Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Trivalent PROTACs Having a Functionalization Site with Controlled Orientation

04 October 2021, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Trivalent PROTACs having a functionalization site with controlled orientation were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Based on the X-ray structure of BRD protein degrader MZ1 (1) in complex with human VHL and BRD4BD2, we expected that the 1,2-disubstituted ethyl group near the JQ-1 moiety in MZ1 (1) could be replaced by a planar benzene tether as a platform for further functionalization. To test this hypothesis, we first designed six divalent MZ1 derivatives, 2a-c and 3a-c, by combining three variations of substitution patterns on the benzene ring (1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-substitution) and two variations in the number of ethylene glycol units (1 or 2). We then tested the synthesized compounds for the BRD4 degradation activity of each. As expected, we found that 1,2D-EG2-MZ1 (2a), an MZ1 derivative with 1,2-disubstituted benzene possessing two ethylene glycol units, had an activity profile similar to that of MZ1 (1). Based on the structure of 2a, we then synthesized and evaluated four isomeric trivalent MZ1 derivatives, 15a-15d, having a tert-butyl ester unit on the benzene ring as a handle for further functionalization. Among the four isomers, 1,2,5T-EG2-MZ1 (15c) retained a level of BRD4 depletion activity similar to that of 2a without inducing a measurable Hook effect, and its BRD4 depletion kinetics was the same as that of MZ1 (1). Other isomers were also shown to retain BRD4 depletion activity. Thus, the trivalent PROTACs we synthesized here may serve as efficient platforms for further applications.

Keywords

Targeted Protein Degradation
Trivalent PROTAC
BRD4
Controlled Orientation
Synthetic Probes
Mode of Action

Supplementary materials

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Title
Supporting Information for Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Trivalent PROTACs Having a Functionalization Site with Controlled Orientation
Description
This information includes Figure S1, general experimental procedures for the synthesis of 8a-c, 13a-c, and 20a-d, synthesis and characterization data of intermediates, and NMR spectra of synthetic compounds (PDF)
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