Jianwu Wang

In order to systematically explore and better understand the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a diarylmethane backbone in the design of potent uric acid transporter 1 (URAT1) inhibitors, 33 compounds (1a–1x and 1ha–1hi) were designed and synthesized, and their in vitro URAT1 inhibitory activities (IC₅₀) were determined. The three-round systematic SAR exploration led to the discovery of a highly potent novel URAT1 inhibitor, 1h, which was 200- and 8-fold more potent than parent lesinurad and benzbromarone, respectively (IC₅₀ = 0.035 μM against human URAT1 for 1h vs. 7.18 μM and 0.28 μM for lesinurad and benzbromarone, respectively). Compound 1h is the most potent URAT1 inhibitor discovered in our laboratories so far and also comparable to the most potent ones currently under development in clinical trials. The present study demonstrates that the diarylmethane backbone represents a very promising molecular scaffold for the design of potent URAT1 inhibitors.

A series of 2-substituted and 2,3-disubstituted 5-cyanoindolizine derivatives were conveniently synthesized by a one-pot tandem reaction under mild conditions in moderate yields. The reaction mechanism was proposed.

In order to systematically explore and understand the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of a lesinurad-based hit (1c) derived from the replacement of the S atom in lesinurad with CH₂, 18 compounds (1a–1r) were designed, synthesized and subjected to in vitro URAT1 inhibitory assay. The SAR exploration led to the discovery of a highly potent flexible URAT1 inhibitor, 1q, which was 31-fold more potent than parent lesinurad (IC₅₀ = 0.23 μM against human URAT1 for 1q vs 7.18 μM for lesinurad). The present study discovered a flexible molecular scaffold, as represented by 1q, which might serve as a promising prototype scaffold for further development of potent URAT1 inhibitors, and also demonstrated that the S atom in lesinurad was not indispensable for its URAT1 inhibitory activity.

A Zn(OTf)₂-catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization/allylic alkylation of N-(propargyl)arylamides and allylic alcohols to produce oxazole derivatives has been successfully developed. The zinc catalyst served as π acid and also σ acid in this reaction. The target allylic oxazoles have been transformed into multisubstituted diene structures, which are potential aggregation-induced emission active optical materials.

A novel tandem metal relay catalytic system combining Zn(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization and a Sc(III)-catalyzed carbonyl–ene reaction has been successfully developed. By using this unprecedented Zn/Sc bimetallic relay catalytic system, a variety of oxazole derivatives were obtained from easily available N-(propargyl)arylamides and aldehydes under mild conditions.

gem-Dihaloalkenes are very important building blocks widely used in organic synthesis. However, the synthetic methods available for this functional group are very limited. Starting from an unexpected copper-catalyzed cyclization of propargylic amides, a new route for the synthesis of gem-dihaloalkenes was developed. According to the plausible Cu(I)/Cu(III) catalytic cycle, another oxidative iodination protocol was developed. Through this improved method, a series of gem-diiodoolefins were synthesized in high yields. In addition, (E)-iodoalkenes could also be synthesized efficiently using the same approach, which is complementary to the gold-catalyzed reaction giving (Z)-iodoalkenes. These iodoolefins could be further transformed into various trisubstituted or tetrasubstituted alkenes, enynes, dienes and trienes with palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions.