin with an effective amount of at least one chemical entity described herein.

[0010] Also provided is a method for the treatment of a cellular proliferative disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof at least one chemical entity described herein.

[0011] Also provided is a method for the treatment of a cellular proliferative disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a pharmaceutical excipient and at least one chemical entity described herein.

[0012] Also provided is the use, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating cellular proliferative disease, of at least one chemical entity described herein.

[0013] Also provided is the use of at least one chemical entity described herein for the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disorder associated with CENP-E kinesin activity. [0014] As used in the present specification, the following words and phrases are generally intended to have the meanings as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicates otherwise.

[0015] As used herein, when any variable occurs more than one time in a chemical formula, its definition on each occurrence is independent of its definition at every other occurrence. In accordance with the usual meaning of "a" and "the" in patents, reference, for example, to "a" kinase or "the" kinase is inclusive of one or more kinases. [0016] Formula I includes all subformulae thereof. For example Formula I includes compounds of Formula EL

[0017] A dash ("-") that is not between two letters or symbols is used to indicate a point of attachment for a substituent. For example, -CONH ₂ is attached through the carbon atom. [0018] By "optional" or "optionally" is meant that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not. For example, "optionally substituted alkyl" encompasses both "alkyl" and "substituted alkyl" as defined below. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, with respect to any group containing one or more substituents, that such groups are not intended to introduce any substitution or substitution patterns that are sterically impractical, synthetically non-feasible and/or inherently unstable. [0019] "Alkyl" encompasses straight chain and branched chain having the indicated number of carbon atoms, usually from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, for example 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as 1 to 6 carbon atoms. For example C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl encompasses both straight and branched chain alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, 2-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, 2-hexyl, 3- hexyl, 3-methylpentyl, and the like. Alkylene is another subset of alkyl, referring to the same residues as alkyl, but having two points of attachment. Alkylene groups will usually have from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, for example 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. For example, C ₀ alkylene indicates a covalent bond and C ₁ alkylene is a methylene group. When an alkyl residue having a specific number of carbons is named, all geometric combinations having

that number of carbons are intended to be encompassed; thus, for example, "butyl" is meant to include n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl and t-butyl; "propyl" includes n-propyl and isopropyl. "Lower alkyl" refers to alkyl groups having one to four carbons.

[0020] "Alkenyl" refers to an unsaturated branched or straight-chain alkyl group having at least one carbon-carbon double bond derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent alkene. The group may be in either the cis or trans configuration about the double bond(s). Typical alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethenyl; propenyls such as prop-1-en-l-yl, prop-l-en-2-yl, prop-2-en-l-yl (allyl), prop-2-en-2-yl, cycloprop-1-en-l-yl; cycloprop-2-en-l-yl; butenyls such as but-1-en-l-yl, but-l-en-2-yl, 2-methyl-prop-l-en-l-yl, but-2-en-l-yl, but-2-en-l-yl, but-2-en-2-yl, buta-l,3-dien-l-yl, buta-l,3-dien-2-yl, cyclobut-1-en-l-yl, cyclobut-l-en-3-yl, cyclobuta-l,3-dien-l-yl; and the like. In certain embodiments, an alkenyl group has from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and in other embodiments, from 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

[0021] "Alkynyl" refers to an unsaturated branched or straight-chain alkyl group having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent alkyne. Typical alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl; propynyls such as prop-1-yn-l-yl, prop-2-yn-l-yl; butynyls such as but-1-yn-l-yl, but-l-yn-3-yl, but-3-yn-l-yl; and the like. In certain embodiments, an alkynyl group has from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and in other embodiments, from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. [0022] "Cycloalkyl" indicates a non-aromatic carbocyclic ring, usually having from 3 to 7 ring carbon atoms. The ring may be saturated or have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Examples of cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, and cyclohexenyl, as well as bridged and caged saturated ring groups such as norbornane.

[0023] By "alkoxy" is meant an alkyl group of the indicated number of carbon atoms attached through an oxygen bridge such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, pentyloxy, 2-pentyloxy, isopentyloxy, neopentyloxy, hexyloxy, 2-hexyloxy, 3-hexyloxy, 3-methylpentyloxy, and the like. Alkoxy groups will usually have from 1 to 7 carbon atoms attached through the oxygen bridge. "Lower alkoxy" refers to alkoxy groups having one to four carbons.

[0024] "Mono- and di-alkylcarboxamide" encompasses a group of the formula -

(C=O)NR _a R _b where R ₃ and R _b are independently chosen from hydrogen and alkyl groups of the indicated number of carbon atoms, provided that R _a and R _b are not both hydrogen.

[0025] "Acyl" refers to the groups (alkyl)-C(O)-; (cycloalkyl)-C(O)-; (aryl)-C(O)-;

(heteroaryl)-C(O)-; and (heterocycloalkyl)-C(O)-, wherein the group is attached to the parent structure through the carbonyl functionality and wherein alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocycloalkyl are as described herein. Acyl groups have the indicated number of carbon atoms, with the carbon of the keto group being included in the numbered carbon atoms. For example a C ₂ acyl group is an acetyl group having the formula CH ₃ (C=O)-.

[0026] By "alkoxycarbonyl" is meant a group of the formula (alkoxy)(C=O)- attached through the carbonyl carbon wherein the alkoxy group has the indicated number of carbon atoms.

Thus a C ₁ -C ₆ alkoxycarbonyl group is an alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms attached through its oxygen to a carbonyl linker.

[0027] By "amino" is meant the group -NH ₂ .

[0028] "Mono- and di-(alkyl)amino" encompasses secondary and tertiary alkyl amino groups, wherein the alkyl groups are as defined above and have the indicated number of carbon atoms. The point of attachment of the alkylamino group is on the nitrogen. Examples of mono- and di-alkylamino groups include ethylamino, dimethylamino, and methyl-propyl-amino.

[0029] The term "aminocarbonyl" refers to the group -CONR ^b R ^c , where

R ^b is chosen from H, optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; or R ^b and R ^c taken together with the nitrogen to which they are bound, form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycloalkyl which optionally includes 1 or 2 additional heteroatoms selected from O, N, and S in the heterocycloalkyl ring; where each substituted group is independently substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, 8TyI-C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-C _r C ₄ alkyl-, C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, - C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OC ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-NH ₂ ,

-N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OCi-C ₄ alkyl,

-CON(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHC(OXphenyl), -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C(O)Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)Ci-C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl). [0030] "Aryl" encompasses:

6-membered carbocyclic aromatic rings, for example, benzene; bicyclic ring systems wherein at least one ring is carbocyclic and aromatic, for example, naphthalene, indane, and tetralin; and tricyclic ring systems wherein at least one ring is carbocyclic and aromatic, for example, fluorene.

For example, aryl includes 6-membered carbocyclic aromatic rings fused to a 5- to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl ring containing 1 or more heteroatoms chosen from N, O, and S. For such fused, bicyclic ring systems wherein only one of the rings is a carbocyclic aromatic ring, the point of attachment may be at the carbocyclic aromatic ring or the heterocycloalkyl ring. Bivalent radicals formed from substituted benzene derivatives and having the free valences at ring atoms are named as substituted phenylene radicals. Bivalent radicals derived from univalent polycyclic hydrocarbon radicals whose names end in "-yl" by removal of one hydrogen atom from the carbon atom with the free valence are named by adding "-idene" to the name of the corresponding univalent radical, e.g., a naphthyl group with two points of attachment is termed naphthylidene. Aryl, however, does not encompass or overlap in any way with heteroaryl, separately defined below. Hence, if one or more carbocyclic aromatic rings is fused with a heterocycloalkyl aromatic ring, the resulting ring system is heteroaryl, not aryl, as defined herein. [0031] The term "aryloxy" refers to the group -O-aryl.

[0032] "Carbamimidoyl" refers to the group -C(=NH)-NH ₂ .

[0033] "Substituted carbamimidoyl" refers to the group -C(=NR ^e )-NR ^f RS where R ^e , is chosen from: hydrogen, cyano, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl,

optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl; and Rf and RS are independently chosen from: hydrogen optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, provided that at least one of R ^e , R^, and

RS is not hydrogen and wherein substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl refer respectively to alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl wherein one or more (such as up to 5, for example, up to 3) hydrogen atoms are replaced by a substituent independently chosen from:

-R ^a , -OR ^b , optionally substituted amino (including -NR ^c COR ^b , -NR ^c CO ₂ R ^a , -NR ^c CONR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NR ^c )NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NCN)NR ^b R ^c , and -NR ^c SO ₂ R ^a ), halo, cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl), optionally substituted acyl (such as -COR ^b ), optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl (such as -CO ₂ R ^b ), aminocarbonyl (such as -CONR ^b R ^c ), -OCOR ^b , -OCO ₂ R ^a , -OCONR ^b R ^c , sulfanyl (such as SR ^b ), sulfinyl (such as -SOR ^a ), and sulfonyl (such as -SO ₂ R ^a and -SO ₂ NR ^b R ^c ), where R ^a is chosen from optionally substituted C ₁ -Cg alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R^ is chosen from H, optionally substituted C ₁ -Cg alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; or

Rb and R ^c , and the nitrogen to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl group; and where each optionally substituted group is unsubstituted or independently substituted with one or more, such as one, two, or three, substituents independently selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, 8TyI-C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-Ci-C4 alkyl-, Cj -C ₄ haloalkyl,

-OC1-C4 alkyl, -OC1-C4 alkylphenyl, -CJ-C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OC ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -C1-C4 alkyl-NH ₂ , -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OC ₁ -C ₄ alkyl,

-CON(Ci-C4 alkyl)(Ci-C4 alkyl), -CONH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHC(OXphenyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ phenyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl).

[0034] The term "halo" includes fluoro, chloro, bromo, and iodo, and the term "halogen" includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

[0035] "Haloalkyl" indicates alkyl as defined above having the specified number of carbon atoms, substituted with 1 or more halogen atoms, up to the maximum allowable number of halogen atoms. Examples of haloalkyl include, but are not limited to, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, and penta-fluoroethyl.

[0036] "Heteroaryl" encompasses:

5- to 7-membered aromatic, monocyclic rings containing one or more, for example, from

1 to 4, or in certain embodiments, from 1 to 3, heteroatoms chosen from N, O, and

S, with the remaining ring atoms being carbon; bicyclic heterocycloalkyl rings containing one or more, for example, from 1 to 4, or in certain embodiments, from 1 to 3, heteroatoms chosen from N, O, and S, with the remaining ring atoms being carbon and wherein at least one heteroatom is present in an aromatic ring; and tricyclic heterocycloalkyl rings containing one or more, for example, from 1 to 5, or in certain embodiments, from 1 to 4, heteroatoms chosen from N, O, and S, with the remaining ring atoms being carbon and wherein, at least one heteroatom is present in an aromatic ring.

For example, heteroaryl includes a 5- to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl, aromatic ring fused to a 5- to 7-membered cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring. For such fused, bicyclic heteroaryl ring systems wherein only one of the rings contains one or more heteroatoms, the point of attachment may be at either ring. When the total number of S and O atoms in the heteroaryl group exceeds 1, those heteroatoms are not adjacent to one another. In certain embodiments, the total number of S and O atoms in the heteroaryl group is not more than 2. In certain embodiments, the total number of S and O atoms in the aromatic heterocycle is not more than 1. Examples of heteroaryl

groups include, but are not limited to, (as numbered from the linkage position assigned priority 1), 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2,3-pyrazinyl, 3,4-pyrazinyl, 2,4-pyrimidinyl, 3,5-pyrimidinyl, 2,3-pyrazolinyl, 2,4-imidazolinyl, isoxazolinyl, oxazolinyl, thiazolinyl, thiadiazolinyl, tetrazolyl, thienyl, benzothiophenyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, benzoimidazolinyl, indolinyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, quinolinyl, pyrazolyl, and 5,6,7, 8-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl. Bivalent radicals derived from univalent heteroaryl radicals whose names end in "-yl" by removal of one hydrogen atom from the atom with the free valence are named by adding "-idene" to the name of the corresponding univalent radical, e.g., a pyridyl group with two points of attachment is a pyridylidene. Heteroaryl does not encompass or overlap with aryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocycloalkyl, as defined herein

[0037] Substituted heteroaryl also includes ring systems substituted with one or more oxide (-O ^" ) substituents, such as pyridinyl N-oxides.

[0038] By "heterocycloalkyl" is meant a single, non-aromatic ring, usually with 3 to 7 ring atoms, containing at least 2 carbon atoms in addition to 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing heteroatoms. The ring may be saturated or have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Suitable heterocycloalkyl groups include, for example (as numbered from the linkage position assigned priority 1), 2-pyrrolidinyl, 2,4-imidazolidinyl, 2,3-pyrazolidinyl, 2-piperidyl, 3- piperidyl, 4-piperidyl, and 2,5-piperizinyl. Morpholinyl groups are also contemplated, including 2-morpholinyl and 3 -morpholinyl (numbered wherein the oxygen is assigned priority 1). Substituted heterocycloalkyl also includes ring systems substituted with one or more oxo (=0) or oxide (-O ^" ) substituents, such as piperidinyl N-oxide, morpholinyl-N-oxide, 1-oxo-l- thiomorpholinyl and 1,1-dioxo-l-thiomorpholinyl.

[0039] "Heterocycloalkyl" also includes bicyclic ring systems wherein one non-aromatic ring, usually with 3 to 7 ring atoms, contains at least 2 carbon atoms in addition to 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing heteroatoms; and the other ring, usually with 3 to 7 ring atoms, optionally contains 1-3 heteratoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen and is not aromatic.

[0040] As used herein, "modulation" refers to a change in activity as a direct or indirect response to the presence of compounds of Formula I, relative to the activity in the absence of the compound. The change may be an increase in activity or a decrease in activity, and may be due to the direct interaction of the compound with the kinesin, or due to- the interaction of the compound with one or more other factors that in turn affect kinesin activity. For example, the presence of the compound may, for example, increase or decrease kinesin activity by directly binding to the kinesin, by causing (directly or indirectly) another factor to increase or decrease the kinesin activity, or by (directly or indirectly) increasing or decreasing the amount of kinesin present in the cell or organism.

[0041] The term "sulfanyl" includes the groups: -S-(optionally substituted (C _r C ₆ )alkyl),

-S-(optionally substituted aryl), -S-(optionally substituted heteroaryl), and -S -(optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl). -Hence, sulfanyl includes the group C ₁ -C ₆ alkylsulfanyl. [0042] The term "sulfinyl" includes the groups: -S(O)-(optionally substituted (C ₁ -

C ₆ )alkyl), -S(O)-optionally substituted aryl), -S(O)-optionally substituted heteroaryl), -S(O)-(optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl); and -S(O)-(optionally substituted amino). [0043] The term "sulfonyl" includes the groups: -S(O ₂ )-(optionally substituted (C ₁ -

C ₆ )alkyl), -S(O ₂ )-(optionally substituted aryl), -S(O ₂ )-(optionally substituted heteroaryl),and - S(O ₂ )-(optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl).

[0044] The term "substituted", as used herein, means that any one or more hydrogens on the designated atom or group is replaced with a selection from the indicated group, provided that the designated atom's normal valence is not exceeded. When a substituent is oxo (i.e., =0) then 2 hydrogens on the atom are replaced. Combinations of substituents and/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds or useful synthetic intermediates. A stable compound or stable structure is meant to imply a compound that is sufficiently robust to survive isolation from a reaction mixture, and subsequent formulation as an agent having at least practical utility. Unless otherwise specified, substituents are named into the core structure. For example, it is to be understood that when (cycloalkyl)alkyl is listed as a possible substituent, the point of attachment of this substituent to the core structure is in the alkyl portion.

