WO2001027077A2 - Hydroxysulfonylalkylene-, phosphonoalkylene- or difluoro(phosphononon)methyl- substituted benzene, or benzofuran derivatives as non-peptidic cdc25 inhibitors - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to compounds of the fornula (VII), wherein the substituents R1-R5, X and Y are as defined in the description and to compounds of formula (VIII) or formula (IX) and when R3 is in the ortho position to X, R?3 and R4¿ are taken together with the atoms to which are each attached to form an aromatic heterocyclic ring. The application further relates to polypeptides which comprise the ligand binding domain of Cdc25, crystalline forms of these polypeptides and the use of these crystalline forms to determine the three dimensional structure of the catalytic domain of Cdc25. The invention also relates to the use of the three dimensional structure of the Cdc25 catalytic domain in methods of designing and/or identifying potential inhibitors of Cdc25 activity, for example, compounds which inhibit the binding of a native substrate to the Cdc25 catalytic domain.

Description

METHOD OF IDENTIFYING INHIBITORS OF CDC25

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Serial No.: 60/219,320, filed October 12, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The application of modern molecular genetics to the study of cancer has established that changes in specific DNA sequences can lead to tumor initiation, growth and progression. Many of these changes occur in genes which alter cellular proliferation, either directly (growth stimulatory factors/receptors such as Ras, ErbB2, bcr/abl) or indirectly (transcriptional proteins such as Rb, myc and p53). Recently, many of these oncogenic changes have been linked to alterations in cell cycle regulation. For example, many oncogenes encode components of the pathways by which growth factor signals feed into the cell cycle to induce cell division. Changes in cell cycle proteins, such as cyclins DI and E, have also been demonstrated to be oncogenic in some cell types. Cdc25 is a family of dual specificity phosphatases which dephosphorylate both protein phosphotyrosine and phosphothreonine residues. Cdc25 regulates cell cycle progression by controlling the phosphorylation state of the cyclin dependent kinases. When phosphorylated on Tyr¹⁵ and Thr¹⁴, the cyclin dependent kinases (cdk) are inactive and cell cycle progression is prevented. Dephosphorylation by Cdc25 activates cdk and the cell cycle progresses. The activity of Cdc25 phosphatases is clearly required for cell cycle transition, and these enzymes serve as the rate-limiting mitotic activators. For example, mutation of Cdc25 in yeast produces cells that arrest in G2 phase. Mutation of the Cdc25 homologue in Drosophila results in G2 arrest of cells early in embryogenesis.

Three distinct mammalian Cdc25 homologues have been identified, denoted Cdc25A, Cdc25B and Cdc25C. Each of these appears to target a particular cdk/cyclin complex. In mammalian cells microinjection of antibodies against Cdc25A or C inhibits cell entry into S (Hoffmann et al, EMBO J. 13: 4302-10 (1994)) and M (Millar et al, Proc. Nat. Acad, Sci. USA 88: 10500-4 (1991)) respectively. Recent publications have demonstrated that Cdc25C is central to DNA damage checkpoint arrest, such as an arrest produced by a cytotoxic agent. Damage activates the serine kinase Chk-1 that phosphorylates Cdc25C on serine 216. This phosphorylation makes Cdc25C a binding partner for the family of 14-3-3 binding proteins. Binding to 14-3-3 proteins is believed to prevent Cdc25C from activating the cdk/cyclin complex cdc2/cycB and results in G2 cell cycle arrest (Furnari et al, Science 111: 1495-1497 (1997); Sanchez et al, Science 111: 1497-1501 (1997), Peng et al, Science 111: 1501- 1505 (1997)). Additional studies have demonstrated that both Cdc25A and B can act as oncogenes and transform cells when overexpressed (Galaktionov et al, Science 269: 1575-1577 (1995)).

Due to its role in regulating the cell cycle, Cdc25 is a potential target for therapies aimed at controlling proliferative diseases, such as cancer. The development of biochemical assays for Cdc25 has enabled drug discovery to proceed along the pathways of identifying lead Cdc25 inhibitors by high-throughput screening of compound libraries and by testing compounds that mimic substrate structure; however, rational, structure-based design has not been possible up to this point because of the lack of accurate three-dimensional data. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to polypeptides which comprise the ligand binding domain of Cdc25, crystalline forms of these polypeptides and the use of these crystalline forms to determine the three dimensional structure of the catalytic domain of Cdc25. The invention also relates to the use of the three dimensional structure of the Cdc25 catalytic domain in methods of designing and/or identifying potential inhibitors of Cdc25 activity, for example, compounds which inhibit the binding of a native substrate to the Cdc25 catalytic domain.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polypeptides comprising the ligand binding domain of Cdc25, crystalline forms of these polypeptides, optionally complex ed with a ligand, and the three dimensional structure of the polypeptides, including the three dimensional structure of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. The polypeptide, preferably, has the catalytic activity of a Cdc25.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of determining the three dimensional structure of a crystalline polypeptide comprising the Cdc25 catalytic domain. The method comprises the steps of (1) obtaining a crystal of the polypeptide comprising the catalytic domain of Cdc25; (2) obtaining x-ray diffraction data for said crystal; and (3) solving the crystal structure of said crystal by using said x-ray diffraction data and the atomic coordinates for the Cdc25 binding domain of a second polypeptide. The method optionally comprises the additional step of obtaining the polypeptide prior to obtaining the crystal.

The invention further relates to a method of identifying a compound which is a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. The method comprises the steps of (1) obtaining a crystal of a polypeptide comprising the catalytic domain of Cdc25; (2) obtaining the atomic coordinates of the polypeptide in said crystal; (3) using said atomic coordinates to define the catalytic domain of Cdc25; and (4) identifying a compound which fits the catalytic domain. The method can further include the steps of obtaining or synthesizing the compound identified in step 4, and assessing the ability of the identified compound to inhibit at least one biological activity of Cdc25, such as enzymatic activity.

In another embodiment, the method of identifying a potential inhibitor of Cdc25 comprises the step of determining the ability of one or more functional groups and/or moieties of the compound, when present in, or bound to, the Cdc25 catalytic domain, to interact with one or more subsites of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. Generally, the Cdc25 catalytic domain is defined by the atomic coordinates of a polypeptide comprising the Cdc25 catalytic domain. If the compound is able to interact with a preselected number or set of subsites, or has a calculated interaction energy withn a desired or preselected range, the compound is identified as a potential inhibitor of Cdc25.

The invention further provides a method of designing a compound which is a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. The method includes the steps of (1) identifying one or more functional groups capable of interacting with one or more subsites of the Cdc25 catalytic domain; and (2) identifying a scaffold which presents the functional group or functional groups identified in step 1 in a suitable orientation for interacting with one or more subsites of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. The compound which results from attachment of the identified functional groups or moieties to the identified scaffold is a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. The Cdc25 catalytic domain is, generally, defined by the atomic coordinates of a polypeptide comprising the Cdc25 catalytic domain.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides compounds which are inhibitors of Cdc25 and which fit, or bind to, the Cdc25 catalytic domain. Such compounds typically comprise one or more functional groups which, when the compound is bound in the Cdc25 catalytic domain, interact with one or more subsites of the catalytic domain. Generally, the Cdc25 catalytic domain is defined by the atomic coordinates of a polypeptide comprising the Cdc25 catalytic domain. In a particular embodiment, the Cdc25 inhibitor is a compound which is identified or designed by a method of the presnt invention.

The present invention further provides a method for treating a condition mediated by Cdc25 in a patient. The method comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a Cdc25 inhibitor, such as a Cdc25 inhibitor of the invention, for example, a compound identified as a Cdc25 inhibitor or designed to inhibit Cdc25 by a method of the present invention.

The present invention provides several advantages. For example, the invention provides the first detailed three dimensional structure of the catalytic domain of a

Cdc25 protein. This structure enables the rational development of inhibitors of Cdc25 by permitting the design and/or identification of molecular structures having features which facilitate binding to the Cdc catalytic domain. The methods of use of this structure disclosed herein, thus, permit more rapid discovery of compounds which are potentially useful for the treatment of conditions which are mediated, at least in part, by Cdc25 activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 presents the amino acid sequence of human Cdc25A (SEQ ID NO: 1). Fig. 2 presents the amino acid sequence of human Cdc25B (SEQ ID NO: 2). Fig. 3 presents the amino acid sequence of human Cdc25C (SEQ LD NO: 3). Fig. 4 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25A ΔN1 A (SEQ ID NO: 4).

Fig. 5 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25B ΔN1B (SEQ ID NO: 5).

Fig. 6 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25A ΔN5A (SEQ LD NO: 6). Fig. 7 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25C ΔN1C (SEQ

ID NO: 7).

Fig. 8 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25A ΔN8A (SEQ ID NO: 8).

Fig. 9 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25A ΔN8A-cl7 (SEQ ID NO: 9).

Fig. 10 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25B ΔN5B (SEQ ID NO: 10).

Fig. 11 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25B ΔN8B (SEQ ED NO: 11). Fig. 12 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25B ΔN8B-cl7

(SEQ ID NO: 12).

Fig. 13 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25B ΔN8B-cl8 (SEQ ID NO: 13).

Fig. 14 presents the amino acid sequence of polypeptide Cdc25C ΔN9C (SEQ ID NO: 14).

Fig. 15A to 15PPP present the atomic coordinates for Cdc25B(ΔN8B)/cdcl249 complex (crystal 19). Fig. 16A to 161 present the atomic coordinates for Cdc25A(ΔNlA).

Fig. 17A to 17EE present the atomic coordinates for Cdc25B(ΔNlB)/cdcl249 complex (crystal 5).

Fig. 18A to 18X present the atomic coordinates for Cdc25A(ΔN8A) (crystal 3). Fig. 19A to 191 present the atomic coordinates for Cdc25B(ΔNlB)/cdcl671 complex (crystal 15).

Fig. 20 illustrates the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdcl249 showing the protein secondary structure, the ligand bound at the catalytic loop (thick bonds), and the ligand bound at the distal site (thin bonds) Fig. 21 shows the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdcl249 showing two symmetry related protein molecules interacting with the ligand bound at the catalytic site; water molecules and ions are not shown

Fig. 22 shows the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdcl249 showing a top view of the molecular surface around the ligand binding area.

Fig. 23 shows a side view of the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdcl249.

Fig. 24 shows a top view of the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdc 1249 with protein residues labeled. Fig. 25 shows a side view of the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdcl249.

Fig. 26 illustrates the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdc 1249 showing a top view of the molecular surface around the ligand binding area, with each subsite labeled. Fig. 27 shows the complex of the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the pentapeptide cdc 1249 showing a side view with subsites 1-6 labeled

Fig. 28 is a side view of a potential tight-binding inhibitor complexed to the Cdc25B catalytic domain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of identifying inhibitors of cdc25, as described in U.S. patent application Serial Number 09/388,024, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, the use of this method, to novel phenyl-derivatives containing phosphonate, sulfonate and sulfonamide moities as inhibitors of cdc25 which are useful as pharmaceutical agents, to methods for their production, to pharmaceutical compositions which include these compounds and to pharmacetuical methods of treatment, as stated above. A series of N-substituted alpha-amino acids with phosphonate and sulfonamide moieties which are disclosed to have utility for treating diseases responsive to blockade of excitatory amino acid receptors is disclosed in U.S. patent No. 5,179,085.

A series of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives containing sulfonamide moieties which are disclosed to be prostaglandin receptor agonist are described in the European patent application EP 0 558 062.

A series of phenyl derivatives containing sulfonamide moieties which are disclosed to be endothelin receptor antagonists and useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, restenosis, infarction, bowel diseases, endotoxic shock, asthma, renal failure or emesis are described in several patent applications and patents: WO 96/0818, WO 96/08487, EP 617 001, EP 527 534, U.S. 5,177,095.

The present invention relates to the x-ray crystallographic study of polypeptides comprising the catalytic domains of Cdc25. The atomic coordinates which result from ths study are of use in identifying compounds which fit in the catalytic domain and are, therefore, potential inhibitors of Cdc25. These Cdc25 inhibitors are of use in methods of treating a patient having a condition which is modulated by Cdc25 activity, for example, a condition characterized by excessive, inappropriate or undesirable cellular proliferation. Recent evidence indicates that Cdc25 plays a role in the development of cancer. For example, studies have suggested that overexpression of Cdc25B in transgenic mice under the MMTV promoter make them more susceptible to DMBA induced mammary tumors (Slosberg et al, Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. 39: 255 (1998)). Both Cdc25A and Cdc25B are frequently overexpressed in breast cancer (Galaktionov et al, Science 269: 1575-1577 (1995)), head and neck cancer (Gasparotto et al, Cancer Res 57: 2366-2368 (1997)), gastric carcinoma (Kudo et al, Jpn J. Cancer Res 88: 947-952 (1997)), and Non Hodgkin's lymphomas (Hernandez et al, Cancer Res 58: 1762-1767 (1998)).

Studies in cell lines lacking the cdk inhibitor pl5 indicate TGF-β can inhibit cell progression by modulating levels of Cdc25A (Iavarone et al, Nature 387: 417- 422 (1997)). Similarly, levels of Cdc25A and growth of a tumor cell line has been shown to be modulated by α-interferon (Tiefenbrun et al, Mol Cell Biol 16: 3934- 3944 (1996)). Further, it has recently been shown that antisense oligonucleotides against Cdc25B inhibit the growth of a tumor cell line (Garnerhamrick et al, Int. J. Cancer 76: 729-728 1998). These results support the idea that Cdc25 inhibitors may block one or more pathways involved in cell transformation.

The x-ray crystal structure of human Cdc25A was reported by Saper et al. in 1998 (Saper et al, Cell 93: 617-625 (1998)). The structure does not provide atomic- level details of the catalytic loop or the amino acid residues at the carboxyl terminus. Further, the structure does not include a bound inhibitor of Cdc25 A.

The Examples describe the preparation of polypeptides comprising the catalytic domains of human Cdc25A, Cdc25B and Cdc25C and the crystallization of the Cdc25A and Cdc25B polypeptides. As used herein, the term "catalytic domain" refers to any or all of the following sites in Cdc25: the substrate binding site; the site where the pentapeptide inhibitor described below binds and the site where the cleavage of a substrate occurs. For Cdc25A, the catalytic domain is defined by amino acid residues from about residue 336 to about residue 523 of SEQ ID NO: 1. For Cdc25B, the catalytic domain is defined by residues from about residue 378 to about residue 566 of SEQ ID NO: 2 (Xu et al, J. Biol. Chem., 271: 5118-5124 (1996)). The polypeptides prepared are listed in Table 9, together with their N-terminal and C-terminal amino acid residues. The amino acid sequences of these polypeptides are presented in Figs. 4-14. The numbering of the residues in Table 9 refers to the appropriate residue in the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3) of the corresponding native protein, as presented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The amino acid sequences of the native proteins (SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3) are taken as defined in

SWISS-PROT (Bairoch et al. Nucleic Acid Res. 22:3578 (1994)). As described in the Examples, certain of these crystals were examined by x-ray crystallography and atomic coordinates for the peptide were obtained. In certain cases, the polypeptide was unligated, that is, not complexed with a ligand. In other cases, the polypeptide was complexed with a ligand and the atomic coordinates of the ligand bound to the Cdc25 catalytic domain were also obtained.

The atomic coordinates for five crystals examined by x-ray crystallography are presented in Figs. 15A-15PPP, 16A-16L 17A-17EE, 18A-18X and 19A-19I. The term "atomic coordinates" (or "structural coordinates") refers to mathematical coordinates derived from mathematical equations related to the patterns obtained on diffraction of x-rays by atoms (scattering centers) of a crystalline polypeptide comprising a Cdc25 catalytic domain molecule. The diffraction data are used to calculate an electron density map of the repeating unit of the crystal. The electron density maps are used to establish the positions of the individual atoms within the unit cell of the crystal. Atomic coordinates can be transformed as is known in the art to different coordinate systems without affecting the relative positions of the atoms.

In particular, a high resolution crystal structure was obtained for the polypeptide denoted Cdc25B (ΔN8B) in Table 9, complexed with the pentapeptide inhibitor shown below, denoted "cdc 1249" herein.

Polypeptide Cdc25B (ΔN8B) includes residues Leu 368 to Arg 562 of human Cdc25B (SEQ ID NO: 2). The complex of this polypeptide and cdcl249 crystallized in space group P4₃2)2, a = 70.29, c = 130.59. The term "space group" is a term of art which refers to the collection of symmetry elements of the unit cell of a crystal. The results of the x-ray crystal structure determination for Cdc25B (ΔN1B) indicated that the unit cell includes eight polypeptide molecules. Atomic coordinates for the non- hydrogen atoms in the protein, the inhibitor in active site; a second molecule of the inhibitor (distal to the catalytic domain); water molecules; and sodium and chloride counter ions were determined and are provided in Fig. 15A-15PPP. For the inhibitor molecule in the active site, all heavy (non-hydrogen) atoms were observed except for the second Glu residue beyond CB and the C-terminal Glu-amide. For the second inhibitor molecule, all non-hydrogen atoms were observed. For the present purposes, the carbon atoms in an amino acid side chain are designated CB, CG, CD, and so forth, where CB is the carbon atom bonded to the α-carbon, CG is the side chain carbon atom bonded to CB and so forth. The letters designating the carbon atoms are ordered according to the corresponding Greek letters. The structures determined for polypeptides comprising the Cdc25B catalytic domain complexed with a ligand differ significantly from the structure determined by Saper et al. for Cdc25A. Most importantly, the Cdc25B protein structure has a ligand bound at the catalytic site, and all protein atoms in proximity to the ligand are well defined. In the Cdc25 A structure of Saper et al. there is no bound ligand and the catalytic loop is very poorly resolved (the residues composing the catalytic loop are disordered). One particular residue of the catalytic loop, Arg 479, appears in the Cdc25A structure to be misplaced when compared to the structures determined for polypeptides comprising the Cdc25B catalytic domain and the structures of other known phosphatases. Consequently, no reliable information with regard to ligand binding can be directly obtained from the Cdc25A protein structure, and the lack of atomic resolution around the binding site means that molecular modeling techniques can not be reliably used to predict ligand binding modes or for ligand design. Another major difference between the Cdc25B catalytic domain structure described herein and the Cdc25A structure of Saper et al. is in the C-terminal region (residues 531-547, Cdc25B numbering). This region of Cdc25B, which is well resolved in the present structures, contains an alpha-helix which is positioned against the bulk of the protein, and several residues of the helix, such as Met 531 and Arg 544, interact with the bound ligand. In contrast, in the Cdc25A structure of Saper et al, this region is undefined beyond Asp 492 (Cdc25 A numbering scheme), and the few residues that are observed appear to be misplaced. For example, the sequence is directed away from the bulk of the protein and towards a symmetry related molecule in the crystal. The position of the C-terminus in the Cdc25A structure, thus, appears to be determined by packing forces within the crystal.

The structure of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B)/cdcl249 complex shows that the phenyl group of the ligand (HO₃SCH₂)Phe residue is completely surrounded by hydrophobic groups including: Phe 475, Ser 477, and Glu 478 in the catalytic loop; by Met 531 on the C-terminus; by the naphthyl group of the ligand; and by Pro 457 and He 458 of a symmetry-related polypeptide molecule (crystal contacts). There is also a hydrogen bond from the ligand NH between PheCH₂SO₃H and 2-OMe-naphth, to the carbonyl oxygen atom of Pro 457. The naphthyl ring of the 2-OMe-naphth group also makes van der Waals contact with the symmetry-related molecule at Pro 457 and with with the backbone at Lys 455 and Ser 456. The methyl group of the 2-O-Me-naphth group sits in a groove on the polypeptide molecule. This naphthyl group also contacts Met 531 and Leu 540 on the C-terminus, and the Nal residue of the ligand. There is an important interaction, possibly a cation-pi, pi-pi or van der Waals, interaction, between the inhibitor Nal and Arg 544 (the sidechain of Arg 544 is hydrogen-bonded to Tyr 428 and it has one unfavorable torsion angle at CB-CG). This Nal residue also makes van der Waals contacts with the sidechains of Glu 478 and Arg 479 in the catalytic loop, and Met 531 in the C-terminus.

The pentapeptide inhibitor adopts a helix-like conformation with a mixture of 3]₀/α properties. The inhibitor exhibits two intramolecular H-bonds: amide O, from between PheCSO H and 2-OMe-Naphth, to backbone NH between the two Glu residues, and to backbone NH between the second Glu and Nal. The hydrophobic groups in the ligand are close to one another, a situation which can be described as hydrophobic collapse.

As mentioned above, no electron density was observed for the terminal carboxylic acid in the ligand, a result which could indicate that there are a number of possible binding modes for this portion of the ligand.

A second molecule of the inhibitor is observed in the crystal structure, binding to the protein at a site distal to the catalytic site. This molecule appears to stabilize the crystal by forming a number of favorable interactions at the interface of two symmetry related protein molecules. The conformation of the ligand molecule at the distal site is very similar to the conformation of the ligand at the binding site. This indicates that the ligand is in a low-energy conformation, one that is not significantly biased by interactions with the protein. This result has been confirmed by molecular modeling and conformational analysis.

The C-terminal region of the Cdc25B catalytic domain is helical and plays a significant role in ligand binding. This region was not observed in the structure of Saper et al. This part of the protein may be highly flexible, with a geometry dependent upon such factors as salt concentration, length of the construct, protein- protein interactions (CDK/cyclin), bound ligand, and pH, among others. Analysis of the three dimensional structure of the Cdc25B catalytic domain has indicated the presence of a number of subsites, each of which includes molecular functional groups capable of interacting with complementary moieties of an inhibitor. Subsites 1-16 of the Cdc25B catalytic domain are defined below. The catalytic domain consists of the catalytic loop and surrounding area. Sixteen subsites are defined; subsites 1-9 correspond to pockets, clefts, grooves, etc., and the remaining seven are bumps, that is, the solvent exposed tops of amino acid side chains. Figs. 20 (top view) and 21 (side view) illustrate the binding site region with the subsites labeled. Subsites are characterized below according to the properties of chemical moieties with which they are complementary, or with which they can interact. Such moieties can include hydrogen bond acceptors ("HA"), such as hydroxyl, amino, and carbonyl groups, halogen atoms, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms; and other groups including a heteroatom having at least one lone pair of electrons, such as groups containing trivalent phosphorous, di- and tetravalent sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen atoms; hydrogen bond donors ("HD"), such as hydroxyl, amino, carboxylic acid groups and any of the groups listed under hydrogen atom acceptors to which a hydrogen atom is bonded; hydrophobic groups ("H"), such as linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups; linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl groups; linear, branched or cyclic alkynyl groups; aryl groups, such as mon- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbyl groups and mono- and polycyclic heteroaryl groups; positively charged groups ("P"), such as primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary ammonium groups, substituted and unsubstituted guanidinium groups, sulfonium groups and phosphonium groups; and negatively charged groups ("N"), such as carboxylate, sulfonamide, sulfamate, boronate, vanadate, sulfonate, sulfinate and phosphonate groups. A given chemical moiety can contain one or more of these groups.

Subsite 1: Catalytic loop; interacting chemical moieties: HA, H, N; Residues involved: Cys 473; Glu 474; Phe 475; Ser 476; Ser 477; Glu 478; Arg 479; Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and N: Cys 473 S; Glu 474 N; Phe 475 N; Ser 476 N; Ser 477 N; Glu 478 N; Arg 479 N, NE, NH₂

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Glu 474 CA, CB, CG, CD; Phe 475 CB, CG, CD1, CD2, CE1, CE2, CZ; Ser 477 CB; Glu 478 CB, CG, CD Subsite 2: Swimming pool Interacting chemical moieties: HA, HD, H, N, P

Residues involved: Cys 426; Tyr 428; Pro 444; Leu 445; Glu 446; Glu 478; Arg 479; Arg 482; Met 483; Arg 544; Thr 547; Arg 548 Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and N: Tyr 428 OH; Arg 482 NHl or NH2; Arg 544 NHl

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HD and P: Cys 426 O; Tyr 428 OH; Pro 444 O; Glu 446 OE1, OE2; Thr 547 OG1.

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Leu 445 CA, CB, CDl; Glu 446 CA, CB, CG, CD; Arg 479 CA, CB, CG, CD; Met 483 CA, CB, CG, SD, CE; Thr 547 CB, CG2; Arg 548 CA, CB, CG, CD, CE

Subsite 3 : Anion binding site Interacting chemical moieties: HA, N Residues involved: Arg 482; Arg 544

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and N: Arg 482 NHl, NH2; Arg 544 NH1. NH2

Subsite 4: Groove between catalytic loop and swimming pool Interacting chemical moieties: H

Residues involved: Glu 478; Arg 479; Met 531; Arg 544.

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Glu 478 CA, CB, CG, CD; Arg 479 CA,

CB, CG, CD, CZ; Met 531 CB, CG, SD, CE; Arg 544 CG, CD, CZ.

Subsite 5: Nal binding region

Interacting chemical moieties: HA, HD, H, N

Residues involved: Tyr 428; Glu 478; Arg 479; Met 531; Leu 540; Arg 544

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and HD : Tyr 428 OH

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Tyr 428 CDl.CEl; Glu 478 CA, CB, CG, CD; Arg 479 CA, CB, CG, CD, CZ; Met 531 CG, SD, CE; Leu 540 CB, CG, CDl, CD2; Arg 544 CG, CD, CZ Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with N: Arg 544 NE, NHl, NH2 Subsite 6: 2-MeO-Nal binding region Interacting chemical moieties: H

Residues involved: Phe 475; Met 531; Asn 532; Leu 540

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Phe 475 CG, CDl, CD2, CE1, CE2, CZ; Met 531 CB, CG, SD, CE; Asn 532 CB, CG; Leu 540 CB, CG, CDl, CD2

Subsite 7: Interactions involving lie 458 of the symmetry related polypeptide Interacting chemical moieties: H Residues involved: Phe 475; Ser 477 Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Phe 475 C, CB, CG, CD 1 , CD2, CE 1 , CE2, CZ; Ser 477 CB

Subsite 8: Interactions involving Pro 457 of the symmetry related polypeptide Interacting chemical moieties: HA, HD, H Residues involved: Glu 474; Phe 475; Met 531 ; Asn 532

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA: Asn 532 ND2 Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HD: Glu 474 OE1, OE2; Asn 532 OD1 Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Glu 474 CB, CG, CD; Phe 475 CG, CDl, CD2, CE1, CE2, CZ; Met 531 C, CA, CB, CG, SD, CE; Asn 532 CA, CB, CG

Subsite 9: Region around Leu 540

Interacting chemical moieties: H

Residues involved: Tyr 428; Met 531; Lys 537; Leu 540; Lys 541; Arg 544

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Tyr 428 CDl, CE1; Met 531 CB, CG, SD, CE; Lys 537 CA, CB, CG, CD, CE; Leu 540 CB, CG, CDl, CD2; Lys 541 CA, CB, CG, CD, CE; Arg 544 CB, CG, CD

Subsite 10: Ser 477 Interacting chemical moieties: HA, HD Residues involved: Ser 477

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and HD: Ser 477 OG Subsite l l: Glu 478 Interacting chemical moieties: HD, P Residues involved: Glu 478;

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HD and P: Glu 478 OE1, OE2

Subsite 12: Lys 394

Interacting chemical moieties: HA, N

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and N: Lys 394 NZ

Subsite 13: Arg 482

Interacting chemical moieties: HA, N

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and N: Arg 482 NE, NHl or NH2

Subsite 14: Arg 544 Interacting chemical moieties: HA, N

Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA and N: Arg 544 NE, NH2

Subsite 15: Phe 475 Interacting chemical moieties: H Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Phe 475 CB, CG, CD 1 , CD2, CEl , CE2, CZ

Subsite 16: Asn 532

Interacting chemical moieties: HA, HD, H Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HA: Asn 532 ND2 Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with HD: Asn 532 OD1 Non-hydrogen atoms which interact with H: Asn 532 CB, CG

Figs. 20-28 provide different views of the Cdc25 catalytic domain structure and the interaction of cdcl249 with the polypeptide. For example, Fig. 20 provides a view of the complex of Cdc25B and cdc 1249 showing the protein secondary structure, the ligand bound at the catalytic loop (thick bonds), and the ligand bound at the distal site (thin bonds). Fig. 21 is another view of this complex showing two symmetry related protein molecules interacting with the ligand bound at the catalytic site. Water molecules and ions are not shown. Fig. 22 shows a top view of the molecular surface around the ligand binding area. The terminal atoms of Arg 482 have been removed so that the swimming pool can be clearly observed. Water molecules and ions are not shown. The view of the complex presented in Fig. 23 is a side view relative to the view in Fig. 22. Fig. 24 shows a top view of the complex of Cdc25B and cdc 1249 with protein residues labeled. Water molecules and ions are not shown. Fig. 25 shows a side view of the complex relative to the view presented in Fig. 23. Fig. 26 presents a top view of the complex, showing the molecular surface around the ligand binding area, with each subsite labeled. The terminal atoms of Arg 482 have been removed so that the swimming pool can be clearly observed. Water molecules and ions are not shown. Fig. 27 shows a side view of the complex relative to the view in Fig. 26, and only subsites 1-6 are labeled, catalytic loop of Cdc25A is not shown and the well- defined catalytic loop of Cdc25B is shown in purple. Figure 28 presents a side view of a potental tight-binding inhibitor complexed to Cdc25B. The designed ligand binds in the catalytic loop and swimming pool, and spans the groove between the two.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polypeptides comprising the catalytic domain of Cdc25, crystalline forms of these polypeptides, optionally complexed with a ligand, and the three dimensional structure of the polypeptides, including the three dimensional structure of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. In general, these three dimensional structures are defined by atomic coordinates derived from x- ray crystallographic studies of the polypeptides. The polypeptides can include the catalytic domain of Cdc25 from any species, such as a yeast or other unicellular organism, an invertebrate or a vertebrate. Preferably, the polypeptide includes the binding domain of a mammalian Cdc25, such as a mammalian Cdc25A, Cdc25B or Cdc25C. More preferably, the polypeptide includes the catalytic domain of human Cdc25A, Cdc25B or Cdc25C. In one embodiment, the polypeptide includes amino acids Leu 336 to Thr 506 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids Leu 378 to Arg 548 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids Leu 282 to Val 453 of SEQ ID NO: 3. In particular embodiments, the polypeptides can include amino acids Leu 336 to Leu 523; Gly 323 to Leu 523; Glu 326 to Arg 519; or Glu 326 to Thr 506 of SEQ ID NO: 1; Leu 378 to Gin 566; Asp 365 to Gin 566; Glu 368 to Arg 562; Glu 368 to Ser 549 or Glu 368 to Arg 548 of SEQ ID NO: 2; or amino acids Leu 282 to Pro 473 or Gly 280 to Val 453 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

The crystalline polypeptide, preferably, further includes a ligand bound to the Cdc25 catalytic domain. The ligand is, preferably, a small (less than about 1500 molecular weight) organic molecule, for example, a peptide, such as a pentapeptide. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of determining the three dimensional structure of a first polypeptide comprising the catalytic domain of a CdC25 protein. The method includes the steps of (1) obtaining a crystal comprising the first polypeptide; (2) obtaining x-ray diffraction data for said crystal; and (3) using the x-ray diffraction data and the atomic coordinates of a second polypeptide comprising the catalytic domain of a Cdc25 protein to solve the crystal structure of the first polypeptide, thereby determining the three dimensional structure of the first polypeptide. The second polypeptide can include the same Cdc25 catalytic domain as the first polypeptide, or a different Cdc25 catalytic domain. Either or both of the first and second polypeptides can, optionally, be complexed with a ligand. That is, the crystal of the first polypeptide can comprise a complex of the first polypeptide with a ligand. The atomic coordinates of the second polypeptide can, optionally, include the atomic coordinates of a ligand molecule bound to the second polypeptide. The atomic coordinates of the second polypeptide, generally, have been previously obtained, for example, by x-ray crystallographic analysis of a crystal comprising the second polypeptide or a complex of the second polypeptide with a ligand. The atomic coordinates of the second polypeptide can be used to solve the crystal structure using methods known in the art, for example, molecular replacement or isomorphous replacement. Preferably, the second polypeptide comprises the catalytic domain of a mammalin Cdc25, more preferably a mammalian Cdc25B, and, most preferably, human Cdc25B. For example the atomic coordinates which can be used include the atomic coordinates presented herein, preferably the atomic coordinates presented in Fig. 15A to 15PPP.

