Synthesis and anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity of substituted (o,o-difluorophenyl)-linked-pyrimidines as potent non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Short abstract

With the worldwide number of human immunodeficiency virus positive patients stagnant and the increasing emergence of viral strains resistant to current treatment, the development of novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus drug candidates is a perpetual quest of medicinal chemists. Herein, we report a novel group of diarylpyrimidines, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which represents an important class of current anti-human immunodeficiency virus therapy. Series of diarylpyrimidines containing o,o-difluorophenyl (A-arm), 4-cyanophenylamino (B-arm), and a small substituent (e.g. NH₂, OMe) at positions 2, 4, and 6 of the pyrimidine ring were prepared. The A-arm was modified in the para position (F or OMe) and linked to the central pyrimidine core with a variable spacer (CO, O, NH). Antiviral activities of 20 compounds were measured against wild type human immunodeficiency virus-1 and mutant reverse transcriptase strains (K103N, Y181C) using a cytoprotection assay. To the most promising structural motives belong the o,o-difluoro-p-methoxy A-arm in position 4, and the amino group in position 6 of pyrimidine. Single digit nanomolar activities with no significant toxicity (CC₅₀ > 17,000 nM) were found for compounds 35 (EC₅₀ = 2 nM), 37 (EC₅₀ = 3 nM), and 13 (EC₅₀ = 4 nM) having O, NH, and CO linkers, respectively.

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), is one of the greatest threats of the modern age, annually killing one million people worldwide according to the WHO 2016 report.¹ Numbers of AIDS patients are not decreasing in spite of billions of dollars being spent on public education, prevention, and treatment. In economically developed countries, current therapy allows the majority of treated patients to live with AIDS for >10 years, while most untreated patients die within two years of AIDS onset.² Additionally, AIDS treatment is particularly challenging due to mutations that yield new viral strains as well as a growing resistance to marketed drugs.³ Continuing development of new treatments is therefore critical.

Etravirine (ETR)^4–6 and rilpivirine (RPV)^7,8 are highly potent, FDA approved non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) belonging to the diarylpyrimidine (DAPY) class of drugs. (Figure 1).^3,9–12 RT is an essential enzyme in the HIV life cycle and DAPY compounds bind to its allosteric hydrophobic site. DAPY analogues, containing a characteristic “horseshoe” or “U-shape” structure,¹³ have been studied extensively during the last two decades for their high potency and relatively low cytotoxicity. Due to the rapid emergence of multi-drug resistant HIV strains (e.g. K103N and Y181C for NNRTIs), continuous effort has identified a number of new NNRTI drug candidates.^13–15

Figure 1.

Structures of FDA approved NNRTIs etravirine (ETR) and rilpivirine (RPV), and a general structure of newly synthesized derivatives.

Various structure–activity relationship studies were performed focusing on characterization and optimization of DAPY structural motives important for high anti-HIV potency.⁹ The general structure of DAPY analogues consists of a central heteroaryl core (usually pyrimidine) bearing two aryl rings connected using various linkers. Currently, several type of linkers (Y = CO, NH, O) between the pyrimidine core and A-arm are being part of highly potent NNRTIs connecting distinct substitutions on the A and B aromatic rings (Figure 1). Since different ortho substituents lead to the formation of atropoisomers, the A-arm typically contains one para and two identical ortho substituents. The B arm of choice in anti-HIV DAPY research is a 4-cyanophenylamino moiety, attached through position 2 of the pyrimidine ring, as in RPV and ETR.

Well-studied linkers connecting the A-arm to the pyrimidine core include oxygen (ETR) and nitrogen (RPV), which have no or limited capacity for further modifications. Introducing a carbonyl linker has opened new possibilities for expanding this key region of the DAPY structure.

The first published compounds contained an unmodified carbonyl linker,¹⁶ which was later expanded by reacting the linker with hydrazine¹⁷ or hydroxylamine¹⁸ forming Schiff bases. Schiff bases with amines provided, after reduction of the imino double bond, (cyclopropylamino)methylenes¹⁹ or (alkylamino)methylenes.²⁰ Further types of carbon-based linkers include halomethylene,²¹ cyanomethylene,²² and hydroxymethylene²³ linkers. Additionally, hydroxy(alkyl)methylene analogues were prepared by reacting alkylmagnesium compounds with the carbonyl group.²⁴ Recently, diatomic linkers for increased conformational flexibility have been described.²⁵

Our previous work,²⁶ as well as other published reports,²⁷ demonstrates that presence of ortho substituents on the A-arm is critical for anti-HIV activity. While RPV and ETR bear two methyl groups, a similar effect on antiviral activity was observed for o,o-difluoro²⁸ or o,o-dichloro²⁹ substitution.

Based on literature data,²⁹ an effective NNRTI DAPY inhibitor consists of a pyrimidine ring bearing a 4-cyanophenylamino arm in position 2 and an o,o-disubstituted phenyl arm connected to position 4 through a short linker.

The goal of our work was to develop novel compounds with increased potency, better resistance profiles, and enhanced drug-like properties to improve the efficacy of current anti-HIV therapy. Our current research focuses on a p-substituted o,o-difluoro A-arm, a standard 4-cyanophenylamino B-arm, preferentially a carbonyl linker, and a substitution at position 6 of the pyrimidine core.

Developing a new synthetic strategy for DAPY methanones in our group²⁶ gave promising compounds that led us to explore advanced analogues modified in positions 2, 4, and 6 of the pyrimidine ring. Such compounds, which combine an o,o-difluorophenyl A-arm with a carbonyl linker, have not been systematically studied through varying the substituents on the pyrimidine ring. Furthermore, compounds bearing nitrogen and oxygen linkers were also prepared.

Results and discussion

Chemistry

The synthetic procedure for preparation of carbonyl linked DAPYs developed in our group²⁶ was used to synthesize a 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyrimidine series. Positions 2, 4, and 6 were substituted with 4-cyanophenylamino, o,o-difluorophenylmethanone, and an amino group, respectively. Initially 2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine was reacted with o,o-difluorobenzaldehyde and sodium hydride using N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide as a catalyst (Scheme 1).^30,31 Two dichloropyrimidine regioisomers were isolated for each aldehyde with the carbonyl group either in the primarily desired position 4 (compounds 1, 2) or in position 2 (3, 4). The next step in the synthetic sequence was nucleophilic substitution of one chlorine atom by ammonia.³² In the case of 2-(arylmethanone)pyrimidines 3 and 4, only single monoamino products 5 and 6 were formed due to the symmetric nature of the substrates. However, for 4-(arylmethanone)pyrimidines 1 and 2, two monoamino isomers were formed and isolated, with the amino group in position 6 (7, 8), as primarily desired, or in position 2 (9, 10).

Scheme 1.

Conditions and reagents: (a) NaH, N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide, dioxane, 60°C and (b) ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M), 25°C.

Each monochloropyrimidine derivative was treated with 4-aminobenzonitrile under Buchwald–Hartwig reaction conditions (Scheme 2).³³ Trisubstituted pyrimidine derivatives 11–16 were isolated and the exact positions of each substituent on the pyrimidine ring were assigned using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), (more details in the next subsection).

Scheme 2.

Conditions and reagents: (a) 4-aminobenzonitrile, Pd(OAc)₂, XantPhos, Cs₂CO₃, dioxane, 100°C.

Compounds 13 and 14 were the most potent methanone derivatives, exhibiting low nanomolar activities in an anti-HIV assay (Table 1). These compounds contain the 4-cyanophenylamino moiety in position 2 of the pyrimidine ring, which is in agreement with previously published data.²⁹

Table 1.

Anti-HIV activity (wild type, EC₅₀) and toxicity (CC₅₀) in the MT-4 cell line (n = 3).

