Synlett 2016; 27(07): 977-983
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1561314
synpacts
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Preorganization of Atropisomers to Increase Target Selectivity

Christopher J. Nalbandian
a   Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182-1030, USA   Email: JGustafson@mail.sdsu.edu
,
David E. Hecht
b   School of Mathematics, Science & Engineering, Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd., Chula Vista CA, 91910, USA
,
Jeffrey L. Gustafson*
a   Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182-1030, USA   Email: JGustafson@mail.sdsu.edu
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 16 November 2015

Accepted after revision: 09 December 2015

Publication Date:
20 January 2016 (online)


Abstract

Atropisomerism is a form of chirality that arises from differential substitution around a bond that renders the rotational isomers enantiomers. Depending on the degree of hindrance to bond rotation, atropisomers can exist as either stable isolable enantiomers or rapidly racemizing atropisomeric mixtures. Many biologically active small molecules exist as rapidly interconverting atropisomers, however, only one of the possible atropisomers possesses the desired activity. The presence of the nonrelevant atropisomer via spontaneous racemization can result in off-target activities that can lead to side effects. We have hypothesized that preorganizing (locking) a freely interconverting atropisomeric axis in a promiscuous scaffold into the target relevant atropisomer can serve as a general strategy towards more selective small molecule inhibitors. This article outlines recent literature on atropisomerism in drug discovery as well as our recent efforts towards increasing the target selectivity of small molecule kinase inhibitors through ‘atropisomer preorganization’.