The invention also provides a method of identifying a compound which is a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. The method comprises the steps of (1) obtaining a crystal of a polypeptide comprising the catalytic domain of Cdc25; (2) obtaining the atomic coordinates of the polypeptide by x-ray diffraction studies using said crystal; (3) using said atomic coordinates to define the catalytic domain of Cdc25; and (4) identifying a compound which fits the catalytic domain. The method can further include the steps of obtaining, for example, from a compound library, or synthesizing the compound identified in step 4, and assessing the ability of the identified compound to inhibit Cdc25 enzymatic activity. The polypeptide preferably comprises the catalytic domain of a mammalian

Cdc25, such as a mammalian Cdc25A, Cdc25B or Cdc25C. More preferably the polypeptide comprises the catalytic domain of human Cdc25A, Cdc25B or Cdc25C. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide is a polypeptide of the present invention, as described above. The polypeptide can be crystallized using methods known in the art, such as the methods described in the Examples, to afford polypeptide crystals which are suitable for x-ray diffraction studies. A crystalline polypeptide/ligand complex can be produced by soaking the resulting crystalline polypeptide in a solution including the ligand. Preferably, the ligand solution is in a solvent in which the polypeptide is insoluble.

The atomic coordinates of the polypeptide (and ligand) can be determined, for example, by x-ray crystallography using methods known in the art. The data obtained from the crystallography can be used to generate atomic coordinates, for example, of the atoms of the polypeptide and ligand, if present. As is known in the art, solution and refinement of the x-ray crystal structure can result in the determination of coordinates for some or all of the non-hydrogen atoms. The atomic coordinates can be used, as is known in the art, to generate a three-dimensional structure of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. This structure can then be used to assess the ability of any given compound, preferably using computer-based methods, to fit into the catalytic domain. A compound fits into the catalytic domain if it is of a suitable size and shape to physically reside in the catalytic domain, thatis, if it has a shape which is complementary to the catalytic domain and can reside in the catalytic domain without significant unfavorable steric or van der Waals interactions. Preferably, the compound includes one or more functional groups and/or moieties which interact with one or more subsites within the catalytic domain. Computational methods for evaluating the ability of a compound to fit into the catalytic domain, as defined by the atomic coordinates of the polypeptide, are known in the art, and representative examples are provided below. In another embodiment, the method of identifying a potential inhibitor of Cdc25 comprises the step of determining the ability of one or more functional groups and/or moieties of the compound, when present in the Cdc25 catalytic domain, to interact with one or more subsites of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. Preferably, the Cdc25 catalytic domain is defined by the atomic coordinates of a polypeptide comprising the Cdc25 catalytic domain. If the compound is able to interact with a preselected number or set of subsites, the compound is identified as a potential inhibitor of Cdc25.

A functional group or moiety of the compound is said to "interact" with a subsite of the Cdc25 catalytic domain if it participates in an energetically favorable, or stabilizing, interaction with one or more complementary moieties within the subsite. Two chemical moieties are "complementary" if they are capable, when suitably positioned, of participating in an attractive, or stabilizing, interaction, such as an electrostatic or van der Waals interaction. Typically, the attractive interaction is an ion-ion (or salt bridge), ion-dipole, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bond, pi-pi or hydrophobic interaction. For example, a negatively charged moiety and a positively charged moiety are complementary because, if suitably positioned, they can form a salt bridge. Likewise, a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor are complementary if suitably positioned. Typically, the assessment of interactions between the test compound and the

Cdc25 catalytic domain employs computer-based computational methods, such as those known in the art, in which possible interactions of a compound with the protein, as defined by atomic coordinates, are evaluated with respect to interaction strength by calculating the interaction energy upon binding the compound to the protein. Compounds which have calculated interaction energies within a preselected range or which otherwise, in the opinion of the computational chemist employing the method, have the greatest potential as Cdc25 inhibitors, can then be provided, for example, from a compound library or via synthesis, and assayed for the ability to inhibit Cdc25. The interaction energy for a given compound generally depends upon the ability of the compound to interact with one or more subsites within the protein catalytic domain.

In one embodiment, the atomic coordinates used in the method are the atomic coordinates set forth in Figs. 15A to 15PPP, 16A to 161, 17A to 17EE or 18A to 18X. Preferably the atomic coordinates are the coordinates set forth in Fig. 15A to 15PPP. It is to be understood that the coordinates set forth in Figs. 15A to 15PPP, 16A to 161, 17 A to 17EE and 18 A to 18X can be transformed, for example, into a different coordinate system, in ways known to those of skill in the art without substantially changing the three dimensional structure represented thereby.

In certain cases a moiety of the compound can interact with a subsite via two or more individual interactions. A moiety of the compound and a subsite can interact if they have complementary properties and are positioned in sufficient proximity and in a suitable orientation for a stabilizing interaction to occur. The possible range of distances for the moiety of the compound and the subsite depends upon the distance dependence of the interaction, as is known in the art. For example, a hydrogen bond typically occurs when a hydrogen bond donor atom, which bears a hydrogen atom, and a hydrogen bond acceptor atom are separated by about 2.5 A and about 3.5 A. Hydrogen bonds are well known in the art (Pimentel et al, The Hydrogen Bond, San Francisco: Freeman (I960)). Generally, the overall interaction, or binding, between the compound and the Cdc25 catalytic domain will depend upon the number and strength of these individual interactions.

The ability of a test compound to interact with one or more subsites of the catalytic domain of Cdc25 can be determined by computationally evaluating interactions between functional groups, or moieties, of the test compound and one or more amino acid side chains in a particular protein subsite, such as subsites 1 to 16 above. Typically, a compound which is capable of participating in stabilizing interactions with a preselected number of subsites, preferably without simultaneously participating in significant destabilizing interactions, is identified as a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. Such a compound will interact with one or more subsites, preferably with two or more subsites and, more preferably, with three or more subsites.

The invention further provides a method of designing a compound which is a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. The method includes the steps of (1) identifying one or more functional groups capable of interacting with one or more subsites of the Cdc25 catalytic domain; and (2) identifying a scaffold which presents the functional group or functional groups identified in step 1 in a suitable orientation for interacting with one or more subsites of the Cdc25 catalytic domain. The compound which results from attachment of the identified functional groups or moieties to the identified scaffold is a potential inhibitor of Cdc25. The Cdc25 catalytic domain is, generally, defined by the atomic coordinates of a polypeptide comprising the Cdc25 catalytic domain, for example, the atomic coordinates set forth in Figs. 15A-15PPP, 16A-16I, 17A-17EE, 18A-18X or 19A-19I. Preferably, the Cdc25 catalytic domain is defined by the atomic coordinates set forth in Fig. 15A-15PPP.

Suitable methods, as are known in the art, can be used to identify chemical moieties, fragments or functional groups which are capable of interacting favorably with a particular subsite or set of subsites. These methods include, but are not limited to: interactive molecular graphics; molecular mechanics; conformational analysis; energy evaluation; docking; database searching; pharmacophore modeling; de novo design and property estimation. These methods can also be employed to assemble chemical moieties, fragments or functional groups into a single inhibitor molecule. These same methods can also be used to determine whether a given chemical moiety, fragment or functional group is able to interact favorably with a particular subsite or set of subsites.

In one embodiment, the design of potential human Cdc25 inhibitors begins from the general perspective of three-dimensional shape and electrostatic complementarity for the catalytic domain, encompassing subsites 1-16, and subsequently, interactive molecular modeling techniques can be applied by one skilled in the art to visually inspect the quality of the fit of a candidate inhibitor modeled into the binding site. Suitable visualization programs include INSIGHTII (Molecular Simulations Inc., San Diego, CA), QUANTA (Molecular Simulations Inc., San Diego, CA), SYBYL (Tripos Inc., St Louis, MO), RASMOL (Roger Sayle et al, Trends Biochem. Sci. 20: 374-376 (1995)), GRASP (Nicholls et al, Proteins 11: 281-289 (1991)), and MIDAS (Ferrin et al, J. Mol. Graphics 6:13-27 (1988)).

A further embodiment of the present invention utilizes a database searching program which is capable of scanning a database of small molecules of known three- dimensional structure for candidates which fit into the target protein site. Suitable software programs include CATALYST (Molecular Simulations Inc., San Diego, CA), UNITY (Tripos Inc., St Louis, MO), FLEXX (Rarey et al., J. Mol. Biol. 261: 470-489 (1996)), CHEM-3DBS (Oxford Molecular Group, Oxford, UK), DOCK (Kuntz et al, J. Mol. Biol 161: 269-288 (1982)), and MACCS-3D (MDL Information Systems Inc., San Leandro, CA). It is not expected that the molecules found in the search will necessarily be leads themselves, since a complete evaluation of all interactions will necessarily be made during the initial search. Rather, it is anticipated that such candidates might act as the framework for further design, providing molecular skeletons to which appropriate atomic replacements can be made. Of course, the chemical complimentary of these molecules can be evaluated, but it is expected that the scaffold, functional groups, linkers and/or monomers may be changed to maximize the electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme. Goodford (Goodford J e / Chem 28:849-857 (1985)) has produced a computer program, GRID, which seeks to determine regions of high affinity for different chemical groups (termed probes) on the molecular surface of the binding site. GRID hence provides a tool for suggesting modifications to known ligands that might enhance binding.

A range of factors, including electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, desolvation effects, conformational strain, and cooperative motions of ligand and enzyme, all influence the binding effect and should be taken into account in attempts to design bioactive inhibitors.

Yet another embodiment of a computer-assisted molecular design method for identifying inhibitors comprises searching for fragments which fit into a binding region subsite and link to a pre-defined scaffold. The scaffold itself may be identified in such a manner. Programs suitable for the searching of such functional groups and monomers include LUDI (Boehm, J Comp. Aid. Mol. Des. 6:61-78 (1992)), CAVEAT (Bartlett et al. in "Molecular Recognition in Chemical and Biological Problems", special publication of The Royal Chem. Soc, 78:182-196 (1989)) and MCSS (Miranker et al. Proteins 11: 29-34 (1991)).

Yet another embodiment of a computer-assisted molecular design method for identifying inhibitors of the subject phosphatase comprises the de novo synthesis of potential inhibitors by algorithmic connection of small molecular fragments that will exhibit the desired structural and electrostatic complementarity with the active site of the enzyme. The methodology employs a large template set of small molecules with are iteratively pieced together in a model of the Cdc25 active site. Programs suitable for this task include GROW (Moon et al Proteins 11:314-328 (1991)) and SPROUT (Gillet et al. J Comp. Aid. Mol. Des. 7:127 (1993)). In yet another embodiment, the suitability of inhibitor candidates can be determined using an empirical scoring function, which can rank the binding affinities for a set of inhibitors. For an example of such a method see Muegge et al. and references therein (Muegge et al, JMed. Chem. 42:791-804 (1999)). Other modeling techniques can be used in accordance with this invention, for example, those described by Cohen et al. (J. Med. Chem. 33: 883-894 (1994)); Navia et al. (Current Opinions in Structural Biology 2: 202-210 (1992)); Baldwin et al. (J Med. Chem. 32: 2510-2513 (1989)); Appelt et al. (J. Med. Chem. 34: 1925-1934 (1991)); and Ealick et al. (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 11540-11544 (1991)). A compound which is identified by one of the foregoing methods as a potential inhibitor of Cdc25 can then be obtained, for example, by synthesis or from a compound library, and assessed for the ability to inhibit Cdc25 in vitro. Such an in vitro assay can be performed as is known in the art, for example, by contacting Cdc25 in solution with the test compound in the presence of a substrate for Cdc25. The rate of substrate transformation can be determined in the presence of the test compound and compared with the rate in the absence of the test compound. Suitable assays for Cdc25 biological activity are described in U.S. Patents No. 5,861,249; 5,695,950; 5,443,962; and 5,294,538, the teachings of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. An inhibitor identified or designed by a method of the present invention can be a competitive inhibitor, an uncompetitive inhibitor or a noncompetitive inhibitor. A "competitive" inhibitor is one that inhibits Cdc25 activity by binding to the same kinetic form of Cdc25, as its substrate, thereby directly competing with the substrate for the active site of Cdc25. Competitive inhibition can be reversed completely by increasing the substrate concentration. An "uncompetitive" inhibitor inhibits Cdc25 by binding to a different kinetic form of the enzyme than the substrate. Such inhibitors bind to Cdc25 already bound with the substrate and not to the free enzyme. Uncompetitive inhibition cannot be reversed completely by increasing the substrate concentration. A "non-competitive" inhibitor is one that can bind to either the free or substrate bound form of Cdc25.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides Cdc25 inhibitors, and methods of use thereof, which are capable of binding to the catalytic domain of Cdc25, for example, compounds which are identified as inhibitors of at least one biological activity of Cdc25 or which are designed by the methods described above to inhibit at least one biological activity of Cdc25. For example, the invention includes compounds which interact with one or more, preferably two or more, and more preferably, three or more of Cdc25 subsites 1 to 16. In one embodiment, the Cdc25 inhibitor of the invention comprises a moiety or moieties positioned to interact with subsite 1, subsite 2 and at least one other subsite when present in the Cdc25 catalytic domain. For example, a functional group which can interact with subsite 1 can be a hydrogen bond acceptor, a hydrophobic moiety or a negatively charged group. Preferably, the functional group includes both a negatively charged group and a hydrophobic group. A functional group which can interact with subsite 2 can be a hydrogen bond donor, a hydrogen bond acceptor, a hydrophobic moiety, a negatively charged group or a positively charged group. In another embodiment, the Cdc25 inhibitor of the invention comprises functional groups positioned to interact with subsites 1, 2 and 3, and, optionally, one or more additional subsites.

The Cdc25 inhibitors of the invention also include compounds having functional groups positioned to interact with subsite 1 , subsite 3 and, optionally, one or more additional subsites. In another embodiment, the inhibitor has functional groups positioned to interact with subsite 1, subsite 3, subsite 4, and, optionally, one or more additional subsites.

In other embodiments, the Cdc25 inhibitors of the invention include compounds which have functional groups positioned to interact with the following groups of subsites, each of which can, optionally, include one or more additional subsites: subsites 1 and 5; subsites 1, 4 and 5; subsites 1, 5 and 6; subsites 1, 7 and/or 8; subsites 1, 2 and 9; subsites 1, 2, 4 and 9; subsites 1, 3 and 9; subsites 1, 3, 4 and 9. A moiety of the inhibitor compound is "positioned to interact" with a given subsite, if, when placed within the Cdc25 catalytic domain, as defined by the atomic coordinates presented in Fig. 15A to 15EE, the moiety is close enough to, and oriented properly relative to, the appropriate amino acid side chains within the subsite. As indicated in the description of the subsites above, several of subsites 1-16 can potentially interact with two or more types of moieties. For each of the subsites listed below the preferred type of interacting moiety possessed by the potential inhibitor is indicated. Subsite 1 : negative charged (Arg 479) and hydrophobic moiety (Glu 474, Phe 475, Ser 477, Glu 478)

Subsite 3: negative charged moiety (Arg 482; Arg 544)

Subsite 5: hydrophobic, preferably aromatic, moiety (Tyr 428; Glu 478; Arg 479; Met 531; Leu 540; Arg 544)

Subsite 8: hydrophobic, preferably alkyl, moiety (Glu 474; Phe 475; Met 531; Asn 532)

Subsite 11 : positive charged moiety (Glu 478)

Subsite 12: negative charged moiety (Lys 394)

Subsite 13: negative charged moiety (Arg 482) Subsite 14: negative charged moiety (Arg 544) Subsite 16: hydrophobic and hydrogen donor/acceptor (Asn 532)

A preferred Cdc25 inhibitor of the invention inhibits Cdc25 enzymatic acitivty with a Ki of at least about 1 mM, preferably at least about 100 μM and more preferably at least about 10 μM.

In a preferred embodiment, the Cdc25 inhibitor of the invention comprises two or more of the following when present at, or bound to, the Cdc25 catalytic domain

(a) a negatively charged functional group positioned to interact with Arg 479 of human Cdc25B; (b) a hydrogen bond donor or positively charged functional group positioned to interact with one or more of Cys 426, Tyr 428, Pro 444, Glu 446 and Thr 547 of human Cdc25B; (c) a hydrogen bond acceptor or a negatively charged functional group positioned to interact with one or more of Tyr 428, Arg 482 and Arg 544 of human Cdc25B; (d) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Leu 445, Glu 446, Arg 479, Met 483, Thr 547 and Arg 548; (e) a negatively charged functional group positioned to interact with one or more of Arg 482 and Arg 544 of human Cdc25B; (f) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Glu 478, Arg 479, Met 531 and Arg 544 of human Cdc25B; (g) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Tyr 428, Glu 478, Arg 479, Met 531, Leu 540, and Arg 544 of human Cdc25B; (h) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Phe 475, Met 531, Asn 532 and Leu 540 of human Cdc25B; (i) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Phe 475 and Ser 477 of human Cdc25B; (j) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Glu 474, Phe 475, Met 531 and Asn 532 of human Cdc25B; (k) a hydrophobic moiety positioned to interact with one or more of Tyr 428, Met 531, Lys 537, Lys 541, Leu 540 and Arg 544 of human Cdc25B; (1) a hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor positioned to interact with Ser 477 of human Cdc25B; (m) a hydrogen bond donor or positively charged functional group positioned to interact with Glu 478 of human Cdc25B; (n) a negatively charged functional group positioned to interact with Lys 394 of human Cdc25B; (o) a negatively charged functional group positioned to interact with Arg 482 of human Cdc25B; (p) a negatively charged functional group positioned to interact with Arg 544 of human Cdc25B; and (q) a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor positioned to interact with Asn 532 of human Cdc25B.

In preferred embodiments, the Cdc25 inhibitors of the invention comprise (a) and (e); (a) and at least one of (b), (c) and (d); (a), (e) and at least one of (b), (c) and (d); (a), (e) and (f); (a) and (g); (a), (f) and (g); (a), (g) and (h); (a) and at least one of (i) and (j); (a), (k) and at least one of (b), (c) and (d).

Preferred Cdc25 inhibitors of the invention comprise a peptide, peptide mimetic or other molecular scaffold or framework, to which the moieties and/or functional groups which interact with the Cdc25 subsites are attached, either directly or via an intervening moiety. The scaffold can be, for example, a peptide or peptide mimetic backbone, a cyclic or polycyclic moiety, such as a monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic moiety, and can include one or more hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic rings. The molecular scaffold presents the attached interacting moieties in the proper configuration or orientation for interaction with the appropriate residues of Cdc25. Starting with the crystal structure complex of Cdc25B/cdcl249, interactive modeling methods involving molecular graphics software were used to identify alternative binding modes for pentapeptides related to cdcl249. It was discovered that pentapeptides, with helical-like backbone conformations as observed in cdc 1249 in the crystal, could be accommodated in the binding site of Cdc25B slightly differently to that observed in the crystal structure, while still remaining in an energetically favorable binding mode. This alternative binding mode was obtained by rigid body rotations of the ligand relative to the protein and by rotating several torsion angles of the ligand. In the case of cdc 1249, the resultant binding mode has the backbone portion of the (HO₃S-CH₂)Phe residue tilted towards subsites 4 and 14 (Arg 544 in particular).

Starting with the alternative binding mode described above, small molecule inhibitors of Cdc25 were designed. These structures comprise (HO S-CH₂)Phe, positioned as in the alternative binding mode, and a short linker terminating with an acid moiety such that it forms strong interactions with Arg 544 (subsite 14). Additional hydrophobic groups, designed to pick up interactions with hydrophobic residues, which define subsites 9 and/or 2, connected to the linker region, were identified.

A range of candidate inhibitors, comprising (HO₃S-CH )Phe, a short linker, an acid at the terminus of the linker, and hydrophobic moieties attached to the linker, were designed, using the modeling methods described herein.

A preferred embodiment of the immediately foregoing inhibitors, is a Cdc25 inhibitor having functional groups positioned to interact with subsites 1, 4, 5, and 9, and, optionally, one or more additional subsites.

A preferred embodiment of the immediately foregoing inhibitors, instant application a Cdc25 inhibitor having functional groups positioned to interact with subsites 1, 4, 5, and 9, and, optionally, one or more additional subsites from the following group of subsites: 2, 3, 6, 11, 13, 14.

Information derived from the Cdc25B(ΔN8B)/cdcl249 crystal structure described above has been successfully used to produce a potent inhibitor of Cdc25A. Compound cdc 1671, shown below, inhibits Cdc25A with an IC₅₀ of 5 μM.

As discussed above, the cdcl249 molecule at the catalytic domain of Cdc25B adopts a "turn" conformation, in which the peptide backbone has a helical turn. Further, the structure shows that the two internal glutamyl residues of cdc 1249 do not interact significantly with residues of the catalytic domain. It was therefore reasoned that replacement of one glutamyl residue with a substituted or unsubstituted prolyl or dehydroprolyl residue, which would stabilize the "turn" conformation, would result in a more potent inhibitor. To test this idea, compound cdc 1763, shown below, was synthesized. This compound inhibits Cdc25A with an IC₅₀ of 2.2 μM, a two-fold increase in potency compared to cdcl671.

Furthermore, the first glutamyl residue could be replaced by a neutral amino acid such as the tert. butyl ester of glutamic acid itself or neutral amino acids such as norvaline or norleucine, thus changing the physicochemical properties of the peptide. The following pentapeptides, cdcl719, cdc 1748 and cdc 1749 were prepared and they have IC₅₀ values comparable to or better than cdcl679 (1.1 μM, 2.5 μM, 1.5 μM against Cdc25A respectively).

In a preferred embodiment, the Cdc25 inhibitor of the invention is of Formula I,

Rι-Al-A2-A3-A4-R₂ (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, or a combination thereof, where R, is R₃-CO, RtR₅N-CO, R₆-SO₂, R₇R₈NSO₂, wherein R₃, R4 , R₅, R₆, R₇ and R₈, are independently of each other, hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, E- or Z-aryl-C -C₄-alkenyl or aryl-C₂-C₄-alkinyl. Suitable alkyl substituents include hydrogen, hydroxy, Cι_-6alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, halogen, amino, Cι_-6alkylamino, di-Cι_-6alkylamino, Cι_-6alkyl-CO-NH, substituted and unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted and unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

An aryl group can be, for example, a phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, fluorenyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyridinonyl, furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyrrolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzofuranyl, benzodihydrofuranyl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl or dibenzofuranyl group. Substituted aryl groups can be, for example, mono-, di- or trisubstituted and suitable substituents can be independently selected from C_1-6alkyl, halo, hydroxy, C_1-6alkyl amino, di- . ₆alkyl amino, Cι_-6alkoxy, Cι_-6alkylthio, Cι_-6alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, benzylcarbonyl, Cι_-6alkyl-sulfonyl, Cι_-6alkyl-sulfonyl-amino, C_1-6alkyl-carbonyl- amino, carboxyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl, carboxylalkenyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl alkenyl, Cι_-6alkylcarbamoyl, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl and oxytrifluoromethyl. Suitable cycloalkyl groups include substituted and unsubstituted C_3-8- cycloalkyl, adamantyl, bicyclooct[3.3.0]-yl. Examples of suitable heterocycloalkyl groups include substituted and unsubstiuted pyrrolidmyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, pyrrolidinonyl and morpholinyl. Suitable substituents on the cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl group include one or more of , for example, Cι_-6alkyl, halo, hydroxy, C_1-6alkyl amino, di-Cι_-6alkyl amino, Cι_-6alkoxy, Cι_-6alkylthio and C_]-6alkylcarbonyl.

R₄ and R₅ or R₇ and R₈ can also form together a four to seven-membered ring. R₃-CO can be further an amino acid residue of the formula R -CO-G where R is hydrogen, Cι_-6alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, benzyloxy or C_1-6alkoxy and G is an Asp, Asn, Pro, Ala, Val, Lys , Gly , Arg, He, Ser, Thr, Leu, Tip, Cys, Tyr, Met, Gin, Glu , Phe or His residue.

Al is an amino acid residue of the general formula II where Rio is hydrogen

or Cι_-6alkyl; R is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; n is 0, 1 or 2; and X is SO₃H, SO NRι₂Rι , CH₂-SO₃H, CF₂-SO₃H, CH₂-SO₂NRι₂Rι₃, CF₂-SO₂NR₁₂R_n, where R₁₂ and Rι₃ are independently hydrogen, Cι_-6alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, benzyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl or oxazolyl; or where Rι₂ is hydrogen, Rι₃ can also be hydroxy, Cι_-6-alkoxy, Cι_-6-alkylcarbonyl or substituted or unsubstituted benzoyl; or X is PO₃H₂, CH₂PO₃H₂, CF₂-PO₃H₂, OCH₂PO₃H₂, COOH, CH₂COOH, CF₂CO₂H, OCH₂CO₂H, OCF₂CO₂H, OCH(CO₂H) ₂, O-CF(CO₂H) ₂, NH-SO₂-Rι₄, wherein R_i4 is Cι_-6alkyl, benzyl or phenyl; or X is NH-CO-COO-R[₅, wherein R_{] 5} is Cι_-6alkyl, benzyl or phenyl. Preferably, X is at the 3 or 4 position of the phenyl ring. Z is hydrogen, Cι_-6alkyl, halo, hydroxy, C]_-6alkyl amino, di-Cι_-6alkylamino, Cι_-6alkoxy, Cι.₆alkylthio, Cμ ₆alkylcarbonyl, halogen-substituted Cι_-6alkylcarbonyl, formyl, phenylcarbonyl, benzylcarbonyl, Cι_-6alkyl-sulfonyl, C_1-6alkyl-sulfonyl-amino , carboxyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl, carboxylalkenyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl alkenyl, Cι_-6alkylcarbamoyl, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, oxytrifluoromethyl, or -(CH )_m-NRι₆Rι , wherein m is 0, 1 or 2 and Ri₆ and R₁ are independently of each other selected from hydrogen, C_1-6alkyl, Ci. ₆alkyl-carbonyl, amino-C_2-6alkyl, Cι_-6alkyl-amino-C_2-6alkyl, di-Cι.₆alkyl-amino-C - ₆alkyl, hydroxy-C_2-6alkyl, Ci-_όalkoxy-Ci-_όalkyl, aryl-C_0-6alkyl, C_3-8cycloalkyl-C_0-6alkyl and heterocycloalkyl-C₀-₆alkyl. Aryl, cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl are as described above for R₃, R* and R₅. A2 is an amino acid residue of the formula III

where Rig is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; Rι₉ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; and R ₀ is the side chain of the amino acid Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, He, Nva, Nle, Asp, Glu, Lys, Asn, Gin, Phe, His, homoleucine, Glu(Cι_-6alkyl), Asp(Cι_-6alkyl), Lys(Boc). R₂₀ can also be - (CH )₀-COOR₂ι with o= 3-5 and R₂ι is hydrogen or Ci-_όalkyl. Rι₉ and R₂₀ can also form, together with the α-carbon, a three to seven-membered carbocyclic ring system. Rι₈ and R₂₀ can also form, together with the nitrogen atom and α-carbon, a four to seven-membered heterocyclic ring system. A2 can, for example, be thioprolyl, dehydroprolyl or substituted or unsubstituted prolyl, for example, mono- or disubstituted prolyl, wherein the substituents are independently of each other hydrogen, Cι_-6alkyl, phenyl, hydroxy and Cι_-6alkoxy. Rι₈ and R₂₀ can also form a bicyclic eight to twelve-membered nitrogen-containing ring system such as isoindolinyl, octahydroindolyl or dihydroindolyl.