No.	EC50 w.t. (µM)	CC50 (µM)	SI	EC50 K103N (µM)	EC50 Y181C (µM)	X	Y	Z
11	0.874	6.24	7.14	n.d	n.d.	NH2	2-CO	OMe
12	1.727	42.0	24.3	n.d.	n.d.	NH2	2-CO	F
13	0.004	19.6	4900	0.226	0.797	NH2	CO	OMe
14	0.026	24.3	935	1.703	3.899	NH2	CO	F
15	2.200	7.70	3.50	n.d.	n.d.	2-NH2	CO	OMe
16	40.00	0.981	0.025	n.d.	n.d.	2-NH2	CO	F
18	0.160	57.1.	357	n.d.	n.d.	Me	CO	F
22	0.473	9.16	19.4	n.d.	n.d.	OMe	CO	F
27	0.019	16.1	847	0.413	1.641	Cl	O	OMe
28	0.053	14.0	264	0.657	2.533	Cl	O	F
29	0.006	16.0	2667	0.204	0.651	Cl	NH	OMe
30	0.027	10.2	378	1.021	1.998	Cl	NH	F
31	0.019	15.8	832	0.444	4.366	OMe	O	OMe
32	0.054	50.0	926	0.560	7.695	OMe	O	F
33	0.007	39.0	5571	n.d.	n.d.	OMe	NH	OMe
34	0.022	9.99	454	1.207	2.015	OMe	NH	F
35	0.002	21.7	10,850	0.036	0.637	NH2	O	OMe
36	0.067	19.6	293	0.067	6.662	NH2	O	F
37	0.003	17.2	5733	0.062	0.437	NH2	NH	OMe
38	0.027	34.8	1289	1.654	13.74	NH2	NH	F
39a	0.005	57.1	11,420	0.347	0.481	H	CO	OMe
40a	0.025	57.1	2284	6.882	6.661	H	CO	F
ETR	0.002	5.88	2940	0.002	0.012	–	–	–
EFV	0.001	20.6	20,600	0.101	0.005	–	–	–

SI: selectivity index; EFV: efavirenz; ETR: etravirine; n.d.: not determined. CC₅₀/EC₅₀ ratio. Antiviral activities against HIV-1 encoding RT mutations K103N or Y181C were also evaluated.

^aSynthesis described previously.²⁶

Since derivative 13 (X = NH₂, 4.4 nM) demonstrated a similar anti-HIV potency to previously reported²⁶ analogue 39 (Figure 2), which lacks the X = NH₂ group (X = H, 4.0 nM), we further investigated position 6 of the pyrimidine ring.

Figure 2.

Compounds with low nanomolar anti-HIV activity (wild type). Synthesis of derivatives 39 and 40 was described previously.²⁶

As the first member of this series, 6-methyl (X = Me) derivative 18 was prepared. 1,3,5-Trifluorobenzene was treated with n-butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran (THF) followed by the addition of methyl 2-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine-4-carboxylate to form carbonyl derivative 17 (Scheme 3).³⁴ The next step was Buchwald coupling of crude 17 with 4-aminobenzonitrile giving the desired derivative 18.³³

Scheme 3.

Conditions and reagents: (a) butyllithium, THF, –78°C; (b) 4-aminobenzonitrile, Pd(OAc)₂, XantPhos, Cs₂CO₃, dioxane, 100°C.

To introduce a methoxy group to position 6 of pyrimidine, our procedure²⁶ was applied to 4,6-dichloro-2-methylthiopyrimidine (Scheme 4). The synthetic sequence consisted of 6-chloro substitution by sodium methoxide, methylsulfide oxidation followed by ammonolysis, and Buchwald coupling of the intermediate 21 with 4-bromobenzonitrile to give compound 22.

Scheme 4.

Conditions and reagents: (a) NaH, N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide, dioxane, 60°C; (b) MeONa, MeOH, reflux; (c) i: mCPBA, CH₂Cl₂, 0°C, ii: ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M), 25°C; (d) 4-bromobenzonitrile, Pd(OAc)₂, XantPhos, Cs₂CO₃, dioxane, 80°C.

Overall yields in the carbonyl-linked series were moderate to low, due to the formation of isomers, excessive reactivity of the chlorine atom, and other side reactions.

To compare the influence of the carbonyl linker on anti-HIV potency, another series of DAPY compounds with modified linkers was prepared. ETR and RPV, which have an oxygen and nitrogen linker, respectively, served as an inspiration.

Oxygen and nitrogen linked derivatives (31–38) were prepared using a different synthetic route.³⁵ 2-Amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine was used as a starting material for S_NAr reactions with an appropriately substituted phenol and aniline (Scheme 5), followed by Buchwald coupling to introduce a 4-cyanophenylamino substitution to position 2 of the pyrimidine ring.³³ These monochloro derivatives (27–30) were used as starting materials for subsequent modifications to obtain the desired 6-methoxy and 6-amino compounds 31–38.

Scheme 5.

Conditions and reagents: (a) Y = NH, 2,4,6-trifluoroaniline or 2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyaniline, cat. HCl, dioxane, reflux; Y = O, 2,4,6-trifluorophenol or 2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenol, Cs₂CO₃, DMF, 80°C; (b) 4-bromobenzonitrile, Pd(OAc)₂, XantPhos, Cs₂CO₃, dioxane, 80°C; (c) Y = NH, MeONa, MeOH, heating; Y = O, MeONa, MeOH, reflux; (d) i: 4-methoxybenzylamine, Pd(OAc)₂, XantPhos, Cs₂CO₃, dioxane, 80°C; ii: CF₃COOH, 25°C; (e) i: NaN₃, DMF, MW, 130°C; ii: triphenylphosphine, THF, 25°C, then water, HCl (cat.).

NMR studies

Isomeric compounds bearing the carbonyl bridge in positions 2 and 4 exhibit very similar proton and carbon shifts in their respective NMR spectra. Due to the overall lack of protons in these molecules, unambiguous assignment of carbon signals and structure confirmation was complicated. Based on standard one-dimensional experiments combined with heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectra, it was possible to assign the signals of aromatic substituents on the pyrimidine ring. However, distinguishing between substituent positions on the pyrimidine moiety in isomeric compounds 13/15 and 14/16 was complicated due to the absence of cross-peaks Py-H5/C = O. In order to determine the correct positions of the substituents, we used a similar approach to Joshi et al.,³⁶ where analogous pyrimidine derivatives substituted in positions 2, 4, and 6 were analyzed using NOESY spectra. For compounds 15 and 16, our conformational study indicated a sterical proximity of the aniline N–H proton with an aromatic proton in position 5 of the pyrimidine ring. In the 2D-NOESY spectra,³⁷ the cross-peak of H-5 with N–H was observed only with the aniline in position 4 of the pyrimidine ring (compounds 15 and 16).

Biological activity

Entire series of compounds was tested for its in vitro anti-HIV activity (Table 1) using a previously described five-day multi-cycle assay that measures protection from virus-induced cytopathic effects in MT-4 cells acutely infected with HIV-1 (IIIB strain).^38–40 Another evidence that studied compounds are specific inhibitors of HIV RT is a X-Ray co-crystal structure of compound 39 with the HIV-RT enzyme.²⁶ It was confirmed that a 4-cyanophenylamino B-arm in position 2 of the pyrimidine ring is essential for high antiviral potency (13 and 14; 4 and 26 nM, respectively). All compounds bearing another substituent in this position were less potent (11, 12, 15, and 16 in micromolar range).

In the CO linker series, polarity of the X substituents directly impacts biological activity. The X = NH₂ substituent (compound 14, Z = F, 26 nM) had higher biological activity than the less polar X = Me (18, 160 nM) and X = OMe (22, 473 nM) derivatives, showing a negative effect of low polarity groups on biological activity.

This trend was not observed for the O-linked series (Z = F), where compounds with X = Cl (28, 53 nM) and X = OMe (32, 54 nM) groups exhibited marginally higher activity than the X = NH₂ (36, 67 nM) analogues. In the NH-linked series (Z = F), all derivatives (30, 34, 38) exhibited activity in the range 22–27 nM.

The influence of the linker (in the Z = F series) is demonstrated for the compounds with X = OMe, where the measured activity for the CO, O, and NH linker is 473 nM (22), 54 nM (32), and 22 nM (34), respectively.

All compounds with single digit nanomolar activities contain the electron donating p-methoxy group (Z = OMe). Compounds 29 (X = Cl, 6 nM) and 33 (X = OMe, 7 nM) with a nitrogen linker (Y = NH) exhibited excellent activities despite the presence of a less polar substituent in position 6. Regardless of the linker, these compounds (X = NH₂, Z = OMe) demonstrated comparable single digit activities: 35 (2 nM), 37 (3 nM), and 13 (4 nM) (for Y = O, NH, CO, respectively).

Two compounds with an oxygen linker (Y = O), where Z = OMe, possessed slightly lower activity for the X = Cl (27, 19 nM) or X = OMe (31, 19 nM) groups.

