Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Novel, Potent, and Selective (Benzoylaminomethyl)thiophene Sulfonamide Inhibitors of c-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase

Several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) play a critical role in a wide range of disease states including cell death (apoptosis)-related and inflammatory disorders (epilepsy, brain, heart and renal ischemia, neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome). The screening of a compound collection led to the identification of a 2-(benzoylaminomethyl)thiophene sulfonamide (AS004509, compound I) as a potent and selective JNK inhibitor. Chemistry and structure−activity relationship (SAR) studies performed around this novel kinase-inhibiting motif indicated that the left and central parts of the molecule were instrumental to maintaining potency at the enzyme. Accordingly, we investigated the JNK-inhibiting properties of a number of variants of the right-hand moiety of the molecule, which led to the identification of 2-(benzoylaminomethyl)thiophene sulfonamide benzotriazole (AS600292, compound 50a), the first potent and selective JNK inhibitor of this class which demonstrates a protective action against neuronal cell death induced by growth factor and serum deprivation.