In preferred embodiments, A2 is aspartyl or an ester thereof; glutamyl or an ester thereof; α-amino adipic acid or an ester thereof; valyl, norvalyl or leucyl. A3 is an amino acid of the general formula IV,

where R has the meaning stated above for R₁₈ in Formula III, R₂₃ has the meaning stated for Rι in Formula III and R₂₄ has the meaning stated above for R₂₀ in Formula III.

In preferred embodiments, A3 is aspartyl or an ester thereof; glutamyl or an ester thereof; α-amino adipic acid or an ester thereof; valyl, norvalyl or leucyl; or R₂₃ and R together form a three to seven-membered ring; or R₂₂ and R₂₄, together with the nitrogen atom, form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle. For example R₃ can be prolyl or substituted prolyl, such as 2-methyιprolyl, 3-methylprolyl, 5- phenylprolyl, 3-hydroxyprolyl, 3-tert-butoxyprolyl, 3,3-dimethylprolyl; dehydroprolyl, isoindolyl, octahydroindolyl or dihydroindolyl.

A4 is an amino acid of the general formula V

where R₂₅ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; R₂₆ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; R is -(CH₂)_P- (CH(R₂₈))_q-aryl; p is 0, 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2 and R₂₈ is hydrogen or methyl.

Suitable aryl groups include substituted and unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, fluorenyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyridinonyl, furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyrrolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzofuranyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, benzodihydrofuranyl, quinazoline, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, dibenzofuranyl. Suitable substituents for the aryl groups include hydrogen, Cι_-6alkyl, halo, hydroxy, Cι.₆alkyl amino, di-Cι_-6alkyl amino, Cι_-6alkoxy, Cι_-6alkylthio, C_\. 6alkylcarbonyl, halogen-substituted Cι_-6alkylcarbonyl, formyl-, phenylcarbonyl, benzylcarbonyl, C_1-6alkyl-sulfonyl, Ci-_όalkyl-sulfonyl-amino, carboxyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl, carboxylalkenyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl alkenyl, Cι_-6alkylcarbamoyl, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, oxytrifluoromethyl, aryl, Y-(CH₂)_s-C _-8-cycloalkyl, Y-(CH₂)_S- aryl, where Y is O, S, NH and s is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Y-(CH₂)_U-R₂₉ where Y is O, NH, or S, u is 2 to 6 and R₂₉ is OH, CH₂-OH, NH₂ or NH(C=NH)NH₂; Y-(CH₂)_V-R₃₀ where Y is O, NH or S, v is 1- 6 and R₃₀ is COC,_-6alkyl, COOH or CONH₂; Y -(CH=CH) -R₃ι, where R₃ι is COCι_-6alkyl, COOH, CONH₂ or phenyl. Suitable aryl groups within the foregoing substituents include substituted and unsubstituted phenyl, pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl and oxazolyl, which can be independently substituted by one or more of hydroxy, amino, carboxyl, carboxamide, halo, hydroxy, Cι_-6alkyl amino, di-Cι_-6alkyl amino, Ci. ₆alkoxy, Cι-₆alkylthio, C_1-6alkylcarbonyl, Y-(CH₂)_t-heterocycloalkyl, where Y is O, S or NH and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3, and the heterocycloalkyl group is selected from the group consisting of morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl, N-substituted piperazinyl, piperidinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, and pyrrolidinonyl. In a preferred embodiment, R₂ is an aryl group selected from substtuted and unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl, such as 1 -naphthyl, and benzothienyl, such as 3-benzothienyl. R₂ is NR₃₂R₃₃, where R₃₂ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; and R ₃ is (CH₂)_W-W-

(CH₂)_X-V, where W is a single bond, wherein the sum of w and x is 1 to 6, or, where w is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and x is 0, 1, 2 or 3, W can be aryl or aryl-T, where T is O, S or NH. Suitable aryl groups include substituted and unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl and pyrimidyl. W can also be C_3-8cycloalkyl, where w is 0, 1 , 2 or 3 and x is 0, 1, 2 or 3. V is COOR₃₄ where R₃₄ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; or V is COCi. ₆alkyl, CONH₂, SO₃H or NO₂.

R₂ can also be an amino acid A5 of Formula VI

where R₃₅ is hydrogen or C_1-6alkyl; R₃₆ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; R₃ is the side chain of the amino acid Asp, Asn, Glu, Gin, Asp (Cι_-6alkyl), Glu(Cι_-6alkyl) or (CH₂)_y- COOR₄₂ where y is 3, 4 or 5; and R ₂ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; or R₃ is (CH₂)_Z- CONP _OR^, where z is 1 to 5 and R ₀ and R₄ι are independently, hydrogen or Cι-₆- alkyl, or R ₀, ₄₁ and the nitrogen atom together form a 5- to 8-member heterocycle; or R₃₇ is (CH₂)_a-SO₃H, where a is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; or (CH₂)_b-tetrazolyl where b is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; or R₃₇ is (CH₂)d-phenyl-(CH₂)e-COOR₄3 where d is 0 to 2, e is 0 to 2 and R« is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; or R₃₇ is (CH₂)_d-phenyl-(CH₂)_e-CONR₄ R₄₅ wherein d is 0 to 2 and e is 0 to 2 and R₄ and R₄₅ are independently hydrogen, C_1-6alkyl or R^ and R ₅ and the nitrogen atom together form a 5 to 8-member heterocycle. Preferably, R₃₇ is the side chain of aspartic acid or glutamic acid; (CH₂)_y-COOR₄₂ wherein y is 3 to 5 and R₄₂ is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl; or -phenyl-(CH₂)_e-COOR₄₃, wherein e is 0, 1 or 2 and _t3 is hydrogen or Cι_-6alkyl. U is hydroxy, C_1-6alkoxy or NR₃₈R₃ , where R₃₈ and R₃₉ are, independently of each other, hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted

alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl. Suitable alkyl substituents include hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, substituted and unsubstituted aryl and substituted and unsubstituted cycloalkyl. The aryl group can be selected from substituted and unsubstituted phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, fluorenyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyridinonyl, furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyrrolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, dibenzo furanyl. Suitable aryl substituents are independently, Cι.₆alkyl, halo, hydroxy, Ci-_όalkyl amino, di-C]_-6alkyl amino, Cι-6alkoxy, Cι_-6alkylthio, Cι_-6alkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, benzylcarbonyl, Cι_-6alkyl-sulfonyl, C].₆alkyl-sulfonyl-amino,Cι_-6alkyl-carbonyl- amino, carboxyl, O- Cι_-6alkylcarboxyl, carboxylalkenyl, O- Cι_-6alkyl carboxyl alkenyl, Cι_-6alkylcarbamoyl, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl and oxytrifluoromethyl. Suitable cycloalkyl groups include C_3-8-cycloalkyl, adamantyl and bicyclooctyl. Preferably, U is OH or NHR₃₈ , wherein R₃₈ is tert. butyl, isopropyl, 2,4-dimethylpent-3-yl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, or bicyclooct[3.3.0]yl; or R₃₈ and R₃ , together with the nitrogen atom, form a pyrrolidmyl or piperazinyl ring.

In one subset of compounds of Formula I, R₂ is (CH₂)_w-W-(CH₂)_x-COOR₃₄, wherein W is a single bond, phenyl or C₆-cycloalkyl.

By the terms "amino acid residue" and "peptide residue" is meant an amino acid or peptide molecule without the -OH of its carboxyl group (C-terminally linked) or the proton of its amino group (N-terminally linked). In general the abbreviations used herein for designating the amino acids and the protective groups are based on recommendations of the rUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (see Biochemistry (1972) 11:1726-1732). For instance Met, He, Leu, Ala and Gly represent "residues" of methionine, isoleucine, leucine, alanine and glycine, respectively. By the residue is meant a radical derived from the corresponding α-amino acid by eliminating the OH portion of the carboxyl group and the H portion of the α-amino group. The term "amino acid side chain" is that part of an amino acid exclusive of the -CH(NH2)COOH portion, as defined by K. D. Kopple, "Peptides and Amino Acids".

W. A. Benjamin Inc., New York and Amsterdam, 1966, pages 2 and 33; examples of such side chains of the common amino acids are -CH2CH2SCH3 (the side chain of methionine), -CH(CH3 CH2CH3 (the side chain of isoleucine), -CH2CH(CH3)2 (the side chain of leucine) or H-(the side chain of glycine). For the most part, the amino acids used in the application of this invention are those naturally occurring amino acids found in proteins, or the naturally occurring anabolic or catabolic products of such amino acids which contain amino and carboxyl groups. Particularly suitable amino acid side chains include side chains selected from those of the following amino acids: glycine, alanine, valine, cysteine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, lysine, arginine, proline, histidine, phenylalanme, tyrosine, and tryptophan. However, the term amino acid residue further includes analogs, derivatives and congeners of any specific amino acid referred to herein. For example, the present invention contemplates the use of amino acid analogs wherein a side chain is lengthened or shortened while still providing a carboxyl, amino or other reactive precursor functional group for cyclization, as well as amino acid analogs having variant side chains with appropriate functional groups). For instance, the subject peptido- mimetic can include an amino acid analog as for example, α-cyanoalanine, canavanine, djenkolic acid, norleucine, 3-phosphoserine, homoserine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, 1-methylhistidine, or 3- methylhistidine. Other naturally occurring amino acid metabolites or precursors having side chains which are suitable herein will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are included in the scope of the present invention. Also included are the D and L stereoisomers of such amino acids when the structure of the amino acid admits of stereoisomeric forms. The configuration of the amino acids and amino acid residues herein are designated by the appropriate symbols D, L or DL, furthermore when the configuration is not designated the amino acid or residue can have the configuration D, L or DL. It will be noted that the structure of some of the compounds of this invention includes asymmetric carbon atoms. It is to be understood accordingly that the isomers arising from such asymmetry are included within the scope of this invention. Such isomers are obtained in substantially pure form by classical separation techniques and by sterically controlled synthesis and have arbitrarily been named, for example, as isomers #1 or #2. For the purposes of this application, unless expressly noted to the contrary, a named amino acid shall be construed to include both the D or L stereoisomers, preferably the L stereoisomer. The phrase "protecting group" as used herein means temporary substituents which protect a potentially reactive functional group from undesired chemical transformations. Examples of such protecting groups include esters of carboxylic acids, silyl ethers of alcohols, and acetals and ketals of aldehydes and ketones, respectively. The field of protecting group chemistry has been reviewed (Greene, T.W.; Wuts, P.G.M. Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3^nd ed.; Wiley: New York, 1999; and Kocienski, P.J. Protecting Groups, Georg Thieme Verlag: New York, 1994).

The phrase "N-terminal protecting group" or "amino-protecting group" as used herein refers to various amino-protecting groups which can be employed to protect the N-terminus of an amino acid or peptide against undesirable reactions during synthetic procedures. Examples of suitable groups include acyl protecting groups such as, to illustrate, formyl, dansyl, acetyl, benzoyl, trifluoroacetyl, succinyl and methoxysuc- cinyl; aromatic urethane protecting groups as, for example, carbonylbenzyloxy (Cbz); and aliphatic urethane protecting groups such as t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) or 9-Fluor- enylmethoxycarbonyl (FMOC). Peptidomimetics of the present invention which have sidechain or azepine ring substituents which include amino groups -such as where R3 is a lysine or arginine, or where Rg, R\, R2 or Y comprise a free amino group, can optionally comprise suitable N-terminal protecting groups attached to the sidechains. The phrase "C-terminal protecting group" or "carboxyl-protecting group" as used herein refers to those groups intended to protect a carboxylic acid group, such as the C-terminus of an amino acid or peptide. Benzyl or other suitable esters or ethers are illustrative of C-terminal protecting groups known in the art

In addition to a variety of sidechain replacements which can be carried out to generate the subject peptidomimetics, the present invention specifically contemplates the use of conformationally restrained mimics of peptide secondary structure or mimetics, which are not-cleavable by hydrolytic enzymes. Numerous surrogates have been developed for the amide bond of peptides. Frequently exploited surrogates for the amide bond include the following groups (i) trans-olefins, (ii) fluoroalkene, (iii) methylene-oxy, (iv) methylene-amino, (v) methylene-thio, (vi) dihydroxyethylene, (vii) phosphonamides, (viii) sulfonamides and (ix) ketomethylene

trans-olefine fluoro-olefine methylene-oxy

methylene-amino methylene-thio dihydroxyethylene

phosphoramidone sulfonamide ketomethylene

Additionally, peptidomimietics based on more substantial modifications of the backbone of the peptide can be used. Peptidomimetics which fall in this category include (i) retro-inverso analogs, and (ii) N-alkyl glycine analogs (so-called peptoids).

Furthermore, the methods of combinatorial chemistry are being brought to bear, e.g., by G.L. Verdine at Harvard University, on the development of new peptidomimetics. For example, one embodiment of a so-called "peptide morphing" strategy focuses on the random generation of a library of peptide analogs that comprise a wide range of peptide bond substitutes.

In an exemplary embodiment, the peptidomimetic can be derived as a retro- inverso analog of the peptide. Such retro-inverso analogs can be made according to the methods known in the art, such as that described by the Sisto et al. U.S. Patent 4,522,752. Retro-enantio analogs such as this can be synthesized from commercially available D-amino acids (or analogs thereof) and standard solid- or solution-phase peptide-synthesis techniques. For example, in a preferred solid-phase synthesis method, a suitably amino-protected (fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl, Fmoc) D-_AI residue (or analog thereof) is covalently bound to a solid support such as chlortrityl chloride resin. The resin is washed with diemthylformamide, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol, and the Fmoc protecting group removed by treatment with piperidine in DCM. The resin is washed and neutralized, and the next Fmoc-protected D-amino acid (D-A2) is introduced by coupling with diisopropylcarbodiimide. The resin is again washed, and the cycle repeated for each of the remaining amino acids in turn (D- A3, D-A4, etc). When synthesis of the protected retro-enantio peptide is complete, the protecting groups are removed and the peptide cleaved from the solid support by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid. The final product is purified by HPLC to yield the pure retro-enantio analog. In still another illustrative embodiment, trans-olefm derivatives can be made for the subject polypeptide. For example, an exemplary olefin analog is derived for the illustrative pentapeptide:

2-EtO-Naphthyl-CO-Smp-NH-CH(CH3)-CH=CH-CH(CH₃)-CO-Phe-Glu-NHtBu The trans olefin analog of the pentapeptide can be synthesized according to the method of Y.K. Shue et al. (Tetrahedron Letters, 28: 3225 (1987)). Referring to the illustrated example, Boc-amino L-Ala is converted to the conesponding α-amino aldehyde, which is treated with a vinylcuprate to yield a diastereomeric mixture of alcohols, which are carried on together. The allylic alcohol is acetylated with acetic anhydride in pyridine, and the olefin is cleaved with osmium tetroxide/sodium periodate to yield the aldehyde, which is condensed with the Wittig reagent derived from a protected alanine precursor, to yield the allylic acetate. The allylic acetate is selectively hydrolyzed with sodium carbonate in methanol, and the allylic alcohol is treated with triphenylphosphme and carbon tetrabromide to yield the allylic bromide. This compound is reduced with zinc in acetic acid to give the transposed trans olefin as a mixture of diastereomers at the newly formed center. The diastereomers are separated and the pseudodipeptide is obtained by selective transfer hydrogenolysis to unveil the free carboxylic acid. Other synthetic approaches to trans olefin building block are described by J.S. Wai et al, (Tetrahedron Letters 36: 3461 (1995)), T. Ikuba et al. (J. Org. Chem. 56: 4370 (1991)) and J.A. McKinney (Tetrahedron Letters 35: 5985 (1994)).

The pseudodipeptide in its Fmoc-portected form is then coupled instead of A2 and A3 in the sequence. Other pseudodipeptides can be made by the method set forth above merely by substitution of the appropriate starting Boc amino acid and Wittig reagent. Variations in the procedure may be necessary according to the nature of the reagents used, but any such variations will be purely routine and will be obvious to one of skill in the art. It is further possible to couple the pseudodipeptides synthesized by the above method to other pseudodipeptides, to make peptide analogs with several olefinic functionalities in place of amide functionalities. For example, pseudodipeptides corresponding to Fmoc-protected Glu- Ala or Tyr-Glu, etc. could be made and then coupled together by standard techniques to yield an analog of the pentapeptide which has alternating olefinic bonds between residues.

Still another class of peptidomimetic derivatives includes the phosphonate derivatives. The synthesis of such phosphonate derivatives can be adapted from known synthesis schemes. See, for example, Loots et al. in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, (Escom Science Publishers, Leiden, 1988, p. 118); Petrillo et al. in Peptides: Structure and Function (Proceedings of the 9th American Peptide Symposium, Pierce Chemical Co. Rockland, IL, 1985).

Other peptidomimetic structures are known in the art and can be readily adapted for use in the subject peptidomimetics. They would replace two adjacent amino acids in the general formula, preferrably the amino acid sequence A2-A3. The synthetic procedures to incorporate this peptidomimetics are similar to the usual peptide synthesis. The Fmoc-protected form of the peptidomimetic is used instead of the corresponding two amino acid in the build-up of the sequence from the C- terminus. Peptidomimetics PM-1 to PM-18, shown below, can be coupled under the usual peptide coupling conditions providing structures such as Rl-Al-(PM-x)-A4-R2 with x is 1 to 18

In one embodiment, the invention provides compounds of Formula I in which A2 and A3 together form a peptidomimetic residue selected from (a) 6-amino- 5-oxoperhydropyrido[2,l-b][l,3]thiazole-3-carboxylic acid, preferably (R,S,S)- 6- amino-5-oxoperhydropyrido[2,l-b][l,3]thiazole-3-carboxylic acid (PM-1); (b) 6- amino-5-oxoperhydro-3-indolizinecarboxylic acid, preferably (S,S,S)- 6-amino-5- oxoperhydro-3-indolizinecarboxylic acid (PM-2); (c) (S, R)- 6-amino-5-oxoperhydro- 8a-indolizinecarboxylic acid or (i?, ?)-6-amino-5-oxoperhydro-8a-indolizine carboxylic acid (PM-3); (d) (R, S)- 6-amino-5-oxoperhydro-8a-indolizinecarboxylic acid or (S,S)-6-amino-5-oxoperhydro-8a-indolizinecarboxylic acid (PM-4); (e) 2-(3- amino-2-oxo-l,2-dihydro-l-pyridinyl)acetic acid (PM-5); (f) 2-(3-amino-2-oxo-6- phenyl-l,2-dihydro-l-pyridinyl)acetic acid (PM-6); (g) 3-amino benzoic acid (PM-7); (h) 4-aminobenzoic acid (PM-8); (i) 3-aminomethyl benzoic acid (PM-9-1); (j) (S)-3- (l-aminoethyl)benzoic acid or (i?)-3-(l-aminoethyl)benzoic acid (PM-9-2); (k) (S)-3- (1-aminopropyl) benzoic acid or (R)- 3-(l-aminopropyl) benzoic acid PM-9-3); (1) (S)- 3-(l-aminobutyl) benzoic acid or (i?J-3-(l-aminobutyl) benzoic acid (PM-9-4); (m) 2-(3-amino-2-oxo-l-azepanyl)acetic acid, preferably (S)-2-(3-amino-2-oxo-l- azepanyl)acetic acid (PM-10); (n) 2-[8-(aminomethyl)-3,6-dimethyl-9,10,10-trioxo- 9,10-dihydro-10λ⁶-thioxanthen-l-yl]acetic acid (PM-11); (o) 2-(2-oxopiperazino) acetic acid (PM-12); (p) 2-[8-(aminomethyl)-2-oxo-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-lH-l,4- benzodiazepin-1-yl] acetic acid (PM-13-1); (q) 2-[8-(aminomethyl)-2-oxo-5-methyl- 2,3-dihydro-lH-l,4-benzodiazepin-l-yl]acetic acid (PM-13-2); (r) 3-aminopropanoic acid (PM-14); (s)4-aminobutanoic acid (PM-15); (t) 5-aminopentanoic acid (PM-16); (u) 2-[2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid (PM-17); and (v) 2-(3-amino-2-oxo- 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-lH-l-benzazepin-l-yl)acetic acid, preferably (S)- 2-(3-amino-2- oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-lH-l-benzazepin-l-yl)acetic acid.

R =H PM-5 PM-7 PM-8 PM-9 R= Ph PM-6

PM-10 PM-11 PM-12

PM-17 PM-18 The peptidomimetic residues are shown here in similar way as the "amino acid residue" or "peptide residue" has been defined before. The term "peptidomimetic residue" means without the -OH of its carboxyl group (C-terminally linked) or the proton of its amino group (N-terminally linked). Some of the peptidomimetics are commercially available in their acid form with or without protection of the amino group such as PM-1, PM-7, PM-8, PM-10, PM-14, 15 and 16. Synthesis of the different peptidomimetics are described for PM 5 and 6 by P.D. Edwards et al. (J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 1112) and by F.J. Brown et al. (J. Med. Chem. 1994, 37, 1259), for PM 3 and 4 by J. D. Gramberg et al. (Tetrahedron Letters 1994, 35, 861), for PM2 by H.-G. Lombart et al (J.Org. Chem. 61: 9437 (1996)), for PM-12 by A. Pohlmann et al. (J.Org. Chem. 62: 1016 (1997)), for PM-9 by L. Chen et al. (Tetrahedron Letters 36: 8715 (1995)), for PM-17 by A.M.P. Koskinen (Biorg. & Med. Chem. Lett. 5: 573 (1995)), for PM-13 by W.C. Ripka et al. (Tetrahedron 49: 3593 (1993)), for PM-11 by M. Sato et al. (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 187: 199 (1992)) and for PM-1 by U. Nagai (Tetrahedron Letters 26: 647 (1985)). The peptidomimetic may incorporate the l-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane surrogate (see Kim et al, J. Org. Chem. 62: 2847 (1997)), or an N-acyl piperazic acid (see Xi et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120: 80 (1998)), or a 2- substituted piperazine moiety as a constrained amino acid analogue (see Williams et al, J. Med. Chem. 39: 1345-1348 (1996)). In still other embodiments, certain amino acid residues can be replaced with aryl and bi-aryl moieties, e.g., monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic nucleus, or a biaromatic, aromatic-heteroaromatic, or biheteroaromatic nucleus.

The subject peptidomimetics can be optimized by, e.g., combinatorial synthesis techniques combined with such high throughput screening as described herein. Moreover, other examples of mimetopes include, but are not limited to, protein-based compounds, carbohydrate-based compounds, lipid-based compounds, nucleic acid-based compounds, natural organic compounds, synthetically derived organic compounds, anti-idiotypic antibodies and/or catalytic antibodies, or fragments thereof. Numerous efficient methods for the synthesis of racemic unnatural amino acids have been described in literature. The Strecker synthesis involves the reaction of an aldehdye with ammonia or with a substituted primary amine and hydrogen cyanide to form an alpha-amino nitrile which is hydrolyzed to the corresponding amino acid (Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemise Vol. 11/2, p. 305 (1958)). The condensation of an amine Rι-NH₂, an aldehyde R₂CHO, an acid R₃-COOH and an isocyanide R -NC (the Ugi reaction), is a general method of prepraring racemic amino acids of the type (R₃-CO)NR]-CHR₂-CO-NHR₃ (Ugi et al, Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1967, 709, 1; I. Ugi et al. Angew,. Chem. Int. ed. 1962, 1, 8). Solid phase versions of the Ugi reaction have been described (Strocker et al, Tetrahedron Letters 37: 1149 (1996); Zhang et al, Tetrahedron Letters 37: 751 (1996); Tempest et al, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 35: 640 (1996); Sutherlin et al, J. Org. Chem. 61: 8350 (1996); Short et al, Tetrahedron Letters 37: 7489 (1996)). Furthermore, racemic amino acids can be prepared by deprotonation of (N-diphenylmethylene)glycine derivatives with strong bases such as sodium hydride or lithium diisopropylamide and reaction of the anion with corresponding alkylating agents, for example substituted bromomethylphenyl- derivatives or bromomethylnaphthyl-derivatives. Protection (Fmoc, Cbz, Boc, Alloc) or acylation of the amino moiety and subsequent hydrolysis affords the corresponding amino acid derivatives. An illustrative example to the building blocks (Rι-CO-(2-Br)- Smp-OH and R,-CO-(2-CHO)-Smp-OH) is shown in scheme I:

Scheme I

LDA, THF, DMPU

stannane

Another route to amino acids consists of reacting the anion of (N- diphenylmethylene)-glycine derivatives with aldehydes, hydrogenation of thus obtained dehydroamino acids yields the racemic amino acids. Furthermore, hydroxy napthyl alanine derivatives have been prepared by Vela et al. (J. Org. Chem. 55: 2913 (1990)). The Wittig reaction or its Horner-Emmons-modification of an alpha- phosphoryl-glycine derivatives with aldehydes can be used to synthesize the corresponding dehydroamino acids as described by Ciattini (Ciattini et al, Synthesis 2: 140 (1988)) and Shin (Shin et al, Tetrahedron Lett. 28: 3827 (1987); Shin, et al, Chem. Pharm. Bull. 38: 2020 (1990)).

Hydrogenation of the dehydro amino acid derivatives with metal catalysts such as palladium on carbon, phosphine or amine complexes of rhodium, ruthenium or palladium gives the racemic amino acid derivatives. By using chiral compounds as metal ligands, amino acids can be obtained in high enantiomeric excesses as described in I. Ojima, "Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis", Verlag Chemie, 1993, chapter 1, p.6 and R. Noyori, "Asymmetric Catalysis in Organic Synthesis", John Wiley, 1994, chapter 2, p.16. For example, the synthesis of D- and L-alpha aminoadipate, pimelate and suberate have been described by T. Pham et al (J. Org. Chem. 59: 3676 (1994)). Furthermore, methods for preparation of optically active alpha-amino acids can be found in R.M. Williams, "Synthesis of active alpha-amino acids" Pergamon Press, 1989, and in L.M. O'Donnell "alpha-amino acid synthesis", Tetrahedron symposia-in- print, 44: 5253 (1988). Thus, syntheses of chiral amino acids can be achieved by using chiral glycine derivatives in a similar way as described above. The final chiral amino acid is obtained after removal or cleavage of the chiral auxiliaries. Depending on the chiral auxiliary, either the D or the L-amino acid can be obtained in high enantiomeric excess. Preferred methods are the method described by U. Schoellkopf (Schoellkopfet α/., n,gew, Chem. Int. Ed. 18: 863 (1979); Schoellkopf et al, Angew, Chem. Int. Ed. 20: 798 (1981); Schoellkopf et al, Synthesis, 969 (1981); Schoellkopf et al, Synthesis, 866 (1982); Schoellkopf et al, Synthesis, 861 (1982); Schoellkopf et al, Synthesis, 37 (1983); Schoellkopf et al, Synthesis, 271 (1984)) the methods described by R. M. Williams using the 5,6-diphenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-l,4-oxazin- 2-one template (Williams et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113: 9276 (1991); Williams et al, Tetrahedron Letters 29: 6075 (1988); Solas et al, J. Org. Chem. 61: 1537 (1996); Williams et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110: 1547 (1988); Williams et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110: 482 (1988); Williams et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108: 1103 (1986)), the methods described by D. Seebach (Fitzi et al, Tetrahedron 44: 5277 (1988), Seebach et al, Liebigs Ann. Chem., 1215 (1989); Schickli et al, Liebigs Ann. Chem., 1323 (1991); Seebach et al, Liebigs Ann. Chem., 1145 (1992); Mueller et al, Helv. Chim. Acta, 75: 855 (1992); Seebach et al, Angew. Chem. 105: 1780 (1993)); and the method described by A. Myers (Myers et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. Ill: 8488 (1995); Myers et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119: 656 (1997)). An illustrative example, the syntheses of Fmoc-(6-OH)-Nal-OH or Fmoc-(7- OH)Nal-OH, is shown in scheme II.