42801

[0045] The terms "substituted" alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl, unless otherwise expressly defined, refer respectively to alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl wherein one or more (such as up to 5, for example, up to 3) hydrogen atoms are replaced by a substituent independently chosen from:

-R ^a , -OR ^b , optionally substituted amino (including -NR ^c COR ^b , -NR ^c CO ₂ R ^a , -NR ^c CONR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NR ^c )NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NCN)NR ^b R ^c , and -NR ^c SO ₂ R ^a ), halo, cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl), optionally substituted acyl (such as -COR ^b ), optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl (such as -CO ₂ R ^b ), aminocarbonyl (such as -CONR ^b R ^c ), -OCOR ^b , -OCO ₂ R ^a , -OCONR ^b R ^c , sulfanyl (such as SR ^b ), sulfinyl (such as -SOR ^a ), and sulfonyl (such as -SO ₂ R ^a and -SO ₂ NR ^b R ^c ), where R ^a is chosen from optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ^b is chosen from hydrogen, optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted Ci-C ₄ alkyl; or

R ^b andR ^c , and the nitrogen to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl group; and where each optionally substituted group is unsubstituted or independently substituted with one or more, such as one, two, or three, substituents independently selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-Ci~C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-C _r C ₄ alkyl-, Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -Od-C ₄ alkylphenyl, -Ci-C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OCi-C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -Ci-C ₄ alkyl-NH ₂ , -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl),

-N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -CON(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -CONH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHC(OXphenyl), -N(Cj-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)Ci-C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C(O)Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)Ci-C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl),

-SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl). [0046] The term ''substituted acyl" refers to the groups (substituted alkyl)-C(O)-;

(substituted cycloalkyl)-C(O)-; (substituted aryl)-C(O)-; (substituted heteroaryl)-C(O)-; and (substituted heterocycloalkyl)-C(O)-, wherein the group is attached to the parent structure through the carbonyl functionality and wherein substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocycloalkyl, refer respectively to alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocycloalkyl wherein one or more (such as up to 5, for example, up to 3) hydrogen atoms are replaced by a substituent independently chosen from:

-R ^a , -OR ^b , optionally substituted amino (including -NR°COR ^b , -NR ^c CO ₂ R ^a , -NR ^c CONR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NR ^c )NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NCN)NR ^b R ^c , and -NR ^c SO ₂ R ^a ), halo, cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substituted for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl), optionally substituted acyl (such as -COR ^b ), optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl (such as -CO ₂ R ^b ), aminocarbonyl (such as -CONR ^b R ^c ), -OCOR ^b , -OCO ₂ R ³ , -OCONR ^b R ^c , sulfanyl (such as SR ^b ), sulfinyl (such as -SOR ^a ), and sulfonyl (such as -SO ₂ R ³ and -SO ₂ NR ^b R ^c ), where R ^a is chosen from optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ^b is chosen from H, optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted Ci-C ₄ alkyl; or

R ^b and R ^c , and the nitrogen to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl group; and where each optionally substituted group is unsubstituted or independently substituted with one or more, such as one, two, or three, substituents independently selected from Ci-C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -Od-C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OC ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -Ci-C ₄ alkyl-NH ₂ , -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NH(Cj-C ₄ alkyl),

-N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -CON(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl),

-NHC(OXphenyl), -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(d-C ₄ alkyl), 7N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl). [0047] The term "substituted alkoxy" refers to alkoxy wherein the alkyl constituent is substituted (i.e., -©-(substituted alkyl)) wherein "substituted alkyl" refers to alkyl wherein one or more (such as up to 5, for example, up to 3) hydrogen atoms are replaced by a substituent independently chosen from:

-R\ -OR ^b , optionally substituted amino (including -NR ^c C0R ^b , -NR ^c C0 ₂ R ^a , -NR ^c C0NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NR ^c )NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NCN)NR ^b R ^c , and -NR ^c SO ₂ R ^a ), halo, cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl), optionally substituted acyl (such as -COR ^b ), optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl (such as -C0 ₂ R ^b ), aminocarbonyl (such as -CONR ^b R ^c ), -OCOR ^b , -OCO ₂ R ^a , -OCONR ^b R ^c , sulfanyl (such as SR ^b ), sulfinyl (such as -SOR ^a ), and sulfonyl (such as -SO ₂ R ^a and -SO ₂ NR ^b R ^c ), where R ^a is chosen from optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ^b is chosen from H, optionally- substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted Ci-C ₄ alkyl; or

R ^b andR ^c , and the nitrogen to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl group; and where each optionally substituted group is unsubstituted or independently substituted with one or more, such as one, two, or three, substituents independently selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, -Ci-C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OC _r C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-NH ₂ , -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl),

-N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -CON(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl),

-NHC(OXphenyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C(O)C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl). In some embodiments, a substituted alkoxy group is "polyalkoxy" or -O-(optionally substituted alkylene)-(optionally substituted alkoxy), and includes groups such as -OCH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₃ , and residues of glycol ethers such as polyethyleneglycol, and -0(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _x CH ₃ , where x is an integer of 2-20, such as 2-10, and for example, 2-5. Another substituted alkoxy group is hydroxyalkoxy or -OCH ₂ (CH ₂ ) _y OH, where y is an integer of 1-10, such as 1-4. [0048] The term "substituted alkoxycarbonyl" refers to the group (substituted alkyl)-O-

C(O)- wherein the group is attached to the parent structure through the carbonyl functionality and wherein substituted refers to alkyl wherein one or more (such as up to 5, for example, up to 3) hydrogen atoms are replaced by a substituent independently chosen from:

-R ^a , -0R ^b , optionally substituted amino (including -NR ^c COR ^b , -NR ^c CO ₂ R ^a , -NR ^c CONR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NR ^c )NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NCN)NR ^b R ^c , and -NR ^c SO ₂ R ^a ), halo, cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl), optionally substituted acyl (such as -COR ^b ), optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl (such as -CO ₂ R ^b ), aminocarbonyl (such as -C0NR ^b R ^c ), -OCOR ^b , -OCO ₂ R ^a , -OCONR ^b R ^c , sulfanyl (such as SR ^b ), sulfinyl (such as -SOR ^a ), and sulfonyl (such as -SO ₂ R ^a and -SO ₂ NR ^b R ^c ), where R ^a is chosen from optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ^b is chosen from H, optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted Ci-C ₄ alkyl; or

R ^b and R ^c , and the nitrogen to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl group; and where each optionally substituted group is unsubstituted or independently substituted with one or more, such as one, two, or three, substituents independently selected from Ci-C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl,

-OC ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OC ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -Ci-C ₄ alkyl-NH ₂ , -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl),

-N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(C _r C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -CON(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -NHC(OXphenyl), -N(Cj-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)Cj-C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)CpC ₄ alkylphenyl, -C(O)Cj-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)C _r C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl). [0049] The term "substituted amino" refers to the group -NHR ^d or -NR ^d R ^e wherein R ^d is chosen from: hydroxy, optionally substitued alkoxy, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted acyl, optionally substituted carbamimidoyl, optionally substituted aminocarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl, sulfinyl and sulfonyl, and wherein R ^e is chosen from: optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, and wherein substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl refer respectively to alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl wherein one or more (such as up to 5, for example, up to 3) hydrogen atoms are replaced by a substituent independently chosen from:

-R ^a , -0R ^b , optionally substituted amino (including -NR ^c COR ^b , -NR ⁰ CO ₂ R ³ , -NR ^c CONR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NR ^c )NR ^b R ^c , -NR ^b C(NCN)NR ^b R ^c , and -NR ^c S0 ₂ R ^a ), halo, cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and heteroaryl), optionally substituted acyl (such as -C0R ^b ), optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl (such as -CO ₂ R ^b ), aminocarbonyl (such as -CONR ^b R ^c ), -OCOR ^b , -OCO ₂ R ^a , -0C0NR ^b R ^c , sulfanyl (such as SR ^b ), sulfinyl (such as -SOR ^a ), and sulfonyl (such as -SO ₂ R ^a and -SO ₂ NR ^b R ^c ), where R ^a is chosen from optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ^b is chosen from H, optionally substituted Ci-C ₆ alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted

heteroaryl; and

R ^c is independently chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl; or

R ^b and R ^c , and the nitrogen to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl group; and where each optionally substituted group is unsubstituted or independently substituted with one or more, such as one, two, or three, substituents independently selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, 8TyI-C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-, heteroaryl-Ci-C ₄ alkyl-, Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, -OC ₁ -C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-OH, -OC ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl, halo, -OH, -NH ₂ , -C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl-NH ₂ , -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -NH(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl),

-N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), -NH(Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl), cyano, nitro, oxo (as a substitutent for cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or heteroaryl), -CO ₂ H, -C(O)OCi-C ₄ alkyl, -CON(C ₁ -C ₄ 8UCyI)(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -CONH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -CONH ₂ , -NHC(O)(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -NHC(OXphenyl), -N(C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(C _r C ₄ alkyl), -N(Ci-C ₄ alkyl)C(O)(phenyl), -C(O)Ci-C ₄ alkyl, -C(O)Ci-C ₄ alkylphenyl, -C(O)Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl, -OC(O)C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, - SO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ (phenyl), -SO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ haloalkyl), -SO ₂ NH ₂ , -SO ₂ NH(Ci-C ₄ alkyl), -SO ₂ NH(phenyl), -NHSO ₂ (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl), -NHSO ₂ (phenyl), and -NHSO ₂ (Ci-C ₄ haloalkyl); and wherein optionally substituted acyl, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl, sulfinyl and sulfonyl are as defined herein.

[0050] The term "substituted amino" also refers to N-oxides of the groups -NHR ^d , and

NR ^d R ^d each as described above. N-oxides. can be prepared by treatment of the corresponding amino group with, for example, hydrogen peroxide or m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The person skilled in the art is familiar with reaction conditions for carrying out the N-oxidation. [0051] Compounds of Formula I include, but are not limited to, optical isomers of compounds of Formula I, racemates, and other mixtures thereof. In those situations, the single enantiomers or diastereomers, i.e., optically active forms, can be obtained by asymmetric synthesis or by resolution of the racemates. Resolution of the racemates can be accomplished, for example, by conventional methods such as crystallization in the presence of a resolving agent, or chromatography, using, for example a chiral high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) column. In addition, compounds of Formula I include Z- and E- forms (or cis- and trans- forms) of compounds with carbon-carbon double bonds. Where compounds of Formula I exists in ^■

various tautomeric forms, chemical entities of the present invention include all tautomeric forms of the compound.

[0052] Chemical entities of the present invention include, but are not limited to compounds of Formula I and all pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof. Pharmaceutically acceptable forms of the compounds recited herein include pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, crystal forms (including polymorphs and clathrates), chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein are in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Hence, the terms "chemical entity" and "chemical entities" also encompass pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures.

[0053] "Pharmaceutically acceptable salts" include, but are not limited to salts with inorganic acids, such as hydrochloride, phosphate, diphosphate, hydrobromide, sulfate, sulfinate, nitrate, and like salts; as well as salts with an organic acid, such as malate, maleate, fumarate, tartrate, succinate, citrate, lactate, methanesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, 2- hydroxyethylsulfonate, benzoate, salicylate, stearate, and alkanoate such as acetate, HOOC- (CH ₂ ) _n -COOH where n is 0-4, and like salts. Similarly, pharmaceutically acceptable cations include, but are not limited to sodium, potassium, calcium, aluminum, lithium, and ammonium. [0054] In addition, if the compound of Formula I is obtained as an acid addition salt, the free base can be obtained by basifying a solution of the acid salt. Conversely, if the product is a free base, an addition salt, particularly a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, may be produced by dissolving the free base in a suitable organic solvent and treating the solution with an acid, in accordance with conventional procedures for preparing acid addition salts from base compounds. Those skilled in the art will recognize various synthetic methodologies that may be used to prepare non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts. [0055] As noted above, prodrugs also fall within the scope of chemical entities, for example ester or amide derivatives of the compounds of Formula I. The term "prodrugs" includes any compounds that become compounds of Formula I when administered to a patient, e.g., upon metabolic processing of the prodrug. Examples of prodrugs include, but are not limited to, acetate, formate, phosphate, and benzoate and like derivatives of functional groups (such as alcohol or amine groups) in the compounds of Formula I.

[0056] The term "solvate" refers to the chemical entity formed by the interaction of a solvent and a compound. Suitable solvates are pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, such as hydrates, including monohydrates and hemi-hydrates.

[0057] The term "chelate" refers to the chemical entity formed by the coordination of a compound to a metal ion at two (or more) points.

[0058] The term "non-covalent complex" refers to the chemical entity formed by the interaction of a compound and another molecule wherein a covalent bond is not formed between the compound and the molecule. For example, complexation can occur through van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions (also called ionic bonding). [0059] The term "active agent" is used to indicate a chemical entity which has biological activity. In certain embodiments, an "active agent" is a compound having pharmaceutical utility. For example an active agent may be an anti-cancer therapeutic.

[0060] By "significant" is meant any detectable change that is statistically significant in a standard parametric test of statistical significance such as Student's T-test, where p < 0.05. [0061] The term "antimitotic" refers to a drug for inhibiting or preventing mitosis, for example, by causing metaphase arrest. Some antitumour drugs block proliferation and are considered antimitotics.

[0062] The term "therapeutically effective amount" of a chemical entity of this invention means an amount effective, when administered to a human or non-human patient, to provide a therapeutic benefit such as amelioration of symptoms, slowing of disease progression, or prevention of disease e.g., a therapeutically effective amount may be an amount sufficient to decrease the symptoms of a disease responsive to CENP-E inhibition. In some embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to reduce cancer symptoms. In some embodiments a therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to decrease the number of detectable cancerous cells in an organism, detectably slow, or stop the growth of a cancerous tumor. In some embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to shrink a cancerous tumor.

[0063] The term "inhibition" indicates a significant decrease in the baseline activity of a biological activity or process. "Inhibition of CENP-E activity" refers to a decrease in CENP-E activity as a direct or indirect response to the presence of at least one chemical entity described

herein, relative to the activity of CENP-E in the absence of the at least one chemical entity. The decrease in activity may be due to the direct interaction of the chemical entity with CENP-E, or due to the interaction of the chemical entity(ies) described herein with one or more other factors that in turn affect CENP-E activity. For example, the presence of the chemical entity(ies) may decrease CENP-E activity by directly binding to CENP-E, by causing (directly or indirectly) another factor to decrease CENP-E activity, or by (directly or indirectly) decreasing the amount of CENP-E present in the cell or organism.

[0064] A "disease responsive to CENP-E inhibition" is a disease in which inhibiting

CENP-E provides a therapeutic benefit such as an amelioration of symptoms, decrease in disease progression, prevention or delay of disease onset, or inhibition of aberrant activity of certain cell- types. [0065] "Treatment" or "treating" means any treatment of a disease in a patient, including: a) preventing the disease, that is, causing the clinical symptoms of the disease not to develop; b) inhibiting the disease; c) slowing or arresting the development of clinical symptoms; and/or d) relieving the disease, that is, causing the regression of clinical symptoms. [0066] "Patient" refers to an animal, such as a mammal, that has been or will be the object of treatment, observation or experiment. The methods of the invention can be useful in both human therapy and veterinary applications. In some embodiments, the patient is a mammal; in some embodiments the patient is human; and in some embodiments the patient is chosen from cats and dogs.