Direct comparison of X = NH₂ carbonyl-linked compounds 13 (Z = OMe, 4 nM) and 14 (Z = F, 26 nM) with previously published X = H analogues 39 (Z = OMe, 5 nM) and 40 (Z = F, 25 nM) showed minimal impact of this substitution on anti-HIV activity. However, the X = NH₂ and CO-linker introduce a vast chemical space for further structural optimization.

Selected derivatives were also tested against clinically relevant K103N and Y181C HIV RT mutants (Table 1). In all cases, the compounds were less potent against the mutants (36 nM–13.7 µM) than the wild type (2 nM–67 nM) for selected derivatives.

The selectivity index (SI) was calculated for all compounds to evaluate the toxicity–activity ratio (Table 1). The highest SI was found for compounds 39 (SI = 11,420) and 35 (SI = 10,850), which contain CO and O linkers, respectively. These values are higher than for ETR (SI = 2940) but lower than for efavirenz (SI = 20,600).

In summary, three regioisomers of 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyrimidine were prepared with the A-arm connected via a CO linker. Supported by our previous research, as well as data available for marketed drugs, compounds 13 and 14 with a 4-cyanophenylamino B-arm in pyrimidine position 2 demonstrated the highest activities.

Additionally, a series of derivatives with the 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl A-arm (Z = F) was prepared and the influence of the linker (CO, O, NH) and the substitution in position 6 of the pyrimidine core (Cl, OMe, NH₂, Me) were investigated. Fluorine analogues (Z = F) had anti-HIV activities ranging from 22 to 55 nM. These data correspond well with the X = H analogue 40 (25 nM).

Compounds bearing the 4-methoxy-2,6-difluorophenyl A-arm showed an increase of approximately an order of magnitude in antiviral activity compared to the 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl series. The best X substituent on the pyrimidine core is the NH₂ group with 4.4 nM, 2.9 nM, and 2.3 nM activities for the CO, NH, and O linkers, respectively. Again, demonstrating good agreement with our previously reported X = H analogue 39 (4.0 nM).²⁶

Molecular modeling

Glide XP (Schrodinger 2015) was used to investigate the binding modes of compound 35 with the O-linked o,o-difluorophenyl A-arm. In comparison to the solved ETR X-ray cocrystal structure (PDB: 3M8P),⁴¹ docking predicts that the aminopyrimidine core of 35 overlays well with the ETR structure regardless of the absence of bromine in position 5 (Figure 3, left). The rotation angles between the core and the A-arm are also similar, with values of 78° and 74° for ETR and 35, respectively (Figure 3, right). Additionally, o,o-difluoro and p-methoxy substitutions are predicted not to disturb the overall binding mode of these NNRTIs.

Figure 3.

Docking of compound 35 in to the X-ray structure of ETR in RT (PDB: 3M8P). Side (left) and top (right) view into the allosteric binding pocket.

Conclusions

A new series of trisubstituted DAPY analogues was prepared starting from commercially available trisubstituted pyrimidines and evaluated for their anti-HIV potency against wild type and two clinically relevant mutant strains (K103N and Y181C). Several inhibitors exerted single digit nanomolar potency.

Each compound consists of a small substituent in the position 6 of the central core (Cl, OMe, NH₂, Me), 4-cyanophenylamino B-arm and p-substituted o,o-difluorophenyl A-arm connected to the central pyrimidine core through a variable linker (Y = CO, NH, O). Influence of the A-arm para substituent (F, OMe) was also investigated.

Our data show that 4-cyanophenylamino B-arm is indispensable for high antiviral activity and OMe is clearly the best para substituent of the A-arm. Influence of the C-6 substitution of the central core appears to vary based on the linker connecting A-arm to the pyrimidine core. In the case of CO linker, the biological activities dramatically decrease with decreasing polarity of the substituent; however, in the NH and O linker series it had only marginal effect.

Evaluation of the most suitable linker showed rather small impact on the resulting anti-HIV potency in the most active series of compounds. This is very interesting as only the CO linker has any space for further derivatization and it will be investigated in our further work, which will be especially aimed at improving activity against mutants.

Experimental

Chemistry

Chemical reagents and analytical grade solvents were used as received from commercial sources. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance III NMR spectrometer at 600.1 MHz (for ¹H) equipped with a 5-mm TCI cryoprobe head in DMSO-d₆ (Aldrich, 99.8% D). Chemical shifts are reported in δ, residual solvent peaks (DMSO-d₆ ¹H 2.5 ppm and ¹³C 39.5 ppm) were used as references. For details concerning the experimental techniques and methods, see the NMR studies section. The following abbreviations were used to describe peak patterns: Py: pyrimidine part of molecule; An: aromatic system bonded to amino group (B-arm); Ar: ortho-substituted aromatic system (A-arm); b: broad; s: singlet; d: doublet, t: triplet. The high-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were measured on an LTQ Orbitrap XL spectrometer (Thermofisher Scientific) using ESI ionization or GC/TOF-MS GCT Premier (Waters) using EI ionization. Reaction progress was monitored either with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel plates and UV visualization at 254 nm or with a Waters UPLC/MS system using a water–acetonitrile gradient (0.1% formic acid as modifier) on Waters BEH 1.7 μ C18 130 Å, 100 × 2.10 mm, flow 0.5 mL/min. Flash chromatography separations were performed on silica gel or C18 modified silica gel (300–400 mesh) using a Teledyne Isco system.

Microwave-assisted reactions were carried out in a CEM Discover (Explorer) microwave aparatus, with a 24-position system for 10-mL vessels sealed with Teflon septa. It was operated at a frequency of 2.45 GHz with continuous irradiation power from 0 to 300 W and IR monitored temperature. The solutions were steadily stirred during the reaction.

All final derivatives were lyofilized and thus isolated as amorphous solids. Derivatives 39 and 40 were prepared according to the previously described procedure.²⁶

• General procedure A: The appropriate benzaldehyde (1 eq.) and N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazolium iodide (0.5 eq.) were dissolved in dry 1,4-dioxane under an argon atmosphere. 2,4,6-Trichloropyrimidine (1 eq.) was added followed by NaH (60% in mineral oil, 3.5 eq.). The reaction mixture was heated at 60°C for 16 h. The solution was added to a mixture of water (100 mL) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) (100 mL). The layers were separated and the water layer was further extracted with EtOAc (2 × 100 mL). The combined organic phases were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated. The products were isolated by flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from hexane to EtOAc, 0–100%) followed by reverse phase flash chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%).

• General procedure B: Appropriate dichloro derivative (1 eq.) was dissolved in ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M, 50 eq.), and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. The solution was diluted with water (100 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 50 mL). The combined organic layers were collected, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated. The products were isolated by flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from hexane to EtOAc, 0–100%) followed by reverse phase flash chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%).

• General procedure C: Appropriate chloro derivative (1 eq.), aniline (1.1 eq.), palladium(II) acetate (0.1 eq.), 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (0.2 eq.) and cesium carbonate (2 eq.) were mixed in dry 1,4-dioxane under argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was heated at 80°C for 3 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated. The product was isolated by flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from hexane to EtOAc, 0–100%) followed by reverse phase flash chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%).

• General procedure D: Appropriate amino derivative (1 eq.), 4-bromobenzonitrile (1.5 eq.), palladium(II) acetate (0.1 eq.), 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (0.2 eq.) and cesium carbonate (2 eq.) were mixed in dry 1,4-dioxane under argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was heated at 80°C for 5 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated. The product was isolated by flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from hexane to EtOAc, 0–100%) followed by reverse phase flash chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%).

Preparation of (2,6-dichloropyrimidin-4-yl)(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (1) and (4,6-dichloropyrimidin-2-yl)(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (3)

Treatment of 2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine (5.26 g, 29 mmol) with 2,6-difluoro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (4.50 g, 26 mmol) according to general procedure A gave 1 (2.95 g, 36%) and 3 (1.40 g, 17%) as white solids.

(1) HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₂H₆Cl₂O₂N₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 317.9774, Found: 317.9776; UPLC/MS (m/z) 318.87 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.96 min.

(3) HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₂H₆Cl₂O₂N₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 317.9774, Found: 317.9773; UPLC/MS (m/z) 318.79 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.70 min.