Scheme II:

LιN(TMS)₂, DMPU

Another route is the electrophilic amination of chiral enolates and subsequent hydrolysis of the chiral auxiliaries as exemplified by D. Evans (D.Evans et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112: 4011 (1990); D. Evans et al, Tetrahedron 44: 5525 (1988)). Alpha, alpha-disubstituted amino acid derivatives can be obtained by methods described by D. Seebach (Seebach et al, Liebigs Ann. Chem., 211 (1995); Seebach et al, Tetrahedron Letters, 25: 2545 (1984)).

Chiral amino acids are also obtained by resolution of racemic amino acid esters by enzyme-catalyzed acylation as described by Stuermer et al. (BASF AG) Ger. Offen., DE 19727517.

The amino acids obtained by the above methods can be further modified or transformed using standard organic reactions, such as reductive ammation, alkylation, esterification, etherification, Mitsunobu reaction, performed with the amino acid in suitable protected form (for example with Boc, Fmoc, Alloc, Cbz) or in a peptidyl environment such as the penta- and tefrapetidyl intermediate, obtained in routes 1 to 4 as described below. The modification or transformation reaction can be carried out in solution or with the amino acid or the peptide derivative bound to a suitable solid phase. For example, the synthesis of Fmoc-N-methyl amino acids has been described by Yang et al, Tetrahedron Letters 42: 7307 (1997), using a solid phase methodology.

An illustrative example for the modification of the pentapeptide is the reductive animation of the 2-formyl-smp-derivative as shown in scheme III:

Another illustrative example for modification of a peptidyl intermediate is the Mitsunobu reaction of a Nal-derivative on solid phase as shown in scheme IV:

1. Bu₄NF (5 equiv.), THF, 15 min., rt

2. Ph-CH₂OH, PBu₃ (10 equiv.), ADDP (10 equiv.), NEt₃ (25 equiv. ) THF:dichloromethane, 1:1 , rt , 20 h

3. 95% TFA/H₂0, (3 mL, rt. 1 h, then ether precipitation

The novel compounds of the general formula I can be prepared by known methods of peptide chemistry. Thus, the peptidyl derivatives can be assembled sequentially from amino acids or by linking suitable small peptide fragments. In the sequential assemblage, starting at the C terminus the peptide chain is extended stepwise by one amino acid each time. In fragment coupling it is possible to link fragments of different lengths, and the fragments in turn can be obtained by sequential assemblage from amino acids or themselves by fragment coupling. Both in the sequential assemblage and in the fragment coupling it is necessary to link the units by forming an amide linkage. Enzymatic and chemical methods are suitable for this. Chemical methods for forming the amide linkage are described in detail by Mϋller, Methoden der organischen Chemie Vol. XV/2, pp 1 to 364, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1974; Stewart, Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, pp 31 to 34, 71 to 82, Pierce Chemical Company, Rockford, 1984; Bodanszky, Klausner, Ondetti, Peptide Synthesis, pp 85 to 128, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1976 and other standard works on peptide chemistry. Particular preference is given to the azide method, the symmetric and mixed anhydride method, in situ generated or preformed active esters, the use of urethane protected N-carboxy anhydrides of amino acids and the formation of the amide linkage using coupling reagents (activators, especially dicyclohexyl- carbodiimide (DCC), diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC), l-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-l,2- dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), 1 -ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI), n-propane-phosphonic anhydride (PPA), N,N-bis(2-oxo-3- oxazolidmyι)imido-phosphoryl chloride (BOP-C1), bromo-tris-pyrrolidinophos- phonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBrop), diphenyl-phosphoryl azide (DPP A), Castro's reagent (BOP, PyBop), O-benzotriazolyl-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyluronium salts (HBTU), diethylphosphoryl cyanide (DEPCN), 2,5-diphenyl-2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-4-hydroxy- thiophene dioxide (Steglich's reagent; HOTDO), 2-(lH-benzotriazole-l-yl)-l,l,3,3- tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU), O-(7-azabenzotriazole-l-yl)-l, 1,3,3- tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) and l,l'-carbonyldiimida-zole (CDl). The coupling reagents can be employed alone or in combination with additives such as N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine (DMAP), N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), 1- hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt), N-hydroxybenzotria-zine (HOOBt), N- hydroxysuccinimide (HOSu) or 2-hydroxypyridine.

Whereas it is normally possible to dispense with protective groups in enzymatic peptide synthesis, reversible protection of reactive groups not involved in formation of the amide linkage is necessary for both reactants in chemical synthesis. Four conventional protective group techniques are preferred for the chemical peptide synthesis: the benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz), the t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc), the allyloxycarbonyl (Alloc) and the 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) techniques. Identified in each case is the protective group on the α-amino group of the chain- extending unit. A detailed review of amino-acid protective groups is given by Miiller, Methoden der organischen Chemie Vol. XV/1, pp 20 to 906, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1974. The units employed for assembling the peptide chain can be reacted in solution, in suspension or by a method similar to that described by Merrifield in J Amer. Chem. Soc. 85: 2149 (1963). Particularly preferred methods are those in which peptides are assembled sequentially or by fragment coupling using the Cbz, Boc, Alloc or Fmoc protective group technique, with one of the reactants in the said Merrifield technique being bonded to an insoluble polymeric support (also called resin hereinafter). This typically entails the peptide being assembled sequentially on the polymeric support using the Boc, Alloc or Fmoc protective group technique, the growing peptide chain being covalently bonded at the C terminus to the insoluble resin particles. This procedure makes it possible to remove reagents and byproducts by filtration, and thus recrystallization of intermediates is unnecessary. The protected amino acids can be linked to any suitable polymers, which merely have to be insoluble in the solvents used and to have a stable physical form which makes filtration easy. The polymer must contain a functional group to which the first protected amino acid can be firmly attached by a covalent bond. Suitable for this purpose are a wide variety of polymers, eg. cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethacrylate, sulfonated polystyrene, chloromethylated styrene/divinylbenzene copolymer (Merrifield resin), 4-methylbenz- hydrylamine resin (MBHA-resin), phenylacetamidomethyl-resin (Pam-resin), Rink amide resin, chlorotrityl chloride resin, p-benzyloxy-benzyl-alcohol-resin, benzhydryl- amine-resin (BHA-resin), 4-(hydroxymethyl-)-benzoyl-oxymethyl-resin, the resin of Breipohl et al. (Tetrahedron Letters 28 (1987) 565; supplied by BACHEM), 4-(2,4- dimethoxyphenylaminomethyl) phenoxy-resin (supplied by Novabiochem) or o- chlorotrityl-resin (supplied by Biohellas).

Suitable for peptide synthesis in solution are all solvents which are inert under the reaction conditions, especially water, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile, dichloromethane (DCM), 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and mixtures of the said solvents.

Peptide synthesis on the polymeric support can be carried out in all inert organic solvents in which the amino-acid derivatives used are soluble; however, preferred solvents additionally have resin-swelling properties, such as DMF, DCM, NMP, acetonitrile and DMSO, and mixtures of these solvents. After synthesis is complete, the peptide is cleaved off the polymeric support. The conditions under which cleavage of the various resin types is possible are disclosed in the literature. The cleavage reactions most commonly used are acid- and palladium-catalyzed, especially cleavage in liquid anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, in anhydrous trifiuoromethanesulfonic acid, in dilute or concentrated trifluoroacetic acid, palladium- catalyzed cleavage in THF or THF-DCM-mixtures in the presence of a weak base such as morpholine or cleavage in acetic acid/dichloromethane/trifluoro-ethanol mixtures. Depending on the chosen protective groups, these may be retained or likewise cleaved off under the cleavage conditions.

More specifically, the following routes can be used to prepare the novel compounds of general formula I.

a) Route 1 : Synthesis of R A1-A2-A3-A4-A5-U.

The peptide sequence is built up stepwise from the C-terminus by coupling the corresponding Fmoc-amino acid (Fmoc- A5 -OH) to the free amino group on a resin such as Rink amide AM resin, then removal of the Fmoc-protecting group to liberate the amino group for the next coupling, for example with piperidine. The coupling and deprotection is repeated for each of the amino acids in the order Fmoc-A4-OH, Fmo- A3-OH, Fmoc-A2-OH and Fmoc-Al-OH to yield the intermediate NH₂-A1-A2-A3- A4-A5-NH-resin.

The final capping is done by coupling the corresponding acid R -COOH to the above resin intermediate or by reacting the corresponding acid chloride R₃-COCl, acid fluoride R₃-COF or anhydride (R -CO)₂O in presence of a base such as tertiary amines or alcoholates or inorganic bases with the resin intermediate. In case of the ureas the resin intermediate is treated with the corresponding isocyanate R₄-NCO or with R4R₅NCOCI, in the case of the sulfonamides with the corcesponding sulfonyl chloride R₆-SO Cl and in the case of the sulfonylurea with R₇R₈SO₂Cl in the presence of a base.

The final cleavage of the compound from the resin is achieved by treating the resin with acids such as hydrochloric acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Depending on the strength of the acid used and the reaction time, simultaneous deprotection of the side chains could be achieved. The resulting compounds could be further purified by standard techniques such as column chromatography.

b) Route 2: Synthesis of R A1-A2-A3-A4-A5- NR₃₈R₃₉.

In the case that the final compound has an amino side chain containing an acid residue such as Glu, Asp or Aad, the corresponding amino acid Fmoc-Xaa(tBu)-OH was coupled in solution with the corresponding amine HNR₃₈R₃₉ using standard peptide coupling techniques to yield Fmoc-Xaa(tBu)-NR₃₈R₃₉ which is then deprotected with 95% trifluoroacetic acid to yield Fmoc-Xaa- NR₃₈R₃₉ with a free carboxylic acid moiety in the side chain. This amino acid is coupled to a resin such as the chlor(tritylchloride resin) to yield the resin-bound ester. The Fmoc group can now be deprotected with bases such as piperidine to yield the resin-bound amine. The coupling and deprotection is repeated for each of the amino acids in the order Fmoc- A4-OH, Fmo-A3-OH, Fmoc-A2-OH and Fmoc-Al -OH to yield the intermediate NH₂- Al-A2-A3-A4-A5(resin)- NR₃₈R₃₉. The final capping is done by coupling the corresponding acid R₃-COOH to the above resin intermediate or by reacting the corresponding acid chloride R₃-COCI, acid fluoride R₃-COF or anhydride (R₃-CO)₂O in presence of a base such as tertiary amines or alcoholates or inorganic bases with the resin intermediate. In case of the ureas the resin intermediate is treated with the conesponding isocyanate R -NCO or with jRsNCOCl, in the case of the sulfonamides with the corresponding sulfonylchloride R_ό-SO₂Cl and in the case of the sulfonylurea with R₇R₈SO₂Cl in the presence of a base.

The final cleavage of the compound from the resin is achieved by treating the resin with acids such as hydrochloric acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Depending on the strength of the acid used and the reaction time, simultaneous deprotection of the side chains could be achieved. The resulting compounds could be further purified by standard techniques such as column chromatography.

c) Route 3: RI- A1-A2-A3-A4- OH and RI- A1-A2-A3-A4- NR₃₂R₃₃

The tetrapeptide acid sequence is built up stepwise from the C-terminus as described previously by coupling the corresponding Fmoc-amino acid Al to the chlorotrityl chloride resin, then removal of the Fmoc-protecting group to liberate the amino group for the next coupling. The coupling and deprotection is repeated for each of the amino acids in the order Fmoc-A3-OH, Fmo-A2-OH and Fmoc-Al -OH and Fmoc-Al-OH to yield the intermediate NH₂-Al-A2-A3-A4-resin. The final capping is done by coupling the corresponding acid R₃-COOH to the above resin intermediate or by reacting the corresponding acid chloride R₃-COCl, acid fluoride R₃-COF or anhydride (R₃-CO)₂O in presence of a base such as tertiary amines or alcoholates or inorganic bases with the resin intermediate. In case of the ureas the resin intermediate is treated with the corresponding isocyanate R₄-NCO or with R₄R₅NCOCl, in the case of the sulfonamides with the corresponding sulfonylchloride R₆-SO₂Cl and in the case of the sulfonylurea with R₇R₈SO Cl in the presence of a base.

The final cleavage of the compound from the resin is achieved by treating the resin with acids such as hydrochloric acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Depending on the strength of the acid used and the reaction time, simultaneous deprotection of the side chains could be achieved. The resulting final compounds R]-Al-A2-A3-A4-OH could be further purified by standard techniques such as column chromatography.

These compounds are also used as intermediate to couple the conesponding amine NR₃₂R₃₃ in solution to yield the final amides Rι-Al-A2-A3-A4-NR₃₂R₃₃ which can be further purified by standard techniques such as column chromatography.

d) Route 4: R Al-A2-A3-A4-A5-OH and R,- A1-A2-A3-A4-A5- NR₃₈R₃₉

The above described route to the tetrapeptides can also be used to prepare the corresponding pentapeptides by coupling with the amino acid A5 to the resin such as chlorotrityl chloride resin and then proceeded in similar fashion of repeated coupling of the next amino acids and deprotection, final capping and cleavage form the resin to yield the final compounds R]-Al-A2-A3-A4-A5-OH. These compounds are also used as intermediate to couple the corresponding amine HNR₃₈R₃₉ in solution to yield the final amides Rι-Al-A2-A3-A4-NR₃₈R₃ which can be further purified by standard techniques such as column chromatography.

The amino acids used are either commercially available or their syntheses are described in the literature. The amino acid A can be considered a pTyr-mimetic. Examples of non-hydrolizable phosphor-containing pTyr mimetics have been described in literature such as phosphonomethyl phenylalanme (Pmp, I. Marseigne et al, J. Org. Chem. 53: 3621-3624 (1988)) and phosphonodifluoromethyl phenylalanine (F₂Pmp, T.R. Burke Jr. et al, J Org. Chem. 58: 1336-1340 (1993)). Examples for non-phophorous containing pTyr mimetics include O- malonyltyrosine (Tyr(Mal), K.H. Kole et al, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 209: 817-822 (1995); B. Ye et al, J. Med. Chem. 38: 4270 -^275 (1995)), fluoro-O- malonyl-tyrosine (Tyr(Fmal), T.R. Burke Jr., J. Med. Chem. 39: 1021-1027 (1996)), O-carboxymethyl-tyrosine (T.R. Burke Jr. et al, Tetrahedron 54: 9981-9994 (1998)), 3-carboxy-4-(O-carboxymethyl)-tyrosine (T.R. Burke Jr. et al, Tetrahedron 54:9981- 9994 (1998)), 3,4-Di(O-carboxymethyl)-tyrosine (T.R. Burke Jr. et al, Tetrahedron 54: 9981-9994 (1998)), O-(carboxydifluoromethyl)-tyrosine (H. Fretz, Tetrahedron 54: 4849-4858 (1998)) and hydroxysulfonylmethyl phenylalanine (I. Marseigne et al, J. Med. Chem. 32: 445-449 (1989)). To improve cellular penetration prodrugs can be used for the different acid functionalities of the compounds with the general structure of formula I. Typical prodrug forms for carboxylic acid residues are described in R.B. Silverman, The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action, Academic Press, 1992, chapter 8. For the phosphonate function in amino acid Al suitable prodrugs are simple and substituted alkyl and aryl ester, acyloxyalkyl esters as described in the review by J.P. Krise et al. (Advanced Durg Delivery Reviews, 19: 287-310 (1996)), S-acylthioethyl esters as described by X. Li et al. (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 8: 57-62 (1998)) or pivaloylmethyl esters as described by C.J. Stankovic et al. (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1: 1909 (1997)). In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a compound of the formula (VII)

R^s (VII), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug thereof, wherein:

R, is selected from the group consisting of -(CH₂)_a-SO₃H, -(CH₂)_a-PO₃H₂, -CF₂-SO₃H, -CF₂-PO₃H₂, -(CH₂)_a-SO₂NHR₆, -(CH₂)_a-SO₂NH-CO-R₇, -(CH₂)_a-SO₂NH-CO-OR₈, - CF₂-SO₂NHR₉, and -(CH₂)_e-SO₂NH-CO-NR₁₀Rπ; where a is 1, 2 or 3; R_ό is hydroxy, -O(Cι-C₆)alkyl, or Z_\,

Rη and R₈ are each independently (Cι-C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, (C₃- C₈)cycloalkyl-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, Z,, or -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂;

R₉ is hydrogen, hydroxy, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, Z_\, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or -O(Cι- C₆)alkyl;

Rio and Rπ are each independently hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, -(C,-C₆)alkyl-(C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, Z_h or -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂; or Rio and Ri i are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a ring system selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidmyl, piperazinyl and morpholinyl; R and R₃ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino, NH(Cι-C₆)alkyl, N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (C C₆)alkyl, hydroxy, O(Cι-C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-O(Cι-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-O-(CrC₆)alkyl, CH₂-NH-(C,-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-N[(C C₆)alkyl]₂, CONH₂, CO-NH-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, CO-N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, and SO₂(d-C₆)alkyl; R and R₅ are each independently hydrogen, Z₃, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, - (C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -(Cι-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(d-C₆)alkyl, -CH₂-O- cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(C,-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(C₁-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl-Z₃; X is oxygen, sulfur or NR]₂; where Rι₂ is hydrogen, (C,-C₆)alkyl, O(C₁-C₆)alkyl, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -(CH₂)_r COOR₁₃ or -CO-Rι₄; where fis 1, 2 or 3;

Rπ is hydrogen or (Cι-C₆)alkyl;

Ri₄ is hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, (Cι-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-

(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or Z₃; Y is -(CH₂)_g-COORi₅, -(CH₂)g-CON(R₂₀R₂i), -(CH₂)_h-SO₂N(R₂₀R₂₁), -(CH₂);-SO₃H, or -(CH₂)_k-PO₃H₂; where g is 0, 1, 2 or 3; h is 0, 1, 2 or 3; i is 1, 2 or 3; k is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

Rι₅ is hydrogen or (Cι-C₆)alkyl;

R₂₀ and R₂ι are each independently hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, (Cι-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or

(C,-C₆)alkyl-Z₃; or when R₃ is in the ortho position to X, R₃ and R₄ are taken together with the atoms to which they are each attached to form an aromatic heterocyclic ring of formula (VIII) or formula (IX),

where Zi for each occurrence is an optionally substituted heteroaryl group independently selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pynolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, isoxazolyl, and oxazolyl;

Z₂ for each occurrence is an optionally substituted aryl group independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl; Z₃ for each occurrence is an optionally substituted heteroaryl group independently selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyrrolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzofuranyl, benzodihydrofuranyl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl and dibenzofuranyl; where Z_{l s} Z₂ and Z₃ are each independently optionally substituted by one or two substituents each substituent independently selected from the group consisting of fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino, NH(Cι-C₆)alkyl, N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (C C₆)alkyl, hydroxy, O(C C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-O(C,-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-NH-(C_rC₆)alkyl, CH₂-N[(C C₆)alkyl]₂, CONH₂, CO-NH-(C,-C₆)alkyl, CO-N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂ and SO₂(Cι-C₆)alkyl; provided that when X is NR₁₂, where R₁₂ is hydrogen, -(Cι-C₆)alkyl, -(Ci- C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -CO-(Cι-C₆)alkyl; Rj is -(CH₂)_a-SO₃H or -(CH₂)_b-PO₃H₂; R₅ is hydrogen; and Y is -COORι₅, where Rι is hydrogen or (CrC₆)alkyl; then R-_t is not hydrogen or Cι-C₃ alkyl; and further provided that when X is O; R] is -(CH₂)_c-SO₂NHR₆, where Re is optionally substituted pyridyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pynolyl, isoxazolyl, or oxazolyl; and Y is -COORι₅, where R_{] 5} is hydrogen or ( -C^alkyl; then R₄ and R are not hydrogen at the same time. A preferred group of compounds of a compound of formula (VII) is where

Ri is in the para position relative to X;

R₂ and R₃ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino, NH(Cι-C₆)alkyl, N[(Cι- C₆)alkyl]₂, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (C C₆)alkyl, hydroxy, O(Cι-C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-(Cι- C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-O(d-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-O-(C C₆)alkyl, CH₂-NH-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, CH₂- N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, CONH₂, CO-NH-(C C₆)alkyl, CO-N[(CrC₆)alkyl]₂, and SO₂(Cr C₆)alkyl;

R_A and R₅ are each independently hydrogen, Z₃, (Cι-C )alkyl, cyclo-(C₃- C₈)alkyl, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -(C₁-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, - CH₂-O-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(Cι- C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl-Z₃; and

X is oxygen or NR₁₂; and all other variables are as defined hereinabove for formula (VII).

A prefened group of compounds of the immediately foregoing group of compounds is where Ri is selected from the group consisting of -CH₂-SO₃H, -CH₂- PO₃H₂, and -CF₂-PO₃H₂; and Y is -COOH.

Another preferred group of compounds of a compound of formula (VIII) is where R₃ is in the ortho position to X, and R₃ and R₄ are taken together with the atoms to which they are each attached to form an aromatic heterocyclic ring of formula (LX) or formula (X),

(IX) or (X),

Ri is in the 5-position of a compound of formula (IX) or (X); X is oxygen or NRι₂; and all other variables are as defined for formula (VII) hereinabove.

A prefened group of compounds of the immediately foregoing group of compounds is where R_\ is selected from the group consisting of -CH₂-SO H, -CH₂- PO₃H₂, and -CF₂-PO₃H₂; and Y is -COOH.

The compounds of formula (VII) can be synthesized by the following routes described in Schemes V to X. The reaction schemes described below will be understood by those skilled in the art of organic synthesis that one or more functional groups present in a given compound of formula (VII) may render the molecule incompatible with a particular synthetic step. In such a case an alternative synthetic plan, alteration in the order of steps, different strategy in protection or deprotection may be employed. In all cases, the particular reaction conditions, including reagents, solvent, temperature and time should be chosen so that they are consistent with the nature of the functionality present in the molecule. Such modifications are within one of ordinary skill in the art of organic chemistry.

For compounds of formula (VII) with R_\ - CH₂-SO H and X is oxygen, the synthesis starts with substituted or unsubstituted hydroxy-benzyl alcohol, intermediate I- A (scheme V). Alkylation of the phenolic oxygen with a suitable substituted acetic acid derivative (X is a leaving group such as chloro, bromo, iodo, methanesulfonate, p- toluenesulfoante or trifluoromethanesulfonate) in the presence of an alkali metal salt such as alkoxides, carbonates, hydroxides or hydrides or organic bases such as trialkylamines or N-methyl-morpholine in polar solvents such as alcohols, dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidinone, tetrahydrofuran or dimethylsulfoxide provides intermediate I-B.

Scheme V:

Reduction (NaBH₄)

Intermediate l-A

Na,SO, or NaHSO,

Hydrolysis

The alkylating agents can be prepared from the corresponding alpha-hydroxy esters by treatment with either methanesulfonylchloride, p-toluenesulfonylchloride or trifluoromethanesulfonyl anhydride in the presence of a base such as trialkylamine, pyridine or alkali salts such as carbonates or by treatment with halogenating agents such as phosphotribromide or thionyl chloride. Another approach to intermediate I-B starts with the substituted or unsubstituted hydroxy benzaldehyde, I-C, which is alkylated in a similar manner as described above or through a Mitsunobu-reaction with the corresponding alpha-hydroxy carboxylic ester. The intermediate I-D is then reduced with borane hydrides such as sodium tetraborohydride to give intermediate I- B. Intermediate I-B is transformed into the bromide I-E using N-bromosuccinimide and dimethylsulfide. Displacement of the bromide is achieved by treatment of intermediate I-E with sodium sulfite or sodium bisulfite in polar solvents such as water, dimethylformamide, dioxane or a mixture of these solvents. The final compounds (Int. I-G) are obtained by basic or acidic hydrolysis of the ester group of intermediate I-F, for example by treatment of the intermediate I-F (with R = t-butyl) with trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane or treatment of the methyl or ethyl ester of intermediate I-F with lithium or sodium hydroxide and subsequent acidification. The compounds can further be purified through crystallization or by column chromatography such as reversed phase chromatography.

Another route to compound I-G is to hydrolyze the ester I-B first to the acid , intermediate I-H, under basic conditions and then to react the acid with sodium sulfite or sodium bisulfite in polar solvents.

Approaches to precursors (Ri =Me, CH₂Br, CH₂C1, CH₂OH) of compounds of general formula VIII and IX wherein X is oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen have been described, for example by P.E. Cross et al. (J. Med. Chem. (1986), 1637) and by C. B. Chapleo et al. (J. Med. Chem. (1984), 570).

The synthesis of the compounds in which X is oxygen, as shown in Scheme VI, starts with substituted salicylaldehydes (intermediate II- A). Reaction with dialkyl- alpha-bromo-malonate under basic conditions and subsequent hydrolysis and decarboxylation, as described by C. B. Chapleo et al. (J. Med. Chem. (1984), 570), leads to intermediate II-B. Reaction with brominating agents such as N- bromosuccinimide in the presence of a radical starter gave the bromide, intermediate II-C. Replacement of the bromide was achieved by treatment of intermediate II-C with sodium sulfite in polar solvents such as water, dioxane or a mixture of these leading to compounds of the general formula VIII (intermediate II-D). Hydrogenation of the double bond of the heteroaromatic ring yielded the dihydrobenzofuran-derivatives (intermediate II-E), which can be alkylated at the alpha-position to yield intermediate II-F. Scheme VI:

Int. Il-A Int. Il-B NBS, starter CCI₄,

1. Pd/C, H₂ EtOH

2. Hydrolysis

Int. Il-E Int. Il-F

Another approach to dihydrobenzofuran-systems of the general formula IX with X = oxygen is shown in scheme VII. Allylation of substituted phenols (Ri =Me, intermediate III- A) yields the allyl ether, intermediate III-B, which undergoes Claisen- rearrangement to intermediate III-C at higher temperature, either in refluxing solvents such as toluene or xylene or heating the compound neat to temperatures in a range from 120 to 250° C. Epoxidation of the double bond with oxidation agents such as meta-chloroperbenzoic acid or other peroxides led to intermediate III-D, which may immediately form the furan-system, intermediate III-E by nucleophilic attack of the hydroxy-group of the epoxide. This transformation can be achieved either under basic conditions or by use of Lewis acid catalysts such as acids or borontrifluoride etherate. Bromination with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of a radical starter led to the bromide, intermediate III-F. Nucleophilic substitution of the bromide is achieved by treatment with sodium sulfite in polar solvents such as water or dioxane. Oxidation of intermediate III-G with agents such as potassium permanganate or periodate with an additional metal catalyst such as ruthenium trichlonde led to the acid, intermediate III- H, which can be esterified to intermediate III-I or transformed to the amide III-K by standard reactions.

Scheme VII:

Int lll-E

Na₂S0₃ H₂0/ Dioxane

Scheme VIII shows the synthetic route for compounds of the general formula VIII with X is nitrogen. Reaction of substituted nitro-benzylbromide with sodium sulfite led to intermediate JV-B. The sulfonic acid can be esterified via the intermediate chloride to intermediate IV-C, preferably with an alcohol such as neopentyl alcohol.

Scheme VIII:

H Int. IV-M

Int. IV-N The nitro group can be reduced to the amine by using reducing agents such as hydrogen or in situ generated hydrogen with or without catalysts such as a metal catalyst. A preferred method is catalytic hydrogenation with palladium or palladium on carbon. Alkylation of intermediate IV-D with alkylating agents such as acetic acid derivatives with a leaving group in alpha-position such as bromide, chloride or trifluoromethansulfonate led to intermediate IV-E, which can be hydrolyzed under basic conditions to intermediate IV-F and then further on to the final compounds IV- G. Depending on the reagent, intermediate IV-E can be hydrolyzed directly to IV-G .

Another method to intermediate IV-E is the reductive amination of intermediate IV-D with glyoxal-ester or alpha-ketone esters. On the other hand, reaction of intermediate IV-E with acid chlorides yields the intermediate IV-H, which can be hydrolysed under basic conditions to intermediate IV -I or even further to the diacid, intermediate IV -K. The nitrogen of intermediate IV-E could be alkylated a second time with alkylating agents or by reductive amination with the appropriate aldehyde R"-CHO to yield intermediate IV-L, which can be hydrolyzed under basic conditions to intermediate IV-M or even further to the diacid, intermediate IV-N.

The synthesis of compounds of the general formula VII with R₁ = -CH2- PO₃H₂ is shown in scheme IX.

Scheme IX:

In

Deprotection

Hydrolysis

Reaction of intermediate I-E with phosphonic acid derivative such as (dibenzyl)phosphonate in the presence of a base such as sodium hydride or Arbusov- reaction of intermediate I-E with trialkylphosphite led to the phosphonate derivative V-A. Removal of the R' groups of the phosphonate moiety can be achieved by treatment with acids such as trifluoroacetic acid or with trimethylsilylbromide or iodide, in the case of benzyl group also by hydrogenation with catalysts such as palladium on carbon. In some cases hydrolysis of carboxylic ester might occur under the same conditions or the ester group has to be hydrolyzed under basic conditions in a separate step. The synthesis of compounds of the general formula VII with Ri = -CF₂-PO₃H₂ is shown in scheme X. Alkylation of substituted iodo-phenol, intermediate VI- A, with a suitable substituted acetic acid derivative (X is a leaving group such as chloro, bromo or iodo, methanesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate or trifluoromethanesulfonate) in the presence of an alkali metal salt such as alkoxides, carbonates, hydroxides or hydrides or organic bases such as trialkylamines or N-methyl-morpholine in polar solvents such as alcohols, dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidinone, tetrahydrofuran or dimethylsulfoxide provides intermediate VI-B. The alkylating agents can be prepared from the corresponding alpha-hydroxy esters by treatment with either methanesulfonylchloride, p-toluenesulfonylchloride or trifluoromethanesulfonyl anhydride in the presence of a base such as trialkylamine, pyridine or alkali salts such as carbonates or by treatment with halogenating agents such as phosphortribromide or thionyl chloride. Palladium-catalysed reaction of intermediate IV-B with a metaloorganic reagent, derived from diethyl bromo-difluoromethylphosphonate and metals such as cadmium, mangesium or zinc, in the presence of another metal salt as co-catalyst such as copper salts, preferably copper chloride, yielded the substituted alpha,alpha-difluorobenzyl-phosphonate, intermediate IV-C. Deprotection of carboxylic ester group can be achieved under basic conditions or by hydrogenation in the case of benzyl ester, the phosphonate ester groups can be removed by treatment with strong acids, with trimethylsilylbromide or iodide or in the case of benzyl also by hydrogenation. If appropriately protected, the deprotection of the carboxylic esters and the phosphonate can be achieved at the same time, for example, if both moieties are benzyl esters, by hydrogenation. Scheme X:

OJOR¹;

The majority of the claimed compounds of the formula VII claimed herein are chiral and are produced as racemic mixtures of enantiomers and that both the racemic compounds and the resolved indvidual enantiomers are considered within the scope of the invention. The racemic compounds of this invention may be resolved to provide individual enantiomers utilizing methods known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis. For example, diastereomeric salts, esters or amides may be obtained from a racemic compound of the general formula VIII and a suitable optically active amine, amino acid, alcohol or the like. The diastereomeric salts, esters or amides are separated and purified, the optically active enantiomers are regenerated and the preferred enantiomer is the more potent isomer. Another approach is to use the corresponding starting chiral reagents, such as the alkylating agent. Nucleophilic substitution at secondary carbon with nucleophiles such as phenoxides are well studied and proceed usually without extensive racemization, thus providing an optically active product. For those skilled in the art of organic synthesis the stereochemical outcome of the reaction can be rationalized or the products can be analyzed in different ways to determine their absolute configuration. The enantiomers of the compounds of general formula VIII, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their prodrug forms are also included in the scope of this invention. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of treating a Cdc25 -mediated condition in a patient. The method comprises the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a Cdc25 inhibitor as described above. The patient can be any animal, and is, preferably, a mammal and, more preferably, a human.

A "Cdc25-mediated condition" is a disease or medical condition in which the catalytic activity of one or more Cdc25 homologues plays a role, for example, in the development of the disease or condition. For example, in one embodiment, the condition is characterized by excessive cellular proliferation. In one embodiment, the Cdc25-mediated condition is cancer, such as a tumor.

For example the condition to be treated can include lymphoma, such as Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and tumors of the head, neck, breast, lung, such as non-small cell lung carcinoma, and stomach.

The Cdc25 mediated condition can also be a condition in which hyperproliferation of non-cancer cells plays an important role, such as restinosis and reocclusion of the coronary arteries following angioplasty, both of which result from abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells.

In another embodiment, the Cdc25-mediated condition is an inflammatory disease which is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter's disease, systemic lupus.

A therapeutically effective amount, as this term is used herein, is an amount which results in partial or complete inhibition of disease progression or symptoms. Such an amount will depend, for example, on the size and gender of the patient, the condition to be treated, the severity of the symptoms and the result sought, and can be determined by one skilled in the art.

The compound of the invention can, optionally, be administered in combination with one or more additional drugs which, for example, are known for treating and/or alleviating symptoms of the condition mediated by Cdc25. The additional drug can be administered simultaneously with the compound of the invention, or sequentially. For example, the Cdc25 inhibitor can be administered in combination with another anticancer agent, as is known in the art.

The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of the Cdc25 inhibitors described above. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically (or prophylactically) effective amount of one or more Cdc25 binding inhibitors, as described above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. The carrier and composition can be sterile. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include but are not limited to water, salt solutions (e.g., NaCl), alcohols, gum arabic, vegetable oils, benzyl alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, carbohydrates such as lactose, amylose or starch, cyclodextrin, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, perfume oil, fatty acid esters, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl pyrolidone, etc. The pharmaceutical preparations can be sterilized and if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, coloring, flavoring and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously react with the active compounds.

The composition, if desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents. The composition can be a liquid solution, suspension, emulsion, tablet, pill, capsule, sustained release formulation, or powder. The composition can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, polyvinyl pyrollidinone, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc.

The composition can be formulated in accordance with the routine procedures as a pharmaceutical composition adapted for intravenous administration to human beings. Typically, compositions for intravenous administration are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the composition may also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic to ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally, the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachet indicating the quantity of active agent. Where the composition is to be administered by infusion, it can be dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterile pharmaceutical grade water, saline or dextrose/water. Where the composition is administered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection or saline can be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior to administration.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can also include an agent which controls release of the Cdc25 inhibitor compound, thereby providing a timed or sustained release composition.

The Cdc25 inhibitor can be administered subcutaneously, intravenously, parenterally, intraperitoneally, intradermally, intramuscularly, topically, enteral (e.g., orally), rectally, nasally, buccally, sublingually, vaginally, by inhalation spray, by drug pump or via an implanted reservoir in dosage formulations containing conventional non-toxic, physiologically acceptable carriers or vehicles. The prefened method of administration is by oral delivery. The form in which it is administered (e.g., syrup, elixir, capsule, tablet, solution, foams, emulsion, gel, sol) will depend in part on the route by which it is administered. For example, for mucosal (e.g., oral mucosa, rectal, intestinal mucosa, bronchial mucosa) administration, nose drops, aerosols, inhalants, nebulizers, eye drops or suppositories can be used. The compounds and agents of this invention can be administered together with other biologically active agents, such as analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetics and other agents which can control one or more symptoms or causes of a Cdc25-mediated condition.

In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer the agents of the invention locally to a localized area in need of treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and not by way of limitation, local infusion during surgery, topical application, transdermal patches, by injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or by means of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic membranes or fibers. For example, the agent can be injected into the joints. EXAMPLES

Example 1 Synthesis of Peptidic Cdc25 inhibitors

General materials and methods

The following amino acid abbreviations are used herein, for the natural amino acids the three letter code:

Asp = aspartic acid; Asn = asparagine; Pro = proline; Ala = alanine; Val = valine; Lys = Lysine; Gly = glycine; Arg = arginine; He = isoleucine; Ser = serine; Thr = threonine; Leu = leucine; Tφ = tryptophan; Cys = cysteine; Tyr = tyrosine; Met = methionine; Gin = glutamine; Glu = glutamic acid; Phe = phenylalanine; His = histidine, for other amino acids: Nal = 2-amino-3-(naphth-l-yl)-propanoic acid (or napthyl-alanine); Bta = 2-amino-3-benzo[ό]thiophen-3-yl-propanoic acid (or 3- benzothienylalanine); Aad = alpha-aminoadipic acid; Smp = Phe(4-CH₂-SO₃H); Pmp = Phe(4-CH₂-PO(OH)₂); F₂Pmp - Phe(4-CF₂-PO(OH)₂); Asu = alpha aminosuberic acid; Hyp = 4-hydroxyproline; Nle = norleucine; Nva = norvaline; hLeu = homoleucine; Pip = pipecolinic acid; 3-MePro = 3-methyl-proline; 2-MePro = 2- methyl-proline; Isc = 1-isoindolinecarboxylic acid; Oic = octahydroindolyl-2- carboxylic acid; Ac6 = 1 -amino- 1 -cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; Ac5 = 1 -amino- 1- cyclopentanecarboxyhc acid; Ac3 = 1 -amino- 1-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid; Thiopro = L-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Iva = 2-amino-2-methylbutanoic acid; Tyr(mal) = Tyr(O-(CH(COOH)₂); Tyr(Fmal) = Tyr(0-(CF(COOH)₂); 2-Oxn = (8-hydroxy- quinolin-2-yl )methyl glycine; dehydrPro = 3,4-dehydroproline; dehydroVal = dehydrovaline; Aib = alpha-aminoisobutyric acid; Pra = propargylic glycine; Phg = phenyl glycine ; SmPhg - Phg(4-CH₂-SO₃H)

Furthermore the following abbreviations have the meaning of Xaa= amino acid, hXaa = homo amino acid, (NMe)Xaa = amino acid methylated at the amino group , MeXaa = amino acid methylated at the alpha carbon or the position indicated, Xaa(R) = amino acid with a group R functionahzed side chain, and D,L-Xaa = mixture of D- and L-isomer (50/50 or the ratio indicated below in parenthesis).

In the synthetic procedures the amino group of the amino acid is usually protected with the Fmoc-group, in a few cases with the Alloc- or Boc-group. Carboxylic acid moieties in the side chain of the amino acids are protected as tert. butyl esters, when the carboxylic acid moiety is desired in the final product. The tert. butyl esters are hydrolysed under the certain conditions used for the cleavage of the peptidyl derivatives from polymers or resin.

All natural amino acids and their corresponding D-isomers can be purchased from Novabiochem or Bachem.

The other amino acids were purchased from:

Fmoc-Nal(l)-OH (Synthetech Inc.), Fmoc-Bta-OH (Peptech Coφ.), Fmoc-Aad(tBu)- OH (Bachem), Fmoc-Smp-OH (RSP Amino Acid Analogues), Fmoc-(Pmp(Et)₂)-OH (Neosystem), Fmoc-Asu(tBu)-OH (Peninsula Labs), Fmoc-Hyp(tBu)-OH (Novabiochem), Fmoc-Nle-OH (Novabiochem), Fmoc-Nva-OH (Novabiochem), Fmoc-hLeu-OH (Neosystem), Fmoc-Pip-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-(2-Me)Pro-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-Isc-OH (Neosystem), Fmoc-Oic-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-Ac6 -OH (Neosystem), Fmoc-Ac5-OH (Neosystem), Fmoc-Ac3-OH (Advanced Chem Tech), Fmoc-Thiapro-OH (Neosystem), Fmoc-Iva-OH (Acros), Fmoc(Tyr(mal(tBu)₂)-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-DehydrPro-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-DehydroVal-OH (Advanced Chem Tech), Fmoc-Aib-OH (Senn Chemicals), Fmoc-Pra-OH (Advanced Chemtech), Fmoc-Phg-OH (Novabiochem), SmPhg (RSP Amino Acid Analogues), Fmoc-(3-Cl- Phe)-OH (Peptech), Fmoc-(2-Cl- Phe)-OH (Peptech), Fmoc-(4-Cl- Phe)-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-(4-CONH₂- Phe)-OH (RSP Amino Acid Analogues), Fmoc-(4-NH - Phe)-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-(3-NH₂- Phe)-OH (RSP Amino Acid Analogues), ), Fmoc- (4-NHAc-Phe)-OH (RSP Amino Acid Analogues), Fmoc-(4-COOtBu-Phe)-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-(4-CF₃- Phe)-OH (Apollo), Fmoc-(3-NO₂- Phe)-OH (Peptech), Fmoc-(4-Ph-Phe)-OH (Bachem), Fmoc-3-NH-pyridinon-l-yl-CH₂-COOH (Neosystem), Fmoc-3-NH-caprolactam-l-CH₂-COOH (Neosystem), Fmoc-6-NH-5- oxo-perhydropyrido[2,l-b]-(l,3)-thiazol-3-COOH (Neo-system), Fmoc-azetidine- carboxylic acid (Neosystem).

The following amino acids were prepared according to the following references: Synthesis of Fmoc-(F₂Pmρ(Et)₂)-OH, ref. T.R. Burke Jr. et al, J. Org. Chem. 1993, 58, 1336 -1340; synthesis of Fmoc-(Tyr(Fmal(tBu)₂)-OH), ref. T.R. Burke Jr. et al, J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 1021-1027; synthesis of Fmoc-(O-carboxymethyl)-Tyr-OH , ref. T.R. Burke Jr. et al, Tetrahedron 1998, 54,9981-9994; synthesis of Fmoc-(2- Oxn)-OH, ref. G.K. Walkup et al, J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 6727 - 6731 . Furthermore, the following abbreviations are used herein: EDCI = 1 -(3 -dimethylaminopropyl)-3 -ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride HATU = O-(7-azabenzotriazole-l-yl)-l,l,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate HBTU = 2-(lH-benzotriazole-l-yl)-l,l,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate HO At = l-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole

TBTU = 2-(lH-benzotriazole-l-yl)-l,l,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate Fmoc = fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl

Rink amide AM = 4-(2',4'-dimethoxyphenyl-Fmoc-aminomethyl)-phenoxyacetamido- norleucyl aminomethyl.

The Rink amide AM is commercially available from Novabiochem. The 2-Chlorotritylchloride resin was purchased from Novabiochem.

Analytical HPLC conditions Method A-E:

Column: Vydac 300 Angstrom, C18, flow rate: 0.8 mL/min (λ = 214 nm)

Solvents: solvent A = 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/water, solvent B = 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid acetonitrile

Gradients: Method A: 30 to 90% Solvent B in 30 min.

Method B: 5 to 45% Solvent B in 40 min.

Method C: 5 to 65% Solvent B in 60 min.

Method D: 15 to 60% Solvent B in 30 min.

Method E: 40 to 90% Solvent B in 25 min.

Methods F-Q

Column: C18 (4 mm x 300 mm), flow rate: 0.5 mL/min with CH3CN/H2O (0.1 %

TFA)

Solvents: solvent A = 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/water, solvent B = 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid acetonitrile

Gradients:

Method F: 10% Solvent B for 5 min., from 10% to 90% in 20 min.

Method G: 50% Solvent B for 5 min., from 50% Solvent B to 90% in 20 min. Method H: 10% Solvent B for 5 min., from 10% Solvent B to 100% in 12.5 min Method I: 20% Solvent B for 5 min., from 20% Solvent B to 70% in 20 min. Method J: 25% Solvent B for 5 min., from 25% Solvent B to 65% in 13 min,

Method K: 15% Solvent B for 5 min., from 15% Solvent B to 80% in 20 min Method L: 40% Solvent B to 100% in 20 min.

Method M: 10% Solvent B for 5 min., from 10% Solvent B to 90% in 25 min. Method N: 30% Solvent B for 5 min., from 30% Solvent to 70% in 12.5 min., from 70% to 100% in 5 min. Method O: 50% Solvent B to 90% in 20 min

Method P: 25% Solvent B for 7 min., from 25% Solvent B to 100% in 20 min. Method Q: 25% Solvent B for 5 min., from 25% Solvent B to 100% in 15 min.

Method R

Column: Vydac (2.1 mm x 150 mm) 300 Angstrom C18, flow rate: 0.2 mL/min (λ =

214 nm)

Solvent: solvent A = 0.02% trifluoroacetic acid/0.08% formic acid/ water, solvent B

0.02% trifluoroacetic acid/0.08% formic acid/ acetonitrile

Method R: 5% Solvent B to 98% in 10 min.

Synthesis of 2-CH₃O-Naphtyl-l-CO-Smp-Glu-Glu-Nal-Glu-NH₂, cdc 1249

The peptide sequence is built up stepwise from the C-terminus by coupling the corresponding Fmoc-amino acid to the free amino group on the resin, then removal of the Fmoc-protecting group to liberate the amino group for the next coupling. The final capping is done with 2-methoxy-naphthyl-carboxylic acid.

Rink amide AM resin (223 mg resin, 0.1 mmol) was washed with dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL), then removal of the Fmoc protection group was achieved with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). All amino acids (0.15 mmol, 1.5 eq) were coupled using the coupling reagent TBTU (48 mg, 0.15 mmol, 1.5 eq) and the base N,N-diisopropylethylamine (38 mg, 0.3 mmol, 3 eq) in dimethylformamide except Fmoc- Phe(4-CH₂SO₃H)-OH and 2-methoxy-naphth-l-yl- carboxylic acid which were coupled with HATU (57 mg, 0.15 mmol, 1.5 eq and 76 mg, 0.2 mmol, 2.0 eq respectively) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (39 mg, 0.3 mmol, 3.0 eq, and 65 mg, 0.5 mmol, 5.0 eq respectively) in dimethylformamide (25 mL) . Fmoc deprotections were done with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). The completion of coupling and deprotection reactions was assessed by Kaiser test (ninhydrin). After each step, the resin was washed with dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL), dichloromethane (3 x 25 mL) and methanol (2 x 25 mL) then dried in vacuo. Cleavage of the final peptide from the resin and simultaneous deprotection of the side chains was achieved with trifluoroacetic acid/water (95:5) at room temperature for two hours. Trifluoroacetic acid was removed in vacuo, then the remaining residue was triturated with diethylether (30 mL). The resulting solid was dried in vacuo. HPLC purification was done on Waters Deltapack Cι₈ reverse phase silica gel using a 40 mm x 200 mm 300 Angstrom column.

HPLC conditions: flow rate: 10 mL/min

Gradient: 10%-30% B in 57min then 30%-90% B in 200 min A= 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/water

B= 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/acetonitrile

Yield: 25 mg (0.024 mmol) 2-CH₃O-l-naphthyl-l-CO-Smp-Glu-Glu-Nal-Glu-NH₂ Analytical data R_t 32.1 min (Method B) MS (ESI): MH⁺ 1027

H¹ NMR (d₆-DMSO, 400MHz): δ 4.83 (m, IH), 4.69 (m, IH), 4.43 (m, IH), 4.26 (m, IH), 4.19 (m, IH) (characteristic alpha-protons). Synthesis of 2-EtO-l -naphthyl -l-CO-Smp-Glu-Glu-Bta-Glu-NH₂, cdc 1659

Rink amide AM resin (379 mg, 0.25 mmol) was washed with dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL) then Fmoc deprotected with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). The first four amino acids (1.0 mmol) from the C- terminus were coupled in l-methyl-2-pynolidinone using 0.45 M HBTU in dimethylformamide (2 g , 0.9 mmol) and 2 M N,N-diisopropylethylamine in 1-methyl- 2-pyrrolidinone (1.0 mL). Fmoc- Phe(4-CH₂SO₃H)-OH (180 mg, 0.375 mmol) was then coupled with TBTU (120 mg, 0.375 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (113 mg, 0.875 mmol) in dimethylformamide (25 mL). The resin was split at this point and 0.1 mmol was coupled with 2-ethoxy-l-naphthoic acid (43 mg, 0.2 mmol) using HATU (76 mg, 0.2 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (58 mg, 0.45 mmol) in dimethylformamide (25 mL). Fmoc deprotections of each amino acid were done with 20%) piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). The completion of coupling and deprotection reactions was assessed by Kaiser test (ninhydrin). The resin was washed with dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL), dichloromethane (3 x 25 mL) and methanol (2 x 25 mL) then dried in vacuo. The peptide was cleaved from the resin and the side chains were deprotected with trifluoroacetic acid/water (95:5) at room temperature for approx. 2 hours. The trifluoroacetic acid was removed in vacuo then the remaining residue was triturated with Et₂θ (30 mL). The resulting solid was dried in vacuo. HPLC purification was done on Waters Deltapack Cι₈ reverse phase silica gel using a 40 mm x 200 mm 300 Angstrom column. Yield: 22 mg (0.021 mmol) 2-EtO-l -naphthyl- l-CO-Smp-Glu-Glu-Bta-Glu-NH₂

Analytical data

R, 34.3 min (Method B)

MS (ESI): MH⁺ 1047

H¹ NMR (d₆-DMSO, 400MHz): δ 4.87 (m, IH), 4.70 (m, IH), 4.41 (m, IH), 4.28 (m,

IH), 4.19 (m, IH), (characteristic alpha-protons), 4.11 (q, 2H, CH₂), 1.19 (t, 3H, CH₃).

Synthesis of 2-CH₃O- 1 -naphthyl-CO-Smp-Glu-Glu-Bta-Aad-NHtBu, cdc 1671

A. 2-chlorotritylchloride resin loading.

Fmoc-Aad(tBu)-OH (377 mg, 0.847 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (15 mL) under a nitrogen atmosphere. 2-Chlorotritylchloride resin (1.5 g, 1.43 mmol) was added to this solution, followed by N,N-diisopropylethylamine (442 mg, 3.43 mmol). The suspension was stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for 6 hours. The reaction completion was checked by thin layer chromatography, monitoring the consumption of amino acid. The resin was filtered and washed with a mixture of dichloromethane / methanol / N,N-diisopropylethylamine (17:2:1, 3 x 25 mL), dichloromethane (3 x 25 mL), and dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). The Fmoc protecting group was removed with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL, monitored by Kaiser test). The resin was washed with dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL), dichloromethane (3 x 25 mL) and methanol (2 x 25 mL), then dried in vacuo. Loading: approximately 0.6 mmol/g. B. Amino acid couplings

The Aad(tBu) loaded trityl resin (417 mg, 0.25 mmol) was suspended in 1-methyl- 2-pyrrolidinone (4 mL). The amino acids Fmoc-Bta-OH, Fmoc-Glu(tBu)-OH and, Fmoc-Glu(tBu)-OH (1.0 mmol each) were coupled using 0.45 M HBTU in dimethylformamide (2 g , 0.9 mmol) and 2 M N,N-diisopropylethylamine in 1-methyl- 2-pyrrolidinone (1.0 mL). The resin was split at this point and 176 mg of the resin (0.083 mmol) was used for the coupling of Fmoc- Phe(4-CH₂SO₃H)-OH (60 mg, 0.125 mmol) with TBTU (40 mg, 0.125 mmol) and^'N,N-diisopropylethylamine (43 mg, 0.332 mmol) as coupling reagents. The final capping of the peptide was done with 2-methoxy- 1-naphthoic acid (34 mg, 0.166 mmol) using HATU (63 mg, 0.166 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (48 mg, 0.374 mmol). Fmoc deprotections after each coupling step were done with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). The completion of coupling and deprotection reactions was assessed by Kaiser test (ninhydrin). The resin was washed with dimethylformamide (2x 25 mL), dichloromethane (3x 25 mL), and methanol (2x 25 mL). Cleavage of the peptide from the resin was achieved with dichloromethane/trifluoroacetic acid /acetic acid (8:1:1, 10 mL) at room temperature for one hour. The side-chain protected pentapeptide acid was collected as a white solid (52 mg).

C. C-terminal amide synthesis

The side chain protected pentapeptide acid 2-EtO-l-naphthoyl-Phe(4-CH₂SO₃H)- Glu(tBu)-Glu(tBu)-Bta-Glu-OH (52 mg, 0.042 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (3 mL) , then tert-butylamine (6.2 mg, 0.084 mmol), HOAt (5.7 mg, 0.042 mmol), EDCI (16 mg, 0.084 mmol), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (22 mg, 0.168 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (150 mL) and washed with 1:1 water/brine (75 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated in vacuo and the remaining solid was dried in vacuo. The tert.-butyl esters were deprotected using trifluoroacetic acid/ water (95:5) at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the remaining residue was triturated with diethylether (30 mL). The resulting solid was dried in vacuo. HPLC purification was done on Waters Deltapack ₈ reverse phase silica gel using a 40 mm x 200 mm 300 Angstrom column. HPLC conditions: flow rate: lOmL/min

Gradient: 20%-40%B in 57min then 40%-100%B in 257min A= 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/water B= 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/acetonitrile

Yield: 13 mg (0.012 mmol) 2-CH₃O-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp-Glu-Glu-Bta-Aad-NHfBu

Analytical data

R_t 39 min (Method B)

MS(ESI): MH⁺ 1103 H¹ NMR (d₆-DMSO, 400MHz): δ 4.82 (m, IH), 4.71 (m, IH),

4.45 (m, IH), 4.30 (m, IH), 4.17 (m, IH) (characteristic alpha-protons), 1.24 (s, 9H, tBu).

Synthesis of 2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp-Nva-(3-Me)Pro-Bta-Aad-NHtBu, cdc 1747

a) Synthesis of 6-(tert-butylamino)-5-(((9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl)amino)-6- oxohexanoate

Fmoc-L-α-aminoadipic acid-δ-tert.-butylester (2 g, 4.55 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (80 ml), then tert.-butylamine (0.665 g, 9.1 mmol), l-hydroxy-7- azabenzotriazole (0.619 g, 4.55 mmol), l-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3- ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (1.74 g, 9.1 mmol), and diisopropylethylamine (2.05 g, 15.92 mmol) were added. The yellow solution was stirred at room temperature for 21 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane, then washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, 5% aqueous citric acid and with a one to one mixture of water and brine. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 2.07 g (4.19 mmol) tert-butyl 6-(tert- butylamino)-5-{[9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl]amino}-6-oxohexanoate. MS(ESI): MH⁺= 495 R,= 23.5 (Method E)

The crude tert-butyl 6-(tert-butylamino)-5-{[9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl]- amino}-6-oxohexanoate (2.07 g, 4.19 mmol) was dissolved in minimal dichloromethane, then diluted with 95% trifluoroacetic acid/ water (30 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours then concentrated under reduced pressure. The remaining oil was triturated with diethylether and filtered. The diethylether filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give 2.48 g of 6-(tert- butylamino)-5-(((9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl)amino)-6-oxohexanoate. MS(ESI): MH⁺ = 439 R_t = 14.6 (Method E)

b) Loading of 5-amino-6-(tert-butylamino)-6-oxohexanoic acid on chlorotrityl chloride resin

6-(tert-butylamino)-5-(((9H-9-fluorenylmethoxy)carbonyl)amino)-6- oxohexanoate (2.48 g, 5.66 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (80 ml) under a nitrogen atmosphere then added chlortritylchloride resin (4.85 g, 7.23 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (2.92 g, 22.64 mmol). The dark puφle reaction mixture was strrred for 5 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. The suspension was filtered, then washed the resin three times with a mixture of dichloromethane/ methanol/ diisopropylethylamine (17:2:1); three times with dichloromethane and twice with dimethylformamide. The resin was suspended in dimethylformamide (25 ml), then treated with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide the first time for 5 min, a second time for 20 min, followed by washing it five times with dimethylformamide. Finally, the resin was washed with three times with dichloromethane , twice with methanol and dried in vacuo to give 5.21 g of loaded resin.

c) 2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp-Nva-(3-Me)Pro-Bta-Aad-NHtBu,

The peptide sequence was built up stepwise from the C-terminus by coupling the conesponding Fmoc-amino acid to the free amino group on the resin, then removal of the Fmoc-protecting group to liberate the amino group for the next coupling. The final capping is done with 2-ethoxy-naphthyl-carboxylic acid.

The previously loaded trityl resin (187 mg resin, 0.15 mmol) was suspended in dimethylformamide (25 ml). The four amino acids (in the order Fmoc-Bta-OH, Fmoc- (3-Me)Pro-OH, Fmoc-Nva-OH, Fmoc-Smp-OH) (0.225 mmol, 1.5 eq) were coupled using the coupling reagent TBTU (72 mg, 0.225 mmol, 1.5 eq) and the base N,N- diisopropylethylamine (77 mg, 0.6 mmol, 4 eq) in dimethylformamide, whereas the final coupling with 2-ethoxy-naphth-l-yl-carboxylic acid was done with HATU (114 mg, 0.3 mmol, 2 eq) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (87 mg, 0.675 mmol, 4.5 eq) in dimethylformamide (25 mL). Fmoc deprotections were done with 20% piperidine in dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL). The completion of coupling and deprotection reactions were assessed by Kaiser test (ninhydrin). After each step, the resin was washed with dimethylformamide (2 x 25 mL), dichloromethane (3 x 25 mL) and methanol (2 x 25 mL) then dried in vacuo. Cleavage of the final peptide from the resin was achieved with dichloromethane/trifluoroethanol/ acetic acid (8:1:1, 10 ml) at room temperature for 45 min. The suspension was filtered, washing with dichloromethane. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the remaining residue was triturated with diethylether. The resulting solid was dried in vacuo to give 2-EtO-naphth-l-yl-CO-Smp-Nva-(3-Me)Pro-Bta-Aad-NHtBu as a pale yellow solid; (105 mg, 66%). MS(ESI): MH⁺ = 1069 R_t = 15.8 (Method A)

The compounds presented in Tables 1-6 were obtained in a similar fashion as the four pentapeptides described above. The column Cdc# gives the reference number for the compounds. The columns Rj, Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, U, R₂, these are the resiudes of the peptidyl compounds as defined for Formula I, above. The tables also provide mass spec data (MH⁺ ) and analytical data for the compounds (retention time and the HPLC method used). Table 1:

Table 2:

Table 3:

Table 4:

Table 5:

Table 6:

Table 7:

Synthesis of2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp-Nva-Pro-Bta-NH-CH₂-(3-HOOC-CH₂)-Ph, cdc2276

The tetrapeptide acid sequence is built up stepwise from the C-terminus as described previously (see example 3) by coupling the corresponding Fmoc-amino acid (Fmoc-Bta-OH) to the chlortrityl chloride resin, then removal of the Fmoc-protecting group to liberate the amino group for the next coupling. The final capping is done with 2-ethoxy-naphthyl-carboxylic acid. The tetrapeptide is cleaved from the resin in a similar fashion as described in example 3.

a) 2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp-Nva-Pro-Bta-NH-CH₂-(3-MeOOC-CH₂)-Ph

The tetrapeptide acid (50 mg, 0.058 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (5 ml) then methyl 2-[3-(aminomethyl)phenyl]acetate hydrochloride (23 mg, 0.116 mmol), l-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (8 mg, 0.058 mmol), l-(3- dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (22 mg, 0.116 mmol), and diisopropylethylamine (49 mg, 0.377 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with 5% aqueous citric acid (lx). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in dichloromethane. Heptane was then added until a precipitate formed. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the remaining solid dried in vacuo to give the product as a white solid 60 mg of 2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO- Smp-Nva-Pro-Bta- H-CH₂-(3-MeOOC-CH₂)-Ph). MS (ESI): λlH⁺= 1018.0 R_t = 16.49 (Method A) a) 2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp-Nva-Pro-Bta-NH-CH₂-(3-HOOC-CH₂)-Ph

The crude tetrapeptide ester (60 mg, 0.06 mmol) was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (5 ml) and water (1 ml), then IN aqueous lithium hydroxide (150 μl, 0.15 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 days. The reaction was incomplete based on HPLC, therefore more IN aqueous lithium hydroxide (60 μl, 0.06 mmol) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was then heated to 40 °C for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0 °C and quenched with aqueous IN hydrochloric acid (240 μl, 4 eq). The mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The remaining residue was redissolved in minimal acetonitrile/water and then lypholized to give 50 mg 2-EtO-l-naphthyl-CO-Smp- Nva-Pro-Bta-NH-CH₂-(3-HOOC-CH₂)-Ph as a mixture of diastereomers (ratio 85:6) MS(ESI): MH⁺= 1004 R_t = 14.51, 14.98 (Method A)

The following tetrapeptides were prepared to the method described above: Table 8

Example 2 Protein Purification

GST-tagged Proteins (ΔN1A, ΔN1B, ΔN1C):

Expression cloning of the open reading frames for the GST-tagged expression of the catalytic domains of Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and Cdc25C was performed by cloning the appropriate fragment into the PGEX-2T or PGEX-KT (Pharmacia) vector utilizing the EcoRI and HmDIII sites (see Table 9). The resulting plasmids were transformed into BL-21 (DΕ3) and the proteins were overproduced by induction of mid-log cells with 0.5 mM IPTG for 3 h at 25°C.