[0067] The compounds of Formula I can be named and numbered in the manner described below. For example, using nomenclature software, such as MDL ISIS Draw Version 2.5 SP 1, the compound:

can be named (3R,S) -3-[(3-chloro-4-isopropoxyphenyl)carbonyl]amino-4-[4-(2-t-bu tyl-l- methyl-lH-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl]-4-oxo-butan-l-ol. If that same compound is named with stracture=name algorithm of ChemDraw Ultra 9.0, the name is N-(l-(4-(2-tert-butyl-l-methyl- lη-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl)-4-hydroxy-l-oxobutan-2-yl)-3-chlor o-4-isopropoxybenzamide. [0068] The present invention is directed to a class of novel chemical entities that are inhibitors of one or more mitotic kinesins. According to some embodiments, the chemical entities described herein inhibit the mitotic kinesin, CENP-E, particularly human CENP-E. CENP-E is a plus end-directed microtubule motor essential for achieving metaphase chromosome alignment. CENP-E accumulates during interphase and is degraded following completion of mitosis. Microinjection of antibody directed against CENP-E or overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of CENP-E causes mitotic arrest with prometaphase chromosomes scattered on a bipolar spindle. The tail domain of CENP-E mediates localization to kinetochores and also interacts with the mitotic checkpoint kinase hBubRl. CENP-E also associates with active forms of MAP kinase. Cloning of human (Yen, et al., Nature, 359(6395):536-9 (1992)) CENP-E has been reported. In Thrower, et al., EMBO J., 14:918-26 (1995) partially purified native human CENP-E was reported on. Moreover, the study reported that CENP-E was a minus end-directed microtubule motor. Wood, et al., Cell, 91:357-66 (1997)) discloses expressed Xenopus CENP-E in E. coli and that XCENP-E has motility as a plus end directed motor in vitro. CENP-E See, PCT Publication No. WO 99/13061, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0069] In some embodiments, the chemical entities inhibit the mitotic kinesin, CENP-E, as well as modulating one or more of the human mitotic kinesins selected from HSET (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,361,993, which is incorporated herein by reference); MCAK (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,331,424, which is incorporated herein by reference); RabK-6 (see U.S. Patent No. 6,544,766, which is incorporated herein by reference); Kif4 (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,440,684, which is incorporated herein by reference); MKLPl (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,448,025, which is incorporated herein by reference); Kifl5 (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,355,466, which is incorporated herein by reference); Kid (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,387,644, which is incorporated herein by reference); Mppl, CMKrp, KinI-3 (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,461,855, which is incorporated herein by reference); Kip3a (see, PCT Publication No. WO 01/96593, which is incorporated herein by reference); Kip3d (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,492,151, which is incorporated herein by reference); and KSP (see, U.S. Patent No. 6,617,115, which is incorporated herein by reference). [0070] The methods of inhibiting a mitotic kinesin comprise contacting an inhibitor of the invention with one or more mitotic kinesin, particularly a human kinesin; or fragments and variants thereof. The inhibition can be of the ATP hydrolysis activity of the mitotic kinesin and/or the mitotic spindle formation activity, such that the mitotic spindles are disrupted. [0071] The present invention provides inhibitors of one or more mitotic kinesins, in particular, one or more human mitotic kinesins, for the treatment of disorders associated with cell proliferation. The chemical entities compositions and methods described herein can differ in their selectivity and are used to treat diseases of cellular proliferation, including, but not limited to cancer, hyperplasias, restenosis, cardiac hypertrophy, immune disorders, fungal disorders and inflammation. [0072] Provided is at least one chemical entity chosen from compounds of Formula I

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures thereof, wherein

R ₁ is chosen from optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

X is chosen from -CO and -SO ₂ -;

R ₂ is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted lower alkyl;

W is chosen from -CR ₈ -, -CH ₂ CR ₈ -, and N;

R ₃ is chosen from -CO-R ₇ , hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, cyano, sulfonyl, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R ₄ is chosen from halo, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl;

R ₅ is chosen from halo, hydroxy, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl; and optionally substituted lower alkyl;

R ₆ is chosen from optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy, optionally substituted alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally

substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl; R ₇ is chosen from optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, hydroxy, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted aralkoxy, optionally substituted alkoxy; and

R ₈ is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl; or

R ₄ and R ₅ , taken together with the carbon to which they are attached, form an oxo group; or R ₄ and R ₈ , taken together with the carbons to which they are attached, form an C=C group wherein R ₅ is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted lower alkyl. [0073] In some embodiments, Ri is optionally substituted aryl.

[0074] In some embodiments, Ri is optionally substituted phenyl.

[0075] In some embodiments, Ri is phenyl substituted with one, two or three groups independently, selected from optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkyl, sulfonyl, halo, optionally substituted amino, sulfanyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, optionally substituted heteroaryloxy, acyl, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl.

[0076] In some embodiments, Ri is chosen from 3-halo-4-isopropoxy-phenyl, 3-cyano-4- isopropoxy-phenyl, 3-halo-4-((R)- 1,1,1 -trifluoropropan-2-yloxy)phenyl, 3-cyano-4-((R)- 1,1,1- trifluoropropan-2-yloxy)phenyl, 3-halo-4-isopropylamino-phenyl, 3-cyano-4-isopropylamino- phenyl, 3-halo-4-((R)-l,l,l-trifluoropropan-2-ylamino)phenyl, and 3-cyano-4-((R)- 1,1,1- trifluoropropan-2-ylamino)phenyl. [0077] In some embodiments, X is -CO-.

[0078] In some embodiments, R ₂ is hydrogen.

[0079] In some embodiments, W is -CR ₈ .

[0080] In some embodiments, R ₃ is -CO-R ₇ , hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, cyano, sulfonyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl. [0081] In some embodiments, R ₃ is optionally substituted lower alkyl.

[0082] In some embodiments, R ₃ is chosen from lower alkyl that is optionally substituted with a hydroxy, lower alkyl that is optionally substituted with a lower alkpxy, lower alkyl that is optionally substituted with an optionally substituted amino group, and lower alkyl that is optionally substituted with CO-R ₇ where R ₇ is chosen from hydroxy and optionally substituted amino.

[0083] In some embodiments, R ₃ is chosen from lower alkyl that is optionally substituted with a hydroxy and lower alkyl that is optionally substituted with an optionally substituted amino group.

[0084] In some embodiments, R ₄ is chosen from halo and lower alkyl.

[0085] In some embodiments, R ₄ is chosen from halo and methyl.

[0086] In some embodiments, R ₅ is chosen from halo, hydroxy and optionally substituted lower alkyl.

[0087] In some embodiments, R ₅ is chosen from lower alkyl, hydroxyl and halo. In some embodiments, R ₅ is chosen from lower alkyl and hydroxyl.

[0088] In some embodiments, R ₄ taken together with R ₅ forms an oxo group.

[0089] In some embodiments, R ₆ is chosen from optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, and optionally substituted alkyl.

[0090] In some embodiments, R ₆ is phenyl substituted with one or two of the following substituents: optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionally substituted amino, halo, hydroxy, cyano, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted cycloalkyloxy, phenyl, phenoxy, sulfonyl, aminocarbonyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, heteroaralkoxy, aralkoxy, and optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl.

[0091] In some embodiments, R ₆ is

wherein

R ₁₄ is chosen from optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl and optionally substituted

heteroaryl; and

Ri ₅ is chosen from hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, and lower alkyl. [0092] In some embodiments, R ₁₄ is chosen from

7,8-dihydro-imidazo[l,2-c][l,3]oxazin-2-yl,

3a,7a-dihydro-lH-benzoimidazol-2-yl, imidazo [2, 1 -b] oxazol-6-yl, oxazol-4-yl,

5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazo[l,2~a]pyridin-2-yl, lH-[l,2,4]triazol-3-yl,

2,3-dihydro-imidazol-4-yl, lH-imidazol-2-yl, imidazo[l ,2-a]pyridin-2-yl, thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, pyrazol-3-yl, and lH-imidazol-4-yl, each of which is optionally substituted with one, two, or three groups chosen from optionally substituted lower alkyl, halo, acyl, sulfonyl, cyano, nitro, optionally substituted amino, and optionally substituted heteroaryl. [0093] In some embodiments, Ri ₄ is chosen from

1 H-imidazol-2-yl, imidazo[l,2-a]pyridin-2-yl; and lH-imidazol-4-yl, each of which is optionally substituted with one or two groups chosen from optionally substituted lower alkyl, halo, and acyl.

[0094] In some embodiments, R ₁₅ is hydrogen.

[0095] Also provided is at least one chemical entity chosen from compounds of Formula π

(Formula II) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures thereof, wherein R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , and R ₆ are as described for compounds of Formula I and wherein

Rn is chosen from optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted lower alkyl, nitro, cyano, hydrogen, sulfonyl, and halo;

R ₁₂ is chosen from hydrogen, halo, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted amino, sulfanyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted aryloxy, and optionally substituted heteroaryloxy; and

Ri ₃ is chosen from hydrogen, optionally substituted acyl, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, optionally substituted amino, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonamido-, aminocarbonyl, optionally substituted aryl and optionally substituted heteroaryl.

[0096] In some embodiments, Rn is chosen from hydrogen, cyano, nitro, and halo.

[0097] In some embodiments, Rn is chosen from chloro and cyano.

[0098] In some embodiments, Ri ₂ is chosen from optionally substituted lower alkoxy, optionally substituted lower alkyl, and optionally substituted amino-.

[0099] In some embodiments, Ri ₂ is chosen from lower alkoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoro-l-methyl- ethoxy, lower alkylamino and 2,2,2-trifluoro-l-methyl-ethylamino

[00100] In some embodiments, Ri ₂ is chosen from propoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoro-l-methyl- ethoxy, propylamino, and 2,2,2-trifluoro-l-methyl-ethylarnino.

[00101] In some embodiments, R ₁₃ is hydrogen.

[00102] Also provided is at least one chemical entity chosen from compounds of Formula m

(Formula HI) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and mixtures thereof, wherein R ₂ , R ₄ , R ₅ , and R ₆ are as described for compounds of Formula I and wherein Rn, Ri ₂ , and Ri ₃ are as described for compounds of Formula π. [00103] Also provided is at least one chemical entity chosen from compounds of Formula

IV

(Formula IV) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, and

28

mixtures thereof, wherein R ₂ , R ₄ , R ₅ , and R ₆ are as described for compounds of Formula I, wherein R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , and R ₁₃ are as described for compounds of Formula II, and wherein

Rg is chosen from optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted cycloalkoxy, optionally substituted aralkoxy, optionally substituted amino and optionally substituted lower alkyl. [00104] In some embodiments, R ₉ is chosen from lower alkyl substituted with hydroxy and optionally substituted amino.

[00105] In some embodiments, R ₉ is chosen from lower alkyl substituted with hydroxy, amino, N-methylamino, N,N-dimethylamino, azetidin-1-yl, orpyrrolidin-1-yl. [00106] The chemical entities described herein can be prepared by following the procedures set forth, for example, in PCT WO 99/13061, U.S. Patent No. 6,420,561 and PCT WO 98/56756, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The starting materials and other reactants are commercially available, e.g., from Aldrich Chemical Company, Milwaukee, WI, or may be readily prepared by those skilled in the art using commonly employed synthetic methodology.

[00107] Unless specified otherwise, the terms "solvent", "inert organic solvent" or "inert solvent" mean a solvent inert under the conditions of the reaction being described in conjunction therewith, including, for example, benzene, toluene, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran ("THF"), dimethylformamide ("DMF"), chloroform, methylene chloride (or dichloromethane), diethyl ether, methanol, pyridine and the like. Unless specified to the contrary, the solvents used in the reactions of the present invention are inert organic solvents.

[00108] In general, esters of carboxylic acids may be prepared by conventional esterification procedures, for example alkyl esters may be prepared by treating the required carboxylic acid with the appropriate alkanol, generally under acidic conditions. Likewise, amides may be prepared using conventional amidation procedures, for example amides may be prepared by treating an activated carboxylic acid with the appropriate amine. Alternatively, a lower-alkyl ester such as a methyl ester of the acid may be treated with an amine to provide the required amide, optionally in presence of trimethylalluminium following the procedure described in Tetrahedron Lett. 48, 4171-4173, (1977). Carboxyl groups may be protected as alkyl esters, for example methyl esters, which esters may be prepared and removed using conventional

procedures, one convenient method for converting carbomethoxy to carboxyl is to use aqueous lithium hydroxide.

[00109] The salts and solvates mentioned herein may as required be produced by methods conventional in the art. For example, if an inventive compound is an acid, a desired base addition salt can be prepared by treatment of the free acid with an inorganic or organic base, such as an amine (primary, secondary, or tertiary); an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide; or the like. Illustrative examples of suitable salts include organic salts derived from amino acids such as glycine and arginine; ammonia; primary, secondary, and tertiary amines; such as ethylenediamine, and cyclic amines, such as cyclohexylamine, piperidine, morpholine, and piperazine; as well as inorganic salts derived from sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, and lithium.

[00110] If a compound is a base, a desired acid addition salt may be prepared by any suitable method known in the art, including treatment of the free base with an inorganic acid, such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like, or with an organic acid, such as acetic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, mandelic acid, fumaric acid, malonic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, pyranosidyl acid, such as glucuronic acid or galacturonic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid, such as citric acid or tartaric acid, amino acid, such as aspartic acid or glutamic acid, aromatic acid, such as benzoic acid or cinήamic acid, sulfonic acid, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, or the like.

[00111] Isolation and purification of the chemical entities and intermediates described herein can be effected, if desired, by any suitable separation or purification procedure such as, for example, filtration, extraction, crystallization, column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography or thick-layer chromatography, or a combination of these procedures. Specific illustrations of suitable separation and isolation procedures can be had by reference to the examples hereinbelow. However, other equivalent separation or isolation procedures can, of course, also be used.

Reaction Scheme 1

101 105

[00112] Referring to Reaction Scheme 1, Step 1, to a solution of a compound of Formula

101 in an inert solvent such as DCM are added an excess (such as about 1.2 equivalents) of pentafluorophenyltrifluoroacetate and a base such as triethylamine at about 0 ⁰ C. The reaction mixture is stirred for about 1 h. The product, a compound of Formula 105, is isolated and purified.

[00113] Referring to Reaction Scheme 1, Step 2, to a solution of a compound of Formula

105 in a polar, aprotic solvent are added an excess (such as about 1.2 equivalents) of a compound of formula R ₇ (CO)-CH(NHR ₂ )^(R ₄ )(R ₅ )(R ₆ ) and a base such as N, iV-diisopropylethylamine. The reaction is monitored by, for example, LC/MS, to yield a compound of Formula 107 wherein R ₇ is NH ₂ , which is isolated and optionally purified.

Reaction Scheme 2

201 105 203

[00114] Referring to Reaction Scheme 2, to a solution of a compound of Formula 201 in a polar, aprotic solvent such as DMF are added an excess (such as about 1.2 equivalents) of a compound of Formula 105 and a base such as diisopropylethylamine at room temperature. The reaction mixture is monitored by, for example, LC/MS. After completion, a primary or secondary amine in an inert solvent such as THF and HBTU is added to the reaction solution. The reaction mixture is stirred for about 2 days. The product, a compound of Formula 203 wherein R ₇ is optionally substituted amino, is isolated and purified. [00115] In certain embodiments, R ₆ in a compound of Formula 203 is a halide, alkyl halide, or aryl halide. This halide can be converted to various other substituents using a variety of reactions using techniques known in the art and further described in the examples below.. [00116] In other embodiments, R ₆ in a compound of Formula 203 is an alkyl or aryl amine. Again, the amine moiety can be alkylated, acylated, converted to the sulfonamide, and the like using techniques known in the art and further described below.

[00117] In yet other embodiments, R ₆ in a compound of Formula 203 is an alkyl alcohol or an aryl alcohol. The hydroxyl moiety can be converted to the corresponding ether or ester using techniques known in the art.

Reaction Scheme 3

301 303

[00118] Referring to Reaction Scheme 3, to a solution of a compound of Formula 301 in a polar, aprotic solvent such as DMF is added glycinamide hydrochloride, a base such as diisopropylethylamine, and HBTU. The reaction mixture is stirred for about 15 hours. The product, a compound of Formula 303, is isolated and purified.

Reaction Scheme 4

401 403 405

[00119] Referring to Reaction Scheme 4, Step 1, to a stirred solution of a compound of

Formula 401 wherein n is 0, 1, or 2 in an inert solvent such as THF at about 0 ⁰ C is added an excess (such as about 2 equivalents) of LAH (such as a 1.0 M solution in THF). After stirring for about 2 hours, the product, a compound of Formula 403, is isolated and used without further purification.

[00120] Referring to Reaction Scheme 4, Step 2, the hydroxyl group is converted to a protected amino group. If the protecting group is phthamide, it can be made as follows. To a stirred solution of a compound of Formula 403 in an inert solvent such as THF are added an excess (such as about 1.1 equivalents) of isoindole-l,3-dione and triphenylphosphine. An excess (such as about 1.1 equivalents) of DEAD is then added dropwise and the reaction is stirred for about 30 min. The product, a compound of Formula 405, is isolated and purified. [00121] Referring to Reaction Scheme 4, Step 3, the Boc protecting group is then removed to form the corresponding free amine. One of skill in the art will appreciate that this should be accomplished in such a manner as to leave the other protected amine intact. For example, to a solution of a compound of Formula 405 in a nonpolar, aprotic solvent such as DCM is added an acid, such as TFA, at room temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred for about 20 min. The product, a compound of Formula 407, is isolated and used without further purification. [00122] Referring to Reaction Scheme 4, Step 4, to a solution of a compound of Formula

407 in an inert solvent such as DMF are added a compound of Formula 105 and a base such as diisopropylethylamine at room temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight. The product, a compound of Formula 409, is isolated and purified.

[00123] Referring to Reaction Scheme 4, Step 5, the amine protecting group, PG, is then removed. If the amine protecting group, PG, is a phthalimide, it can be removed is follows. To a solution of a compound of Formula 409 in a polar, protic solvent such as methanol is added an excess (such as about 10 equivalents) of hydrazine hydrate. The reaction mixture is stirred at about 50 ⁰ C for about 5 h, and then cooled to room temperature. The product, a compound of Formula 411, is isolated and optionally, purified. Conditions for removing other protecting groups are known to those of skill in the art.

