Palladium-catalyzed arylation of ethyl cyanoacetate. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer as a tool for reaction discovery.
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Acetates↗
Biomedical subjects
S R Stauffer
Publications and source records attributed to S R Stauffer.
Screening of homogeneous catalysts by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Identification of catalysts for room-temperature Heck reactions.
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Letter↗
Triarylpyrazoles with basic side chains: development of pyrazole-based estrogen receptor antagonists.
Recently, we developed a novel triaryl-substituted pyrazole ligand system that has high affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER) (Fink, B. E.: Mortenson, D. S.: Stauffer, S. R.; Aron, Z. D.: Katzenellenbogen, J. A. Chem. Biol. 1999, 6, 205). Subsequent work has shown that some analogues in this series are very selective for the ERalpha subtype in terms of binding affinity and agonist potency (Stauffer, S. R.: Coletta, C. J.: Tedesco. R.: Sun, J.: Katzenellenbogen, J. A. J. Med. Chem. 2000, submitted). We now investigate how this pyrazole ER agonist system might be converted into an antagonist or a selective estrogen receptor modifier (SERM) by incorporating a basic or polar side chain like those typically found in antiestrogens and known to be essential determinants of their mixed agonist/antagonist character. We selected an N-piperidinyl-ethyl chain as a first attempt, and introduced it at the four possible sites of substitution on the pyrazole core structure to determine the orientation that the pyrazole might adopt in the ER ligand binding pocket. Of these four, the C(5) piperidinyl-ethoxy-substituted pyrazole 5 had by far the highest affinity. Also, it bound to the ER subtype alpha (ERalpha) with 20-fold higher affinity than to ERbeta. In cell-based transcription assays, pyrazole 5 was an antagonist on both ERalpha and ERbeta, and it was also more potent on ERalpha. Based on structure-binding affinity relationships and on molecular modeling studies of these pyrazoles in a crystal structure of the ERalpha-raloxifene complex, we propose that pyrazoles having a basic substituent on the C(5) phenyl group adopt a binding mode that is different from that of the pyrazole agonists that lack this group. The most favorable orientation appears to be one which places the N(1) phenol in the A-ring binding pocket so that the basic side chain can adopt an orientation similar to that of the basic side chain of raloxifene.
Binding Sites↗
Estrogen pyrazoles: defining the pyrazole core structure and the orientation of substituents in the ligand binding pocket of the estrogen receptor.
Previously, we reported that certain tetrasubstituted 1,3,5-triaryl-4-alkyl-pyrazoles bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) with high affinity (Fink, B. E.; Mortenson, D. S.; Stauffer, S. R.; Aron, Z. D.; Katzenellenbogen, J. A. Chem. Biol. 1999, 6, 205-219; Stauffer, S. R.; Katzenellenbogen, J. A. J. Comb/. Chem. 2000, 2. 318 329; Stauffer, S. R.: Coletta, C. J.: Sun, J.; Tedesco, R., Katzenellenbogen, B. S.; Katzenellenbogen, J. A. J. Med. Chem. 2000, submitted). To investigate how cyclic permutation of the two nitrogen atoms of a pyrazole might affect ER binding affinity, we prepared a new pyrazole core isomer, namely a 1,3,4-triaryl-5-alkyl-pyrazole (2), to compare it with our original pyrazole (1). We also prepared several peripherally matched core pyrazole isomer sets to investigate whether the two pyrazole series share a common binding orientation. Our efficient, regioselective synthetic route to these pyrazoles relies on the acylation of a hydrazone anion, followed by cyclization, halogenation, and Suzuki coupling. We found that the ER accommodates 1,3,4-triaryl-pyrazoles of the isomeric series only somewhat less well than the original 1,3,5-triaryl series, and it appears that both series share a common binding mode. This preferred orientation for the 1,3,5-triaryl-4-alkyl-pyrazoles is supported by binding affinity measurements of analogues in which the phenolic hydroxyl groups were systematically removed from each of the three aryl groups, and the orientation is consistent, as well, with molecular modeling studies. These studies provide additional insight into the design of heterocyclic core structures for the development of high affinity ER ligands by combinatorial methods.
Animals↗
Pyrazole ligands: structure-affinity/activity relationships and estrogen receptor-alpha-selective agonists.
We have found that certain tetrasubstituted pyrazoles are high-affinity ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER) (Fink et al. Chem. Biol. 1999, 6, 205-219) and that one pyrazole is considerably more potent as an agonist on the ERalpha than on the ERbeta subtype (Sun et al. Endocrinology 1999, 140, 800-804). To investigate what substituent pattern provides optimal ER binding affinity and the greatest enhancement of potency as an ERalpha-selective agonist, we prepared a number of tetrasubstituted pyrazole analogues with defined variations at certain substituent positions. Analysis of their binding affinity pattern shows that a C(4)-propyl substituent is optimal and that a p-hydroxyl group on the N(1)-phenyl group also enhances affinity and selectivity for ERalpha. The best compound in this series, a propylpyrazole triol (PPT, compound 4g), binds to ERalpha with high affinity (ca. 50% that of estradiol), and it has a 410-fold binding affinity preference for ERalpha. It also activates gene transcription only through ERalpha. Thus, this compound represents the first ERalpha-specific agonist. We investigated the molecular basis for the exceptional ERalpha binding affinity and potency selectivity of pyrazole 4g by a further study of structure-affinity relationships in this series and by molecular modeling. These investigations suggest that the pyrazole triols prefer to bind to ERalpha with their C(3)-phenol in the estradiol A-ring binding pocket and that binding selectivity results from differences in the interaction of the pyrazole core and C(4)-propyl group with portions of the receptor where ERalpha has a smaller residue than ERbeta. These ER subtype-specific interactions and the ER subtype-selective ligands that can be derived from them should prove useful in defining those biological activities in estrogen target cells that can be selectively activated through ERalpha.