Purification of Cdc25 catalytic domain from GST-Cdc25.

Cell pellets from an approximately 4 liter E. coli high density fermentation were thawed. The cells were resuspended in 600 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 10 mM dithiothreitol w/ a protease inhibitor cocktail (complete tablets Boehringer Mannheim cat#l 697498) supplemented w/ 1/1000 pepstatin A (10 mg/ml; 10 ug/ml final). The cells were lysed via 2 passes through a microfluidizer at 15,000 psi. The resulting suspension was centrifuged in a GSA rotor (Beckman) at 12,000 rpm for 1 hour.

The supernatant was batch bound to 250 ml GSH sepharose 4-B (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) for 1 hour at 4 degrees with gentle rocking. The supernatant was decanted and resuspended with GSH sepharose 4-B and packed into xk50 column at 20 ml/min. The column was washed with 5-10 column volumes of 50 mM Tris pH 8.0, 0.500 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, ImM DTT. The column was then washed at a rate of 5 ml/min. with 5 column volumes of 50 mM tris, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT. The column was then eluted at a rate of 1.5 ml/min. with 50 mM tris pH 8.0, 25 mM reduced GSH, ImM EDTA, 1 mM DTT. The eluate was collected in 4 mL fractions.

The fractions were then subjected to size exclusion chromatography using a S300 Sephacryl xk 50/100 column eluted at 4 ml/min, equilibrated with 50 mM tris pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 5mM DTT. The eluate was collected as 10 mL fractions. GST-CDC25 eluted both as an aggregate in the column void volume and as a dimeric peak. Fractions corresponding to the dimer peak were pooled. The dimeric GST-CDC25 was bound to fresh GSH sepharose beads at 4 mg fusion protein per 1 ml GSH beads. The beads were washed with 10 column volumes of 25 mM tris pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM CaC12, 1 mM DTT, 100 uM EDTA. The beads were resuspended in two volumes of buffer and then digested with 5 units thrombin (Calbiochem cat# 604980 sp. activity 1900 units/mg) per mg fusion protein for 90 minutes at room temperature with gentle rocking.

The beads were filtered using a 0.45 μm cellulose acetate bottle top filtration system (Corning) to remove supernatant, and the beads were washed with 1 volume buffer. The wash was added to the pool. The thrombin was removed using ATIII agarose beads (Sigma cat# A-8293) at a ratio of 1 mL beads per 100 ug thrombin added. The solution was incubated for 1 hour at 4°C with gentle rocking and then filtered using aθ.45 μm cellulose acetate bottle top filtration system (Corning) to remove the beads. 10 mM EDTA and 0.5 mM AEBSF (Calbiochem cat#101500) were then added to inactivate any remaining thrombin. The solution was then concentrated to 6 mL using a centriprep 10,000 dalton molecular weight cutoff device (Millipore) and filtered through 0.22 μm filter.

The concentrated, filtered solution was injected onto a Superdex 75 xk26/100 column equilibrated in 50 mM NaPi pH 6.75, 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT, ImM EDTA at 2 ml/min, and the elute was collected as 2.5 mL fractions. Fractions containing the Cdc25 catalytic domain were pooled and concentrated to 20 mg/ml vs BSA. EDTA was added to 5mM , DTT to 10 mM, AEBSF to 0.5 mM, and Na azide to 0.02% final concentrations.

Native Proteins (ΔN5A, ΔN8A, ΔN8A-cl7, ΔN5B, ΔN8B, ΔN8B-cl7, ΔN8B-cl8, ΔN9C):

Expression cloning of the open reading frames for the native expression of the catalytic domains of Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and Cdc25C was performed by cloning the appropriate fragment into the pET-3d vector (Novagen) by incorporation of a Ncol site at the start codon and a HiήDlll site following the stop codon (see Table 9). The resulting plasmids were transformed into BL-21 (DE3) and the proteins were overproduced by induction of mid-log cells with 0.5 mM IPTG for 3 h at 25°C. All steps in the purification were performed at 4°C and phosphatase activity was followed by assays using pNPP as a substrate. In a typical preparation, 33 g of frozen cell pellets were thawed in 150 mL of buffer A (3 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.4), 75 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, and a cocktail of protease inhibitors (0.001 mg/ml Aprotinin, 0.001 mg/ml Leupeptin, 0.01 mg/ml Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor, 0.01 mg/ml L-l-Chloro-3-(4-tosylamido)-7-amino-2-heptanone hydrochloride and 0.01 mg/ml L-l-Chloro-3-(4-tosylamido)-4-phenyl-2-butanone). Following centrifugation at 18K for 30 min the cleared lysate was bound to 15 mL of SP- Sepharose equilibrated in buffer A. The Cdc25 protein was eluted with buffer A containing 150 mM NaCl, or by a gradient in buffer A up to 250 mM NaCl, and further purified by S-200 chromatography in phosphatase reaction buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 50 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT). Protein yields varied from 1 - 25 mg per liter of cell culture.

Table 9 Polypeptides comprising Cdc25 catalytic domain

Example 3 Crystallization of polypeptides and crystal structure determination

Crystallization of Cdc25A(ΔNlA)

Frozen Cdc25A (ΔN1A construct; 25 mg/ml in 25 mM Tris.HCl, pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 10 mM DTT, 5 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM AEBSF; 25 μL) was thawed and mixed with 1 μL DTT (100 mM), 1 μL Na₂WO₄ (100 mM), and 23 μL H₂O. This protein solution (1 μl) was mixed with 1 μL of a reservoir solution consisting of 15% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, 100 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6, and suspended over the reservoir on the underside of a siliconized glass cover slip at 4°C. Long, pyramidal crystals appeared in one day. Crystals also grew under these conditions in the presence of varying amounts of PEG 4000, in the presence of 0-400 mM ammonium acetate, and at pH values from 4.8 to 5.6.

Cryoprotection of a Cdc25A(ΔNlA) Crystal A Cdc25A(ΔNlA) crystal (crystal 1) grown as described above was transferred into a series of cryoprotective buffers containing 21-24% (w/v) PEG 4000, 100 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6, 2 mM Na₂WO₄, and 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% (v/v) glycerol. The crystal was first soaked in the 0% glycerol buffer for two min, and then allowed to soak sequentially in the 5, 10, 15, and 20% glycerol buffers for 5 min each. The crystal was picked up with a fiber loop and flash-cooled by plunging into liquid nitrogen. The crystal was stored in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Cdc25A(ΔNl A) Crystal Grown from PEG X-ray diffraction data were collected from crystal 1 on a Siemens SRA rotating anode generator (50 kV, 108 mA, 40% bias, graphite-monochromated Cu -_α radiation) equipped with a MAR Research image plate detector using the rotation method. The Cdc25A(ΔNl A) crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K with an Oxford Cryosystems Cryostream cooler during data collection. For each frame of data (225 total) the crystal was rotated by 0.4°. The crystal was then re-oriented (approximately 60° rotation around the x-ray beam) and 225 additional data frames were collected. The data were processed with the CCP4 Suite of programs (Collaborative Computational Project, Number 4, 1994). After determining the crystal orientations with REFix (Kabsch, 1993) and IDXREF (Collaborative Computational Project, Number 4, 1994), the data were integrated (in space group 4ι or P4₃, a = 43.79 A, c = 117.37 A) with MOSFLM (Leslie, 1992), scaled and merged with SCALA (Evans, 1997), and placed on an absolute scale and reduced to structure factor amplitudes with TRUNCATE (French & Wilson, 1978). Five percent of the unique reflections were assigned, in a random fashion, to the "free" set, for calculation of the free i?-factor (R_frfX); the remaining 95% of the reflections constituted the "working" set, for calculation of the ?-factor (R). These data are summarized in Table 10.

Comparison of the Cdc25A(ΔNl A) Structure in Crystals Grown from Ammonium Sulfate or PEG

The diffraction data from crystal 1 described above were indexed in a tetragonal unit cell, space group P _\ (or P4 ). In space groups PA_\ and P4₃, the direction of the polar c axis cannot be determined without reference to a molecular model for (part of) the unit cell contents. Accordingly, the data as initially indexed, "UP", were reindexed, using the transformation K = -k, k' = -h, T = -/, to provide the "DOWN" indexing. Structure factors were calculated (Collaborative Computational Project, Number 4, 1994) in space group P _\ using the partially-refined structural coordinates derived from crystals of Cdc25A(ΔNlA) (Fig. 16A to 161) grown from ammonium sulfate as described below, which form in a similarly-sized tetragonal unit cell. These calculated structure factors were scaled against the "UP"-indexed data and the "DOWN"-indexed data. The "DOWN"-indexed data scaled substantially better than the "UP"-indexed data (i?f_ree 39.1 vs. 52.4%, respectively), confirming that the correct indexing of the data was "DOWN". Examination of SigmaA-weighted (Collaborative Computational Project, Number 4, 1994) 2F₀-F_C and F₀-F_c electron- density maps showed that the partially-refined structural coordinates for the Cdc25A(ΔNl A) molecule in the crystals grown from ammonium sulfate accounted for most of the structure of Cdc25A(ΔNlA) in the crystals grown from polyethylene glycol ('PEG"). Growth of Cdc25A(ΔNlA) crystals from ammonium sulfate

Cdc25A(ΔNlA) was crystallized from 1.9-2.3 M (NH₄)₂SO₄, 50mM sodium phosphate pH 6.5-7.0 , 2mM sodium tungstate at 4°C. Long square-based pyramidal crystals, with a slight tapering along their length, and often coming to a sharp point at the apex, grew over two weeks time. The crystals had unit cell dimensions a=b=44.17 Angstrom, c=l 18.65 Angstrom, and belonged to the tetragonal space group P4(l). There was one molecule of the protein in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The phases required to obtain an interpretable electron density map were derived with 3 heavy atom derivatives of these crystals prepared by contacting the crystals with (1) Au(CN) ; (2) K PtCl₄; and (3) Thiomersal. Heavy atom phases were improved by solvent flattening. The atomic structure was refined using diffraction data to 2.1 Angstrom resolution (X-Plor). The R- factor was 26%, with an R(firee) of 31%. The resulting atomic coordinates are presented in Figs. 16A to 161.

Preliminary Refinement of the PEG Cdc25 A(ΔN1 A) Crystal Structure (Crystal 1) The partially-refined structural coordinates derived from crystals of Cdc25A(ΔNl A) grown from ammonium sulfate were refined against the "DOWN"- indexed data of the crystal described above using the program x-PLOR (Brϋnger, 1992). Rigid-body, Powell minimization, slowcool simulated annealing molecular dynamics, and temperature factor refinement resulted in an R of 31.7% (R{_τee 36.3%) for all reflections with /FI > 2.0σ^ between 20 and 1.80 A resolution. Examination of SigmaA-weighted 2F₀-F_C and F₀-F_c electron-density maps revealed that the active site loop (residues 431-434) was substantially disordered, and that no ligand (i.e. tungstate) was bound in the active site. Also, residues 493-523, at the C-terminus of the protein, were not located in the electron-density maps and were not included in the structural coordinates. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Soaking of a Cdc25A(ΔNlA) Crystal with cdcl316

A Cdc25A(ΔNlA) crystal grown as described above was transferred to 100 μL of a solution of 24% PEG 4000, 5 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6 at 4°C. After soaking for 2 min, the crystal was transferred to a fresh solution containing in addition 2 mM cdcl316. After 23 hrs, the crystal was transferred through a series of cryoprotective buffers containing 24% (w/v) PEG 4000, 10 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6, 2 mM cdcl316, and 5, 10, and 20% (v/v) glycerol (5 min each). After an additional 5 min soak in the 20% glycerol buffer, the crystal was picked up with a fiber loop and flash-cooled by plunging into liquid nitrogen. X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Cdc25A(ΔNl A) Crystal Soaked with cdcl316 A total of 235 data frames (0.4° each) were collected from a Cdc25A(ΔNlA) crystal soaked with cdcl316 as described above (crystal 2). The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described for crystal 1, in space group P _\, a = 43.69 A, c = 117.27 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 1. These data are summarized in Table 10. Additional data were collected from this crystal at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS; beamline X25, λ =1.100 A, Brandeis B4 CCD detector). The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K with an Oxford Cryosystems Cryostream cooler during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described above. Only a small fraction of the unique data were collected due to instrumental limitations. These data show, however, that the crystals diffract x-rays to 1.35 A resolution. These additional data are also summarized in Table 10.

Further Refinement of the PEG Cdc25A(ΔNlA) Crystal Structure

The partially-refined structural coordinates for crystal 1 were further refined against the diffraction data collected from the Cdc25A(ΔNl A) crystal 2 using X-PLOR. Refinement alternated with manual rebuilding of the structural coordinates (the "model") using the molecular graphics program O (Jones et al, 1991). Rigid-body, Powell minimization, slowcool simulated annealing molecular dynamics, and individual temperature factor refinement resulted in an R of 29.9% (i?_free 32.6%) for all reflections with IF l> 1.5G_F between 20 and 1.80 A resolution. The model was rebuilt aided by inspection of simulated annealing omit maps. Several more rounds of rebuilding and refinement brought the R to 27.0% (i?_free 28.9%; IF/ > 1.5σ_F, 20-1.80 A). Additional refinement with REFMAC (Murshudov et al, 1997) brought the R to 23.0% (.R_fr_ee 24.3%; IFI > 0.0 σ_Λ 20-1.80 A). This model ("Refmacl") includes Cdc25A residues 335-413, 419-431, and 435-492 and 74 water molecules. No interpretable electron-density was present for either the rest of the active site loop (residues 432-434) or the ligands tungstate or cdcl316. Also, residues 493-523, at the C-terminus of the protein, were not located in the electron-density maps and were not included in the structural coordinates. Weak, but not readily interpretable density was present for residues 414-418. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Crystallization of Cdc25A(ΔN8A)

Frozen Cdc25A (ΔN8A construct; 17 mg/ml in 50 mM Tris.HCl, pH 7.5, 50 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT, 1 mM EDTA; 150 μL) was thawed and mixed with 1.5 μL DTT (1 M), 0.3 μL NaN₃ (1.5 M), and 1.5 μL Na₂WO₄ (100 mM). This protein solution (1 μL) was mixed with 1 μL of a reservoir solution consisting of 20% (w/v) PEG 3000, 600 mM Li₂SO₄, 100 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6, and suspended over the reservoir on the underside of a siliconized glass cover slip at 4°C. Long, pyramidal crystals appeared in about 2 weeks. Crystals also grew under these conditions in the presence of varying amounts of PEG 3000 or Li SO₄, in the presence of other salts instead of Li₂SO₄ (e.g. ammonium acetate or ammonium sulfate), in the absence of PEG 3000 entirely, and at pH values from 5.6 to 5.8.

Cryoprotection of a Cdc25 A(ΔN8A) Crystal

A Cdc25A(ΔN8A) crystal (crystal 3) grown as described above was transferred into a series of cryoprotective buffers containing 20% (w/v) PEG 3000, 100 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6, and 0 and 5% (v/v) glycerol, and same containing 10% glycerol and 25% or 30% PEG 3000. The crystal was soaked sequentially in the 0% glycerol, 5% glycerol, 25% PEG 3000/10% glycerol, and 30% PEG 3000/10% glycerol buffers for five sec each. The crystal was picked up with a fiber loop and flash-cooled by plunging into liquid nitrogen. The crystal was stored in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Cdc25A(ΔN8A) Crystal

A total of 225 data frames (0.4° each) were collected from crystal 3 as described above. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described above in space group P4_\, a = 43.94 A, c = 117.39 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 1.

Annealing of a Cdc25A(ΔN8A) Crystal

Crystal 3 was thawed after x-ray data collection in a cryoprotective buffer containing 30% (w/v) PEG 3000, 100 mM sodium citrate, pH 5.6, and 10% (v/v) glycerol at 4°C. After 15 min, the crystal was picked up with a fiber loop and flash- cooled again by plunging into liquid nitrogen.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from the Annealed Cdc25 A(ΔN8A) Crystal

A total of 180 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from the annealed crystal 3 using the method described above. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed, merged with the data collected as described above, and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group PA_\, a = 43.92 A, c = 117.38 A. These annealed data extended to higher resolution than the pre-annealed data (2.15 vs. 2.40 A). The annealed crystal also had a lower mosaic spread (0.3° vs. 0.6°). The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 1. These final crystal 3 data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25A(ΔN8A) Crystal Structure

The refinement of the Cdc25A(ΔN8A) crystal structure (crystal 3) began with the intermediate "Powell8" structural coordinates for Cdc25A(ΔNl A), described above, from which water molecules had been removed. Rigid-body, Powell minimization, and overall and individual temperature factor refinement resulted in an R of 27.1% (R_{ree 29.2%) for all reflections with /F/> 2.0σ^ between 20 and 2.15 A resolution. Examination of SigmaA-weighted 2F₀-F_C and E₀-E_c electron-density maps revealed that the active site loop (residues 431-434) was partially ordered, in a conformation different from that observed in other phosphatases. Further refinement with REFMAC (Murshudov et al, 1997) brought the R to 22.8% (i?_free 27.1%; IF/ > 0.0σ_f, 20-2.15 A). This model ("Refmacl") includes Cdc25A residues 335-413 and 419-492, and 67 water molecules. No interpretable electron-density was present for the ligand tungstate. Weak, but not readily interpretable density was present for residues 414-418. Active site loop residues 431-433 were built as alanines. Tungstate, residues preceding 335, and residues 493-523 were not located in the electron-density maps and were not included in the structural coordinates. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Soaking of a Cdc25 A(ΔN8 A) with Na₂WO₄ and X-ray Diffraction Data Collection Crystal 3 was annealed for three days at 4°C in a buffer supplemented with 10 mM Na₂WO₄. The crystal was flash-cooled in liquid nitrogen. A total of 40 data frames (1.0° each) were collected from the crystal (now crystal 4) as described above. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described above, in space group P _\, a = 43.98 A, c = 117.72 A. These soaked data were much weaker than those of crystal 3 (3.00 vs. 2.15 A). The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working sets" as used for crystal 1. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Na₂WO₄-Soaked Cdc25A(ΔN8A) Crystal Structure

Refinement of the Na₂WO₄-soaked Cdc25A(ΔN8A) crystal structure (crystal 4) began with the "Powellδ" structural coordinates for crystal 1 in which water molecules had been removed. Rigid-body, Powell minimization, and temperature factor refinement resulted in an R of 22.1% (i?_free 25.7%) for all reflections with IF I > 2.0σ^ between 20 and 3.00 A resolution. Examination of SigmaA-weighted 2F₀-F_C and F₀-F_c electron-density maps showed that tungstate was not present in the active site. The model was not further refined. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Crystallization of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Frozen Cdc25B (ΔN1B construct; 17.5 mg/ml in 10 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.7, 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM DTT, 5 mM EDTA; 212 μL) was thawed and mixed with 0.4 μL NaN₃ (1.5 M) and 7.4 μL cdcl249 (30 mM in 25 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.5). This protein solution was aged for 4 days at 1°C. A slight precipitate that formed was removed by centrifugation. The supernatant (1 μL) was mixed with 1 μL of a reservoir solution consisting of 4.4 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.0, and suspended over the reservoir on the underside of a siliconized glass cover slip at 4°C. Block-like crystals appeared within 2-7 days. Crystals also grew under these conditions in the presence of varying amounts of NaCl, and at pH values from 5.75 to 8.0.

Crystallization of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex. Frozen Cdc25B (ΔN8B construct; 27.5 mg/ml in 50 mM Tris.HCl, pH 7.5, 50 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT, 1 mM EDTA; 25 μL) was thawed and mixed with 0.25 μL NaN₃ (0.3 M), 0.2 μL DTT (1 M), and 0.85 μL cdcl249 (30 mM in 25 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.5). This protein solution (2 μL) was mixed with 2 μL of a reservoir solution consisting of 82.5% saturated NaCl (-4.5 M), 50 mM sodium MES, pH 6.5, and suspended over the reservoir on the underside of a siliconized glass cover slip at 4°C. Block-like crystals appeared in one day.

The Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl7).cdcl249, Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl8).cdcl249, Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl671, Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl885, Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl659, and Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl671 complexes were also crystallized using this general procedure.

Cryoprotection of Cdc25B(ΔNlB), Cdc25B(ΔN8B), Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl7), and

Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl8) Inhibitor Complex Crystals

A Cdc25B inhibitor complex crystal grown as described above was transferred into a series of cryoprotective buffers containing 4.5 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium MES, pH 6.5 or 50 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.0, and 0, 5, 10, and 16.5% (v/v) glycerol.

The crystal was soaked sequentially in the 0 and 5% glycerol buffers, and then the 10 and 16.5% glycerol buffers (each of which also contained 0.5-2.0 mM of the appropriate inhibitor), for 5 min each. The crystal was picked up with a fiber loop and flash-cooled by plunging into liquid nitrogen. The crystal was stored in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator. X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal

A total of 359 data frames (0.25° each) were collected from a Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 5) using the equipment described above. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described above, in space group 4₁2j2 or P4₃2]2, a = 70.15 A, c = 130.35 A. Five percent of the unique reflections were assigned, in a random fashion, to the free set, for calculation of the free .ft-factor (R_free); the remaining 95% of the reflections constituted the "working set", for calculation of the i?-factor (R). These data are summarized in Table 10.

Molecular Replacement Solution of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure A cross-rotation function was calculated with the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal data described above, using the program AMORE (Navaza, 1994). The search model was the partially-refined structural coordinates of Cdc25A(ΔNl A) (crystal 1). The cross-rotation function had one obvious solution, at Eulerian angles [27.66, 63.02, 94.53], which was 11.3 standard deviations above the mean level of the cross-rotation function; the next highest peak was 6.9 standard deviations above the mean. The translation function was calculated (AMORE) in space groups P4]22, P4₃22, P4_\2_\2, and P4 2j2. One solution was obvious, in space group P4₃2)2, with an i?-factor of 49.3%, and a correlation coefficient of 31.4% (15-3.0 A resolution).

Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal

A total of 35 data frames (1.0° each) were collected from crystal 5 at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS; beamline X25, λ = 1.100 A, Brandeis B4 CCD detector). The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K with an Oxford Cryosystems Cryostream cooler during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described above, in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.15 A, c = 130.35 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for the laboratory data for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure

The partially-refined structural coordinates of Cdc25A(ΔNl A) (crystal 1) were refined against the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal data using x- PLOR. Refinement alternated with manual rebuilding of the model using the molecular graphics program O. The molecular replacement model was modified by changing many of the amino acid side chains that differed between Cdc25A and Cdc25B to the Cdc25B amino acids. These side chains were located in clear electron-density. Unclear amino acids were truncated as alanine. Bulk solvent correction (-60% solvent by volume in these crystals), Powell minimization, overall and then group temperature factor refinement, and manual rebuilding reduced the R to 37.7% (jf?f_ree 43.9%) for all reflections with IFI > 1.5cjp between 20 and 2.40 A resolution. Torsion angle molecular dynamics improved the electron-density maps such that two missing loops (residues 456-464 and 474-477, the active site loop) could be built into very clear density. Clear density was also present at this stage of the refinement for much of cdc 1249 bound in the active site. Continued refinement (including individual temperature factors) and rebuilding allowed the addition of residues 533-548 (the C- terminal α-helix), the first 5 (of 6 total) residues for cdc 1249, and several water molecules (R 21.0%, i?_free 31.2%). Further refinement including slowcool simulated annealing molecular dynamics revealed the presence of another molecule of cdc 1249 bound, not at the active site, but between two Cdc25B(ΔNlB) molecules related by crystallographic symmetry. Addition of this second molecule of cdc 1249, several water molecules, a Na⁺ ion, and several Cl^" ions followed by more refinement reduced the R to 22.8% (R_free 26.1%). The model was rebuilt aided by inspection of simulated annealing omit maps. Several rounds of refinement brought the R to 20.3% ( ?fr_ee 22.9%; IFI> 0.5σ_F, 20-2.30 A). These structural coordinates ("Powelll4") for the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 377-548, two cdc 1249 molecules, 129 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. At this point the synchrotron data described above became available. Further refinement with REFMAC, which included the addition of several side chains in alternate conformations, resulted in an R of 21.8% (R_fκe 24.4%; IFI> 0.0σ , 20-1.95 A). These final structural coordinates ("Refmacl") for the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 377-548, two cdcl249 molecules, 158 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. These data are summarized in Table 10.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex crystal Soaked with cdcl316

A Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal prepared as described above was transferred to 50 μL of a buffer containing 4.5 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.0, and 2 mM cdcl316. After 70 min, the crystal was cryoprotected and flash-cooled (buffers contained 2 mM cdcl316). A total of 180 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from this soaked crystal (crystal 6). The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described previously, in space group P4₃2]2, a - 70.21 A, c = 130.09 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Structure of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Soaked with cdcl316

Refinement against the data collected with crystal 6 began with an intermediate model ("Powelll 1") for the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex from which both molecules of cdc 1249 had been deleted. Slowcool simulated annealing molecular dynamics, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement lowered R to 27.4% (R_{κe 32.9%; IFI > 1.0σ_F, 20-2.50 A). Examination of electron-density maps showed strong, clear electron-density for cdc 1249 in the active site. There was no evidence for replacement of cdc 1249 by cdcl316 at the active site. The positive F₀-F_c electron-density was not as strong at the crystallographic symmetry site, however, suggesting that partial replacement of cdc 1249 by cdc 1316 may have occurred at this site. These data are summarized in Table 11. X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystals

A total of 201 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from two Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystals (crystals 7 and 8). The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described previously in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.28 A, c = 130.97 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free"and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure. Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal data began with the "Powelll4" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. Rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement lowered R to 23.7% (i?_free 25.5%; /F/> 2.0σ_f, 20-2.00 A). Electron- density maps revealed the presence of additional N-terminal amino acid residues, as expected for the Cdc25B(ΔΝ8B) construct compared to the Cdc25B(ΔNlB) construct. Both molecules of cdc 1249 were in their expected locations at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. Rebuilding followed by additional refinement lowered R to 22.6% (Λ_free 24.3%; IFI > 1.5σ_Λ 20-2.00 A). These structural coordinates ("Powell2") for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 370-548, two cdcl249 molecules, 128 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. These data are summarized in Table 11.