[00124] The free amine of a compound of Formula 411 can be acylated, alkylated, reductively alkylated, or sulfonylated using techniques known to those of skill in the art!

Reaction Scheme 5

.X Step l ^ ^X. Step 2 _{> /} ^x \ ^{Step 3} R ₁ " "OH - Ri Cl R^ NH-NH ₂

701 703 705

[00125] Referring to Reaction Scheme 5, Step 1, to a solution of a compound of Formula

701 in a polar protic solvent such as methanol is added an excess (such as about 2 equivalents) of

SOCl ₂ . After stirring overnight at ambient temperature, the product, a compound of Formula

703, is isolated and used without further purification.

[00126] Referring to Reaction Scheme 5, Step 2, to a solution of a compound of Formula

703 in a polar, protic solvent such as ethanol is added an excess (such as about 5 equivalents) of

N ₂ H ₄ ^H ₂ O. The reaction mixture is ^" heated to reflux and stirred for about 3 h. Upon cooling, the product, a compound of Formula 705, is isolated and purified.

[00127] Referring to Reaction Scheme 5, Step 3, to a solution of a compound of Formula

705 in an inert solvent such as THF is added an excess (such as about 1.1 equivalents) of carbonyldiimidazole. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux and stirred for 1.5 h. Upon cooling, the product, a compound of Formula 707, is isolated and purified.

[00128] Referring to Reaction Scheme 5, Step 4, to a solution of a compound of Formula

707 in an inert solvent such as acetonitrile is added an excess (such as about 1.1 equivalents) of

R ₄ R ₅ R ₆ C-Z wherein Z is a leaving group and a base such as K ₂ CO ₃ . The reaction mixture is heated to about 80 ⁰ C under microwave irradiation for about 30 min followed by filtration and concentration in vacuo. The product, a compound of Formula 709, is isolated and optionally purified.

[00129] Referring to Reaction Scheme 5, Step 5, to a compound of Formula 709 is added an excess of a primary amine in an inert solvent such as THF. The reaction mixture is heated to about about 100 ⁰ C under microwave irradiation for about 4 h. The product, a compound of Formula 711, is isolated and purified.

[00130] Once made, the chemical entities of the invention find use in a variety of applications involving alteration of mitosis. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, mitosis may be altered in a variety of ways; that is, one can affect mitosis either by increasing or decreasing the activity of a component in the mitotic pathway. Stated differently, mitosis may be affected (e.g., disrupted) by disturbing equilibrium, either by inhibiting or activating certain components. Similar approaches may be used to alter meiosis.

[00131] In some embodiments, the chemical entities of the invention are used to inhibit mitotic spindle formation, thus causing prolonged cell cycle arrest in mitosis. By "inhibit" in this context is meant decreasing or interfering with mitotic spindle formation or causing mitotic spindle dysfunction. By "mitotic spindle formation" herein is meant organization of microtubules into bipolar structures by mitotic kinesins. By "mitotic spindle dysfunction" herein is meant mitotic arrest.

[00132] The chemical entities of the invention bind to, and/or inhibit the activity of, one or more mitotic kinesin. In some embodiments, the mitotic kinesin is human, although the chemical entities may be used to bind to or inhibit the activity of mitotic kinesins from other organisms. In this context, "inhibit" means either increasing or decreasing spindle pole separation, causing malformation, i.e., splaying, of mitotic spindle poles, or otherwise causing morphological perturbation of the mitotic spindle. Also included within the definition of a mitotic kinesn for these purposes are variants and/or fragments of such protein and more particularly, the motor domain of such protein.

[00133] The chemical entities of the invention are used to treat cellular proliferation diseases. Such disease states which can be treated by the chemical entities provided herein include, but are not limited to, cancer (further discussed below), autoimmune disease, fungal disorders, arthritis, graft rejection, inflammatory bowel disease, cellular proliferation induced after medical procedures, including, but not limited to, surgery, angioplasty, and the like. Treatment includes inhibiting cellular proliferation. It is appreciated that in some cases the cells

may not be in an abnormal state and still require treatment. Thus, in some embodiments, the invention herein includes application to cells or individuals afflicted or subject to impending affliction with any one of these disorders or states.

[00134] The chemical entities, pharmaceutical formulations and methods provided herein are particularly deemed useful for the treatment of cancer including solid tumors such as skin, breast, brain, cervical carcinomas, testicular carcinomas, etc. More particularly, cancers that can be treated include, but are not limited to:

• Cardiac: sarcoma (angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma), myxoma, rhabdomyoma, fibroma, lipoma and teratoma;

• Lung: bronchogenic carcinoma (squamous cell, undifferentiated small cell, undifferentiated large cell, adenocarcinoma), alveolar (bronchiolar) carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, chondromatous hamartoma, mesothelioma;

• Gastrointestinal: esophagus (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma), stomach (carcinoma, lymphoma, leiomyosarcoma), pancreas (ductal adenocarcinoma, insulinoma, glucagonoma, gastrinoma, carcinoid tumors, vipoma), small bowel (adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, Karposi's sarcoma, leiomyoma, hemangioma, lipoma, neurofibroma, fibroma), large bowel (adenocarcinoma, tubular adenoma, villous adenoma, hamartoma, leiomyoma);

• Genitourinary tract: kidney (adenocarcinoma, WiIm' s tumor [nephroblastoma] , lymphoma, leukemia), bladder and urethra (squamous cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma), prostate (adenocarcinoma, sarcoma), testis (seminoma, teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratocarcinoma, choriocarcinoma, sarcoma, interstitial cell carcinoma, fibroma, fibroadenoma, adenomatoid tumors, lipoma);

• Liver: hepatoma (hepatocellular carcinoma), cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, angiosarcoma, hepatocellular adenoma, hemangioma;

• Bone: osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma), fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, malignant lymphoma (reticulum cell sarcoma), multiple myeloma, malignant giant cell tumor chordoma, osteochronfroma (osteocartilaginous exostoses), benign chondroma, chondroblastoma, chondromyxofibroma, osteoid osteoma and giant cell tumors;

• Nervous system: skull (osteoma, hemangioma, granuloma, xanthoma, osteitis deformans), meninges (meningioma, meningiosarcoma, gliomatosis), brain (astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, ependymoma, germinoma [pinealoma], glioblastoma multiform, oligodendroglioma, schwannoma, retinoblastoma, congenital tumors), spinal cord neurofibroma, meningioma, glioma, sarcoma);

• Gynecological: uterus (endometrial carcinoma), cervix (cervical carcinoma, pre-tumor cervical dysplasia), ovaries (ovarian carcinoma [serous cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, unclassified carcinoma], granulosa-thecal cell tumors, Sertoli -Leydig cell tumors, dysgerminoma, malignant teratoma), vulva (squamous cell carcinoma,

, intraepithelial carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, melanoma), vagina (clear cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, botryoid sarcoma (embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma], fallopian tubes (carcinoma);

• Hematologic: blood (myeloid leukemia [acute and chronic], acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myeloproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [malignant lymphoma];

• Skin: malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Karposi's sarcoma, moles dysplastic nevi, lipoma, angioma, dermatofibroma, keloids, psoriasis; and

• Adrenal glands: neuroblastoma.

As used herein, treatment of cancer includes treatment of cancerous cells, including cells afflicted by any one of the above-identified conditions. Thus, the term "cancerous cell" as provided herein, includes a cell afflicted by any one of the above identified conditions.

[00135] Another useful aspect of the invention is a kit having at least one chemical entity described herein and a package insert or other labeling including directions treating a cellular proliferative disease by administering an effective amount of the at least one chemical entity. The chemical entity in the kits of the invention is particularly provided as one or more doses for a course of treatment for a cellular proliferative disease, each dose being a pharmaceutical formulation including a pharmaceutical excipient and at least one chemical entity described herein.

[00136] For assay of mitotic kinesin-modulating activity, generally either a mitotic kinesin or at least one chemical entity described herein is non-diffusably bound to an insoluble support having isolated sample receiving areas (e.g., a microtiter plate, an array, etc.). The insoluble support may be made of any composition to which the sample can be bound, is readily separated from soluble material, and is otherwise compatible with the overall method of screening. The surface of such supports may be solid or porous and of any convenient shape. Examples of suitable insoluble supports include microtiter plates, arrays, membranes and beads. These are typically made of glass, plastic (e.g., polystyrene), polysaccharides, nylon or nitrocellulose, Teflon™, etc. Microtiter plates and arrays are especially convenient because a large number of assays can be carried out simultaneously, using small amounts of reagents and samples. The particular manner of binding of the sample is not crucial so long as it is compatible with the reagents and overall methods of the invention, maintains the activity of the sample and is nondiffusable. Particular methods of binding include the use of antibodies (which do not sterically block either the ligand binding site or activation sequence when the protein is bound to the support), direct binding to "sticky" or ionic supports, chemical crosslinking, the synthesis of the protein or agent on the surface, etc. Following binding of the sample, excess unbound material is removed by washing. The sample receiving areas may then be blocked through incubation with bovine serum albumin (BSA), casein or other innocuous protein or other moiety. [00137] The chemical entities of the invention may be used on their own to inhibit the activity of a mitotic kinesin. In some embodiments, at least one chemical entity of the invention is combined with a mitotic kinesin and the activity of the mitotic kinesin is assayed. Kinesin activity is known in the art and includes one or more of the following: the ability to affect ATP hydrolysis; microtubule binding; gliding and polymerization/depolymerization (effects on microtubule dynamics); binding to other proteins of the spindle; binding to proteins involved in cell-cycle control; serving as a substrate to other enzymes, such as kinases or proteases; and specific kinesin cellular activities such as spindle pole separation.

[00138] Methods of performing motility assays are well known to those of skill in the art.

(See e.g., Hall, et al. (1996), Biophys. J., 71: 3467-3476, Turner et al., 1996, AnaL Biochem. 242 (l):20-5; Gittes et al., 1996, Biophys. J. 70(1): 418-29; Shirakawa et al., 1995, J. Exp. BioL 198:

1809-15; Winkelmann et al., 1995, Biophys. J. 68: 2444-53; Winkelmann et al, 1995, Biophys. J. 68: 72S.)

[00139] Methods known in the art for determining ATPase hydrolysis activity also can be used. Suitably, solution based assays are utilized. U.S. Patent 6,410,254, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes such assays. Alternatively, conventional methods are used. For example, Pj release from kinesin (and more particularly, the motor domain of a mitotic kinesin) can be quantified. In some embodiments, the ATPase hydrolysis activity assay utilizes 0.3 M PCA (perchloric acid) and malachite green reagent (8.27 mM sodium molybdate π, 0.33 mM malachite green oxalate, and 0.8 mM Triton X-I 00). To perform the assay, 10 μL of the reaction mixture is quenched in 90 μL of cold 0.3 M PCA. Phosphate standards are used so data can be converted to mM inorganic phosphate released. When all reactions and standards have been quenched in PCA, 100 μL of malachite green reagent is added to the relevant wells in e.g., a microtiter plate. The mixture is developed for 10-15 minutes and the plate is read at an absorbance of 650 nm. If phosphate standards were used, absorbance readings can be converted to mM Pj and plotted over time. Additionally, ATPase assays known in the art include the luciferase assay.

[00140] ATPase activity of kinesin motor domains also can be used to monitor the effects of agents and are well known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments ATPase assays of kinesin are performed in the absence of microtubules. In some embodiments, the ATPase assays are performed in the presence of microtubules. Different types of agents can be detected in the above assays, hi some embodiments, the effect of an agent is independent of the concentration of microtubules and ATP. hi some embodiments, the effect of the agents on kinesin ATPase can be decreased by increasing the concentrations of ATP, microtubules or both, hi some embodiments, the effect of the agent is increased by increasing concentrations of ATP, microtubules or both. [00141] Chemical entities that inhibit the biochemical activity of a mitotic kinesin in vitro may then be screened in vivo. In vivo screening methods include assays of cell cycle distribution, cell v/αbility, or the presence, morphology, activity, distribution, or number of mitotic spindles. Methods for monitoring cell cycle distribution of a cell population, for example, by flow cytometry, are well known to those skilled in the art, as are methods for determining cell v/αbility. See for example, U.S. Patent 6,437,115, hereby incorporated by

reference in its entirety. Microscopic methods for monitoring spindle formation and malformation are well known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Whitehead and Rattner (1998), J. Cell Sci. 111:2551-61; Galgio et al, (1996) J. Cell Biol, 135:399-414), each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[00142] The chemical entities of the invention inhibit one or more mitotic kinesins. One measure of inhibition is IC ₅₀ , defined as the concentration of the chemical entity at which the activity of the mitotic kinesin is decreased by fifty percent relative to a control. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has an IC ₅₀ of less than about 1 mM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has an IC _5O of less than about 100 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has an IC _5O of less than about 10 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has an IC ₅₀ of less than about 1 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has an IC ₅₀ of less than about 100 nM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has an IC ₅₀ of less than about 10 nM. Measurement of IC ₅ O is done using an ATPase assay such as described herein. [00143] Another measure of inhibition is Ki. For chemical entities with ICso's less than 1 μM, the Ki or K _d is defined as the dissociation rate constant for the interaction of the compounds described herein with a mitotic kinesin. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a Ki of less than about 100 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a Ki of less than about 10 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a Ki of less than about 1 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a Ki of less than about 100 nM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a Kj of less than about 1O nM.

[00144] The Kj for a chemical entity is determined from the IC ₅₀ based on three assumptions and the Michaelis-Menten equation. First, only one compound molecule binds to the enzyme and there is no cooperativity. Second, the concentrations of active enzyme and the compound tested are known (i.e., there are no significant amounts of impurities or inactive forms in the preparations). Third, the enzymatic rate of the enzyme-inhibitor complex is zero. The rate (i.e., compound concentration) data are fitted to the equation:

where V is the observed rate, V _max is the rate of the free enzyme, I ₀ is the inhibitor concentration, Eo is the enzyme concentration, and K _d is the dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex.

[00145] Another measure of inhibition is GI ₅₀ , defined as the concentration of the chemical entity that results in a decrease in the rate of cell growth by fifty percent. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a GI ₅₀ of less than about 1 mM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a GI _5O of less than about 20 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a GI ₅₀ of less than about 10 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a GI ₅₀ of less than about 1 μM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a GI ₅₀ of less than about 100 nM. In some embodiments, the at least one chemical entity has a GI ₅₀ of less than about 10 nM. Measurement of GI ₅₀ is done using a cell proliferation assay such as described herein. Chemical entities of this class were found to inhibit cell proliferation.

[00146] In vitro potency of small molecule inhibitors is determined, for example, by assaying human ovarian cancer cells (SKO V3) for v/αbility following a 72-hour exposure to a 9- point dilution series of compound. Cell viability is determined by measuring the absorbance of formazon, a product formed by the bioreduction of MTS/PMS, a commercially available reagent. Each point on the dose-response curve is calculated as a percent of untreated control cells at 72 hours minus background absorption (complete cell kill).

[00147] Anti-proliferative compounds that have been successfully applied in the clinic to treatment of cancer (cancer chemotherapeutics) have GIso's that vary greatly. For example, in A549 cells, paclitaxel GI ₅₀ is 4 nM, doxorubicin is 63 nM, 5-fluorouracil is 1 μM, and hydroxyurea is 500 μM (data provided by National Cancer Institute, Developmental Therapeutic Program, http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/). Therefore, compounds that inhibit cellular proliferation, irrespective of the concentration demonstrating inhibition, have potential clinical usefulness. [00148] To employ the chemical entities of the invention in a method of screening for compounds that bind to a mitotic kinesin, the mitotic kinesin is bound to a support, and a

compound of the invention is added to the assay. Alternatively, the chemical entity of the invention is bound to the support and a mitotic kinesin is added. Classes of compounds among which novel binding agents may be sought include specific antibodies, non-natural binding agents identified in screens of chemical libraries, peptide analogs, etc. Of particular interest are screening assays for candidate agents that have a low toxicity for human cells. A wide variety of assays may be used for this purpose, including labeled in vitro protein-protein binding assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, immunoassays for protein binding, functional assays (phosphorylation assays, etc.) and the like.