Preparation of (2,6-dichloropyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (2) and (4,6-dichloropyrimidin-2-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (4)

Treatment of 2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine (4 g, 22 mmol) with 2,4,6-trifluorobenzaldehyde (3.52 g, 22 mmol) according to general procedure A gave 2 (700 mg, 10%) and 4 (270 mg, 4%) as white solids.

(2) HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₁H₃Cl₂N₂OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 305.9575, Found: 305.9578; UPLC/MS (m/z) 307.02 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.67 min.

(4) HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₁H₃Cl₂N₂OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 305.9575, Found: 305.9572; UPLC/MS (m/z) 307.02 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.23 min.

Preparation of (4-amino-6-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (5)

Treatment of 3 (1.4 g, 4.4 mmol) with ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M, 30 mL) according to general procedure B gave 5 as a white solid (0.7 g, 70%).

(5) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.74 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.60 (bs, 1H, NH), 6.93–6.87 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.59 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.87 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 185.35 (s, CO), 165.23 (s, Py-C4), 164.06 (t, J_CF = 15.0 Hz, Ar-para), 161.93 (s, Py-C2), 161.75 (dd, J_CF = 10.2, 251.6 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.20 (s, Py-C6), 108.12 (t, J_CF = 17.8 Hz, Ar-ipso), 104.33 (d, Py-C5), 99.05 (dd, J_CF = 4.5, 23.8 Hz, Ar-meta), 56.72 (s, CH₃); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₂H₈ClN₃O₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 299.0273, Found: 299.0276; UPLC/MS (m/z) 299.74 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.02 min.

Preparation of (4-amino-6-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (6)

Treatment of 4 (400 mg, 1.3 mmol) with ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M, 30 mL) according to general procedure B gave 6 (152 mg, 41%).

(6) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.76 (bs, 1H, NH₂), 7.65 (bs, 1H, NH₂), 7.44–7.36 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.63 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.19 (s, CO), 165.27 (s, Py-C2), 163.99 (dt, J_CF = 16.1, 252.3 Hz, Ar-para), 160.61 (ddd, J_CF = 10.0, 16.0, 252.3 Hz, Ar-ortho), 160.48 (s, Py-C6), 158.23 (s, Py-C4), 112.86 (td, J_CF = 4.6, 19.4 Hz, Ar-ipso), 104.89 (d, Py-C5), 101.65 (td, J_CF = 5.2, 26.9, Ar-meta); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₁H₅ClN₃OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 287.0073, Found: 287.0076; UPLC/MS (m/z) 287.74 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.02 min.

Preparation of (6-amino-2-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (7) and (2-amino-6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (9)

Treatment of 1 (2.95 g, 9.3 mmol) with ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M, 30 mL) according to general procedure B gave compound 7 (1.35 g, 48%) and compound 9 (0.45 g, 16%) as white solids.

(7) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.97 (bs, 1H, NH₂), 7.88 (bs, 1H, NH₂), 6.94–6.88 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.88 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.87 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.26 (s, CO), 166.25 (s, Py-C2), 163.83 (t, J_CF = 14.7 Hz, Ar-para), 161.24 (dd, J_CF = 10.4, 250.7 Hz, Ar-ortho), 160.17 (s, Py-C4), 159.97 (s, Py-C6), 107.58 (t, J_CF = 19.1 Hz, Ar-ipso), 102.41 (d, Py-C5), 98.93 (dd, J_CF = 4.3, 23.8 Hz, Ar-meta), 56.65 (q, CH₃); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₂H₈ClN₃O₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 299.0273, Found: 299.0275; UPLC/MS (m/z) 299.82 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.11 min.

(9) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.52 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.03 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 6.94–6.89 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 3.87 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.56 (s, CO), 164.08 (t, J_CF = 14.8 Hz, Ar-para), 163.62 (s, Py-C6), 163.48 (s, Py-C4), 161.64 (s, Py-C2), 161.51 (dd, J_CF = 10.2, 251.4 Hz, Ar-ortho), 108.67 (t, J_CF = 18.5 Hz, Ar-ipso), 105.74 (d, Py-C5), 99.04 (dd, J_CF = 4.3, 23.9 Hz, Ar-meta), 56.73 (s, CH₃); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₂H₈ClN₃O₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 299.0273, Found: 299.0270; UPLC/MS (m/z) 299.82 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.41 min.

Preparation of (4-amino-2-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (8) and (2-amino-6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (10)

Treatment of 2 (400 mg, 1.3 mmol) with ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M, 30 mL) according to general procedure B gave 8 (142 mg, 38%) and 10 (60 mg, 16%) as white solids.

(8) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.03 (bs, 1H, NH₂), 7.93 (bs, 1H, NH₂), 7.45–7.39 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.97 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.16 (s, CO), 166.25 (s, Py-C6), 163.98 (dt, J_CF = 5.9, 252.3 Hz, Ar-para), 160.30 (ddd, J_CF = 10.1, 16.0, 252.2 Hz, Ar-ortho), 160.13 (s, Py-C4), 158.77 (s, Py-C2), 112.04 (td, J_CF = 4.5, 20.1 Hz, Ar-ipso), 102.60 (d, Py-C5), 101.63 (td, J_CF = 4.9, 24.6 Hz, Ar-meta); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₁H₅ClN₃OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 287.0073, Found: 287.0074; UPLC/MS (m/z) 287.82 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.40 min.

(10) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.55 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 7.11 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 7.46–7.39 (m, 2H, Ar-meta); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.50 (s, CO), 164.11 (dt, J_CF = 5.9, 252.3 Hz, Ar-para), 163.58 (s, Py-C6), 162.11 (s, Py-C4), 161.99 (s, Py-C2), 160.50 (ddd, J_CF = 10.1, 16.0, 252.8 Hz, Ar-ortho), 112.15 (td, J_CF = 4.5, 19.8 Hz, Ar-ipso), 105.77 (s, Py-C5), 101.71 (td, J_CF = 4.5, 19.8 Hz, Ar-meta); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₁H₅ClN₃OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 287.0073, Found: 287.0076; UPLC/MS (m/z) 287.82 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.11 min.

Preparation of 4-((6-amino-2–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)benzonitrile (11)

Treatment of 5 (250 mg, 0.83 mmol) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (150 mg, 1.27 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 11 (40 mg, 13%) as a yellow solid.

(11) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.77 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.65–7.61 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.58–7.54 (m, 2H, An-meta), 6.99 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.94–6.89 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 5.98 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.88 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.10 (s, CO), 164.60 (s, Py-C2), 163.18 (t, J_CF = 14.6 Hz, Ar-para), 161.12 (dd, J_CF = 10.8, 249.2 Hz, Ar-ortho), 160.66 (s, Py-C4), 159.74 (s, Py-C6), 145.11 (s, An-ipso), 132.94 (s, An-meta), 119.52 (s, An-CN), 118.35 (s, An-ortho), 109.40 (t, J_CF = 19.6 Hz, Ar-ipso), 102.16 (s, An-para), 98.75 (dd, J_CF = 4.6, 23.3 Hz, Ar-meta), 87.70 (d, Py-C5), 56.63 (s, CH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₄N₅O₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 382.1110, Found: 382.1112; UPLC/MS (m/z) 381.95 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.18 min.

Preparation of 4-((6-amino-2–(2,4,6-trifluorobenzoyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)benzonitrile (12)

Treatment of 6 (300 mg, 1 mmol) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (130 mg, 1.1 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 12 (10 mg, 3%) as a white solid.

(12) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.80 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.60–7.57 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.57–7.54 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.45–7.40 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), δ 7.04 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.00 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 186.86 (s, CO), 164.66 (s, Py-C2), 163.37 (dt, J_CF = 5.8, 250.7 Hz, Ar-para), 159.94 (ddd, J_CF = 10.7, 16.0, 250.2, Ar-ortho), 159.73 (s, Py-C4), 159.37 (s, Py-C6), 144.96 (s, An-ipso), 132.83 (s, An-meta), 119.43 (s, CN), 118.27 (s, An-ortho), 114.20 (td, J_CF = 5.3, 10.4 Hz, Ar-ipso), 105.27 (s, An-para), 101.38 (td, J_CF = 4.8, 26.1 Hz, Ar-meta), 88.16 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₁N₅OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 370.0910, Found: 370.0912; UPLC/MS (m/z) 370.02 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.19 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (13)

Treatment of 7 (250 mg, 0.83 mmol) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (150 mg, 1.27 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 13 (30 mg, 10%) as a yellow solid.