Soaking of Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystals with Low Molecular Weight Organic Compounds

Eight crystals of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex were transferrred sequentially through solutions containing 4.5 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.0, 0.5-1.5 mM cdcl249, and increasing concentrations (0, 50, 100, 250, and 1000 mM) of t-BuNH , imidazole, (i?)-3-hydroxypyrrolidine, or 2-methyl- 1- propanol (-500 mM maximum, saturated solution) at 4°C. Crystals were soaked for 10-15 min in each solution, and were then left in the final solution for 3 or 23 hrs. Crystals were then cryoprotected by the addition of glycerol (7.5% (v/v), 5 min; 17.5%) (v/v), 5 min) and then flash-cooled by plunging into liquid nitrogen. Test x- ray diffraction images of all eight crystals showed that the crystalline order of each had been substantially unaffected by the soaking procedure, as the crystals diffracted x-rays to a maximum resolution of 2.2-2.6 A. The crystals were stored in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystals Soaked with t-BuNH₂, Imidazole, or 2 -Methyl- 1 -propanol

A total of 100 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from the Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 9) that had been soaked for 3 hrs with -0.5 M 2-methyl- 1 -propanol using the equipment described above. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2j2, a = 70.01 A, c = 129.92 A. Similarly, a total of 225 data frames (0.4° each) were collected from the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 10) that had been soaked for 23 hrs with 1 M t-BuNH₂. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4 2j2, a = 70.38 A, c = 131.15 A. Similarly, a total of 112 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 11) that had been soaked for 23 hrs with 1 M imidazole. The crystal was maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.46 A, c = 131.36 A. The unique reflections for all three data sets were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These three data sets are summarized in Table 10.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystals Soaked with t-BuNH₂ or (R)-3-hydroxypyrrolidine

X-ray diffraction data were collected at NSLS as described above at a temperature of 100 K. A total of 60 data frames (1.0° each) were collected from the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 12) that had been soaked for 3 hrs with 1 M t-BuNH₂. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2_t2, a = 70.24 A, c = 131.57 A. Similarly, a total of 67 data frames (1.0° each) were collected from the Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 13) that had been soaked for 3 hrs with 1 M (i?)-3 -hydroxypyrrolidine. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2j2, a = 70.04 A, c = 130.34 A. And, a total of 99 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 14) that had been soaked for 23 hrs with 1 M (R)-3- hydroxypyrrolidine. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.46 A, c = 131.00 A. The unique reflections for these three data sets were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These three data sets are summarized in Table 10.

Structural Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystals Soaked with Low Molecular Weight Organic Compounds

Refinement of the soaked Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal data began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex from which water molecules and a Cl^" ion in the "Swimming Pool" region of the active site, adjacent to the Nal residue of cdc 1249, had been removed. For crystal 12, rigid body, Powell minimization, individual temperature factor refinement and slowcool simulated annealing molecular dynamics lowered R to 24.2% (Λfree 27.7%; IFI > 1.0σ_Λ 20-1.60 A). Electron-density maps showed that t- BuNH₂ was not present in the "Swimming Pool". The model for crystal 13 was refined similarly, resulting in an R of 24.7% (i?_free 27.8%; /FI > 1.0σ_Λ 20-1.60 A). Electron-density maps showed that (R)-3 -hydroxypyrrolidine was not present in the "Swimming Pool". The model for crystal 9 was refined as above, but without slowcool simulated annealing molecular dynamics, resulting in an R of 21.3% (R_fτee 25.1%; IFI > 2.0σ_Λ 30-2.45 A). Electron-density maps showed that 2-methyl-l- propanol was not present in the "Swimming Pool". The model for crystal 10 was refined similarly, resulting in an R of 22.3% (R_fr 25.6%; IFI > 2.0σ_Λ 20-2.15 A). Electron-density maps showed that t-BuNH₂ was not present in the "Swimming Pool". The model for crystal 14 was refined as for crystal 10 resulting an R of 23.2% ( J_free 25.2%; /FI > 2.0O_F, 30-2.30 A). Electron-density maps showed that imidazole was not present in the "Swimming Pool". Finally, the model for crystal 14 was refined as for crystals 12 and 13 (with an additional cycle of Powell minimization and individual temperature factor refinement) resulting in an R of 24.6% (i?_free 27.9%; IFI > 0.0σ_/r, 20-1.60 A). Electron-density maps showed that (R)-3 -hydroxypyrrolidine was not present in the "Swimming Pool". These data are summarized in Table 11.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from Crystals of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl671, Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl659, and Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl671 Inhibitor Complexes A total of 195 data frames (0.4° each) were collected from the Cdc25B (ΔNlB).cdcl671 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 15). The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.03 A, c = 130.07 A. A total of 120 data frames (0.5° each) were collected similarly from a Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl659 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 16). The data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4 2ι2, a — 70.10 A, c = 129.47 A. Test data were also collected from a Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl671 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 17) space group 4₃2i2, a = 70.10 A, c = 130.13 A), but were judged not worthy of full data collection due to weak diffraction (maximum resolution, 3.00 A) compared to the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl671 inhibitor complex crystal. The unique reflections for crystals 15 and 16 were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These two data sets are summarized in Table 10.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Crystal of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl885 Inhibitor Complex

A total of 100 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from the Cdc25B (ΔNlB).cdcl885 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 18). Additional data (32 frames, 1.0° each) were collected at NSLS as described previously. The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The laboratory and NSLS diffraction data were processed, merged, and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a - 70.10 A, c = 130.13 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl671 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl671 inhibitor complex crystal data (crystal 15) began with the "Powelll5" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B (ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdcl249 molecules, water molecules, and ions were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdcl671 were in their expected locations (comparable to cdc 1249) at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 20.2% (R_fτee 22.8%; /F/> l.Oσ_/ , 20-3.00 A). These structural coordinates ("Powellό") for the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl671 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 377-548, two cdcl671 molecules, 32 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. These data are summarized in Table 11.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl659 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl659 inhibitor complex crystal data

(crystal 16) began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdcl249 molecules were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdc 1659 were in their expected locations (comparable to cdc 1249) at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 22.2% (i?fr_ee 25.3%; IFI > 1.0σ_Λ 20-2.20 A). These structural coordinates ("Powell3") for the Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl659 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 370-548, two cdcl659 molecules, 128 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. These data are summarized in Table 11. Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl885 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔNlB).cdcl885 inhibitor complex crystal data (crystal 18) began with the "Powell 14" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B (ΔNlB).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdcl249 molecules were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdcl885 were in their expected locations (comparable to cdcl249) at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 22.8% (R_fτ_ee 25.1%; IFI > \ .0σ , 30- 1.70 A). These structural coordinates ("Powell2") for the Cdc25B

(ΔNlB).cdcl885 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 377-548, two cdcl885 molecules, 128 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. These data are summarized in Table 11.

Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Grown in the Presence of cdc 1900

A total of 121 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from a Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal grown in the presence of cdcl900 (crystal 19) at NSLS as described previously. The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.29 A, c = 130.59 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

High-Resolution Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal structure against the synchrotron data collected from crystal 19 began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. Rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement with X- PLOR, followed by the addition of several side chains in alternate conformations and refinement with REFMAC resulted in an R of 22.4% (i?_free 24.1%; IF/> 0.0σ_Λ 15-1.45 A). Further refinement with individual anisotropic temperature factors resulted in an R of 21.1% (Λ_free 23.1%; IF/> 0.0σ_Λ 15-1.45 A). These final structural coordinates ("Refmac3") for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex consist of cdc25B residues 369-548, two cdcl249 molecules, 235 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and six Cl^" ions. The inhibitor cdc 1900 was not located, even though it had been included in the crystallization mixture. These data are summarized in Table 11.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Crystal of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl7).cdcl249

Inhibitor Complex A total of 113 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from a Cdc25B(ΔN8B- cl7).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal (crystal 20) using the equipment described above. The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection.

The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes, as described in 3, in space group P4 2_t2, a = 70.05 A, c = 131.44 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5.

These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl7).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl7).cdcl249 inhibitor complex structure against the data collected from crystal 20 began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdc 1249 molecules were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement with X-PLOR. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdc 1249 were in their expected locations at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 22.6% CRfr_ee 27.4%; IFI > l.0cs_F, 30-2.70 A). These final structural coordinates ("Powell2") for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B-cl7).cdcl249 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 370-548, two cdcl249 molecules, 128 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. The structure was extremely similar to that of the

Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 complex. These data are summarized in Table 11. X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from a Crystal of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Grown in the Presence of cdcl 973

A total of 140 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from a Cdc25B (ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex crystal grown in the presence of cdcl973 (crystal 21). The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2ι2, a - 70.22 A, c = 131.29 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free"and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure, Crystal Grown in the Presence of cdc 1973

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex structure against the data collected from crystal 21 began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdc 1249 molecules were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement with X-PLOR. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdc 1249 were in their expected locations at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 20.5% (i?_free 24.4%; IFI > 1.0σ_Λ 30-2.52 A). These final structural coordinates ("Powell2") for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex consist of Cdc25B residues 369-548, two cdcl249 molecules, 128 water molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. There was no evidence for the replacement of cdcl249 by cdcl973 at either site. These data are summarized in Table 11.

Soaking of Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystals with Other Inhibitors

Four crystals of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex prepared as described above were soaked in a buffer containing 4.5 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium HEPES, pH 7.0, 4°C. The buffer also contained 2 mM cdcl659, cdcl671, cdcl748, or cdc 1973. After one day, the crystal in the cdc 1748 soak had dissolved; the other crystals were intact. Similar soaks were set up at room temperature, using cdcl 659, cdcl671, or cdcl973. After four additional days, the crystals were cryoprotected as described previously. Additional crystals were soaked in a similar fashion (1 mM inhibitor) for one day, and then cryoprotected as described previously.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from Crystals of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl 249 Inhibitor Complex Soaked in the Presence of cdcl659, cdcl671, or cdcl973

The x-ray diffraction characteristics of the soaked crystals described above (five days soak time) were examined. The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. Only the crystal that had been soaked with 2 mM cdcl 973 at 4°C diffracted x-rays. A total of 88 data frames (0.5° each) were collected from this crystal, crystal 22. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.03 A, c - 131.30 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure, Crystal Soaked in the Presence of cdcl 973

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex structure against the data collected from crystal 22 began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdcl249 and water molecules were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body, Powell minimization, and individual temperature factor refinement with x- PLOR. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdc 1249 were in their expected locations at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 21.6% (R_iτee 25.3%; IFI > 2.0σ , 30-3.50 A). These final structural coordinates ("Powell3") for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex (soaked with cdcl973) consist of Cdc25B residues 370-548, two cdcl249 molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. A SigmaA-weighted F₀-F_c electron-density map showed no interpretable difference density for the cdc 1249 molecule in the active site. At the crystallographic symmetry lattice site, however, a strong negative peak (>3σ) was centered over the sulfonate moiety of cdc 1249, suggesting that some substitution of cdcl973 for cdc 1249 had occurred at this site only. These data are summarized in Table 11.

X-ray Diffraction Data Collection from Crystals of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Soaked in the Presence of cdcl659 or cdcl671 at Room Temperature

The x-ray diffraction characteristics of the soaked crystals described above (one day soak time at room temperature) were examined using the equipment described previously. The crystals were maintained at a temperature of 100 K during data collection. Only the crystal that had been soaked with 2 mM cdcl 659 diffracted x-rays. A total of 59 data frames (0.75° each) were collected from this crystal, crystal 23. The diffraction data were processed and reduced to structure factor amplitudes in space group P4₃2]2, a = 70.05 A, c = 129.95 A. The unique reflections were assigned to the same "free" and "working" sets as used for crystal 5. These data are summarized in Table 10.

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 Inhibitor Complex Crystal Structure, Crystal Soaked in the Presence of cdc 1659 at Room Temperature

Refinement of the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex structure against the data collected from crystal 24 began with the "Powell2" structural coordinates for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex. The cdc 1249 and water molecules were removed from the model, which was then subjected to rigid body and, Powell minimization, and overall temperature factor refinement with x- PLOR. Electron-density maps showed that both molecules of cdc 1249 were in their expected locations at the active site and at the crystallographic symmetry site. These inhibitors were added to the model. Additional refinement alternating with rebuilding lowered R to 24.3% (i?_free 26.3%; IFI > 1.0σ , 30-2.70 A). These final structural coordinates ("Powell2") for the Cdc25B(ΔN8B).cdcl249 inhibitor complex (soaked with cdcl 659) consist of Cdc25B residues 370-548, two cdcl249 molecules, one Na⁺ ion, and five Cl^" ions. A SigmaA-weighted ₀- _c election-density map showed no interpretable difference density for either cdc 1249 molecule, suggesting that no substitution of cdcl659 for cdcl249 had occurred. These data are summarized in Table 10.

"Highest resolution shell in parentheses. Table 11. Summary of Crystallographic Refinement Statistics

References:

Brunger, A. T (1992) X-PLOR Version 3 1, A System for Crystallography and NMR (Yale University Press, New Haven, CT).

Collaborative Computational Project, Number 4. (1994). Acta Cryst. D50, 760-763

Evans, P.R. (1997). Joint CCP4 and ESF-EACBM Newsletter 33, 22-24. French, S. & Wilson, K. (1978). Acta Cryst. A34, 517-525.

Jones, T.A., Zou, J.Y., Cowan, S.W. & Kjelgaard, M. (1991). Acta Cryst. A47, 110-119.

Kabsch, W. (1993). J. Appl Cryst. 24,795-800.

Leslie, A.G.W. (1992). CCP4 andESF-EACMB Newsletter on Protein Crystallography

No. 26. Murshudov, G.N., Vagin, A. A., and Dodson, E. J. (1997) Acta Crystallogr. D53, 240 255. Navaza, J. (1994). Acta Oyst. A50, 157-163.

Example 4 Synthesis of Non-peptidic Cdc25 Inhibitors

2- {4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy} acetic acid (compound la)

a) tert-Butyl 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]acetate A suspension of 60% sodium hydride in paraffin (2.37 g, 0.0592 mol) was added to a solution of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (7.00 g, 0.0564 mol) in N,N- dimethylformamide (200 mL) at about 0°C and the mixture stirred at this temperature for about 20 min. It was followed by the addition of the solution of tert- butylbromoacetate (11.05 g, 0.0564 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) dropwise over about 15 min. and the resulting mixture gradually warmed to ambient temperature while stirring under nitrogen for about 20 hours. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue partitioned between ethyl acetate (200 mL) and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution in water (150 mL). The organic phase was dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residual yellow oil was purified by flash chromatography on silica using ethyl acetate/ n-heptane (1 :3) as mobile phase to give tert-butyl 2-[4- (hydroxymethyl)phenoxy] acetate (9.07 g, 0.0379 mol) as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (DMSO- _6>400MHz) δ 7.21 (d, 2H), 6.83 (d, 2H), 5.03 (t, IH), 4.61 (s, 2H), 4.41 (d, 2H), 1.42 (s, 9H); TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1 :2) R_f 0.34 b) tert-Butyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]acetate

A suspension of N-bromosuccinimide (11.2 g, 0.0628 mol) in dichloromethane (150 mL) was cooled to about 0°C and dimethylsulfide (4.4 g, 0.0709 mol) was added dropwise over about 30 min. The mixture was stirred for about 10 min., cooled to about -30°C and the solution of tert-butyl 2-[4- (hydroxymethyl)phenoxy] acetate (9.0 g, 0.0378 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) was added dropwise over about 20 min. The resulting mixture was gradually warmed to ambient temperature while stirring under nitrogen for 20 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into brine (250 mL) and extracted with chloroform (3x150 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residual yellow oil was purified by flash chromatography on silica using ethyl acetate/ n-heptane (1:4) as mobile phase to give tert-butyl 2-[4- (bromomethyl)phenoxy] acetate (6.7 g, 0.0223 mol) as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (DMSO-d_6>400MHz) δ 7.36 (d, 2H), 6.88 (d, 2H), 4.71 (s, 2H), 4.65 (s, 2H),

1.42 (s, 9H); TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1 :2) R_f 0.58

c) 2- {4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy} acetic acid A solution of sodium sulfite (11.22 g, 0.089 mol) in water (100 mL) was added to a solution of tert-butyl 2- [4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy] acetate (6.7 g, 0.0223 mol) in dioxane (90 mL) and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux under nitrogen for about 7 hours. The solvents were removed under reduced pressure, the residue treated with trifluoroacetic acid (150 mL) and stirred for about 1 hour. The resulting mixture was concentrated and the residue purified by preparative RP-HPLC (Rainin,

Microsorb C18, 8 μm, 30θA, 25 cm; 0%-30% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 60 min., 81 ml/min) to yield 2-4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxyacetic acid ( 2.85 g, 0.0116 mol) as a white solid. 1H NMR DMSO-d₆, 400MHz) δ 7.20 (d, 2H), 7.60 (d, 2H), 4.63 (s, 2H), 3.72 (s, 2H);

RP-HPLC ( Vydac C18, 5μm, 300A, 25 cm; 5%-25% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 20 min, lmL/min) R_t 6.53 min. MS: MH^" 245. 2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}propanoic acid (compound lb)

a) tert-Butyl 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]propanoate A solution of 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenol (2.00 g, 0.0161 mol) in NN- dimethylformamide (25 ml) was reacted with 60% sodium hydride in mineral oil (0.709 g, 0.0177 mol). The mixture was stiπed for about 15 minutes at which time gas evolution ceased. Tert-butyl 3-bromo-2-methylpropanoate (3.37 g, 0.0161 mol) was added and the mixture was stiπed at ambient temperature for about 6 hours. The mixture was partitioned between diethyl ether (20 mL) and saturated aqueous ammonium chloride (15 mL). The aqueous phase was extracted with diethyl ether (2 x 10 mL), and the combined organic phases were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica using n-heptane/ethyl acetate (3:1) as an eluent to give tert-butyl 2- [4- (hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]propanoate as a white solid (3.08 g, 0.0122 mol):

Η ΝMR (DMSO- ₆,400MHz) δ 7.22 (d, 2H), 6.80 (d, 2H), 5.06 (t, IH), 4.73 (q, IH), 4.40 (d, 2H), 1.46 (d, 3H), 1.39 (s, 9H); TLC (n-heptane/ethyl acetate = 1 : 1) R_f 0.32

b) tert-Butyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]propanoate

A suspension of N-bromosuccinimide (2.37 g, 0.0132 mol) in dichloromethane (70 ml) was cooled to about 0° C under a nitrogen atmosphere. Dimethylsulfide (0.92 g, 0.0148 mol) was added dropwise, keeping the temperature less than about 5° C. The solution was stiπed an additional 15 minutes after the addition was complete and dissolution had occuπed. The solution was cooled to about -30° C and a solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]propanoate (2.00 g, 0.0079 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (25 mL) was added dropwise over 15 minutes. The mixture was allowed to warm to about 0° C over about 3 hours. The mixture was quenched with 0° C brine (50 mL) and extracted with chloroform (3 x 30 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica using n-heptane/ethyl acetate (3:1) as an eluent to give tert-butyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]propanoate as a white solid (1.86 g, 0.0059 mol): 1H NMR (CDC1_3; 400MHz) δ 7.30 (d, 2H), 6.82 (d, 2H), 4.52 (q, IH), 4.48 (s, 2H),

1.58 (d, 3H), 1.44 (s, 9H);

TLC (n-heptane/ethyl acetate = 1 : 1) R_f 0.71

c) 2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}propanoic acid

A solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]propanoate (1.0 g, 0.00317 mol), in dioxane (50 mL) was reacted with a solution of sodium sulfite (2.0 g, 0.01586 mol), in water (50 mL) at reflux for about 16 hours. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was stiπed in 95% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (20 mL) for about 1 hour at room temperature. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by preparative RP-HPLC (Rainin, Microsorb C18, 8 μm, 30θA, 25 cm; 0%-30% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 30 minutes, 81 ml/min). The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in water (20 mL), filtered through a 0.45 m acrodisc filter and lyopholyzed to give 2-{4- [(hydroxysulfonyl)-methyl]phenoxy}propanoic acid as a fluffy white solid (0.352 g,

0.00135 mol):

^]H NMR (DMSO-J_6;400MHz) δ 7.19 (d, 2H), 6.80 (d, 2H), 4.81 (q, IH), 3.95 (2, 2H), 1.45 (d, 3H); ¹³C NMR (DMSO- , 100MHz) δ 173.8, 153.6, 129.0, 122.5, 112.3, 69.6, 53.2, 14.8; RP-HPLC ( Vydac C18, 5μm, 30θA, 25 cm; 5%-25% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 20 min, 1 mL/min) R_t 13.26 min.

Compounds lc-lk

General synthetic procedure for compounds of formula I-G

a) Synthesis of alpha-substituted 2-(4-formylphenoxy)acetates (Intermediate I-D)

Method A: The betaine (0.615 mg, 0.0015 mol), an adduct of triphenylphosphme and 3,3- dimethyl-l,2,5-thiadiazolidine 1,1 -dioxide, is added to a solution of the appropriate alcohol (0.001 mol) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (0.183 g, 0.0015 mol) in toluene (10 mL). The reaction mixture is heated to about 100 °C for about 3 hours, then cooled to about 20 °C and partitioned between ethyl acetate (30 mL) and IN aqueous sodium hydroxide (25 mL). The organic phase is extracted with IN aqueous sodium hydroxide (25 mL) and brine (30 mL). The organic phase is then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The crude product is then purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate/hexanes) to yield the desired ether

(intermediate I-B).

Method B:

Sodium hydride (0.132 g, 0.0033 mol) is added to a solution of 4- hydroxybenzaldehyde (0.366 g, 0.003 mol) in dimethylformamide (7.5 mL) at about 0

°C. The reaction mixture is then warmed to ambient temperature and stiπed for about 15 min. The appropriate bromide (0.001 mol) is then added and the reaction is heated to about 60 °C for about 24 hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled to room temperature and partitioned between ethyl acetate (25 mL) and water (25 mL). The organic phase is then extracted with IN aqueous sodium hydroxide (20 mL) and brine

(25 mL). The organic phase is then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The crude product is then purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate / hexanes) to yield the desired ether (intermediate I-B).

b) Synthesis of alpha-substituted 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]acetates

(Intermediate I-B)

To a solution of the aldehyde (0.00075 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) and methanol (5 mL) at about 0 °C is added sodium tetraborohydride (0.0028 g, 0.00075 mol). The reaction mixture is warmed to ambient temperature and stiπed for about 30 min. The reaction is then quenched with 10% aqueous citric acid (5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL). The organic phase is then extracted with IN aqueous sodium hydroxide (10 mL) and brine (10 mL). The organic phase is then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated to yield the desired alcohol (intermediate I-B) which is used without further purification.

General procedure to make alpha-substituted 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]acetic acids (Intermediate I-H)

To a solution of the alcohol (0.00064 mol) in methanol (4 mL)/H₂O (2 mL) at ambient temperature is added lithium hydroxide (0.052 g, 0.00128 mol). The reaction mixture is then stiπed at room temp, for about 30 min., then diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl ether (15 mL). The aqueous phase is acidified to pH = 2 with 5% aqueous hydrogen chloride. The aqueous phase is then extracted with ethyl acetate (3 x 10 mL). The combined ethyl acetate layers are then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to yield the desired acid (intermediate I-H) which is used without further purification.

General procedure to alpha-substituted 2-{4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy} acetic acids (Intermediate I-G)

To a 1M aqueous sodium bisulfite solution (2.5 mL, 0.0025 mol) is added the appropriate acid (0.00025 mol). The suspension is sealed and heated at about 110 °C for about 24 hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled to room temp, and diluted with 1 : 1 acetonitrile/water (5 mL). The solution is then filtered through a 3 micron filter and purified by prep. HPLC to yield the desired sulfonate (Intermediate I-G).

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}butanoic acid (compound lc) was synthesized according to Method B.

Η NMR (DMSO- ₆, 300MHz) δ 7.18 (d, 2H), 6.75 (d, 2H), 4.59 (t, IH), 3.62 (s, 2H), 1.87 (m, 2H), 0.99 (t, 3H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 m, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-60% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 22.5 min.

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}-3-methylbutanoic acid (compound Id) was synthesized according to Method A.

^!H NMR

300MHz) δ 7.18 (d, 2H), 6.75 (d, 2H), 4.40 (d, IH), 3.68 (s, 2H), 2.20 (m, IH), 1.02 (d, 6H); RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 14.8 min.

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}pentanoic acid (compound le) was synthesized according to Method A

1H NMR (DMSO-J₆, 300MHz) δ 7.18 (d, 2H), 6.73 (d, 2H), 4.61 (t, IH), 3.63 (s, 2H), 1.82 (m, 2H), 1.45 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, 3H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 30θA, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile -

0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 14.5 min.

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}-4-methylpentanoic acid (compound If) was synthesized according to Method A

Η NMR (DMSO- ₆, 300MHz) δ 7.18 (d, 2H), 6.72.(d, 2H), 4.61 (m, IH), 3.62 (s, 2H), 1.82 (m, 2H), 1.65 (m, IH), 0.93 (d, 3H), 0.89 (d, 3H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-60% acetonitrile - 0.1%) trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 25 min.

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}hexanoic acid (compound lg) was synthesized according to Method A

1H NMR (DMSO- ₆, 300MHz) δ 7.18 (d, 2H), 6.72 (d, 2H), 4.60 (t, IH), 3.61 (s, 2H), 1.83 (m, 2H), 1.48-1.30 (m, 4H), 0.89 (t, 3H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile - 0.1%) trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 19.5 min.

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}-2-phenylacetic acid (compound lh) was synthesized according to Method A

Η NMR (DMSO- ₆, 300MHz) δ 7.59 (d, 2H), 7.40 (m, 3H), 7.19 (d, 2H), 6.82 (d,

2H), 5.78 (s, IH), 3.60 (s, 2H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile -

0.1%) trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 18.2 min. 2-4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid (compound li) was synthesized according to Method A

1H NMR (DMSO- ₆, 300MHz) δ 7.35-7.20 (m, 5H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 6.71 (d, 2H), 4.88

(t, IH), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.15 (m, 2H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R 25 min. (7^)-2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy}-4-phenylbutanoic acid (compound lj) was synthesized according to Method A

1H NMR (OMSO-dβ, 300MHz) δ 7.30-7.15 (m, 7H), 6.72 (d, 2H), 4.54 (t, IH), 3.62 (s, 2H), 2.76 (m, 2H), 2.13 (m, 2H); RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile -

0.1%) trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 23 min.

2-Cyclohexyl-2- {4- [(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]phenoxy} acetic acid (compound Ik) was synthesized according to Method B 1H NMR (OMSO-d₆, 300MHz) δ 7.16 (d, 2H), 6.73(d, 2H), 4.40 (d, 2H), 3.62 (s, 2H),

1.90-1.60 (m, 6H), 1.30-1.10 (m, 5H);

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 μm, 300 A, 4 X 30 cm; 10%-70% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 30 min., 35 ml/min) R_t 20 min.

2- {4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]-3-methoxyphenoxy} acetic acid (compound 11)

A solution of 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methoxyphenoxy]acetic acid (1.0 g, 0.00471 mol), in dioxane (50 mL) was reacted with a solution of sodium bisulfite (0.566 g, 0.00471 mol), in water (50 mL) at about 50°C for about 16 hours. Additional sodium bisulfite (0.566 g, 0.00471 mol) was added, and the mixture was stiπed at about 50°C for an additional 3 days. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by preparative RP-HPLC (Rainin, Microsorb C18, 8 m, 300 A, 25 cm; isocratic 5% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 5 minutes, then 5%- 55%) acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 70 minutes, 81 ml/min). The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in water (20 mL), filtered through a 0.45 m acrodisc filter and lyophilyzed to give 2-4-

[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]-3-methoxyphenoxyacetic acid as a fluffy white solid (0.197 g, 0.00071 mol):

1H NMR (DMSO-c?_6> 400MHz) δ 7.29 (d, IH), 6.50 (s, IH), 4.64 (s, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 3.70 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (DMSO 100MHz) δ 170.2, 158.1, 157.6, 131.7, 116.0, 89.8, 64.6, 55.6, 49.6;

RP-HPLC (Rainin, Microsorb C18, 8 μm, 300 A, 25 cm; isocratic 5% acetonitrile - 0.1%) trifluoroacetic acid over 5 minutes, then 5%-55% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 70 minutes, 1 ml/min) R_t 10.17 min.; MH^" 275.

5-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (compound 2a)

a) 5-Methylbenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (Intermediate II-B, R₂ = H)

Diethyl 2-bromomalonate (25.0 g, 0.1054 mol) was added to a solution of 2- hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde (9.49 g, 0.0697 mol) in 2-butanone (80 mL). Potassium carbonate (19.3 g, 0.1394 mol) was added at one time and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux for about 6 hours under nitrogen. It was cooled to ambient temperature, acidified to pH 2.5 with 10% sulfuric acid and extracted with diethyl ether (3x 150 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried with magnesium sulfate and after filtration concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl alcohol (120 mL), powdered potassium hydroxide (12.0 g, 0.214 mol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux for about 1.5 hours. It was cooled to ambient temperature, acidified to pH 2 with 10% sulfuric acid and heated at reflux for about 1 hour. After cooling to ambient temperature the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with diethyl ether and dried to yield 5- methylbenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (9.0 g, 0.0511 mol) as a yellow solid.

1H NMR DMSO-d₆, 400MHz) δ 13.47 (br, IH), 7.58 (m, 3H), 7.32 (d, IH), 2.41 (s, 3H) TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1 :4) R_f 0.18

b) 5-(Bromomethyl)benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (Intermediate II-C, R₂ = H)

A mixture of 5-methylbenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (5.64 g, 0.032 mol), calcium carbonate (3.2 g, 0.032 mol) and dibenzoyl peroxide (0.155 g, 0.000064 mol) was heated in carbon tetrachloride (200 mL) at reflux and N-bromosuccinimide (5.7 g, 0.032 mol) was added in 5 equal portions in 5 minute intervals. The resulting mixture was heated at reflux under nitrogen for about 6.5 hours, cooled to ambient temperature and the precipitate was collected by filtration. It was suspended in N,N- dimethylformamide ( 150 mL), the insoluble residue was filtered off and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure. To the residue, carbon tetrachloride (100 mL) was added, the precipitate was collected by filtration and dried to give 5- (bromomethyl)benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (7.18 g, 0.028 mol) as an off-white solid.

