Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals

Richardson-merrell Inc.

Brian W Metcalf

J O'Neal Johnston

Jerry L Adams

Bruce J Lippert

Philippe Bey

Thomas R Blohm

Jeffrey S Wiseman

This application relates to 4-amino-4,5-dihydro-2-furancarboxylic acid, and esters thereof, useful as .gamma.-aminobutyric acid transaminase inhibitors.

Novel .gamma.-aminobutyric acid transaminase inhibitors

This application relates to 4-amino-4,5-dihydro-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid, the C.sub.1-6 alkyl esters thereof and to their use in the treatment of epilepsy.

.alpha.-Aminobutyric acid transaminase inhibitors

5-Amino-4-oxo-pentanoic acids of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is CF.sub.3, CHF.sub.2 or CH.sub.2 F; R.sub.1 is H or akyl of 1-4 carbon atoms; and R.sub.2 is H or alkyl or 1-4 carbon atoms or benzyl, which are intermediates to ACE inhibitors or elastase inhibitors, are produced by reacting a 1-(methylthio)-1-methylsulfinyl)-2-R.sub.1 -ethylmetal with an ester of a 3-R-acrylic acid; optionally R.sub.2 -alkylating the thus-produced ester enolate anion of 4-(methylsulfinyl)-4-(methylthio)-5-R.sub.1 R-pentanoic acid followed by splitting off of methylsulfinic acid; reacting the thus-produced 2-R.sub.2 -5-R.sub.1 -4-(methylthio)-3-R-4-pentenoic acid ester with a source of Br.sup.+ to produce a 5-bromo-substituted acid or ester thereof otherwise corresponding to the desired 5-amino-4-oxo-pentanoic acid; and replacing the bromine atom with an amino group, e.g., via the corresponding 5-azido- and 5-N-acylamino- compounds, with hydrolysis of the ester group, if still remaining.

Production of intermediates for enzyme inhibitors

Aromatase inhibitors are provided having the formula ##STR1## wherein   represents a single or double bond; R is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; R.sup.1 is methyl or ethyl; R.sup.2 is (H) (OR.sup.8) or .dbd.O; R.sup.3 is H or C.sub.1-3 alkyl; R.sup.4 is H or OR.sup.8 ; R.sup.5 is H, C.sub.1-3 alkyl or, when the 5,6-bond is saturated, R.sup.5 is divalent .dbd.O; R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are each H or C.sub.1-3 alkyl; and R.sup.8 is H or C.sub.2-4 alkanoyl. Intermediates useful in preparing the foregoing aromatase inhibitors, and methods of using the aromatase inhibitors of the invention are also provided.

10-Alkynyl steroids

Compounds of the following general formula are testosterone 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors rendering the compounds useful in the treatment of acne and oily skin and benign prostatic hypertrophy: ##STR1## wherein R is: .dbd.O, --OH, --OCO--alkyl C.sub.1-5, --COOH, --CH.sub.2 OH, --COO--alkyl C.sub.1-6, --COCH.sub.3, ##STR2##

Novel steroid 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors

Progesterone derivatives having a vinylidene or a 1-alkynyl substituent at the 18-position and further optionally hydroxylated at the 11-position and the 21-position are described herein. Compounds having both an ethynyl substituent and a hydroxy substituent at the 18-position are also described herein. The compounds are useful as aldosterone inhibitors.

18-Substituted pregn-4-ene-3,20-diones

Irreversible aromatase inhibitors are provided having the formulae ##STR1## wherein  represents a single or a double bond; R.sup.1 is CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ; R.sup.2 is (H) (OR.sup.8) or O; R.sup.3 is H or C.sub.1-3 alkyl; R.sup.4 is H or OR.sup.8 ; R.sup.5 is H.sub.2, O or (H) (C.sub.1-3 alkyl); R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are each independently H or C.sub.1-3 alkyl; and R.sup.8 is H or C.sub.1-4 alkanoyl. Intermediates useful in preparing the foregoing aromatase inhibitors, methods of using them and a pharmaceutical composition containing them are also provided.

10-(1,2-Propadienyl) steroids as irreversible aromatase inhibitors

Compounds of the following general formula are irreversible inhibitors of pancreatic elastase: ##STR1## wherein M is hydroxy, lower alkoxy, benzyloxy or --NY.sub.1 Y.sub.2 wherein each of R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; R is CF.sub.3, CHF.sub.2 or CH.sub.2 F; R.sub.1 is straight or branched lower alkyl; R.sub.2 is defined the same as R.sub.1 or is benzyl; R.sub.30 is CHO, carbobenzoxy, tert-butoxycarbonyl, benzoyl or lower alkanoyl; X is pro, ala or leu and Y and Z together form a single bond; or Y-X is ala-pro, ala-ala or ala-leu and Z forms a single bond; and Z-Y-X is ala-ala-pro, ala-ala-ala or pro-ala-leu.

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Mason, OH, United States of America

Brian W Metcalf