(13) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.74 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.85–7.81 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.55–7.50 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.27 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.97–6.92 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.55 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.89 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 189.33 (s, CO), 165.14 (s, Py-C4), 163.23 (t, J_CF = 14.5 Hz, Ar-para), 160.83 (dd, J_CF = 10.9, 248.7 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.53 (s, Py-C2), 159.01 (s, Py-C6), 145.33 (s, An-ipso), 132.62 (s, An-meta), 119.68 (s, An-CN), 118.16 (s, An-ortho), 108.73 (t, J_CF = 20.5 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.83 (s, An-para), 98.78 (dd, J_CF = 4.6, 23.8 Hz, Ar-meta), 96.39 (s, Py-C5), 56.65 (s, CH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₄N₅O₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 382.1110, Found: 382.1111; UPLC/MS (m/z) 381.87 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.42 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6–(2,4,6-trifluorobenzoyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (14)

Treatment of 8 (200 mg, 0.7 mmol) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (91 mg, 0.8 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 14 (10 mg, 4%) as a white solid.

(14) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.74 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.78–7.74 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.54–7.50 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.49–7.42 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.31 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.64 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 189.20 (s, CO), 165.14 (s, Py-C4), 163.55 (dt, J_CF = 5.8, 250.8 Hz, Ar-para), 159.84 (ddd, J_CF = 10.7, 15.8, 250.5 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.60 (s, Py-C2), 157.67 (s, Py-C6), 145.17 (s, An-ipso), 132.50 (d, An-meta), 119.60 (s, CN), 118.10 (s, An-ortho), 113.28 (td, J_CF = 4.4, 19.7 Hz, Ar-ipso), 102.00 (s, An-para), 101.47 (td, J_CF = 4.8, 23.9 Hz, Ar-meta), 96.55 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₀ON₅F₃Na [M+Na]⁺: 392.0730, Found: 392.0731; UPLC/MS (m/z) 369.87 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.20 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (15)

Treatment of 9 (250 mg, 0.8 mmol) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (104 mg, 0.9 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 15 (133 mg, 44%) as a red solid.

(15) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.03 (bs, 1H, NH), 8.02–7.97 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.75–7.71 (m, 2H, An-meta), 6.92–6.85 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.82 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.57 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.86 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 189.41 (s, CO), 163.27 (t, J_CF = 14.6 Hz, Ar-para), 163.27 (s, Py-C2), 161.53 (s, Py-C6), 161.05 (dd, J_CF = 10.8, 249.6 Hz, Ar-ortho), 160.85 (s, Py-C4), 144.61 (s, An-ipso), 133.11 (s, An-meta), 119.49 (s, An-CN), 119.03 (s, An-ortho), 108.64 (t, J_CF = 19.7 Hz, Ar-ipso), 103.02 (s, An-para), 98.75 (dd, J_CF = 4.4, 23.5 Hz, Ar-meta), 95.52 (s, Py-C5), 56.59 (s, CH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₄N₅O₂F₂ [M + H]⁺: 382.1110, Found: 382.1112; UPLC/MS (m/z) 383.681 [M + H]⁺, Tr 3.86 min.

Preparation of 4-((2-amino-6–(2,4,6-trifluorobenzoyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)benzonitrile (16)

Treatment of 10 (150 mg, 0.5 mmol) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (65 mg, 0.6 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 16 (32 mg, 17%) as a white solid.

(16) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.05 (bs, 1H, NH), 8.02–7.98 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.75–7.71 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.42–7.36 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.84 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.65 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 189.26 (s, CO), 163.76 (dt, J_CF = 15.4, 250.8 Hz, Ar-para), 163.38 (s, Py-C2), 161.56 (s, Py-C6), 160.10 (ddd, J_CF = 10.1, 16.5, 251.8 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.49 (s, Py-C4), 113.14 (td, J_CF = 4.8, 20.7 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.47 (td, J_CF = 4.8, 22.8 Hz, Ar-meta), 95.59 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₁N₅OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 370.0910, Found: 370.0911; UPLC/MS (m/z) 369.95 [M + H]⁺, Tr 3.78 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-methyl-6–(2,4,6-trifluorobenzoyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (18)

A solution of butyllithium (1.6 M in hexanes, 6.1 mL, 9.8 mmol) was slowly added to a precooled (–78°C) solution of 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene (1 mL, 10 mmol) in dry THF (10 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at –78°C for 2 h, after which a solution of methyl 2-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine-4-carboxylate (1 g, 5.4 mmol) in dry THF (10 mL) was slowly added and this mixture was slowly allowed to reach room temperature. The resulting solution was poured into EtOAc (100 mL) and water (100 mL) mixture, the organic layer was separated, washed with brine (100 mL), and dried over sodium sulfate. Crude intermediate 17 was isolated by flash chromatography on silica gel (gradient from hexane to EtOAc, 0–100%). UPLC/MS (m/z) 286.84 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.67 min.

Treatment of crude 17 (50 mg) with 4-aminobenzonitrile (26 mg, 0.22 mmol) according to general procedure C gave 18 (55 mg, overall yield 3%) as a yellow solid.

(18) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.47 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.74–7.71 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.61–7.57 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.53–7.47 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.46 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 2.56 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 188.58 (s, CO), 171.67 (s, Py-C6), 163.94 (dt, J_CF = 5.9, 251.7 Hz, Ar-para), 160.08 (ddd, J_CF = 10.5, 15.8, 251.4 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.30 (s, Py-C4), 158.44 (s, Py-C2), 144.33 (s, An-ipso), 132.75 (s, An-meta), 119.34 (s, CN), 118.26 (s, An-ortho), 112.55 (td, J_CF = 4.5, 11.0 Hz, Ar-ipso), 109.77 (s, Py-C5), 102.93 (s, An-para), 101.67 (td, J_CF = 4.6, 23.6 Hz, Ar-meta), 23.96 (s, CH₃); HRMS (EI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₁N₄OF₃ [M + H]⁺: 368.0885, Found: 368.0895; UPLC/MS (m/z) 368.97 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.69 min.

Preparation of (6-chloro-2-(methylthio)pyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (19)

Treatment of 4,6-dichloro-2-(methylthio)pyrimidine (1 g, 5 mmol) with 2,4,6-trifluorobenzaldehyde (0.8 g, 5 mmol) according to general procedure A gave 19 (240 mg, 16%) as a white solid.

(19) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.87 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 7.48–7.43 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 2.43 (s, 3H, SCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 186.07(s, CO), 173.43 (s, Py-C2), 164.45 (dt, J_CF = 16.1, 253.1 Hz, Ar-para), 162.37 (s, Py-C4), 160.67 (ddd, J_CF = 10.8, 16.1, 253.7 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.84 (s, Py-C6), 114.19 (d, Py-C5), 111.33 (td, J_CF = 4.5, 19.2 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.79 (td, J_CF = 3.1, 26.8 Hz, Ar-meta), 13.70 (s, SCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₂H₇ClN₂F₃S [M + H]⁺: 318.9914, Found: 318.9911; UPLC/MS (m/z) 319.121 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.23 min.

Preparation of (6-methoxy-2-(methylthio)pyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (20)

Compound 19 (1 g, 3 mmol) and sodium methoxide (430 mg, 9 mmol) were dissolved in methanol (30 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 16 h. The solution was diluted with water (60 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from cyclohexane to MeOH, 0–30%) gave 20 (300 g, 32%) as a white solid.

(20) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.41–7.35 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.11 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 4.00 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 2.39 (s, 3H, SCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.13 (s, CO), 172.23 (s, Py-C2), 170.08 (s, Py-C6), 163.96 (dt, J_CF = 16.0, 252.2 Hz, Ar-para), 160.29 (ddd, J_CF = 10.0, 16.0, 252.3 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.37 (s, Py-C4), 112.03 (td, J_CF = 4.6, 20.1 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.39 (td, J_CF = 5.3, 26.9 Hz, Ar-meta), 101.34 (s, Py-C5), 54.61 (s, OCH₃), 13.34 (s, SCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₃H₁₀O₂N₂F₃S [M + H]⁺: 315.0410, Found: 315.0408; UPLC/MS (m/z) 315.164 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.18 min.

Preparation of (2-amino-6-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone (21)

A solution of 20 (300 mg, 1 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 mL) was cooled to 0°C, and a solution of 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (471 mg, 3 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h at 0°C, diluted with dichloromethane (10 mL) and extracted with a solution of NaHCO₃ (1 × 20 mL), brine (1 × 20 mL) and water (1 × 20 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated to give 400 mg of the crude intermediate (6-methoxy-2-(methylsulfonyl)pyrimidin-4-yl)(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)methanone. The intermediate was subsequently dissolved in ethanolic ammonia (2.5 M ammonia in ethanol, 50 eq.) and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 21 as a white solid (50 mg, 18%).

(21) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.41–7.35 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.49 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.88 (s, OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 188.73 (s, Ar-ipso), 171.09 (s, Py-C6), 163.77 (s, Py-C2), 162.16 (dt, J_CF = 15.9, 251.4 Hz, Ar-para), 161.30 (s, Py-C4), 160.20 (ddd, J_CF = 10.4, 15.9, 251.6 Hz, Ar-ortho), 113.00 (td, J_CF = 4.7, 20.5 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.48 (td, J_CF = 4.8, 26.8 Hz, Ar-meta), 93.82 (s, Py-C5), 53.64 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₂H₉O₂N₃F₃ [M + H]⁺: 284.0641, Found: 284.0640; UPLC/MS (m/z) 284.164 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.26 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-methoxy-6–(2,4,6-trifluorobenzoyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (22)

Treatment of 21 (200 mg, 0.7 mmol) with 4-bromobenzonitrile (191 mg, 5 mmol) according to general procedure D gave 22 (90 mg, 34%) as a white solid.

(22) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.78–7.74 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.63–7.59 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.52–7.46 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.94 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 4.03 (s, 3H, OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 187.90 (s, CO), 171.25 (s, Py-C6), 163.92 (dt, J_CF = 15.7, 251.9 Hz, Ar-para), 160.14 (s, Py-C2), 160.09 (ddd, J_CF = 9.8, 16.0, 251.3 Hz, Ar-ortho), 159.18 (s, Py-C4), 144.19 (s, An-ipso), 132.78 (s, An-meta), 119.30 (s, CN), 118.66 (s, An-ortho), 112.66 (td, J_CF = 4.5, 20.7 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.66 (td, J_CF = 5.2, 24.9 Hz, Ar-meta), 97.98 (s, Py-C5), 54.63 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₁O₂N₄F₃Na [M+Na]⁺: 407.0726, Found: 407.0723; UPLC/MS (m/z) 385.219 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.06 min.

Preparation of 4-chloro-6–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenoxy)pyrimidin-2-amine (23)

2-Amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine (1.6 g, 9.8 mmol), 2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenol (1.72 g, 10.8 mmol), and cesium carbonate (3.2 g, 9.8 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (40 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated at 80°C for 1 h. The solution was diluted with water (70 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from cyclohexane to AcOEt, 0–40%) gave 23 (2 g, 58%) as a white solid.

(23) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.25 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.96–6.90 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.49 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.79 (s, 3H, OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 169.31 (s, Py-C2), 162.73 (s, Py-C6), 161.16 (s, Py-C2), 157.42 (t, J_CF = 13.0 Hz, Ar-para), 155.12 (dd, J_CF = 7.0, 245.8 Hz, Ar-ortho), 121.32 (t, J_CF = 16.4 Hz, Ar-ipso), 99.00 (dd, J_CF = 4.2, 21.5 Hz, Ar-meta), 93.79 (s, Py-C5), 56.28 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₁H₉ClO₂N₃F₂ [M + H]⁺: 288.0346, Found: 288.0347; UPLC/MS (m/z) 288.21 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.26 min.

Preparation of 4-chloro-6–(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-2-amine (24)

2-Amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine (2 g, 12 mmol), 2,4,6-trifluorophenol (1.95 g, 13 mmol), and cesium carbonate (5.9 g, 18 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (50 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated at 80°C for 4 h. The solution was diluted with water (70 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 50 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 24 (2.32 g, 65%) as a white solid.

(24) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.48–7.40 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.35 and 7.23 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 6.55 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 168.82 (s, Py-C4), 162.64 (s, Py-C6), 161.36 (s, Py-C2), 158.78 (dt, J_CF = 4.3, 245.0 Hz, Ar-para), 154.87 (ddd, J_CF = 6.5, 16.0, 249.2 Hz, Ar-ortho), 125.04 (s, J_CF = 5.2, 16.0 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.70 (ddd, J_CF = 4.7, 21.5, 25.5 Hz, Ar-meta), 93.80 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₀H₆ClON₃F₃ [M + H]⁺: 276.0146, Found: 276.0149; UPLC/MS (m/z) 275.66 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.50 min.

Preparation of 6-chloro-N⁴-(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)pyrimidin-2,4-diamine (25)

2-Amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine (500 mg, 3 mmol) and 2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyaniline (525 mg, 3.3 mmol) were dissolved in dioxane (40 mL) and a catalytic amount of HCl was added. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 3 h after which it was diluted with water (60 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 25 (600 mg, 70%) as a white solid.

(25) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.67 (bs, 1H, NH), 6.86 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 6.85–6.80 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 5.84 (bs, 2H, 2-NH₂); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 162.95 (s, Py-C2), 162.83 (s, Py-C4), 160.97 (s, Py-C6), 159.05 (dd, J_CF = 7.9, 245.8 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.61 (t, J_CF = 13.7 Hz, Ar-para), 107.84 (t, J_CF = 16.9 Hz, Ar-ipso), 107.53 (s, Py-C5), 98.53 (dd, J_CF = 4.7, 23.5 Hz, Ar-meta), 56.15 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₁H₁₀ClON₄F₂ [M + H]⁺: 287.0506, Found: 287.0507; UPLC/MS (m/z) 287.22 [M + H]⁺, Tr 3.72 min.

Preparation of 6-chloro-N⁴-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)pyrimidin-2,4-diamine (26)

2-Amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine (2 g, 12 mmol) and 2,4,6-trifluoroaniline (1.94 g, 13 mmol) were dissolved in dioxane (50 mL) and a catalytic amount of HCl was added. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 16 h, diluted with water (80 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 50 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from CHCl₃ to MeOH, 0–15%) gave 26 (2.52 g, 71%) as a white solid.

(26) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.87 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.33–7.21 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.61 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 5.91 (bs, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 163.16 (s, Py-C4), 162.91 (s, Py-C6), 159.77 (dt, J_CF = 15.5, 245.0 Hz, Ar-para), 159.49 (ddd, J_CF = 7.4, 15.8, 248.7 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.68 (s, Py-C2), 112.46 (td, J_CF = 4.7, 16.8 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.02 (td, J_CF = 5.5, 22.0 Hz, Ar-meta), 92.51 (d, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₀H₇ClN₄F₃ [M + H]⁺: 275.0306, Found: 275.0307; UPLC/MS (m/z) 274.56 [M + H]⁺, Tr 3.87 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-chloro-6–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (27)

Treatment of 23 (600 mg, 2 mmol) with 4-bromobenzonitrile (546 mg, 3 mmol) according to general procedure D gave 27 (450 mg, 58%) as a white solid.

(27) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.62 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.61–7.52 (m, 4H, An-ortho and An-meta), 7.08–7.03 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.02 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.86 (m, 3H, OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 169.19 (s, Py-C4), 161.41 (s, Py-C6), 158.03 (s, Py-C2), 157.94 (t, J_CF = 12.8 Hz, Ar-para), 155.06 (td, J_CF = 6.9, 246.2 Hz, Ar-ortho), 143.42 (s, An-ipso), 132.76 (s, An-meta), 121.27 (t, J_CF = 16.4 Hz, Ar-ipso), 119.13 (s, CN), 118.85 (s, An-ortho), 103.83 (s, An-para), 99.19 (dd, J_CF = 4.0, 21.3 Hz, Ar-meta), 97.91 (s, Py-C5), 56.48 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₁O₂ClN₄F₂ [M + H]⁺: 389.0611, Found: 389.0608; UPLC/MS (m/z) 389.27 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.34 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-chloro-6–(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (28)

Treatment of 24 (900 mg, 3.3 mmol) with 4-bromobenzonitrile (910 mg, 5 mmol) according to general procedure D gave 28 (1.07 g, 74%) as a white solid.