[00149] The determination of the binding of the chemical entities of the invention to a mitotic kinesin may be done in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the chemical entity is labeled, for example, with a fluorescent or radioactive moiety, and binding is determined directly. For example, this may be done by attaching all or a portion of a mitotic kinesin to a solid support, adding a labeled test compound (for example a chemical entity of the invention in which at least one atom has been replaced by a detectable isotope), washing off excess reagent, and determining whether the amount of the label is that present on the solid support. [00150] By "labeled" herein is meant that the compound is either directly or indirectly labeled with a label which provides a detectable signal, e.g., radioisotope, fluorescent tag, enzyme, antibodies, particles such as magnetic particles, chemiluminescent tag, or specific binding molecules, etc. Specific binding molecules include pairs, such as biotin and streptavidin, digoxin and antidigoxin etc. For the specific binding members, the complementary member would normally be labeled with a molecule which provides for detection, in accordance with known procedures, as outlined above. The label can directly or indirectly provide a detectable signal.

[00151] In some embodiments, only one of the components is labeled. For example, the kinesin proteins may be labeled at tyrosine positions using ¹²⁵ I, or with fluorophores. Alternatively, more than one component may be labeled with different labels; using ¹²⁵ I for the proteins, for example, and a fluorophor for the antimitotic agents.

[00152] The chemical entities of the invention may also be used as competitors to screen for additional drug candidates. "Candidate agent" or "drug candidate" or grammatical equivalents as used herein describe any molecule, e.g., protein, oligopeptide, small organic

molecule, polysaccharide, polynucleotide, etc., to be tested for bioactivity. They may be capable of directly or indirectly altering the cellular proliferation phenotype or the expression of a cellular proliferation sequence, including both nucleic acid sequences and protein sequences. In other cases, alteration of cellular proliferation protein binding and/or activity is screened. Screens of this sort may be performed either in the presence or absence of microtubules. In the case where protein binding or activity is screened, particular embodiments exclude molecules already known to bind to that particular protein, for example, polymer structures such as microtubules, and energy sources such as ATP. Particular embodiments of assays herein include candidate agents which do not bind the cellular proliferation protein in its endogenous native state termed herein as "exogenous" agents. In some embodiments, exogenous agents further exclude antibodies to the mitotic kinesin.

[00153] Candidate agents can encompass numerous chemical classes, though typically they are small organic compounds having a molecular weight of more than 100 and less than about 2,500 daltons. Candidate agents comprise functional groups necessary for structural interaction with proteins, particularly hydrogen bonding and lipophilic binding, and typically include at least an amine, carbonyl-, hydroxy!-, ether, or carboxyl group, generally at least two of the functional chemical groups. The candidate agents often comprise cyclical carbon or heterocyclic structures and/or aromatic or polyaromatic structures substituted with one or more of the above functional groups. Candidate agents are also found among biomolecules including peptides, saccharides, fatty acids, steroids, purines, pyrimidines, derivatives, structural analogs or combinations thereof.

[00154] Candidate agents are obtained from a wide variety of sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. For example, numerous means are available for random and directed synthesis of a wide variety of organic compounds and biomolecules, including expression of randomized oligonucleotides. Alternatively, libraries of natural compounds in the form of bacterial, fungal, plant and animal extracts are available or readily produced. Additionally, natural or synthetically produced libraries and compounds are readily modified through conventional chemical, physical and biochemical means. Known pharmacological agents may be subjected to directed or random chemical modifications, such as acylation, alkylation, esterification, and/or amidification to produce structural analogs.

[00155] Competitive screening assays may be done by combining a mitotic kinesin and a drug candidate in a first sample. A second sample comprises at least one chemical entity of the present invention, a mitotic kinesin and a drug candidate. This may be performed in either the presence or absence of microtubules. The binding of the drug candidate is determined for both samples, and a change, or difference in binding between the two samples indicates the presence of a drug candidate capable of binding to a mitotic kinesin and potentially inhibiting its activity. That is, if the binding of the drug candidate is different in the second sample relative to the first sample, the drug candidate is capable of binding to a mitotic kinesin.

[00156] In some embodiments, the binding of the candidate agent to a mitotic kinesin is determined through the use of competitive binding assays. In some embodiments, the competitor is a binding moiety known to bind to the mitotic kinesin, such as an antibody, peptide, binding partner, ligand, etc. Under certain circumstances, there may be competitive binding as between the candidate agent and the binding moiety, with the binding moiety displacing the candidate agent.

[00157] In some embodiments, the candidate agent is labeled. Either the candidate agent, or the competitor, or both, is added first to the mitotic kinesin for a time sufficient to allow binding, if present. Incubations may be performed at any temperature which facilitates optimal activity, typically between 4 and 40 ⁰ C.

[00158] Incubation periods are selected for optimum activity, but may also be optimized to facilitate rapid high throughput screening. Typically between 0.1 and 1 hour will be sufficient. Excess reagent is generally removed or washed away. The second component is then added, and the presence or absence of the labeled component is followed, to indicate binding. [00159] In some embodiments, the competitor is added first, followed by the candidate agent. Displacement of the competitor is an indication the candidate agent is binding to the mitotic kinesin and thus is capable of binding to, and potentially inhibiting, the activity of the mitotic kinesin. In some embodiments, either component can be labeled. Thus, for example, if the competitor is labeled, the presence of label in the wash solution indicates displacement by the agent. Alternatively, if the candidate agent is labeled, the presence of the label on the support indicates displacement.

[00160] In some embodiments, the candidate agent is added first, with incubation and washing, followed by the competitor. The absence of binding by the competitor may indicate the candidate agent is bound to the mitotic kinesin with a higher affinity. Thus, if the candidate agent is labeled, the presence of the label on the support, coupled with a lack of competitor binding, may indicate the candidate agent is capable of binding to the mitotic kinesin. [00161] Inhibition is tested by screening for candidate agents capable of inhibiting the activity of a mitotic kinesin comprising the steps of combining a candidate agent with a mitotic kinesin as above, and determining an alteration in the biological activity of the mitotic kinesin. Thus, in some embodiments, the candidate agent should both bind to the mitotic kinesin (although this may not be necessary), and alter its biological or biochemical activity as defined herein. The methods include both in vitro screening methods and in vivo screening of cells for alterations in cell cycle distribution, cell viability, or for the presence, morpohology, activity, distribution, or amount of mitotic, spindles, as are generally outlined above. [00162] Alternatively, differential screening may be used to identify drug candidates that bind to the native mitotic kinesin but cannot bind to a modified mitotic kinesin. [00163] Positive controls and negative controls may be used in the assays. Suitably all control and test samples are performed in at least triplicate to obtain statistically significant results. Incubation of all samples is for a time sufficient for the binding of the agent to the protein. Following incubation, all samples are washed free of non-specifically bound material and the amount of bound, generally labeled agent determined. For example, where a radiolabel is employed, the samples may be counted in a scintillation counter to determine the amount of bound compound.

[00164] A variety of other reagents may be included in the screening assays. These include reagents like salts, neutral proteins, e.g., albumin, detergents, etc which may be used to facilitate optimal protein-protein binding and/or reduce non-specific or background interactions. Also reagents that otherwise improve the efficiency of the assay, such as protease inhibitors, nuclease inhibitors, anti-microbial agents, etc., may be used. The mixture of components may be added in any order that provides for the requisite binding.

[00165] Accordingly, the chemical entities of the invention are administered to cells. By

"administered" herein is meant administration of a therapeutically effective dose of at least one

.chemical entity of the invention to a cell either in cell culture or in a patient. By "therapeutically effective dose" herein is meant a dose that produces the effects for which it is administered. The exact dose will depend on the purpose of the treatment, and will be ascertainable by one skilled in the art using known techniques. As is known in the art, adjustments for systemic versus localized delivery, age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, drug interaction and the severity of the condition may be necessary, and will be ascertainable with routine experimentation by those skilled in the art. By "cells" herein is meant any cell in which mitosis or meiosis can be altered.

[00166] A "patient" for the purposes of the present invention includes both humans and other animals, particularly mammals, and other organisms. Thus the methods are applicable to both human therapy and veterinary applications. In some embodiments, the patient is a mammal, and more particularly, the patient is human.

[00167] Chemical entities of the invention having the desired pharmacological activity may be administered, in some embodiments, as a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising an pharmaceutical excipient, to a patient, as described herein. Depending upon the manner of introduction, the chemical entities may be formulated in a variety of ways as discussed below. The concentration of the at least one chemical entity in the formulation may vary from about 0.1-100 wt.%.

[00168] The agents may be administered alone or in combination with other treatments, i.e., radiation, or other chemotherapeutic agents such as the taxane class of agents that appear to act on microtubule formation or the camptothecin class of topoisomerase I inhibitors. When used, other chemotherapeutic agents may be administered before, concurrently, or after administration of at least one chemical entity of the present invention. In one aspect of the invention, at least one chemical entity of the present invention is co-administered with one or more other chemotherapeutic agents. By "co-administer" it is meant that the at least one chemical entity is administered to a patient such that the at least one chemical entity as well as the co-administered compound may be found in the patient's bloodstream at the same time, regardless when the compounds are actually administered, including simultaneously. [00169] The administration of the chemical entities of the present invention can be done in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, orally, subcutaneously, intravenously,

intranasally, transdermally, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, intrapulmonary, vaginally, rectally, or intraocularly. In some instances, for example, in the treatment of wounds and inflammation, the compound or composition may be directly applied as a solution or spray. [00170] Pharmaceutical dosage forms include at least one chemical entity described herein and one or more pharmaceutical excipients. As is known in the art, pharmaceutical excipients are secondary ingredients which function to enable or enhance the delivery of a drug or medicine in a variety of dosage forms (e.g.: oral forms such as tablets, capsules, and liquids; topical forms such as dermal, opthalmic, and otic forms; suppositories; injectables; respiratory forms and the like). Pharmaceutical excipients include inert or inactive ingredients, synergists or chemicals that substantively contribute to the medicinal effects of the active ingredient. For example, pharmaceutical excipients may function to improve flow characteristics, product uniformity, stability, taste, or appearance, to ease handling and administration of dose, for convenience of use, or to control bioavailability. While pharmaceutical excipients are commonly described as being inert or inactive, it is appreciated in the art that there is a relationship between the properties of the pharmaceutical excipients and the dosage forms containing them. [00171] Pharmaceutical excipients suitable for use as carriers or diluents are well known in the art, and may be used in a variety of formulations. See, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Edition, A. R. Gennaro, Editor, Mack Publishing Company (1990); Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th Edition, A. R. Gennaro, Editor, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (2000); Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, 3rd Edition, A. H. Kibbe, Editor, American Pharmaceutical Association, and Pharmaceutical Press (2000); and Handbook of Pharmaceutical Additives, compiled by Michael and Irene Ash,Gower (1995), each of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[00172] Oral solid dosage forms such as tablets will typically comprise one or more pharmaceutical excipients, which may for example help impart satisfactory processing and compression characteristics, or provide additional desirable physical characteristics to the tablet. Such pharmaceutical excipients may be selected from diluents, binders, glidants, lubricants, disintegrants, colors, flavors, sweetening agents, polymers, waxes or other solubility-retarding materials.

[00173] Compositions for intravenous administration will generally comprise intravenous fluids, i.e., sterile solutions of simple chemicals such as sugars, amino acids or electrolytes, which can be easily carried by the circulatory system and assimilated. Such fluids are prepared with water for injection USP.

[00174] Dosage forms for parenteral administration will generally comprise fluids, particularly intravenous fluids, i.e., sterile solutions of simple chemicals such as sugars, amino acids or electrolytes, which can be easily carried by the circulatory system and assimilated. Such fluids are typically prepared with water for injection USP. Fluids used commonly for intravenous (IV) use are disclosed in Remington, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy [full citation previously provided], and include:

• alcohol, e.g., 5% alcohol (e.g., in dextrose and water ("DAV") or DAV in normal saline solution ("NSS"), including in 5% dextrose and water ("D5AV"), or D5AV in NSS);

• synthetic amino acid such as Aminosyn, FreAmine, Travasol, e.g., 3.5 or 7; 8.5; 3.5, 5.5 or 8.5 % respectively;

• ammonium chloride e.g., 2.14%;

• dextran 40, in NSS e.g., 10% or in D5AV e.g., 10%;

• dextran 70, in NSS e.g., 6% or in D5AV e.g., 6%;

• dextrose (glucose, D5AV) e.g., 2.5-50%;

• dextrose and sodium chloride e.g., 5-20% dextrose and 0.22-0.9% NaCl;

• lactated Ringer's (Hartmann's) e.g., NaCl 0.6%, KCl 0.03%, CaCl ₂ 0.02%;

• lactate 0.3%;

• mannitol e.g., 5%, optionally in combination with dextrose e.g., 10% or NaCl e.g., 15 or 20%;

• multiple electrolyte solutions with varying combinations of electrolytes, dextrose, fructose, invert sugar Ringer's e.g., NaCl 0.86%, KCl 0.03%, CaCl ₂ 0.033%;

• sodium bicarbonate e.g., 5%;

• sodium chloride e.g., 0.45, 0.9, 3, or 5%;

• sodium lactate e.g., 1/6 M; and

• sterile water for injection

The pH of such IV fluids may vary, and will typically be from 3.5 to 8 as known in the art. [00175] The chemical entityies of the invention can be administered alone or in combination with other treatments, i.e., radiation, or other therapeutic agents, such as the taxane class of agents that appear to act on microtubule formation or the camptothecin class of topoisomerase I inhibitors. When so-used, other therapeutic agents can be administered before, concurrently (whether in separate dosage forms or in a combined dosage form), or after administration of an active agent of the present invention.

[00176] The following examples serve to more fully describe the manner of using the above-described invention. It is understood that these examples in no way serve to limit the true scope of this invention, but rather are presented for illustrative purposes. All publications, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Experimental Section:

[00177] To a solution of 4-isopropoxylbenzoic acid 1.1 (25 g, 140 mmol) in DMF

(15OmL) was added NCS (24 g, 182 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred overnight. H ₂ O (50OmL) was added to the reaction mixture, and the precipitate was collected, washed with water, and dried in vacuo to give 1.2 (26.4 g, 88 %) as a white solid, which was used in the next step without further purification. LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 213.0.

[00178] To a solution of 1.2 (20 g, 93 mmol) in DCM were added pentafluorophenyltrifluoroacetate (20 mL, 112 mmol) and triethylamine (17 mL, 112 mmol) at 0 ⁰ C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h. The solution was concentrated and the mixture

purified by flash column chromatography (100% DCM) to give 1.3 (35 g, quant.) as a white solid.

1.3

[00179] To a solution of 3 in DMF (0.2 M) were added amino acid (1.2 equiv.) and N, N- diisopropylethylamine (3 equiv.). The reaction was monitored by LC/MS. After completion, methylamine (2 M in THF, 1.5 equiv.) and HBTU (1.5 equiv.) were added to the reaction solution. The reaction mixture was stirred for 4 h. The product was purified by either HPLC or flash column chromatography to give 4.

Example 2

Experimental Section:

2.1 2.2

Methyl 3-cyano-4-[(l-methylethyl)oxy]benzoate:

[00180] To a solution of methyl 3-cyano-4-hydroxybenzoate (82 g, 463 mmol; /. Med.

Chem, 2002, 45, 5769) in dimethylformamide (800 mL) was added 2-iodopropane (93 niL, 926 mmol) and potassium carbonate (190 g, 1.4 mol). The resulting mixture was heated at 50 ⁰ C for 16 h, at which time it was allowed to cool to room temperature. The reaction was filtered and the mother liquor diluted with 0.5 N sodium hydroxide (1 L). The resulting mixture was extracted with ether (2 x 1 L) and the organics washed with 1 N HCl (1 L) and brine (700 mL), dried (MgSO ₄ ) and concentrated to give 100 g (-100%) of methyl 3-cyano-4-[(l- methylethyl)oxy]benzoate as a yellow solid.

2.2 2.3

3-Cyano-4-[(l-methylethyl)oxy]benzoic acid:

[00181] To a cooled (0 ⁰ C) solution of methyl 3-cyano-4-[(l-methylethyl)oxy]benzoate

(100 g, 463 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (500 mL) was added 10% potassium hydroxide (500 mL). The resulting solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and maintained for 16 h, at which time it was concentrated to remove the tetrahydrofuran. The residue was diluted with water (500 mL) and washed with ether (2 x 500 mL). The aqueous layer was then acidified with 3 N HCl and stood for 2 h. The solids were collected by filtration and washed several times with water, then dissolved in methylene chloride (1 L). The mostly homogeneous mixture was filtered through Celite and concentrated to a minimal volume of methylene chloride. Collection of the solids by filtration gave 82 g (87%) of 3-cyano-4-[(l-methylethyl)oxy]benzoic acid as a white solid.