Η NMR (DMSO- ₆, 400MHz) δ 11.05 (br, IH), 7.88 (s, IH), 7.69 (m, 2H), 7.57 (d, lH) 4.86 (s, 2H);

TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1:3) R_f 0.17

c) 5-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic (Intermediate II-D, R = H) A solution of sodium sulfite (12.35 g, 0.098 mol) in water (100 mL) was added to a solution of 5-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (5.0g, 0.0196 mol) in dioxane (80 mL) and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux under nitrogen for about 7 hours. It was cooled to ambient temperature and the volume of the suspension was reduced to 80 mL under reduced pressure. The resulting suspension was treated with trifluoroacetic acid (150 mL) and stiπed for about 1 hour. The volume of the resulting suspension was reduced to 75 mL and the precipitate was collected by filtration. It was purified by preparative RP-HPLC (Rainin, Microsorb C 18, 8 m, 300 A, 25 cm; 0%-30% acetonitrile - 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid over 60 min., 81 ml/min) to yield 5- [(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (0.703 g, 0.00275 mol) as a white solid.

1H NMR (DMSO-dβ, 400MHz) δ 7.68 (s, IH), 7.64 (s, IH), 7.56 (d, IH), 7.43 (d, IH), 3.83 (s, 2H); RP-HPLC ( Vydac C18, 5μm, 300 A, 25 cm; 5%-25% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 20 min, 1 mL/min) R_t 10.22 min.

MS: MH^" 255.

7-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (compound 2b)

The title compound was synthesized substantially according to the procedure described for Example 2a but using 2-hydroxy-7-methylbenzaldehyde in place of 2- hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde. MS: MH^" 255. 5-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (compound 3a)

a) [2-(Ethoxycarbonyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[/3]furan-5-yl]methanesulfonic acid (Intermediate II-E, R₂ = H)

10% palladium on carbon (0.4 g) was added to a solution of 5- [(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (0.600 g, 0.00234 mol) in ethyl alcohol and the mixture was hydrogenated for about 24 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration through a celite pad and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure to yield [2-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-5-yl]methanesulfonic acid ( 0.65 g, 0.00227 mol) as off-white solid.

1H NMR (DMSO- , 400MHz) δ 7.15 (s, IH), 7.02 (d, IH), 6.72 (d, IH), 5.29 (dd, IH), 4.16 ( m, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.54 ( dd, IH), 3.23 (dd, IH), 1.21 (t, 3H).

b) 5-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid

9.45 mL of 0.2N lithium hydroxide solution in water was added to a solution of [2-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-5-yl]methanesulfonic acid (0.18g, 0.00063 mol) in methyl alcohol (lOmL) and the mixture was stiπed for about 4 hours. The solvents were removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in 60% trifluoroacetic acid (15 mL) and stiπed for about 0.5 hour. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was subjected to preparative reverse phase-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C18, 8 m, 300 A, 25 cm; 0%-30% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 60 min., 21 ml/min) to yield 5- [(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (0.021 g, 0.000081 mol) as a white solid.

1H NMR (OMSO-dβ, 400MHz) δ 7.15 (s, IH), 7.02 (d, IH), 6.70 (d, IH), 5.22 (dd, IH), 3.66 (s, 2H), 3.51 ( dd, IH), 3.21 (dd, IH).

RP-HPLC ( Vydac C18, 5 m, 300 A, 25 cm; 5%-25% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 20 min, 1 mL/min) R_t 5.82 min. MS: MH^" 257. 7-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid (compound 3b)

The title compound was synthesized substantially according to the procedure described for compound 3a but using 7-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2- carboxylic acid in place of 5-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]benzo[b]furan-2-carboxylic acid. MS: MH^" 257.

4-[(2-Ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)amino]phenylmethanesulfonic acid (compound 4a)

a) Neopentyl (4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonate (Intermediate IV-C, R₂ = H, R' = CH₂-C(CH₃)₃) The mixture of 4-nitro-benzyl bromide (10.8 g, 0.050 mol) and sodium sulfite

(6.3g, 0.050 mol) in water (50 mL) was heated to reflux overnight. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was filtered. The residue was washed twice with cold acetone and twice with cold diethyl ether, and dried in vacuo to give sodium (4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonate (10.0 g). To a suspension of sodium (4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonate (9.0 g, 0.0376 mol) in dry dichloromethane (150 mL) (chloromethylene)dimethylammomium chloride (7.6 g 0.0563 mol) was added. The resulting mixture was stiπed at room temperature overnight and then cooled to about 0°C. Triethylamine (15 ml) and neopentyl alcohol (15.0 g) were added slowly. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and was stiπed for about another 10 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into 100 mL of a 1 N hydrochloric solution. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and then dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent gave neopentyl (4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonate (9.8 g). 1H-NMR (CDC1₃, 300 MHz): δ 7.19d, 2H), 6.70d, 2H)₅ 4.25s, 2H), 3.71s, 2H), 0.90

(s, 9H). b) Neopentyl (4-aminophenyl)methanesulfonate (Intermediate IV-D, R₂ = H, R' = CH₂-C(CH₃)₃)

A mixture of neopentyl (4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonate (4.5 g, 0.0157 mol) and palladium (10%) on carbon (0.5 g) in the presence of hydrogen was stiπed in methanol (200 mL) for about 18 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered through a celite pad and concentrated to give the crude product. Purification by flash column chromatography (30% ethyl acetate/ 0% methanol/70% hexanes to 30% ethyl acetate/ 6%> methanol/ 64% hexanes) provided 2.8 g of neopentyl (4- aminophenyl)methanesulfonate. 1H NMR (CDC1₃, 300 MHz): δ 7.24 (d, 2H), 6.62 (s,2H), 4.25(m,4H), 3.90 (s,2H),

3.70(s, 2H), 1.3 (t,3H), 0.9 (s,9H)

c) Ethyl 2-(4-[(neopentyloxy)sulfonyl]methylanilino)acetate (Intermediate IV-E, R₂ = R₄ =H, R' = CH₂-C(CH₃)₃) To a solution of neopentyl (4-aminophenyl)methanesulfonate (2 g, 0.00778 mol) in 1,2-dichloroethane (80 mL), a 50% (wt) solution of glyoxylic acid ethyl ester in toluene (2.06 g, 0.0101 mol) was added, then sodium triacetoxyborohydride ( 2.258 g, 0.0101 mol). The mixture was stiπed at room temperature for about 14 hours. Ethyl acetate (150 mL) was added to the reaction mixture, the organic phase was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution (60 mL), and then dried over sodium sulfate. Flash chromatography with 15% to 30% of ethyl acetate in hexanes gave ethyl 2-(4-[(neopentyloxy)sulfonyl]methylanilino)acetate (0.955 g): 1H NMR (CDCI₃, 300 MHz) δ 7.60(dd, 2H),7.45 (d,lH), 7.30 (d, IH), 4.11 (s,2H), 3.33 (m, 2H), 3.20 (s,2H), 1.3 (t, 3H).

d) 4-[(2-Ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)amino]phenylmethanesulfonic acid (Intermediate IV-F, R₂ = ^ =H, R= Et)

A mixture of ethyl 2-(4-[(neopentyloxy)sulfonyl]methylanilino)acetate (0.1 g, 0.0003 mol) and sodium hydroxide (0.1 g, 0.0025 mol) in water (2 mL) and 1,4- dioxane (2.5 mL) was heated at about 110 °C for about 14 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. Purification of the residue by prep. HPLC ( 5% to 95 % acetonitrile/water, C18 column, 40 min.) yielded 4-[(2- ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)amino]phenylmethanesulfonic acid ( 0.008 g). 1H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 7.60(dd, 2H), 7.45 (d,lH), 7.30 (d,lh), 4.11 (s,2h), 3.33 (m, 2H), 3.20 (s,2H), 1.3 (t, 3H). MS: MH⁺ 274

2- {4- [(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl] anilino} acetic acid (compound 4b)

(Intermediate IV-G, R₂ = _A =H, R= H)

A mixture of ethyl (-2-(4-[(neopenty(oxy)sulfonyl]methylanilino acetate (0.1 g) and sodium hydroxide (0.1 g , 0.0025 mol) in water (3 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (2 mL) was heated at about 110°C for about 14 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The HPLC separation (5% to 95 % acetonitrile/ water, C18 column, 40 min.) gave 2- {4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl] anilino} acetic acid

( 0.012 g).

1H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ7.40 (d,2H), 7.10 (d, 2H), 4.08 (s, 2h), 3.95 (s, 2H).

compounds 4c-e:

General procedure for the synthesis of 2-{aroyl-4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl] anilino} acetic acid (Intermediate IV-K)

To a mixture of (0.1 g, 0.00029 mol) of ethyl 2-(4-[(neopentyloxy) sulfonyl]methylanilino)acetate and morpholine-polymer (0.25 g) in 5 ml of dichloromethane, the coπesponding acid chloride (0.0006 mol) is added. The resulting mixture is shaken overnight and tris-(2-aminoethyl)-amine polymer (0.12 g) is added. After shaking for an additional 10 hours, filtration and removal of solvent gives the crude product. To the crude product sodium hydroxide (0.13 g), water (2 mL), and 1,4-dioxane (2.5 mL) are added. The mixture is heated at about 110° C for about 14 hours. Purification by preparative HPLC ( 5% to 95 % acetonitrile/water,

C18 column, 40 min.) gives the desired product.

2-{Benzoyl-4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino}acetic acid (compound 4c) 1H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 7.12-7.34 (m, 7H), 4.55 (s, 2h), 3.96 (s,2H).. 2- {(3-Chloro-benzoyl)-4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino} acetic acid (compound

4d)

Η NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 7.20-7.60 (m, 6H), 6.65 (d, 2H), 4.08 (s, 2H), 3.90 (d,

2H).

2- {(4-Methoxy-benzoyl)-4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino} acetic acid (compound

4e)

1H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 7.31 (m, 4H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 6.74 (s, 2h), 4.55 (s, 2H),

4.04 (s, 2H), 3.73 (s, 3H).

2-{(l-Naphthyl-carbonyl)-4-[(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino}acetic acid (compound

4f)

MS: MH^" 399

2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino}-3-phenylpropanoic acid (compound 4g)

a) Benzyl 2-(4- {[(neopentyloxy)sulfonyl]methyl} anilino)-3-phenylpropanoate

To a solution of benzyl (R)-(+)-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate ( 0.5 lg, 0.002 mol) and 2,4,6-collidine (0.72 g, 0.006 mol) in 1 ,2-dichloroethane (15 mL) at about 0°C trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (0.37 mL, 0.0022 mol) was added. The resulting mixture was stiπed at about 0°C for about 3 hours. Neopentyl (4- aminophenyl)methanesulfonate (0.48 g, 0.00187 mol) was added. The mixture was warmed to reflux (about 70°C) overnight. Ethyl acetate (150 mL) was added and the organic layer was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium solution (70 mL) and a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (70 mL), then dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. Purification by flash column chromatography (15%> to 25% of ethyl acetate in hexanes) gave benzyl 2-(4-{[(neopentyloxy)sulfonyl] methyl} anilino)-3-phenylpropanoate (0.29 g). 1H NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ 7.4-7.10 (m, 12H), 7.15 (d, 2H), 6.74 (s, 2H), 4.55 (s, 2H), 4.04 (s, 2H), 3.73 (s, 3H). b) 2-{4-[(Hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino}-3-phenylpropanoic acid

A mixture of benzyl 2-(4-{[(neopentyloxy)sulfonyl]methyl}anilino)-3- phenylpropanoate (0.09 g, 0.0002 mol) and sodium hydroxide (0.1 lg, 0.00275 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (3 mL) and water (2 mL) was heated at about 110°C for about 14 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. Purification by prep. HPLC (5% to 95% acetonitrile/water, C18 column, 40 min.) gave 2-{4- [(hydroxysulfonyl)methyl]anilino}-3-phenylpropanoic acid ( 0.017 g). Η NMR (CD₃OD, 300 MHz) δ6,4-7.10 (m, 12H), 6.61 (d, 2H), 5.03 (d, 2H), 4.35 (s, 2H), 3.83 (s, 2H), 3.50 (m, IH), 3.10 (d, 2H), 0.89 (s, 9H).

4-Phenyl-2-[4-(phosphonomethyl)phenoxy]butanoic acid (compound 5a)

a) Ethyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]-4-phenylbutanoate Dimethyl sulfide (0.01 g, 0.00166 mol) was added to a solution of N- bromosuccinimide (0.267 g, 0.0015 mol) in dichloromethane (8 mL) at about 0°C and the reaction mixture was stiπed for about 15 min. Ethyl 2- [4- (hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]-4-phenylbutanoate (0.29 g, 0.00092 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (6 mL) was added and the reaction mixture was stiπed for about 16 hours, then diluted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, IN aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and brine and then dried over magnesium sulfate. After filtration the filtrate was concentrated to yield 0.28 g of ethyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]-4-phenylbutanoate. ^]H NMR (CDC1₃, 300MHz) δ 7.3 (m, 7H), 6.85 (d, 2H), 4.59 (t, IH), 4.50 (s, 2H), 4.21 (q, 2H), 2.88 (m, 2H), 2.3 (m, 2H), 1.24 (t, 3H).

b) Ethyl 2- {4-[(di-tert-butoxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenoxy } -4-phenylbutanoate

A suspension of 60% sodium hydride (0.045 g, 0.0011 mol) was added to a solution of di-tert-butylphosphite (0.2 g, 0.001 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (4.5 mL) and N-methyl-pyπolidinone (0.5 mL) at about 0°C. The resulting mixture was warmed to room temperature and stiπed for about 0.5 hours. A solution of ethyl 2-[4- (bromomethyl)phenoxy]-4-phenylbutanoate (0.28 g, 0.00074 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added at one time, the reaction mixture was stirred for about 16 hours, then diluted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with 10% aqueous solution of citric acid, with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, brine and then dried over magnesium sulfate. After filtration and concentration under reduced pressure the residue was subjected to flash chromatography on silica using ethyl acetate/ n-hexanes (1 :1) as mobile phase to give ethyl 2-{4-[(di-tert- butoxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenoxy}-4-phenylbutanoate (0.09 g). Η NMR (CDC-₃, 300MHZ) δ 7.25 (m, 7H), 6.81 (d, 2H), 4.59 (m, IH), 4.20 (q, 2H), 2.99 (d, 2H), 2.86 (m, 2H), 2.28 (m, 2H), 1.45 (s, 18 H), 1.23 (t, 3H); 3¹P NMR (CDC1₃, 125MHz) δ 16.2 (s).

c) 4-Phenyl-2-[4-(phosphonomethyl)phenoxy]butanoic acid, cdc 2528

Ethyl 2- {4-[(di-tert-butoxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenoxy} -4-phenylbutanoate (0.09 g, 0.00018 mol) was dissolved in 1 mL of a mixture of 95% trifluoroacetic acid and 5% water. After about 20 min. of stirring, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resulting oil was dissolved in dioxane (1.5 mL) and water (0.5 mL). To this solution, 1 mL of IN aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added and the mixture was heated at about 70°C for about 6 hours. The solution was filtered and the residue was purified by preparative reverse phase-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C8, 15 m, 300 A, 4x 30 cm; 0%-60% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 40 min., 35 ml min) to yield 4-phenyl-2-[4-(phosphonomethyl)phenoxy]butanoic acid (0.0016 g ).

1H NMR (CD₃OD, 300MHz) δ 7.21 (m, 7H), 6.82 (d, 2H), 4.58 (t, IH), 3.03 (d, 2H),

2.83 (t, 2H), 2.21 (m, 2H);

³¹P NMR (CD₃OD, 125MHz) δ 26.3 (s).

2-[4-(Phosphonomethyl)phenoxy]acetic acid (compound 5b)

a) tert-Butyl 2-(4-[di(benzyloxy)phosphoryl]methylphenoxy)acetate

Dibenzyl phosphite (1.92 g, 0.00731 mol) was added to a suspension of 60% sodium hydride (0.31 g, 0.00768 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (30 mL) at about

0°C and the resulting mixture was stiπed at this temperature for about 0.5 hours. The solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-(bromomethyl)phenoxy]acetate (2.2 g, 0.00731 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was added at one time and the solution was stiπed at about 70°C under an atmosphere of nitrogen for about 10 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate (100 mL) and water (80 mL). The organic phase was dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was subjected to flash chromatography on silica using ethyl acetate/ n-heptane (1 :2) as mobile phase to give tert-butyl 2-(4-[di(benzyloxy)phosphoryl]methylphenoxy) acetate (0.65 g, 0.00135 mol) as a yellow solid.

1H NMR (DMSO- _6> 400MHz) δ 7.35 (m, 10H), 7.18 (d, 2H), 6.81 (d, 2H), 4.93 (s, 2H), 4.89 (s, 2H), 4.65 (s, 2H), 3.27 (d, 2H), 1.42 (s, 9H);

TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1:2) R_f 0.16

b) 2-[4-(Phosphonomethyl)phenoxy]acetic acid

10% palladium on carbon (0.28 g) was added to a solution of tert-butyl 2-(4- [di(benzyloxy)phosphoryl]methylphenoxy)acetate (0.51 g, 0.00106 mol) in ethyl alcohol (25 mL) and the mixture was hydrogenated under an atmosphere of hydrogen for about 4 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration through a celite pad and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was triturated in water (10 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (20 mL) was added dropwise at about 0°C over about 10 min. The solution was warmed to ambient temperature and stiπed for about 1 hour.

The solvents were removed under reduced pressure and the residue purified by preparative RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C18, 8 μm, 300 A, 25 cm; 5%-45% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over about 40 min., 21 ml/min) to yield 2-[4- (phosphonomethyl)phenoxy] acetic acid (0.017 g, 0.000069 mol) as a white solid. 1H NMR (DMSO-rf₆, 400MHz) δ 7.14 (d, 2H), 6.81 (d, 2H), 4.62 (s, 2H), 2.87 (d,

2H);

RP-HPLC (Vydac C18, 5μm, 300A, 25 cm; 5%-25% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 20 min, lmL/min) R_t 10.88 min. MS: MCH₃COO^" 305. 2,4-[Difluoro(phosphono)methyl]phenoxyacetic acid (compound 6)

a) Benzyl 2-(4-iodophenoxy)acetate

A 20% solution of cesium carbonate in water was added dropwise to a solution 2-(4-iodophenoxy)acetic acid (1.86 g, 0.0067 mol) in a mixture of methanol

(40 mL) and water (4 mL) until pH reached 7.2. The precipitate was collected by filtration and dried to give cesium (4-iodophenoxy)acetate. It was triturated in N,N- dimethylformamide (30 mL) and benzyl bromide (1.1 g, 0.00646 mol) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stiπed at ambient temperature for about 24 hours, concentrated and partitioned between water (50 mL) and ethyl acetate (50 mL). The water phase was further extracted with ethyl acetate (2x50 mL), the combined organic extracts dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica using ethyl acetate/ n-heptane (1 :5) as mobile phase to give benzyl 2-(4-iodophenoxy)acetate (0.88 g, 0.0026 mol) as a white solid:

Η NMR (OMSO-d₆, 400MHz) δ 7.59 (d, 2H), 7.34 (m, 5H), 6.80 (d, 2H), 5.19 (s,

2H), 4.86 (s, 2H).

TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1:5) R_f 0.26

b) Benzyl 2-4-[(diethoxyphosphoryl)(difluoro)methyl]phenoxyacetate

Cadmium powder ( 0.368 g, 0.0033 mol), activated by successive washing with IN hydrochloric acid, methanol and ether, was placed into a flask charged with anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide ( 5 mL) and diethyl bromo(difluoro)methyl- phosphonate (0.79 g, 0.0030 mol) was added dropwise. The resulting mixture was stiπed at ambient temperature, filtered under argon and the filtrate added to a flask charged with benzyl 2-(4-iodophenoxy)acetate ( 0.62 g, 0.0019 mol), copper (I) chloride (0.2 g, 0.002 mol) and anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide ( 5 mL). The resulting mixture was heated at about 80°C for 16 hours, cooled to ambient temperature and and diluted with diethyl ether ( 30mL). The precipitate was filtered off, the filtrate concentrated and partitioned between saturated ammonium chloride

(25 mL) and ethyl acetate. The water phase was further extracted with ethyl acetate (2x50 mL), the combined organic extracts dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica using ethyl acetate/ n-heptane (1 : 1) as mobile phase to give benzyl 2-4- [(diethoxyphosphoryl)(difluoro)methyl]phenoxyacetate ( 0.100 g, 0.00025 mol) as a white solid:

1H NMR (DMSO- ₆, 400MHZ) δ 7.48 (d, 2H), 7.34 (m, 5H), 7.09 (d, 2H), 5.19 (s, 2H), 4.86 (s, 2H), 4.13 ( m, 4H), 1.22 ( t, 6H).

TLC (ethyl acetate / heptane 1 : 1 ) R_f 0.18.

c) 2,4-[Difluoro(phosphono)methyl]phenoxyacetic acid

Benzyl 2-4-[(diethoxyphosphoryl)(difluoro)methyl]phenoxyacetate (0.100 g, 0.00025 mol) was dissolved in ethanol (15 mL), 10% palladium on carbon was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at atmospheric pressure of hydrogen for about 3 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration through a celite pad and the filtrate concentrated. It was dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (3 mL), the reaction mixture was cooled to about 0°C and trimethylsilyl iodide was added dropwise. The resulting mixture was stiπed at this temperature for 1 hour, concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue purified by preparative RP-HPLC (Rainin, Dynamax C18, 8 μm, 300 A, 25 cm; 5%-45% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over about 40 min., 21 ml/min) to yield 2-4-[difluoro(phosphono)methyl]phenoxyacetic acid ( 0.017 g, 0.00006 mol) as a white solid. 1H NMR (DMSO- ₆, 400MHZ) δ 7.44 (d, 2H), 7.02 (d, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H);

RP-HPLC ( Vydac Cl 8, 5 m, 300A, 25 cm; 5%-25% acetonitrile - 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid over 20 min, lmL/min) R_t 7.52 min. MS: MH^" 281.

Further examples of the present invention include the following, which are synthesized according to the appropriate analogous scheme and/or example described hereinabove:

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to prefeπed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A compound of the formula (VII)

(I),

a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug thereof, wherein:

R_\ is selected from the group consisting of -(CH )_a-SO₃H, -(CH₂)_a- PO₃H₂, -CF₂-SO₃H, -CF₂-PO₃H₂, -(CH₂)_a-SO₂NHR₆, -(CH₂)_a-SO₂NH-CO-R₇, -(CH₂)_a-SO₂NH-CO-OR₈, -CF₂-SO₂NHR₉, and -(CH₂)_e-SO₂NH-CO-NR₁₀Rn; where a is 1, 2 or 3;

Rjis hydroxy, -O(Cι-C₆)alkyl, or Z_\\

R and R₈ are each independently (Cι-C₆)alkyl, (C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, (C₃- C₈)cycloalkyl-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, Z,, or -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂;

R₉ is hydrogen, hydroxy, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, Z_\, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or -O(d- C₆)alkyl;

Rio and Rπ are each independently hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, (C₃- C₈)cycloalkyl, -(C_rC₆)alkyl-(C₃-C₈)cycloalkyl, Z_x, or -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂; or Rjo and R] i are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a ring system selected from the group consisting of pyπolidinyl, piperazinyl and morpholinyl;

R₂ and R are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino, NH(C₁-C₆)alkyl, N[(Cι- C₆)alkyl]₂, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy, O(C C₆)alkyl, NH- CO-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-O(Cι-C₆)alkyl,

CH₂-NH-(C,- C₆)alkyl, CH₂-N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, CONH₂, CO-NH-(CrC₆)alkyl, CO-N[(C,- C₆)alkyl]₂, and SO₂(C,-C₆)alkyl;

R₄ and R₅ are each independently hydrogen, Z₃, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, cyclo- (C₃-C₈)alkyl, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -(C₁-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(C C₆)alkyl, -CH₂-O-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃- C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or -CH₂-O-(C C₆)alkyl-Z₃;

X is oxygen, sulfur or NRι₂; where R₁₂ is hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, O(Cι-C₆)alkyl, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -(CH₂)rCOOR₁₃ or -CO-R,₄;where f is 1, 2 or 3;

R₁₃ is hydrogen or (C)-C₆)alkyl;

Rι₄ is hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, (Cι-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-

(C₃- C₈)alkyl, -(Co-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or Z₃; and

Y is -(CH₂)_g-COOR₁₅, -(CH₂)_g-CON(R₂₀R₂ι), -(CH₂)_h-SO₂N(R₂₀R₂₁), - (CH₂)i-SO₃H, or -(CH₂)_k-PO₃H₂; where g is 0, 1, 2 or 3; h is 0, 1, 2 or 3; i is 1, 2 or 3; k is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Rι₅ is hydrogen or (Cι-C₆)alkyl; and R₂₀ and R₂ι are each independently hydrogen, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, (Cι-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or (Cι-C₆)alkyl- Z₃; or when R₃ is in the ortho position to X, R₃ and R are taken together with the atoms to which they are each attached to form an aromatic heterocyclic ring of formula (VIII) or formula (IX),

where Z_\ for each occuπence is an optionally substituted heteroaryl group independently selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyπolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, isoxazolyl, and oxazolyl;

Z₂ for each occuπence is an optionally substituted aryl group independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl; Z₃ for each occuπence is an optionally substituted heteroaryl group independently selected from the group consisting of pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, pyπolyl, tetrazolyl, benzimidazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, benzofuranyl, benzodihydrofuranyl, benzothienyl, pyrazolyl, indolyl, purinyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl and dibenzo uranyl; where

Z_\, Z₂ and Z₃ are each independently optionally substituted by one or two substituents each substituent independently selected from the group consisting of fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino, NH(Cι-C₆)alkyl, N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, hydroxy, O(Cι-

C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-(C]-C₆)alkyl, NH-CO-O(C]-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-NH-(C C₆)alkyl, CH₂-N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, CONH₂, CO-NH-(d-C₆)alkyl, CO-N[(C₁-C₆)alkyl]₂ and SO₂(C C₆)alkyl; provided that when X is NR_]2, where R₁₂ is hydrogen, -(C]-C₆)alkyl, - (C C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -CO-(C C₆)alkyl; R, is -(CH₂)_a-SO₃H or -(CH₂)_b-PO₃H₂; R₅ is hydrogen; and Y is -COORι₅, where R₁₅ is hydrogen or (Cι-C₆)alkyl; then R₄ is not hydrogen or C]-C₃ alkyl; and further provided that when X is O; Ri is -(CH₂)_c-SO₂NHR_ό, where R_ό is optionally substituted pyridyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl, or oxazolyl; and Y is -COORis, where R₁₅ is hydrogen or ( -C^alkyl; then

R₄ and R₅ are not hydrogen at the same time.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R] is in the para position relative to X; R₂ and R₃ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, nitro, amino, NH(C]-C₆)alkyl, N[(Cι- C₆)alkyl]₂, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (CrC₆)alkyl, hydroxy, O(C C₆)alkyl, NH- CO-td-C^alkyl, NH-CO-O(d-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-O-(d-C₆)alkyl, CH₂-NH-(d- C₆)alkyl, CH₂-N[(Cι-C₆)alkyl]₂, CONH₂, CO-NH-(Cι-C₆)alkyl, CO-N[(C,- C₆)alkyl]₂, and SO₂(d-C₆)alkyl;

R and R₅ are each independently hydrogen, Z₃, (Cι-C₆)alkyl, cyclo- (C₃-C₈)alkyl, -(C₀-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, -(Cι-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(d C₆)alkyl, -CH₂-O-cyclo-(C₃-C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(d-C₆)alkyl-cyclo-(C₃- C₈)alkyl, -CH₂-O-(C,-C₆)alkyl-Z₂, or -CH₂-O-(Cι-C₆)alkyl-Z₃; and

X is oxygen or NRι₂.

3. A compound according to claim 2 wherein R] is selected from the group consisting of -CH₂-SO₃H, -CH₂-PO₃H₂, and -CF₂-PO₃H₂; and Y is -COOH.

4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R₃ is in the ortho position to X, and R and R are taken together with the atoms to which they are each attached to form an aromatic heterocyclic ring of formula (VIII) or formula (IX),

(II) (III)

wherein R_\ is in the 5-position of a compound of formula (VIII) or (IX); and X is oxygen or NRι₂.

5. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R_\ is selected from the group consisting of -CH₂-SO₃H, -CH₂-PO₃H₂, and -CF₂-PO₃H₂; and Y is -COOH.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Claim 1.

7. A method of treating a Cdc25-mediated condition in a patient comprising the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.

8. The method of Claim 7 wherein the patient is a human.

9. The method of Claim 7 wherein the Cdc25-mediated condition is characterized by excessive cellular proliferation.

10. The method of Claim 9 wherein the Cdc25-mediated condition is cancer, restenosis, reocclusion of a coronary artery and inflammation.