(28) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.65 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.62–7.58 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.59–7.53 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.56–7.51 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.06 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 168.69 (s, Py-C4), 161.61 (s, Py-C6), 159.16 (dt, J_CF = 14.5, 246 Hz, Ar-para), 158.03 (s, Py-C2), 154.80 (ddd, J_CF = 6.4, 16.0, 248.5 Hz, Ar-ortho), 143.37 (s, An-ipso), 132.78 (s, An-meta), 125.02 (td, J_CF = 5.5, 16.0 Hz, Ar-ipso), 119.10 (s, CN), 118.85 (s, An-ortho), 103.91 (s, An-para), 101.93 (td, J_CF = 4.9, 21.2 Hz, Ar-meta), 97.90 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₇H₈ClON₄F₃Na [M+Na]⁺: 399.0231, Found: 399.0232; UPLC/MS (m/z) 377.15 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.00 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-chloro-6-((2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (29)

Treatment of 25 (600 mg, 2 mmol) with 4-bromobenzonitrile (191 mg, 5 mmol) according to general procedure D gave 29 (240 mg, 31%) as a white solid.

(29) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.10 (bs, 1H, An-NH), 9.28 (bs, 1H, Ar-NH), 7.68–7.61 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.57–7.48 (m, 2H, An-meta), 6.97–6.92 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.35 (bs, 1H, Py-H5), 3.84 (s, 3H, OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 163.39 (s, Py-C4), 158.99 (t, J_CF = 15.2 Hz, Ar-para), 158.81 (dd, J_CF = 7.4, 245.1 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.54 (s, Py-C2, Py-C6), 144.47 (s, An-ipso), 132.66 (d, An-meta), 119.43 (s, CN), 118.40 (s, An-ortho), 107.63 (t, J_CF = 14.8 Hz, Ar-ipso), 102.64 (s, An-para), 98.66 (td, J_CF = 5.0, 23.3 Hz, Ar-meta), 96.17 (s, Py-C5), 56.32 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₂ClON₅F₂Na [M+Na]⁺: 410.0591, Found: 410.0587; UPLC/MS (m/z) 388.08 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.93 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-chloro-6-((2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (30)

Treatment of 26 (1 g, 3.6 mmol) with 4-bromobenzonitrile (9.83 g, 5.4 mmol) according to general procedure D gave 30 (1.1 g, 81%) as a white solid.

(30) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.13 (bs, 1H, An-NH), 9.47 (bs, 1H, Ar-NH), 7.68–7.61 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.59–7.53 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.45–7.38 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.34 (bs, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 162.94 (s, Py-C4), 160.06 (dt, J_CF = 15.4, 246.3 Hz, Ar-para), 158.47 (s, Py-C2), 158.42 (s, Py-C6), 158.27 (ddd, J_CF = 7.2, 15.8, 249.5 Hz, Ar-ortho), 144.25 (s, An-ipso), 132.50 (s, An-meta), 119.21 (s, CN), 118.38 (s, An-ortho), 112.08 (td, J_CF = 4.0, 17.8 Hz, Ar-ipso), 102.76 (s, An-para), 101.52 (td, J_CF = 5.3, 23.5 Hz, Ar-meta), 95.90 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₇H₁₀ClN₅F₃ [M + H]⁺: 376.0571, Found: 376.0568; UPLC/MS (m/z) 375.9 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.45 min.

Preparation of 4-((4–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenoxy)-6-methoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (31)

Compound 27 (150 mg, 0.4 mmol) and sodium methoxide (65 mg, 1.2 mmol) were dissolved in methanol (30 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 16 h. The solution was diluted with water (60 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 31 as a white solid (80 mg, 53%).

(31) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.03–6.97 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 7.69–7.63 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.57–7.51 (m, 2H, An-meta), 6.12 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.95 (s, 3H, Py-OCH₃), 3.84 (s, 3H, Ar-OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 172.23 (s, Py-C4), 169.64 (s, Py-C6), 157.99 (s, Py-C2), 157.50 (t, J_CF = 12.9 Hz, Ar-para), 155.35 (dd, J_CF = 7.1, 245.7 Hz, Ar-ortho), 144.25 (s, An-ipso), 132.64 (s, An-meta), 121.86 (t, J_CF = 16.3 Hz, Ar-ipso), 119.31 (s, CN), 118.61 (s, An-ortho), 102.95 (s, An-para), 98.97 (dd, J_CF = 4.3, 21.0 Hz, Ar-meta), 82.10 (s, Py-C5), 56.38 (s, Ar-OCH₃), 54.46 (s, Py-OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₅ClO₃N₄F₂ [M + H]⁺: 385.1107, Found: 385.1108; UPLC/MS (m/z) 385.31 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.26 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-methoxy-6–(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (32)

Compound 28 (250 mg, 0.8 mmol) and sodium methoxide (134 mg, 0.8 mmol) were dissolved in methanol (40 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 24 h. The solution was diluted with water (70 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash silica gel chromatography (gradient from cyclohexane to EtOAc, 0–40%) followed by flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave product 32 (80 mg, 31%) as a white solid.

(32) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.12 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.63–7.58 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.57–7.53 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.50–7.43 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.15 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 172.55 (s, Py-C6), 169.38 (s, Py-C4), 159.05 (dt, J_CF = 14.9, 245.3 Hz, Ar-para), 158.15 (s, Py-C2), 155.25 (ddd, J_CF = 6.7, 15.9, 248.9 Hz, Ar-ortho), 144.32 (s, An-ipso), 132.90 (s, An-meta), 125.80 (td, J_CF = 5.1, 15.9 Hz, Ar-ipso), 119.52 (s, CN), 118.85 (s, An-ortho), 103.30 (s, An-para), 101.89 (td, J_CF = 4.9, 27.1 Hz, Ar-meta), 82.44 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₂O₂N₄F₃ [M + H]⁺: 373.0910, Found: 373.0908; UPLC/MS (m/z) 373.200 [M + H]⁺, Tr 5.21 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-((2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)amino)-6-methoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (33)

Compound 29 (100 mg, 0.3 mmol) and sodium methoxide (65 mg, 1.2 mmol) were dissolved in methanol (20 mL). The reaction mixture was heated under microwave (MW) conditions (100°C, 4 h), after which it was diluted with water (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 30 mL). Organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 33 (25 mg, 22%) as a white solid.

(33) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.64 (bs, 1H, An-NH), 8.68 (bs, 1H, Ar-NH), 7.85–7.75 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.57–7.50 (m, 2H, An-meta), 6.92–6.87 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 5.50 (bs, 1H, Py-H5), 3.84 (s, 3H, Py-OCH₃), 3.83 (s, 3H, Ar-OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 170.27 (s, Py-C6), 164.00 (s, Py-C4), 159.10 (dd, J_CF = 8.0, 245.3 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.53 (t, J_CF = 14.2 Hz, Ar-ipso), 152.25 (s, Py-C2), 145.25 (s, An-ipso), 132.55 (s, An-meta), 119.62 (s, CN), 118.21 (s, An-ortho), 108.57 (t, J_CF = 15.2 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.78 (s, An-para), 98.52 (dd, J_CF = 4.5, 23.6 Hz, Ar-meta), 79.43 (s, Py-C5), 56.21 (s, Ar-OCH₃), 53.42 (s, Py-OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₉H₁₆O₂N₅F₂ [M + H]⁺: 384.1267, Found: 384.1264; UPLC/MS (m/z) 384.33 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.88 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-methoxy-6-((2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (34)

Compound 30 (480 mg, 1.3 mmol) and sodium methoxide (280 mg, 5.2 mmol) were dissolved in methanol (50 mL). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 16 h. The solution was diluted with water (80 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 34 (270 mg, 56%) as a white solid.

(34) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.67 (bs, 1H, An-NH), 8.89 (bs, 1H, Ar-NH), 7.78–7.74 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.57–7.53 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.39–7.34 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 5.58 (bs, 1H, Py-H5), 3.86 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 170.31 (s, Py-C6), 163.45 (s, Py-C4), 159.66 (dt, J_CF = 15.4, 245.6 Hz, Ar-para), 158.52 (ddd, J_CF = 7.4, 15.8, 248.2 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.40 (s, Py-C2), 145.13 (s, An-ipso), 132.57 (s, An-meta), 119.58 (s, CN), 118.17 (s, An-ortho), 113.14 (td, J_CF = 3.1, 15.5 Hz, Ar-ipso), 101.90 (s, An-para), 101.01 (td, J_CF = 4.8, 22.5 Hz, Ar-meta), 79.89 (s, Py-C5), 53.48 (s, CH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₃ON₅F₃ [M + H]⁺: 372.1066, Found: 372.1067; UPLC/MS (m/z) 372.04 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.46 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (35)

A mixture of 27 (200 mg, 0.5 mmol), 4-methoxybenzylamine (137 mg, 1 mmol), palladium(II) acetate (11 mg, 0.05 mmol), 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (58 mg, 0.1 mmol), and cesium carbonate (325 mg, 1 mmol) in dry dioxane (6 mL) was heated at 80°C under argon atmosphere for 2 h. The mixture was diluted with water (40 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 30 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave the intermediate 4-((4–(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenoxy)-6-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile, which was subsequently dissolved in CF₃COOH (3 mL) and stirred for 16 h. Volatiles were evaporated, and flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 35 (20 mg, 11%) as a white solid.

(35) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.58 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.73–7.68 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.50–7.46 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.00–6.93 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.83 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 5.58 (s, 1H, Py-H5), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 168.42 (s, Py-C4), 166.35 (s, Py-C6), 158.61 (Py-C2), 157.16 (t, J_CF = 13.0 Hz, Ar-para), 155.57 (dd, J_CF = 7.3, 245.6 Hz, Ar-ortho), 145.19 (s, An-ipso), 132.46 (s, An-meta), 119.58 (s, CN), 118.2 (s, An-ortho), 101.77 (s, An-para), 98.91 (dd, J_CF = 4.6, 21.1 Hz, Ar-meta), 78.80 (s, py-C5), 56.32 (s, OCH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₄O₂N₅F₂ [M + H]⁺: 370.1110, Found: 370.1105; UPLC/MS (m/z) 370.34 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.68 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6–(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (36)

A mixture of 28 (100 mg, 0.3 mmol), 4-methoxybenzylamine (82 mg, 0.6 mmol), palladium(II) acetate (7 mg, 0.03 mmol), 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (35 mg, 0.06 mmol), and cesium carbonate (195 mg, 0.6 mmol) in dry dioxane (5 mL) was heated at 80°C under an argon atmosphere for 16 h. The mixture was diluted with water (60 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 40 mL). The organic layers were collected and combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave the intermediate 4-((4-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)-6–(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile, which was subsequently dissolved in CF₃COOH (3 mL) and stirred for 16 h. Volatiles were evaporated under vacuum, and flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 36 (10 mg, 20%) as a white solid.

(36) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.59 (bs, 1H, NH), 7.68–7.65 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.52–7.48 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.48–7.43 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.89 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 5.63 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 167.91 (s, Py-C4), 166.39 (s, Py-C2), 158.52 (dt, J_CF = 14.5, 245.0 Hz, Ar-para), 158.52 (s, Py-C6), 155.29 (ddd, J_CF = 6.7, 15.7, 244 Hz, Ar-ortho), 145.07 (s, An-ipso), 132.45 (s, An-meta), 125.92 (td, J_CF = 5.1, 16.5 Hz, Ar-ipso), 119.10 (s, CN), 101.89 (s, An-para), 101.50 (td, J_CF = 4.2, 20.9 Hz, Ar-meta), 78.95 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₇H₁₁ON₅F₃ [M + H]⁺: 358.0910, Found: 358.0912; UPLC/MS (m/z) 358.181 [M + H]⁺, Tr 4.55 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6-((2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (37)

Compound 29 (250 mg, 0.7 mmol) and NaN₃ (182 mg, 2.8 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (4 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated under MW conditions at 140°C for 1 h. The solution was diluted with water (40 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 ×30 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Evaporation gave 50 mg of the crude intermediate 4-((4-azido-6-((2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile, which was subsequently dissolved in THF (10 mL) with triphenylphosphine (26 mg, 0.1 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. Water (4 mL) and a catalytic amount of HCl were then added, and the solution was stirred for 16 h. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 37 (30 mg, 11%) as a white solid.

(37) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.75 (bs, 1H, An-NH), 7.62–7.59 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.41–7.38 (m, 2H, An-meta), 6.52–6.48 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.27 (bs, 1H, Ar-NH), 5.07 (bs, 1H, Py-H5), 4.69 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 3.76 (s, 3H, CH₃); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 164.15 (s, Py-C6), 163.05 (s, Py-C2), 159.35 (dt, J_CF = 7.4, 248.5 Hz, Ar-para), 159.01 (d, J_CF = 13.3 Hz, Ar-ortho), 158.79 (s, Py-C4), 144.45 (s, An-ipso), 132.81 (s, An-meta), 119.75 (s, CN), 118.20 (s, An-ortho), 108.08 (d, J_CF = 17.0 Hz, Ar-ipso), 103.24 (s, An-para), 98.29 (td, J_CF = 4.3, 22.9 Hz, Ar-meta), 77.77 (s, Py-C5), 55.90 (s, CH₃); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₈H₁₅ON₆F₂ [M + H]⁺: 369.1271, Found: 369.1270; UPLC/MS (m/z) 369.236 [M + H]⁺, Tr 3.64 min.

Preparation of 4-((4-amino-6-((2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile (38)

Compound 30 (200 mg, 0.5 mmol) and NaN₃ (98 mg, 1.5 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (7 mL), and the reaction mixture was heated under MW conditions at 130°C for 2 h. The solution was diluted with water (40 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 ×30 mL). The organic layers were collected, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum. Flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 50 mg of the intermediate 4-((4-azido-6-((2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)benzonitrile, which was subsequently dissolved in THF (10 mL) with triphenylphosphine (34 mg, 0.13 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. Water (4 mL) and catalytic amount of HCl were then added, and the resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. Volatiles were evaporated under vacuum, and flash reverse phase chromatography (gradient from water to MeOH, 0–100%) gave 38 (10 mg, 20%) as a white solid.

(38) ¹H NMR (600.1 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 9.20 (bs, 1H, An-NH), 8.39 (bs, 1H, Ar-NH), 7.82–7.78 (m, 2H, An-ortho), 7.50–7.46 (m, 2H, An-meta), 7.33–7.27 (m, 2H, Ar-meta), 6.22 (bs, 2H, NH₂), 5.31 (s, 1H, Py-H5); ¹³C NMR (150.9 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 164.63 (s, Py-C6), 162.10 (s, Py-C4), 159.54 (dt, J_CF = 15.3, 245.5 Hz, Ar-para), 158.97 (s, Py-C2), 158.88 (ddd, J_CF = 7.7, 15.8, 248.2 Hz, Ar-ortho), 146.08 (s, An-ipso), 132.56 (s, An-meta), 120.00 (s, CN), 117.96 (s, An-ortho), 113.97 (dd, J_CF = 4.7, 16.9 Hz, Ar-ipso), 100.99 (s, An-para), 100.95 (td, J_CF = 5.7, 21.4 Hz, Ar-meta), 78.06 (s, Py-C5); HRMS (ESI): Calculated for C₁₇H₁₂N₆F₃ [M + H]⁺: 357.1071, Found: 357.1071; UPLC/MS (m/z) 357.236 [M + H]⁺, Tr 3.72 min.

MT-4 antiviral and cytotoxicity assay

Compounds were tested in a high-throughput 384-well assay format for their ability to inhibit the virus replication-induced cytopathic effect in MT-4 cell cultures acutely infected with HIV-1 (IIIB strain). Compounds were serially diluted (1:3) in DMSO on 384-well polypropylene plates and further diluted 200-fold into complete RPMI media (10% FBS, 1% P/S) using Biotek Micro Flow and Agilent ECHO acoustic dispenser. Each plate contained up to eight test compounds, with negative (no drug control) and 5 µM AZT positive controls. MT-4 cells were pre-infected with 10 µL of either RPMI (mock-infected) or a fresh 1:250 dilution of an HIV-1 (IIIB) concentrated virus stock. Infected and uninfected MT-4 cells were further diluted in complete RPMI media and added to each plate using a Micro-Flow dispenser. After five days of incubation in a humidified and temperature controlled incubator (37°C), Cell Titer Glo (Promega) was added to the assay plates to quantify the amount of luciferase. EC₅₀ and CC₅₀ values were defined as the compound concentration that causes a 50% decrease in luminescence signal and were calculated using a sigmoidal dose–response model to generate curve fits.²⁶

Declaration of conflicting interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the subvention for development of research organization (Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, RVO: 61388963).