2006/042801

Perfluorophenyl 3-Cyano-4-[(l-methylethyl)oxy]benzoate:

[00182] 20.5 g (0.093 mol) of methyl 3-cyano-4-isopropoxybenzoate was dissolved in 200 mL of a 6:4 mixture of methanol and water. To this was added 5.61 g (0.14 mol) of NaOH, and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The solution was then filtered through a silica gel plug and the solvents removed under vacuum. The resulting solid was re-dissolved in 200 mL of CH ₂ Cl ₂ and treated with 19.3 mL (0.11 mol) of perfluorophenyl 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate and 19.5 mL (0.14 mol) of triethylamine. After stirring overnight, the solution was filtered and any solids rinsed with CH ₂ Cl _2. The combined organic mixtures were run through a short silica gel column and then evaporated to dryness to give 29 g (83.5% yield) of 2 which was characterized by LCMS and HNMR.

Example 3

Experimental Section:

[00183] To a 0° C solution of compound 3.1 (10.7 g, 61.37 mmol) and (λ)-l,l,l- trifluoropropanol (3.5 g, 30.68 mmol) in dimethylformamide (200 mL) was added sodium hydride (3.7 g, 92.05 mmol) portionwise over 5 minutes. After 10 min, the ice bath was removed

and the reaction mixture was stirred while warming to room temperature. The reaction mixture was heated to 80 ° C and stirred overnight. The reaction was monitored by LC/MS until complete. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was quenched with HCl (0.5N, 200 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 250 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo giving crude compound 3.2 (8.2 g) which was used directly in the next step without further purification.

(50% yield, two steps)

[00184] To a 0 ⁰ C crude solution of compound 3.2 (4.1 g , 15.34 mmol ) and triethylamine (6.4mL, 46.02 mmol) in dicholoromethane (200 mL) was added pentafluorophenyl trifluoroacetate (6.35 mL, 36.82 mmol) via syringe over 3 min. After another 5 min, the ice bath was removed and the reaction mixture stirred while warming to room temperature for another 2 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo, and the resulting residue purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, hexanes/ethyl acetate = 1:0, 50:1) to give compound 3 (3.5 g, 50% yield).

Example 4

Experimental Section:

4.1 4.2

[00185] To a solution of compound 4.1 (200 mg, 1.077 mmol) and 2-iodopropane (322 uL, 3.23 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was added DIEA (750 uL, 4.31 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to 80 ⁰ C and stirred overnight. When complete by LC/MS, the reaction was cooled to room temperature, quenched with HCl (0.5 N, 30 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL x 3). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated and dried under high vacuum. The resulting residue was purified by reverse phase chromatography using a mixture of acetonitrile and water to give compound 4.2 (50 mg, 20%).

To a solution of compound 4.2 (50 mg, 0.22 mmol) in MeOH (1.0 mL) was added aqueous NaOH (1.0 M, 330 uL, 0.330 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours and monitored by LC/MS. The reaction mixture was quenched with HCl (0.5 N, 5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL x 3). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 4 (45 mg). LRMS (M-H ⁺ ) m/z 212.0

Example 5

Experimental Section:

5.1 5.2

[00186] 4-bromo-2-chlorophenol (5.04 g, 24.3 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (30 niL) and to it was added K ₂ CO ₃ (10.10 g, 72.9 mmol) followed by 2-chloroethyl-p-toluenesulfonate (4.86 mL, 26.7 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated to 60 ⁰ C for 3 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The reaction was diluted with EtOAc (350 mL) and washed with water (5 x 150 mL). The organic phase was dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and concentrated to a viscous oil which solidified to a white solid while under high vacuum. Compound 5.2 (6.46 g, 24.1 mmol, quantitative yield) was characterized using ¹ H NMR and used in the following step without further purification.

[00187] A solution of compound 5.2 (6.46 g, 24.1 mmol) in DMF (30 mL) was treated with sodium hydride (1.94 g of 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 48.6 mmol) portionwise at room temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and then partitioned between water (100 mL) and EtOAc (350 mL). The layers were separated, and the organic layer was washed with water (4 x 150 mL). The organic phase was dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and concentrated to a white solid. Compound 5.3 (5.56 g, 24.0 mmol, quantitative yield) was dried under high vacuum and characterized using ¹ H NMR. It was used in the following step without further purification.

5.3 5.4

[00188] Compound 5.3 (5.56 g, 24.0 mmol) was added to a solution of chloroiodomethane (5.59 mL, 76.8 mmol) in 1,2-dichloroethane (35 mL) under an atmosphere of nitrogen. The solution was cooled to 0 ⁰ C with an ice bath and diethyl zinc (38.4 mL, 1.0 M in hexanes, 38.4 mmol) was added over 10 minutes. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and allowed to warm to room temperature. It was again cooled to 0 ⁰ C with an ice bath, and saturated aqueous NH ₄ Cl (150 mL) was added, followed by concentrated aqueous NH ₄ OH (25 mL) and EtOAc (200 mL). The layers were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with additional EtOAc (2 x 100 mL). The organic phases were combined, dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and concentrated to a crude oil which was purified over silica gel (100 % hexanes) to yield compound 5.4 (1.76 g, 7.2 mmol, 30% yield) as a colorless oil which was characterized using ¹ H NMR.

5.4 5.5

[00189] In a high-pressure reactor, compound 5.4 (1.76 g, 7.2 mmol) was dissolved in

EtOH (40 mL). Triethylamine (5.0 mL 35.8 mmol) was added, followed by [1,1- bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II) (188 mg, 0.36 mmol). The reaction vessel was pressurized with carbon monoxide (100 psi), evacuated and repressurized with carbon monoxide (100 psi). The vessel was evacuated and pressurized once more with carbon monoxide (350 psi) and then heated to 90 ⁰ C with stirring for 16 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, depressurized and filtered through celite. The solvents were evaporated, and the remaining residue was partitioned between dichloromethane (150 mL) and 1 M aqueous KHSO ₄ (75 mL). The layers were separated and the organic phase was washed with additional 1 M aqueous KHSO ₄ (1 x 75 mL). The organic phase was dried (Na ₂ SO ₄ ) and concentrated to an oil which was purified using silica gel (EtOAc/Hexanes), providing compound 5.5 (648 mg, 2.70 mmol, 38% yield) as a white solid. The product was characterized using ¹ H NMR.

5.5 6

[00190] To a solution of compound 5.5 (648 mg, 2.70 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 niL) and EtOH (15 mL) was added 1 M aqueous KOH (7 mL, 7 mmol). The resulting cloudy mixture was heated to 60 ⁰ C for 1 h. The dichloromethane and EtOH were evaporated under reduced pressure, and the remaining aqueous solution was acidified using concentrated HCl. The resulting precipitate was filtered to give compound 5 (506 mg, 2.39 mmol, 88% yield) as a pure white solid that was characterized using LC/MS (LRMS (M-H) 211.1 m/z).

Example 6

Experimental Section:

enantiomer A enantiomer B

6.1 6

[00191] To a dry flask (dried with a heat gun under argon purge) was added dry THF (400 mL) and MeLi-LiBr (137 mL of a 1.5M solution in Et ₂ O, 204.9 mmol) via cannula. This solution was cooled to -78 ⁰ C when a solution of 2-aminopyridine-3-carboxaldehyde (10.0 g, 82.0 mmol) in THF (150 mL) was added dropwise via a pressure equalizing addition funnel over ~45 min. with vigorous stirring (exotherm observed, orange color persisted). Upon complete addition, the solution was allowed to stir for 1 hour at -78 ⁰ C, at which time TLC (KMnO ₄ stain with heat) indicated that most of the starting material had been converted to product. The reaction was quenched very carefully with water (200 mL; dropwise initially), diluted with EtOAc (200 mL) and allowed to warm to rt. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer

was extracted with 3% MeOH in EtOAc. The combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (Analogix; O to 5% MeOH in EtOAc) to give 7.78 g (68%) of the desired racemic product as a yellow oil that solidified under high vac over several days. This material was separated into its respective enantiomers (>98% ee) by SFC with a chiralcel OD-H (20x250mm) column (10% EtOH/0.1% isopropylamine in heptane/0.1% isopropylamine).

Example 7

Experimental Section:

7.1 7.2

2-Bromo-l-(4-iodophenyl)ethanone:

[00192] A solution of l-(4-iodophenyl)ethanone (55.9 mmol) in dioxane (160 mL) was cooled to 10 ⁰ C. Bromine (1.1 equiv, 61.6 mmol) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. After 10 min, the cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature. After 1.5 h, the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo, poured into water (100 mL), and extracted with (3 x 100 mL) ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to a tan solid (18.2 g) which was used directly in the next step.

7.2 7

2-(4-Iodophenyl)-8-methylimidazo[l,2-α]pyridine:

[00193] A mixture of crude 2-bromo-i-(4-iodophenyl)ethanone (18.2 g), 2-amino-3- picoline (1.1 equiv, 61.6 mmol), and sodium bicarbonate (1.3 equiv, 72.8 mmol) in isopropanol

(160 mL) was heated at 80 ⁰ C for 16 h. After concentrating the reaction mixture in vacuo, water (100 mL) was added and the resultant tan slurry was filtered, rinsing with water (2 x 50 mL). The brown solid was recrystallized from hot isopropanol and further dried in vacuo to provide the title product as a brown solid (13.2 g, 71%). ESMS [M+H] ⁺ : 335.0.

Example 8

8

Experimental Section:

8.1 8.2

[00194] To a solution of ethyl thiooxamate (10.0 g, 75 mmol) in dichloromethane (400 mL) was slowly added trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate (13.1 g, 89 mmol) at 0 ⁰ C. After 10 min the ice bath was removed, and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The solvent was removed to give 18.0 g of product 8.2 as a white solid, which was used without further purification.

[00195] A mixture of 2-amino-4'-bromoacetophene hydrochloride (10.0 g, 40 mmol), sodium acetate (16.4 g, 200 mmol), acetic acid (11.5 mL, 200 mmol) and compound 8.2 (19.2 g, 80 mmol) in dioxane (70 mL) was stirred at 65 °C until TLC showed no compound 8.2 left (about 2 h). The reaction mixture was carefully neutralized with saturated NaHCO ₃ solution and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic solution was dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ and concentrated. Purification by flash column chromatography (EtOAc:Hex 1:1) gave product 8.4 (9.11 g, 79%) as a white solid.

[00196] In a round-bottom flask, product 8.4 (2.00 g, 6.8 mmol) was dissolved in DMF

(20 mL), followed by the addition of iodomethane (5.1 mL, 10.1 mmol), and K ₂ CO ₃ (1.4 g, 10.1 mmol). The mixture was allowed to stir at 60 °C for 3 hours until complete by TLC. The solution was quenched with brine, extracted three times with EtOAc, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Purification via column chromatography using EtAc:Hex 1:1 gave 1.381 g (66% yield) of product 8.5.

8.4 8.6

[00197] To a solution of compound 8.4 (5.307 g, 18 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added

K ₂ CO ₃ (3.73 g, 27 mmol) and iodoethane (3.5 mL, 43.2 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 60 ⁰ C for three hours. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc (3

x 50 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over Na ₂ SO _4, and concentrated. Purification with column chromatography (Hex/EtOAc 50:50) gave product 8.6 (3.2 g, 55%) as white solid.

Example 9

Experimental Section:

(2-bromoethoxy)-tert-butyldimethylsilane K ₂ CO ₃ , DMF ₁ 55 ⁰ C, overnight

8.4 9.1

[00198] To a solution of compound 8.4 (3.174 g, 10.8 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added

K ₂ CO ₃ (4.478 g, 32.4 mmol) and (2-bromoethoxy)-rert-butyldimethylsilane (2.780 mL, 13.0 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 55 ⁰ C overnight. The solution was concentrated, diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 mL). The organic layers were combined and dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ . The solvent was removed to give a viscous oil (4.805 g, 10.6 mmol, 98.4%), which was used in the subsequent step without further purification.

MeMgBr, THF, 0 ⁰ C

9.1 9.2

[00199] To a solution of compound 9.1 (2.174 g, 4.8 mmol) in anhydrous THF (25 mL) was added dropwise methylmagnesium bromide (4.8 mL, 3 M in diethyl ether, 14.4 mmol) under nitrogen at 0 ⁰ C. The reaction was stirred at 0 ⁰ C for 15 minutes. The reaction was carefully quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution (5 mL) and water (30 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ and concentrated to a crude oil. Purification by flash column chromatography (15 % EtO Ac/Hex) gave the desired product 9.2 (1.371 g, 65%) as a white amorphous solid.

9.2 9.3

[00200] To a solution of compound 9.2 ( 1.371 g, 3.1 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was added 35 mL of HCl (4 M in 1 ,4-dioxane). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. The solvents were removed to give product 9.3 (1.0 g, 99%) as a white solid.

[00201] A mixture of compound 9.3 (0.5 g, 1.54 mmol) and 1 mL of TFA in toluene (60 mL) was refluxed overnight. The solid 9.3 did not dissolve until around the boiling point of toluene. The solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was diluted with EtOAc, washed with NaHCO ₃ aqueous solution, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , and concentrated. Purification by flash column chromatography (EtOAc:Hex 1:1) gave product 9 (0.348 g, 74%) as a white solid.

Example 10

10

Experimental Section:

8.5 10.1

[00202] To a solution of 8.5 (10.7 g, 34.6 mmol) in MeOH / H ₂ O (60 mL /2O wL ) was added NaOH (2 N, 20.8 mL, 41.6 mmol). After the mixture was stirred at 50 ⁰ C for 2 h, the solution then was concentrated under vacuum and placed under high vacuum for several hours to yield 10.3 g of light yellow solid (LRMS (M-H ⁺ ) m/z 278.9), which was carried on without further purification. To a solution of the solid in DMF (50 mL) were successively added N,O- dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (4.0 g, 40.7 mmol), HBTU (4.0 g, 40.7 mmol), HOBT (6.2 g, 40.7 mmol) and DIEA (6.0 mL, 40.7 mmol). The mixture was stirred overnight and partitioned between EtOAc and H ₂ O. The organic layer was washed with NaOH (1 N) and brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography using a mixture of hexanes and EtOAc to give 10.1 (8 g, 72%). LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 324.0.

10.1 10.2

[00203] To a solution of 10.1 (3.7 g, 11.4 mmol) in THF (40 mL) was added dropwise

MeMgBr in Et ₂ O (3 M, 11.4 mL, 34.2 mmol) at 0 ⁰ C. The mixture was stirred at 0 ⁰ C for 30 min.

The solution was quenched with saturated NH ₄ Cl at 0 ⁰ C and partitioned between EtOAc and H ₂ O. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered and concentrated to give 10.2 (3.0 g, 94%), which was carried on without further purification. LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 279.0.

[00204] To a solution of 10.2 (3.0 g, 10.8 mmol) in THF / MeOH (10 mL / 10 mL) was slowly added NaBH ₄ (407 mg, 10.8 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 10 min, quenched with saturated NH ₄ Cl and partitioned between EtOAc and H ₂ O. The organic layer was washed with sat. NaHCO ₃ and brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered and concentrated to give 10.3 (3.0 g, 99%), which was used without further purification. LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 281.0.

10.3 10

[00205] To a solution of 10.3 (3.0 g, 10.7 mmol) in DMF (20 mL) was added TBDMSCl

(1.6 g, 10.7 mmol), imidazole (726 mg, 10.7 mmol ) and DMAP (271 mg, 21.3 mmol )and the mixture stirred overnight. The solution was partitioned between EtOAc and H ₂ O and the organic layer washed with sat. NaHCO ₃ , H ₂ O, and brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography using a mixture of hexanes and EtOAc to give 10 ( 3.5 g, 83%). LRMS (MH-H ⁺ ) m/z 395.1.

Example 11

11

Experimental Section:

11.1 11.2

[00206] To a solution of 11.1 (10 g, 45.7 mmol) in DMF (150 mL) were added HBTU (26 g, 68.5 mmol), dimethylhydroxylamine HCl salt (5.35 g, 54.8 mmol) and DBEA (9.6 mL, 55.0 mmol) at 0 ⁰ C. After stirring 2h, the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirring continued for 2 days. The reaction mixture was partitioned between EtOAc (500 mL) and H ₂ O (200 mL), and the organic layer washed with NaOH (2 N, 200 mL), HCl (2 N, 200 mL), H ₂ O, and brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , and concentrated to give 11.2 (9.6 g), which was used without further purification. LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 262.0.

11.2 11.3

[00207] To a solution of 11.2 (9.6 g, -36.8 mmol) in Et ₂ O (100 mL) was added MeMgBr

(3 M in Et ₂ 0, 27 mL) at 0 ⁰ C. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and then stirred 4 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated NH ₄ Cl (100 mL), and the organic layer was washed with H ₂ O and brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , and concentrated to give 11.3 (7 g, 71 % from 11.1), which was characterized by NMR.

11.3 11.4

[00208] To a solution of 11.3 (6.5 g, 30 mmol) in DCM (200 mL) and MeOH (100 mL) was added tetrabutylammonium tribromide (14.5 g, 30 mmol) and the mixture stirred for 14 h. The solvents were removed under vacuum and the product dried under high vacuum to give 11.4 (characterized by NMR), which was used in the next step without further purification.

[00209] To a solution of 11.4 (5 g, -16.9 mmol) in DCM (50 mL) was added hexamethylenetetramine (2.6 g, 18.5 mmol), and the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h. The mixture was diluted with DCM (500 mL) and the precipitate collected, washed with DCM (500 mL x 2), and dried under high vacuum. To the resulting residue was added EtOH ( 60 mL) and concentrated HCl (30 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h, after which the mixture was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to give 11.5, which was used without further purification. LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 231.9.

[00210] To a solution of crude 11.5 (-16.9 mmol) in dioxane (50 mL) were added NaOAc

(6.93 g, 84.5 mmol), HOAc (4.8 mL, 84.5 mmol), and 11.6.1. (5.93 g, 84.5 mmol). After 1 h, the reaction mixture was warmed to 80 ⁰ C and stirred for 3 h. The reaction mixture was partitioned

between EtOAc (500 niL) and saturated NaHCO ₃ (200 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (300 mL x 2), and the combined organic layers washed with brine, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , and concentrated. The resulting residue was purified on silica gel (Hex/EtOAc, 1:0, 1:2, 1:1, 0:1) to give 11 (1.2 g, 23% from 11.4). LRMS (M+H ⁺ ) m/z 312.9.

Example 12

12

Experimental Section:

12.1 12.2

Ref: J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 2990-3000

[00211] To a stirring solution of p-iodoacetophenone 12.1 (30.0 g, 122 mmol) in dioxane

(200 mL) over an ice-bath was added bromine (6.56 mL, 128 mmol) dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature and monitored by LC/MS. After completion (about 1 hour), the solvent was evaporated by rotovap, and the residue was dried under vacuum to give solid 12.2 (40 g, 100%).

12.2 12

[00212] (Based on J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 2990-3000) To a solution of Cbz-D-Ala-OH

(5.0 g, 22.4 mmol) in NMP (100 mL) was added cesium carbonate (3.72 g, 11.4 mmol). After

stirring at RT for 1 h, 12.2 (7.60 g, 22.4 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature and monitored by LC/MS. The reaction solution was diluted with xylene (100 mL) and ammonium acetate (9.25 g, 120 mmol) and then stirred at 120 ⁰ C for 4 hours. Up to 50 eq of additional ammonium acetate may be needed depending on the reaction progress. The key is to see solid in the flask at all times. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (200 mL). The EtOAc solution was washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (200 mL) twice, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in DCM (100 mL) and stirred for 1 h to give a precipitate. Solid 12 (4.Og) was filtered off and dried under vacuum. The mother solution was concentrated by rotovap and the residue purified by preparative HPLC over silica gel to give additional 12 (Hex:EtOAc 1:1 to EtOAc 100%). The two products were combined and dried under vacuum to give a total of 5.8 g of 12 (58%).

Example 13

12 13

[00213] A stirred mixture of (2?)-benzyl l-(4-(4-iodophenyl)-lH-imidazol-2- yl)ethylcarbamate 12 (5 g, 11 mmol) in 55 mL of DMF was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and treated with NaH (1.33 g, 60% dispersion in oil, 33 mmol) in small portions to avoid foaming. When bubbling from the last portion ceased, MeI (2.1 mL, 34 mmol) was added all at once and the mixture stirred an additional 30 min. The solvents were removed under vacuum and the residue dissolved in 200 mL of EtOAc. The solution was washed with saturated NH ₄ Cl (4x100 mL) and saturated NaCl (4x100 mL), and then filtered and evaporated to dryness. The crude residue was purified via flash column chromatography over silica gel (60:40, EtO Ac/Hex) to give 5.13 g (97% yield) of 13 which was characterized by LCMS.

Example 14

14.1 14

[00214] To a 250 mL round bottom flask was added (R)- 1 ~(4-(4-iodophenyl)- 1 -methyl- lH-imidazol-2-yl)-N-methylethanamine (3.1 g, 9.1 mmol), methyl chloroformate (0.84 mL, 10.9 mmol), Na ₂ CO ₃ (1.15 g, 10.9 mmol), and THF (100 mL). The reaction was stirred for 2 hours, followed by the addition of EtOAc (50 mL) and water (10 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered, and concentrated to give 1.50 g (41%) of (/?)-methyl l-(4-(4-iodophenyl)-l- methyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)ethyl(methyl)carbamate as an off-white solid (M+H (mlz) = 400).

Example 15

15

Experimental Section:

[00215] To a solution of compound 15.1 (2.66 g, 7.27 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added

K ₂ CO ₃ (2.00 g, 15 mmol) and ethyl bromoacetate (1.61 mL, 14.5 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 60 ⁰ C for three hours. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , and concentrated. Purification with column chromatography (Hexanes/EtOAc 50:50) gave the product 15.2 (3.02 g, 91%).

15.2 15

[00216] To a solution of compound 15.2 (3.02 g, 6.7 mmol) in MeOH (20 mL) was added

HCl (4.0 M) in dioxane (7.0 mL). The mixture was stirred at 60 ⁰ C for one hours and concentrated under vacuum. The resulting oil was dissolved in DMF (15 mL), treated with K ₂ CO ₃ (2.0 g, 14.7 mmol), and stirred at 60 ⁰ C overnight. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , and concentrated. Purification by flash silica gel column chromatography (Hex/EtOAc 50:50) gave product 15 (1.80 g, 88%).

Example 16

16.1 16

[00217] To a solution of amine 16.1 (580 mg, 1.7 mmol) and triethylamine (449 μL, 3.4 mmol, 2 eq.) in THF (8.5 mL, 0.2 M), was added chloroethyl chloroformate (278 μL, 2.6 mmol, 1.5 eq). The mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature, and then diluted in ethyl acetate and washed with 1 N HCl and brine. The organic layer was dried, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to yield a yellow oil (900 mg). To a solution of the crude material in DMF (10 mL) was added NaH (272 mg, 6.8 mmol, 4 eq) and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 16 h. The solution was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL) and washed with brine (5 x 50 mL), dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to yield crude the product as an oil. Purification by flash silica gel chromatography (1:1 ethyl acetaterhexanes) gave 800 mg (24 %) of the desired product, m/z (+1) = 398.0.

Example 17

17.1 17.2

[00218] To a 100 mL round bottom flask was added (R)-benzyl l-(4-(4-iodophenyl)-l- methyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)ethylcarbamate (1.50 g, 3.27 mmol, 1.0 equiv), CH ₃ CN (20 mL), and TMSI (900 μL, 6.3 mmol, 1.9 equiv). The reaction mixture was capped and stirred for 2 hours. Methanol (40 mL) was then added to the flask and the mixture was concentrated, dissolved in EtOAc (100 mL), and washed with water. The organic layer was dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered, and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in DCM and purified by silica gel chromatography (35- 60% CH ₃ CN/CH ₂ C1 ₂ , then 20% MeOH/ CH ₂ Cl ₂ ) to afford 950 mg (90%) of the desired primary amine as an oil (M+H (m/z) = 328). To this amine was added CH ₂ Cl ₂ (20 mL) and pyridine (260 μL, 1.1 equiv), followed by 4-chlorobutyryl chloride (344 μL, 1.05 equiv) in a dropwise fashion. The reaction was stirred for 15 min, followed by the addition of EtOAc (50 mL) and water (10 mL). The organic layer was separated, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered, and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in DCM and purified by silica gel chromatography (5-35% CH ₃ CN/CH ₂ C1 ₂ ) to afford 747 mg (60%)of (R)-4-chloro-N-(l-(4-(4-iodophenyl)-l-methyl-lH- imidazol-2-yl)ethyl)butanamide as an off-white solid (M+H (m/z) = 432).

17.1 17.2

[00219] To a 20-dram vial was added (R)-4-chloro-N-(l-(4-(4-iodophenyl)-l-methyl-lH- imidazol-2-yl)ethyl)butanamide and THF (10 mL). The vial was cooled to 0 ⁰ C under a nitrogen atmosphere and potassium r-butoxide (214 mg, 1.91 mmol) was added. The reaction was stirred for 1.5 h. To the reaction mixture was added EtOAc (50 mL) and water (10 mL). The organic layer was separated, dried over Na ₂ SO ₄ , filtered, and concentrated. The residue was then dissolved in DCM and purified by silica gel chromatography (5-50% CH ₃ CNZCH ₂ Cl ₂ ) to afford

593 mg (86%)of (R)-l-(l-(4-(4-iodophenyl)-l-methyl-lH-imidazol-2-yl)ethyl)p yrrolidin-2-one as a white solid (M+H (mJz) = 396).

Example 18

18

Experimental Section:

18.1 18.2 l,l-Dimethylethyl (4iϊ)-4-({[(l,l-dimethylethyl)oxy]carbonyl}amino)-5-hydroxy pentanoate: [00220] Triethylamine (11.49 mL, 82.4 mmol) and ethyl chloroformate (8.27 niL, 86.5 mmol) were added successively by syringe to 2V-t-BOC-D-glutamic acid 5-tert-bvιtyl ester (25 g, 82.4 mmol) in THF (588 mL) at <0 ⁰ C (ice-salt bath). After stirring in the cold bath for 40 min, solids were filtered and washed with THF (150 mL). The filtrate was transferred to a 250-mL addition funnel and added to a solution of sodium borohydride (8.42 g, 222.5 mmol) in H ₂ O (114 mL) at 0 ⁰ C over 1 hour. The reaction mixture was maintained at 0 ⁰ C for 1.5 h and then stirred for 16 h (0 ⁰ C to room temperature). After the bulk of solvents were removed by rotary evaporation, the concentrate was quenched with ice water (50 mL) and 1 N HCl (50 mL). After extraction with EtOAc (4 x 100 mL), the extracts were washed with 100 mL: 0.5 M citric acid, saturated NaHCO ₃ , H ₂ O, and brine and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound, which was used directly in the next step. ESMS [M+H] ⁺ = 290.4, [2M+H] ⁺ = 579.4. (Literature prep: J. Med. Chan, 1999, 42(1), 95-108 for other isomer).

18.2 18 l,l-dimethylethyl (4R)-4-({[(l,l-dimethylethyl)oxy]carbonyl}amino)-5-iodopenta noate: [00221] To a solution of crude 1 , 1 -dimethylethyl (4i?)-4-( {[(1,1- dimethylethyl)oxy]carbonyl}amino)-5-hydroxypentanoate (23.8 g, 82.4 mmol), triphenylphosphine (32.42 g, 123.6 mmol) and imidazole (8.41 g, 123.6 mmol) in 515 mL anhydrous CH ₂ Cl ₂ under N ₂ at O ⁰ C was added iodine over 15 min portionwise. The ice bath was removed, and the reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred over 30 minutes. The reaction was quenched with 200 mL H ₂ O. The aqueous layer was extracted with diethyl ether (2 x 150 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with sat. aq. Na ₂ SO ₃ solution (2 x 25 mL) and brine (25 mL), dried over MgSO ₄ , and concentrated in vacuo. Purification of the residue by silica gel chromatography (Analogix IF280, 5% - 50% EtOAc/Hex) afforded the title compound as a white solid (25.34 g, 77%). ESMS [M+H] ⁺ = 400.4.

Example 19

19

Expermental Section:

HCI

19.1 19.2

[00222] Acetyl chloride (54.6 mL, 0.75 mol) was added drop- wise into ethanol (316 mL) at 0-5 ⁰ C. When the addition was completed, the ice bath was removed and the solution allowed to stir while warming to room temperature for another 30 min. D-aspartic acid 19.1 (25 g, 0.188

mol) was then added. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 2 hours. The reaction solution was then concentrated in vacuo and placed under high vacuum (0.4 mm Hg) overnight. Compound 19.2 was obtained as a white solid (42 g, 99%) and used directly in the next step.

19.2 19.3

[00223] (Boc) ₂ O (44.7 g, 0.21mol) was added portion-wise over 10 min to a 0 ⁰ C solution of compound 19.2 (42 g, 0.19 mol), trimethyl amine (51.9 mL, 0.37 mol), dioxane (140 mL) and water (56 mL). After another 10 min, the ice bath was removed and the reaction mixture was stirred while warming to room temperature for another 2 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted in ethyl acetate (150 mL) and washed with 0.5 N HCl (200 mL x 3). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo giving compound 19.3 (52 g, yield 97%) which was used directly in the next step.

19.3 19-4

[00224] NaBH ₄ (54.4 g, 1.44 mol) was added portion- wise over 30 mins to a 0 ⁰ C solution of compound 19.3 (52 g, 86.4 mmol) and ethanol (600 mL). The reaction mixture was extremely exothermic and great care was exercised during the addition of reducing agent. After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 1 hour. The solution was cooled to ambient temperature and the reaction mixture solidified. The solid was broken-up to a slurry, which was then poured into brine (250 mL). The resulting mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was vigorously stirred with ether (200 mL x 5). The ether layers were successively decanted from the residue. The combined ether extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo giving compound 19.4 as white solid (25.2g, yield 68%).

NHBoc

CH2CI2

19.4 19.5

[00225] t-Butyldiphenylchlorosilane (31.9 mL, 0.123 mol) was added to a solution of compound 19.4 (25.2 g, 0.123 mol), diisopropylethylamine (42.8 mL, 0.245 mol), and CH ₂ Cl ₂ (500 mL). The reaction solution was stirred at ambient temperature for 24 hrs. The reaction solution was then washed with 0.5 N HCl (150 mL x 3) and brine (150 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, 4:1 hexanes:EtOAc) to give compound 19.5 (42g, yield 77%).

NHBoc PPh ₃ / I ₂ NHBoc

X)TBDPS imidazole ^ ^ ^OTBDPS

Et ₂ O-MeCN 19.5 19

[00226] Iodine (24 g, 94.7 mmol) was added portion- wise over 15 mins to a 0 C solution of compound 19.5 (28 g, 63.1mmol), Ph ₃ P (24.8 g, 94.7 mmol), imidazole (6.4g, 94.7 mmol), diethyl ether (450 mL) and acetonitrile (15OmL). The ice bath was removed and the reaction solution was allowed to warm to ambient temperature over 30 mins. The reaction was judged complete by TLC analysis (4:1 hexanes:EtOAc). The reaction was quenched with water (400 mL). The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted by diethyl ether (100 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with saturated aqueous Na ₂ SO ₃ (100 x 2) and brine (100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica gel, 4:1 hexanes:EtOAc) to give compound 19 (32 g, 92%).

Example 20

20

Experimental Section:

20.1

[00227] To a suspension of zinc powder (255 mg, 3.9 mmol) in dry degassed DMF (15 mL) was added 1,2 dibromoethane (.020 mL, 0.23 mmol) under nitrogen. The mixture was heated using a heat gun for about 30 seconds until gas starts to evolve from the solution, indicating the activation of the zinc. The mixture was then allowed to cool to room temperature followed by the addition of TMSCl (6 uL, 0.05 mmol), and allowed to stir at room temperature for 30 min. A solution of iodo compound A in degassed DMF was added to the zinc solution, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. Then a solution of compound 9 (200 mg, 0.65 mmol) in degassed DMF was added via syringe, followed by the addition of Pd ₂ (dba ₃ ) (14.9 mg, 0.016 mmol) and tri-o-tolylphospine (19.8 mg, 0.065 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at room temperature, then at 40 ⁰ C for 2 hours. The reaction was complete as shown on TLC. The solution was quenched with brine and extracted with EtOAc (5 x 50 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Purification by flash column chromatography (EtOAcrHex 1:1) gave the product 20.1 (373 mg, 88%) as a colorless oil.

20.1 20.2

[00228] To a solution of compound 20.1 (373 mg, 0.57 mmol) in MeOH (10 mL) was added 2 mL of HCl (4.0 M in dioxane). The solution was allowed to stir at room temperature for 2 hours. The solvent was removed to give the crude product 20.2 (180 mg, 99%), which was used without further purification.

