Methyl-containing pharmaceuticals: Methylation in drug design

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2018 Nov 1;28(20):3283-3289. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.09.016. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Abstract

The importance of methyl groups in modulating biological activity, selectivity, solubility, metabolism and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of biologically active molecules is highlighted. The information compiled from selected beneficial cases, focuses mostly on marketed drugs and clinical candidates, and indicates that the methylation strategy has been successful in drug design.

Keywords: Drug design; Lead optimization; Methyl group; Methylation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Azepines / chemistry
  • Azepines / metabolism
  • Azepines / pharmacology
  • Dogs
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / chemistry*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / metabolism
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Pharmacology
  • Piperidines / chemistry
  • Piperidines / metabolism
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Solubility
  • Triazoles / chemistry
  • Triazoles / metabolism
  • Triazoles / pharmacology

Substances

  • Azepines
  • MK-6096
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Piperidines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • suvorexant