Brief Article
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2011, Vol. 54, No. 1 399
spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance DRX 500 spectrometer.
Elemental analyses were performed with a Vario EL apparatus.
LC-DAD chromatograms and ESI-MS spectra were recorded on
an Agilent 1100 HPLC system with Applied Biosystems API-2000
mass spectrometer. Optical rotation was determined on a Perkin-
Elmer 241 polarimeter. IR spectra were recorded on a Bruker
Tensor 27 FT-IR spectrometer. Enzymatic assays were performed
on a Varian Cary 50 Bio spectrophotometer and a Monaco Safas
flx spectrofluorometer. Amino acid derivatives were from Bachem
(Bubendorf, Switzerland), Acros (Geel, Belgium), and Aldrich
(Steinheim, Germany), and chromogenic and fluorogenic sub-
strates as well as enzymes were obtained from Bachem
(Bubendorf, Switzerland), Calbiochem (Darmstadt, Germany),
solvent was dried (Na2SO4) and removed under reduced pres-
sure. The solid product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate/
n-hexane to obtain 26 (n = 0, R = Me) as a white solid (2.80 g,
66% from 25); mp 156-158 °C. 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6)
δ 0.89-0.92 (m, 6H), 1.48-1.58 (m, 2H), 1.65-1.73 (m, 1H),
2.61 (s, 3H), 4.17-4.23 (m, 1H), 6.52 (d, 3J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.54
(d, 3J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.85 (d, 3J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 8.89 (s, 1H), 12.62
(bs, 1H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 12.09, 21.76, 22.94,
24.55, 41.05, 50.90, 117.70, 119.00, 127.92, 143.23, 154.70,
167.53, 174.80, 177.05.
N-[4-(5-Methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)phenylcarbamoyl]-leucyl-
methylazaalanine-nitrile (13). Compound 26 (n = 0, R = Me;
1.50 g, 4.51 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (40 mL) and cooled
to -25 °C. To the stirred solution, N-methylmorpholine (NMM)
(0.54 mL, 4.91 mmol) and isobutyl chloroformate (0.65 mL, 4.99
mmol) were added consecutively. 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine dihy-
drochloride (3.00 g, 22.6 mmol) was suspended in H2O (3 mL),
and 10 N NaOH (5.00 mL) was added under ice-cooling. This
solution was given to the reaction mixture when the precipitation
of N-methylmorpholine hydrochloride occurred. It was allowed
to warm to room temperature within 30 min and stirred for
additional 90 min. After evaporation of the solvent, the resulting
aqueous residue was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 ꢀ 30 mL).
The combined organic layers were washed with H2O (30 mL),
satd NaHCO3 (30 mL), H2O (30 mL), and brine (30 mL). The
solvent was dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated. The crude product
was purified by column chromatography on silica gel using ethyl
acetate to obtain N-[4-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)phenylcar-
bamoyl]-leucine 1,2-dimethylhydrazide as a colorless oil. Sodium
acetate (0.48 g, 5.85 mmol) and cyanogen bromide (0.47 g, 4.44
mmol) were added to a solution of N-[4-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-
3-yl)phenylcarbamoyl]-leucine 1,2-dimethylhydrazide (1.10 g, 2.94
mmol) in MeOH (30 mL). The mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 48 h, and the solvent was removed under reduced
pressure. The residue was suspended in H2O (10 mL), a pH of ∼2
was adjusted (10% KHSO4), and it was extracted with ethyl acetate
(3 ꢀ 30 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with H2O
(20 mL), satd NaHCO3 (2 ꢀ 30 mL), H2O (30 mL), and brine
(30 mL). The solvent was dried (Na2SO4) and removed in vacuo.
The oily residue was purified by column chromatography on silica
gel using MeOH/CH2Cl2 (40:1) as eluent. Additionally, the product
was recrystallized from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether to obtain 13
as a white solid (0.66 g, 37% from 26); mp 185 °C; [R]20D = þ65.6
€
and Enzo Life Sciences (Lorrach, Germany). All tested com-
pounds possessed a purity of not less than 95%.
N-(4-Cyanophenylcarbamoyl)-leucine tert-Butyl Ester (24,
n = 0). The hydrochloride salt of leucine tert-butyl ester 22
(5.00 g, 22.3 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (50 mL) and
treated with N-ethyldiisopropylamine (DIPEA) (5.70 mL, 33.3
mmol). The resulting reaction mixture was treated with 4-cya-
nophenyl isocyanate (3.55 g, 24.6 mmol) and stirred for 4 h at
room temperature (rt). After evaporation of the solvent, the
residue was suspended in H2O. The aqueous suspension was
adjusted with 10% KHSO4 to pH ∼2 and extracted with ethyl
acetate (3 ꢀ 30 mL). The combined organic layers were washed
with H2O (20 mL), 10% KHSO4 (20 mL), H2O (20 mL), and
brine (20 mL). The solvent was dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated
under reduced pressure. The crude product was recrystallized
from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether to obtain 24 (n = 0) as a
1
white solid (6.70 g, 91%); mp 113 °C. H NMR (500 MHz,
3
3
DMSO-d6) δ 0.88 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 3H), 0.91 (d, J = 6.7 Hz,
3H), 1.40 (s, 9H), 1.46-1.54 (m, 2H), 1.62-1.70 (m, 1H),
3
3
4.10-4.14 (m, 1H), 6.61 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.54 (d, J =
8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.65 (d, 3J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 9.07 (s, 1H). 13C NMR
(125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 21.82, 22.77, 24.56, 27.78, 40.91, 51.64,
80.85, 102.88, 117.68, 119.48, 133.36, 144.69, 154.40, 172.36.
N-[(4-Acetoxyamidino)phenylcarbamoyl]-leucine tert-Butyl
Ester (25, n = 0, R = Me). Compound 24 (n = 0; 6.30 g, 19.0
mmol) was dissolved in EtOH (50 mL) and treated with DIPEA
(6.46 mL, 37.7 mmol) and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (2.64 g,
38.0 mmol). The resulting solution was heated to reflux over-
night. After evaporation of the solvent, the oily residue was
dissolved in dry MeCN (50 mL) and treated with acetic anhy-
dride (5.39 mL, 57.4 mmol). The solution was stirred at room
temperature for 5 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the
oily residue was suspended in H2O. The aqueous suspension was
adjusted with 10% KHSO4 to pH ∼2 and extracted with ethyl
acetate (3 ꢀ 30 mL). The combined organic layers were washed
with 5% KHSO4 (2 ꢀ 30 mL), H2O (30 mL), satd NaHCO3
(3 ꢀ 30 mL), H2O (30 mL), and brine (30 mL). The solvent was
dried (Na2SO4) and removed under reduced pressure. The crude
product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate to obtain 25 (n=0,
R = Me) as a white solid (5.40 g, 70% from 24); mp 95 °C. 1H
NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 0.89 (d, 3J = 6.6 Hz, 3H), 0.92
(d, 3J = 6.6 Hz, 3H), 1.41 (s, 9H), 1.44-1.54 (m, 2H), 1.63-1.71
(m, 1H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 4.11-4.15 (m, 1H), 6.45 (d, 3J = 8.2 Hz,
1H), 6.62 (s, 2H), 7.42 (d, 3J = 8.9 Hz, 2H) 7.59 (d, 3J = 8.9 Hz,
2H), 8.74 (s, 1H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 20.00,
21.85, 22.77, 24.55, 27.78, 41.07, 51.56, 80.73, 116.98, 124.26,
127.42, 142.28, 154.66, 156.24, 168.65, 172.56.
1
(c = 0.32, CHCl3). H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) mixture of
rotamers (only the data of the major rotational isomer are noted) δ
0.93-0.97 (m, 6H), 1.36-1.53 (m, 2H), 1.73 (bs, 1H), 2.62 (s, 3H),
3.11 (s, 3H), 3.27 (s, 3H), 4.80-4.83 (m, 1H), 6.64 (d, 3J = 8.2 Hz,
1H), 7.53 (d, 3J = 8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.85 (d, 3J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 8.89 (s,
1H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 12.09, 21.40, 23.29, 24.57,
30.56, 40.46, 40.94, 47.91, 114.22, 117.79, 119.15, 127.92, 142.98,
154.93, 167.50, 174.67, 177.07. FTIR (KBr, cm-1) 2219 (CꢁN).
LC-ESI/MS (90% H2O to 100% MeOH in 20 min, then 100%
MeOH to 30 min, DAD 239.8-340.8 nm): tr = 21.83, 98% purity,
m/z = 400.3 ([M þ H]þ).
€
Acknowledgment. We thank Michael Lulsdorff and
Patrick Jim Kuppers for assistance. This work was supported
€
by the NRW International Research School Biotech-Pharma,
Germany.
N-[4-(5-Methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)phenylcarbamoyl]-leucine
(26, n = 0, R = Me). Compound 25 (n = 0, R = Me; 5.20 g, 12.8
mmol) was dissolved in concentrated acetic acid (40 mL) and
stirred at 80 °C for 5 h. After evaporation of the acetic acid, the
oily product was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (40 mL) and treated with
TFA (20 mL). The resulted solution was stirred for 5 h at room
temperature. The solvent was evaporated, and the oily residue
was suspended in H2O. The resulting aqueous suspension was
extracted with ethyl acetate (3 ꢀ 20 mL). The combined organic
layers were washed with H2O (2 ꢀ 30 mL) and brine (30 mL). The
Supporting Information Available: Inhibition assays and
equations, representative plots and detailed kinetic parameters,
preparation of compounds 1-36, as well as 1H and 13C NMR
spectra. This material is available free of charge via the Internet
Note Added after ASAP Publication. This paper was pub-
lished ASAP on December 3, 2010 with errors in the footnotes
of Table 4, and the Supporting Information file. The correct
version was reposted on December 8, 2010.