20.2 20

[00229] A mixture of compound 20.2 (180 mg, 0.57 mmol) and ester reagent 20.3 (260 mg, 0.68 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) containing triethylamine (0.24 mL, 1.71 mmol) was stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction solution was diluted with brine and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 50 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Purification with HPLC (C18 column) gave the product 20 (141 mg, 50%) as a white solid.

Example 21

Experimental Section:

21.1 21.2

Methyl 4-benzyloxybutanoate

[00230] To a stirred solution of MeOH (150 mL) was added dropwise at 0 ⁰ C thionyl chloride (15 mL, 206 mmol). After stirring for 15 minutes at 0 ⁰ C, 4-benzyloxybutanoic acid (10 g, 51.5 mmol) was added. The reaction was allowed to warm to RT and stirred for 18 h. The reaction was evaporated under vacuum and purified by flash solica gel chromatography (10% EtOAc, hexanes) to give the title compound (10.21 g, 95%) as a clear oil.

1. LDA, THF, hexanβ O Ph

2. 4-bromobenza]dehyde

21.2 21.3

(lR,S)(2R,S)-4-benzyloxy-l-(4-bromophenyl)-2-methoxycarbo nyl-l-butanol [00231] To a stirred solution of diisopropylamine (6.0 mL, 42.8 mmol) in THF (60 mL) at

-78 ⁰ C under N2 was added dropwise a solution of 2.5 N BuLi in hexane (16.8 mL, 42 mmol). After stirring for 30 minutes a solution of methyl 4-benzyloxybutanoate (8.72 g, 41.9 mmol) in

THF (30 mL) was added dropwise over 15 minutes. After stirring for another 1 h at -78 ⁰ C a solution of 4-bromobenzaldehyde (7.8 g, 42 mmol) in THF (30 mL) was added. The reaction was stirred for 1 h at -78 ⁰ C then quenched with sat. NH4CI, extracted with EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated to dryness under vacuum. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (20% EtOAc, hexanes) gave the title product (5.86 g, 35%) as a separable mixture of diastereomers: MS (ES) m/e 393.0 (M + H) ⁺ .

01

H ₂ O 80 °C

21.3 21.4

(4R,S)(5R,S)-5-(4-bromophenyl)-4-{2-[(phenylmethyl)oxy]et hyl}-l,3-oxazolidin-2-one

[00232] To a stirred solution of (lR,S)(2R,S)-4-benzyloxy-l-(4-bromophenyl)-2- methoxycarbonyl-1-butanol (5.0 g, 12.7 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL) was added aq. 1 N NaOH (25 mL). The reaction was stirred at 60 ⁰ C for 18 h then cooled to RT. After neutralizing the reaction with aq. 1 N HCl (25 mL) and evaporating off the MeOH under vacuum, the reaction was taken up in EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (MgSO/j.), filtered and evaporated to dryness under vacuum to give the crude carboxylic acid as a pale yellow oil. This acid was taken up in toluene (100 mL) and treated with Et3N (2.0 mL, 14.3 mmol) and DPPA (3.0 mL, 13.9 mmol), then stirred and heated to 80 ⁰ C for 1 h. After cooling to RT the reaction was diluted with EtOAc, washed with 1 N Na2CO3, 1 N HCl and brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated to dryness under vacuum. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (50% EtOAc, hexanes) gave the title compound (3.1 g, 64%) as a clear oil: MS (ES) m/e 376.0 (M + H) ⁺ .

CH ₂ Cl ₂

21.4 21.5

(4R,S)(5R,S)- 5-(4-bromophenyl)- 3-t-butoxycarbonyl-4-{2-[(phenylmethyl)oxy]ethyl}-l,3- oxazolidin-2-one

[00233] To a stirred solution of (4R,S)(5R,S)-5-(4-bromophenyl)-4~{2-

[(phenylmethyl)oxy]ethyl}-l,3-oxazolidin-2-one (3.1 g, 8.2 mmol) in CH2CI2 (5 mL) was added

B0C2O (2.0 g, 9.2 mmol) and DMAP (0.2 g, 1.6 mmol). The reaction was gradually heated to 60

⁰ C and stirred for 4 h. (The reaction became exothermic with vigorous gas evolution.) After cooling to RT the reaction was evaporated to dryness under vacuum. Purification by flash

chromatography on silica gel (20% EtOAc, hexanes) gave the title compound (3.63 g, 93%) as a white solid: MS (ES) m/e 476.2 (M + H) ⁺ .

21.5 21.6

(3R,S)(4R,S)-3-(t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-(4-bromophenyl)- butan-l,4-diol [00234] To a stirred solution of (4R,S)(5R,S)- 5-(4-bromophenyl)- 3-t-butoxycarbonyl-4-

{2-[(phenylmethyl)oxy]ethyl}-l,3-oxazolidin-2-one (3.63 g, 7.6 mmol) in MeOH (100 mL) was added CS2CO3 (1.0 g, 3.1 mmol). The reaction was stirred at RT for 18 h then evaporated to dryness under vacuum. The residue was taken up in EtOAc, washed with 1 N HCl, brine, dried (MgSOzj.), filtered and evaporated to dryness under vacuum. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (50% EtOAc, hexanes) gave the product (3.34 g, 99%) as a mixture of diastereomers: MS (ES) m/e 450.2 (M + H) ⁺ .

(3R,S)(4R,S)-3-(t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-[4-(2-t-butyl-l- methyl-lH-imidazol-4- yl)phenyl]-butan-l,4-diol

[00235] To a pressure tube was added (3R,S)(4R,S)-3-(t-butoxycarbonyl)amino~4-(4- bromophenyl)-butan-l,4-diol (1.5 g, 3.3 mmol), 2-t-butyl-l-methyl-4-(trimethylstannanyl)-lH- imidazole (1.4 g, 4.7 mmol) and dioxane (25 mL). Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0)

(200 mg, 0.17 mmol) was added, the tube purged with N2, capped and heated to 100 ⁰ C with stirring. After 4 h at 100 ⁰ C the reaction was cooled to RT and evaporated to dryness under

vacuum. Purification by flash chromatography (4% MeOH, CH2CI2) gave the title compound (1.18 g, 85%) as a solid foam: MS (ES) m/e 508.4 (M + H) ⁺ .

21.7 21.8

(3R,S)(4R,S)-3-[(3-chloro-4-isopropoxyphenyl)carbonyl]ami no-4-[4-(2-t-butyl-l-methyl- lH-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl]-butan-l,4-diol

[00236] (3R,S)(4R,S)-3-(t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-[4-(2-t-butyl-l-met hyl-lH-imidazol-

4-yl)phenyl]-butan-l,4-diol (1.18 g, 2.8 mmol) was hydrogenated on a Parr apparatus with 10% Pd/C (0.5 g) in EtOH (50 mL) at 50 psi η2 for 5 days. The catalyst was filtered off thru a pad of Celite ® and rinsed with EtOH. The filtrate containing the product was evaporated to dryness, treated with a solution of 4 N HCl in dioxane (50 mL) for 1 h at RT and then evaporated to dryness under vacuum. To the remaining residue in DMF (15 mL), with stirring, was added pentafluorophenyl 3-chloro-4-isopropoxybenzoate (2.0 g, 5.3 mmol) and Et ₃ N (1.0 mL, 7.1 mmol). After stirring for 18 h the reaction was evaporated to dryness under vacuum. Purification by flash chromatography on silica gel (0 to 5 % MeOH, EtOAc) gave the product (0.5 g, 34%) as a mixture of diastereomers: MS (ES) m/e 514.2 (M + H) ⁺ . (The diastereomers could not be separated by Gilson HPLC (10 - 90% CH3CN/ 0.1% TFA, H ₂ O).)

21.8 21

Preparation of (3R,S) -3-[(3-chloro-4-isopropoxyphenyl)carbonyl]amino-4-[4-(2-t-bu tyl-l-

methyl- lH-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl]-4-oxo-butan-l-oI

[00237] To a stirred solution of (3R,S)(4R,S)-3-[(3-chloro-4- isopropoxyphenyl)carbonyl] amino-4- [4-(2-t-butyl- 1 -methyl- lH-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl] -butan- 1 ,4- diol (258 mg, 0.6 mmol) in CηCI3 (10 mL) was added MnC>2 (0.54 g, 6.2 mmol). The reaction was refluxed for 18 h, cooled to RT, filtered through a pad of Celite®, rinsed with CHCI3, and evaporated to dryness under vacuum. Purification by Gilson HPLC (10 - 90% CH3CN/ 0.1% TFA, H2O) gave the title compound (97 mg, 26%) as a white solid: MS (ES) m/e 512.4 (M +

H) ⁺ .

Example 22 Cellular IC50s

[00238] In vitro potency of small molecule inhibitors is determined by assaying human ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3) for vώbility following a 72-hour exposure to a 10-point dilution series of compound. Cell v/αbility is determined by measuring the absorbance of formazon, a product formed by the bioreduction of MTS/PMS, a commercially available reagent. Each point on the dose-response curve is calculated as a percent of untreated control cells at 72 hours minus background absorption (complete cell kill).

Materials and Solutions:

Cells: SKO V3, Ovarian Cancer (human)

Media: RPMI medium + 5% Fetal Bovine Serum + 2mM L-glutamine

Colorimetric Agent for Determining Cell viability: Promega MTS tetrazolium compound.

Control Compound for max cell kill: Topotecan, IuM

Procedure:

Day 1 - Cell Plating

1. Wash adherent SKO V3 cells in a T175 Flask with 1OmLs of PBS and add 2mLs of 0.25% trypsin. Incubate for 5 minutes at 37°C. Rinse cells from flask using 8mL of media (RPMI mediumí 5%FBS) and transfer to fresh 5OmL sterile conical. Determine cell concentration by adding lOOuL of cell suspension to 90OuL of v/αCount reagent (Guava Technology), an isotonic diluent in a micro-centrifuge tube. Place vial in Guava cell counter and set readout to acquire. Record cell count and calculate the appropriate volume of cells to achieve 300 cells/20uL.

2. Add 20ul of cell suspension (300 cells/well) to all wells of 384-well CoStar plates.

3. Incubate for 24 hours at 37°C, 100% humidity, and 5% CO ₂ , allowing the cells to adhere to the plates.

Day 2 - Compound addition

1. In a sterile 384-well CoStar assay plate, dispense 5ul of compound at 250X highest desired concentration to wells Bll-Oll (except for HIl control well) and B 14-014 (27 compounds per plate, edge wells are not used due to evaporation). 250X compound is used to ensure final uniform concentration of vehicle (DMSO) on cells is 0.4%. Dilute 14.3ul of 1OmM Topotecan into 10ml of 5.8% DMSO in RPMI medium giving a final concentration of 14.3uM stock. Add 1.5ul of this Topotecan stock to 20ul of cell in column 13 (rows B-O) giving a final Topotecan concentration on cells of IuM. ODs from these wells will be used to subtract out for background absorbance of dead cells and vehicle. Add 80ul of medium without DMSO to each compound well in column 11 and 14. Add 40ul medium (containing 5.8% DMSO) to all remaining wells. Serially dilute compound 2-fold from column 11 to column 2 by transferring 40ul

from one column to the next taking care to mix thoroughly each time. Similarly serially dilute compound 2-fold from column 14 to column 23.

2. For each compound plate, add 1.5uL compound-containing medium in duplicate from the compound plate wells to the corresponding cell plates wells. Incubate plates for 72hours at 37°C, 100% humidity, and 5% CO ₂ .

Day 5 - MTS Addition and OD Reading

1. After 72 hours of incubation with drug, remove plates from incubator and add 4.5ul MTS / PMS to each well. Incubate plates for 120 minutes at 37°C, 100% humidity, 5% CO ₂ . Read ODs at 490nm after a 5 second shaking cycle in a 384-well spectrophotometer.

For Data analysis, calculate normalized % of control (absorbance-background), and use XLfit to generate a dose-response curve. Certain chemical entities described herein showed activity when tested by this method.

Example 23

Application of a Mitotic Kinesin Inhibitor

[00239] Human tumor cells Skov-3 (ovarian) were plated in 96-well plates at densities of

4,000 cells per well, allowed to adhere for 24 hours, and treated with various concentrations of the test compounds for 24 hours. Cells were fixed in 4% formaldehyde and stained with anti- tubulin antibodies (subsequently recognized using fluorescently-labeled secondary antibody) and Hoechst dye (which stains DNA). [00240] Visual inspection revealed that the compounds caused cell cycle arrest.

Example 24

Inhibition of Cellular Proliferation in Tumor Cell Lines Treated with Mitotic Kinesin Inhibitors.

[00241] Cells were plated in 96-well plates at densities from 1000-2500 cells/well of a 96- well plate and allowed to adhere/grow for 24 hours. They were then treated with various concentrations of drug for 48 hours. The time at which compounds are added is considered T ₀ . A tetrazolium-based assay using the reagent 3-(4,5-dimethyltniazol-2-yl)-5-(3- carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) (I.S> Patent No. 5,185,450) (see Promega product catalog #G3580, CellTiter 96® AQ _ueOus One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay) was used to determine the number of viable cells at T ₀ and the number of cells remaining after 48 hours compound exposure. The number of cells remaining after 48 hours was compared to the number of viable cells at the time of drug addition, allowing for calculation of growth inhibition.

[00242] The growth over 48 hours of cells in control wells that had been treated with vehicle only (0.25% DMSO) is considered 100% growth and the growth of cells in wells with compounds is compared to this. Mitotic kinesin inhibitors inhibited cell proliferation in human ovarian tumor cell lines (SKO V-3).

[00243] A Gi ₅₀ was calculated by plotting the concentration of compound in μM vs the percentage of cell growth in treated wells. The Gi ₅ o calculated for the compounds is the estimated concentration at which growth is inhibited by 50% compared to control, i.e., the concentration at which:

100 x [(Treated ₄₈ - T ₀ ) / (Controls - T ₀ )] = 50.

[00244] All concentrations of compounds are tested in duplicate and controls are averaged over 12 wells. A very similar 96-well plate layout and Gi ₅₀ calculation scheme is used by the National Cancer Institute (see Monks, et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 83:757-766 (1991)). However, the method by which the National Cancer Institute quantitates cell number does not use MTS, but instead employs alternative methods.

Example 25 Calculation of IC50:

[00245] Measurement of a composition's IC ₅₀ uses an ATPase assay. The following solutions are used: Solution 1 consists of 3 niM phosphoenolpyruvate potassium salt (Sigma P- 7127), 2 mM ATP (Sigma A-3377), 1 niM IDTT (Sigma D-9779), 5 μM paclitaxel (Sigma T- 7402), 10 ppm antifoam 289 (Sigma A-8436), 25 mM Pipes/KOH pH 6.8 (Sigma P6757), 2 mM MgC12 (VWR JT400301), and 1 mM EGTA (Sigma E3889). Solution 2 consists of 1 mM NADH (Sigma N8129), 0.2 mg/ml BSA (Sigma A7906), pyruvate kinase 7U/ml, L-lactate dehydrogenase 10 U/ml (Sigma P0294), 100 nM motor domain of a mitotic kinesin, 50 μg/ml microtubules, 1 mM DTT (Sigma D9779), 5 μM paclitaxel (Sigma T-7402), 10 ppm antifoam 289 (Sigma A-8436), 25 mM Pipes/KOH pH 6.8 (Sigma P6757), 2 mM MgC 12 (VWR JT4003- 01), and 1 mM EGTA (Sigma E3889). Serial dilutions (8-12 two-fold dilutions) of the composition are made in a 96-well microtiter plate (Corning Costar 3695) using Solution 1. Following serial dilution each well has 50 μl of Solution 1. The reaction is started by adding 50 μl of solution 2 to each well. This may be done with a multichannel pipettor either manually or with automated liquid handling devices. The microtiter plate is then transferred to a microplate absorbance reader and multiple absorbance readings at 340 nm are taken for each well in a kinetic mode. The observed rate of change, which is proportional to the ATPase rate, is then plotted as a function of the compound concentration. For a standard IC _5O determination the data acquired is fit by the following four parameter equation using a nonlinear fitting program (e.g., Grafit 4):

Range y = + Background

/ X \

\ ^IC -/ where y is the observed rate and x the compound concentration.

[00246] . Other chemical entities of this class were found to inhibit cell proliferation, although GI ₅ o values varied. GI ₅₀ values for the chemical entities tested ranged from 200 nM to greater than the highest concentration tested. By this we mean that although most of the chemical entities that inhibited mitotic kinesin activity biochemically did inhibit cell

proliferation, for some, at the highest concentration tested (generally about 20 μM), cell growth was inhibited less than 50%.