Binding, Competitive↗
High turnover number and rapid, room-temperature amination of chloroarenes using saturated carbene ligands.
[equation--see text] A catalytic system for the mild amination of aryl chlorides is described. This system consists of a Pd(0) precursor and a dihydroimidazoline carbene ligand, which is generated in situ from its protonated tetrafluoroborate salt (2). Using this catalyst, aryl and heteroaryl chlorides react with secondary amines and anilines within hours at room temperature. Turnover numbers as high as 5000 are obtained at elevated temperatures for reaction of morpholine with an unactivated aryl chloride.
Alkenes↗
Acyclic amides as estrogen receptor ligands: synthesis, binding, activity and receptor interaction.
We have prepared a series of bisphenolic amides that mimic bibenzyl and homobibenzyl motifs commonly found as substructures in ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER). Representative members were prepared from three classes: N-phenyl benzamides, N-phenyl acetamides, and N-benzyl benzamides; in some cases the corresponding thiocarboxamides and sulfonamides were also prepared. Of these three classes, the N-phenyl benzamides had the highest affinity for ER, the N-phenyl acetamides had lower, and the N-benzyl benzamides were prone to fragmentation via a quinone methide intermediate. In the N-phenyl benzamide series, the highest affinity analogues had bulky N-substituents; a CF3 group, in particular, conferred high affinity. The thiocarboxamides bound better than the corresponding carboxamides and these bound better than the corresponding sulfonamides. Binding affinity comparisons suggest that the p-hydroxy group on the benzoate ring, which contributes most to the binding, is playing the role of the phenolic hydroxyl of estradiol. Computational studies and NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis indicate that the two anilide systems studied have a strong preference for the s-cis or exo amide conformation, which places the two aromatic rings in a syn orientation. We used this structural template, together with the X-ray structure of the ER ligand binding domain, to elaborate an additional hydrogen bonding site on a benzamide system that elevated receptor binding further. When assayed on the individual ER subtypes, ERalpha and ERbeta, these compounds show modest binding affinity preference for ERalpha. In a reporter gene transfection assay of transcriptional activity, the amides generally have full to nearly full agonist character on ERalpha, but have moderate to full antagonist character on ERbeta. One high affinity carboxamide is 500-fold more potent as an agonist on ERalpha than on ERbeta. This work illustrates that ER ligands having simple amide core structures can be readily prepared, but that high affinity binding requires an appropriate distribution of bulk, polarity, and functionality. The strong conformational preference of the core anilide function in all of these ligands defines a rather rigid geometry for further structural and functional expansion of these series.
Amides↗
Novel structural templates for estrogen-receptor ligands and prospects for combinatorial synthesis of estrogens.
BACKGROUND: The development of estrogen pharmaceutical agents with appropriate tissue-selectivity profiles has not yet benefited substantially from the application of combinatorial synthetic approaches to the preparation of structural classes that are known to be ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER). We have developed an estrogen pharmacophore that consists of a simple heterocyclic core scaffold, amenable to construction by combinatorial methods, onto which are appended 3-4 peripheral substituents that embody substructural motifs commonly found in nonsteroidal estrogens. The issue addressed here is whether these heterocyclic core structures can be used to prepare ligands with good affinity for the ER. RESULTS: We prepared representative members of various azole core structures. Although members of the imidazole, thiazole or isoxazole classes generally have weak binding for the ER, several members of the pyrazole class show good binding affinity. The high-affinity pyrazoles bear close conformational relationship to the nonsteroidal ligand raloxifene, and they can be fitted into the ligand-binding pocket of the ER-raloxifene X-ray structure. CONCLUSIONS: Compounds such as these pyrazoles, which are novel ER ligands, are well suited for combinatorial synthesis using solid-phase methods.
Binding Sites↗
Solid-phase synthesis of tetrasubstituted pyrazoles, novel ligands for the estrogen receptor.
Most ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER) are not well suited for synthesis by combinatorial means, because their construction involves a series of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions that are not uniformly high yielding. In previous work directed to overcoming this limitation, we surveyed various phenol-substituted five-membered heterocycles, hoping to find a system that would afford both high ER binding affinity and whose synthesis could be adapted to solid-phase methods (Fink et al. Chem. Biol. 1999, 6, 206-219.) In this report, we have developed a reliable and efficient solid-phase method to prepare the best of these heterocycles, the tetrasubstituted pyrazoles, and we have used this methodology to produce small, discrete libraries of these novel ER ligands. We used a combination of FT-IR and nanoprobe (1)H NMR-MAS to characterize intermediates leading up to the final pyrazole products directly on the bead. We also developed a scavenging resin, which enabled us to obtain products free from inorganic contaminants. We prepared a 12-member test library, and then a 96-member library, and in both cases we determined product purity and ER binding affinity of all of the library members. Several interesting binding affinity patterns have emerged from these studies, and they have provided us with new directions for further exploration, which has led to pyrazoles having high affinity and potency as agonists and antagonists toward the ER alpha subtype.
Drug Design↗