Discovery and SAR exploration of a novel series of imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazin-2-ones as potent and selective mTOR kinase inhibitors

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2011 Nov 15;21(22):6793-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.09.035. Epub 2011 Sep 16.

Abstract

We report here the discovery of a novel series of selective mTOR kinase inhibitors. A series of imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazin-2-ones, represented by screening hit 1, was developed into lead compounds with excellent mTOR potency and exquisite kinase selectivity. Potent compounds from this series show >1000-fold selectivity over the related PI3Kα lipid kinase. Further, compounds such as 2 achieve mTOR pathway inhibition, blocking both mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling, in PC3 cancer cells as measured by inhibition of pS6 and pAkt (S473).

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Pyrazines / chemistry*
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazines
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases