RAS INHIBITORS

BACKGROUND

The vast majority of small molecule drugs act by binding a functionally important pocket on a target protein, thereby modulating the activity of that protein. For example, cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins bind the enzyme active site of HMG-CoA reductase, thus preventing the enzyme from engaging with its substrates. The fact that many such drug/target interacting pairs are known may have misled some into believing that a small molecule modulator could be discovered for most, if not all, proteins provided a reasonable amount of time, effort, and resources. This is far from the case. Current estimates are that only about 10% of all human proteins are targetable by small molecules. Bojadzic and Buchwald, Curr Top Med Chem 18: 674-699 (2019). The other 90% are currently considered refractory or intractable toward above-mentioned small molecule drug discovery. Such targets are commonly referred to as “undruggable.” These undruggable targets include a vast and largely untapped reservoir of medically important human proteins. Thus, there exists a great deal of interest in discovering new molecular modalities capable of modulating the function of such undruggable targets.

It has been well established in literature that Ras proteins (K-Ras, H-Ras and N-Ras) play an essential role in various human cancers and are therefore appropriate targets for anticancer therapy. Indeed, mutations in Ras proteins account for approximately 30% of all human cancers in the United States, many of which are fatal. Dysregulation of Ras proteins by activating mutations, overexpression or upstream activation is common in human tumors, and activating mutations in Ras are frequently found in human cancer. For example, activating mutations at codon 12 in Ras proteins function by inhibiting both GTPase-activating protein (GAP)-dependent and intrinsic hydrolysis rates of GTP, significantly skewing the population of Ras mutant proteins to the “on” (GTP-bound) state (Ras(ON)), leading to oncogenic MAPK signaling. Notably, Ras exhibits a picomolar affinity for GTP, enabling Ras to be activated even in the presence of low concentrations of this nucleotide. Mutations at codons 13 (e.g., G13D) and 61 (e.g., Q61K) of Ras are also responsible for oncogenic activity in some cancers.

Despite extensive drug discovery efforts against Ras during the last several decades, a drug directly targeting Ras is still not approved. Additional efforts are needed to uncover additional medicines for cancers driven by the various Ras mutations.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are Ras inhibitors. The approach described herein entails formation of a high affinity three-component complex between a synthetic ligand and two intracellular proteins which do not interact under normal physiological conditions: the target protein of interest (e.g., Ras), and a widely expressed cytosolic chaperone (presenter protein) in the cell (e.g., cyclophilin A). More specifically, in some embodiments, the inhibitors of Ras described herein induce a new binding pocket in Ras by driving formation of a high affinity tri-complex between the Ras protein and the widely expressed cytosolic chaperone, cyclophilin A (CYPA). Without being bound by theory, the inventors believe that one way the inhibitory effect on Ras is effected by compounds of the invention and the complexes they form is by steric occlusion of the interaction site between Ras and downstream effector molecules, such as RAF and PI3K, which are required for propagating the oncogenic signal.

As such, in some embodiments, the disclosure features a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, of structural Formula I:

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wherein the dotted lines represent zero, one, two, three, or four non-adjacent double bonds; A is —N(H or CH₃)C(O)—(CH₂)— where the amino nitrogen is bound to the carbon atom of —CH(R¹⁰)—, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkylene, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered heterocycloalkylene, optionally substituted 6-membered arylene, or optionally substituted 5 to 10-membered heteroarylene;

B is absent, —CH(R⁹)—, or >C═CR⁹R^9′ where the carbon is bound to the carbonyl carbon of —N(R¹¹)C(O)—, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkylene, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered heterocycloalkylene, optionally substituted 6-membered arylene, or 5 to 6-membered heteroarylene;

G is optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkylene, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkenylene, optionally substituted C₁-C₄heteroalkylene, —C(O)O—CH(R⁶)— where C is bound to —C(R⁷R⁸)—, —C(O)NH—CH(R⁶)—where C is bound to —C(R⁷R⁸)—, optionally substituted C₁-C₄heteroalkylene, or 3 to 8-membered heteroarylene;

L is absent or a linker;

W is hydrogen, cyano, S(O)₂R′, optionally substituted amino, optionally substituted amido, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkoxy, optionally substituted C₁-C₄hydroxyalkyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₄aminoalkyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₄haloalkyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₄guanidinoalkyl, C₀-C₄alkyl optionally substituted 3 to 11-membered heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3 to 8-membered cycloalkyl, or optionally substituted 3 to 8-membered heteroaryl;

X¹is optionally substituted C₁-C₂alkylene, NR, O, or S(O)_n;

X²is O or NH;

X³is N or CH;

n is 0, 1, or 2;

R is hydrogen, cyano, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₄alkenyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₄alkynyl, C(O)R′, C(O)OR′, C(O)N(R′)₂, S(O)R′, S(O)₂R′, or S(O)₂N(R′)₂;

each R′ is, independently, H or optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkyl;

Y¹is C, CH, or N;

Y², Y³, Y⁴, and Y⁷are, independently, C or N;

Y⁵is CH, CH₂, or N;

Y⁶is C(O), CH, CH₂, or N;

R¹is cyano, optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₆heteroalkyl, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkenyl, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted 6 to 10-membered aryl, or optionally substituted 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl, or

R¹and R²combine with the atoms to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R³is absent, or

R²and R³combine with the atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 8-membered cycloalkyl or optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R⁴is absent, hydrogen, halogen, cyano, or methyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 halogens;

R⁵is hydrogen, C₁-C₄alkyl optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, or C₁-C₄alkoxy, cyclopropyl, or cyclobutyl;

R⁶is hydrogen or methyl; R⁷is hydrogen, halogen, or optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl, or

R⁶and R⁷combine with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R⁸is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkoxy, optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₆alkenyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₆alkynyl, optionally substituted 3 to 8-membered cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl, or optionally substituted 6 to 10-membered aryl, or

R⁷and R⁸combine with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form C═CR⁷R^8′; C═N(OH), C═N(O—C₁-C₃alkyl), C═O, C═S, C═NH, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl, or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R^7aand R^8aare, independently, hydrogen, halo, optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl, or combine with the carbon to which they are attached to form a carbonyl;

R^7′ is hydrogen, halogen, or optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl; R^8′ is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkoxy, optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₆alkenyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₆alkynyl, optionally substituted 3 to 8-membered cycloalkyl, optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl, optionally substituted 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl, or optionally substituted 6 to 10-membered aryl, or

R^7′ and R^8′combine with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R⁹is hydrogen, F, optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₆heteroalkyl, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl, or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl, or

R⁹and L combine with the atoms to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R^9′is hydrogen or optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl;

R¹⁰is hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, C₁-C₃alkoxy, or C₁-C₃alkyl;

R^10ais hydrogen or halo;

R¹¹is hydrogen or C₁-C₃alkyl. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient; and

R¹⁶is hydrogen or C₁-C₃alkyl (e.g., methyl).

Also provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In some embodiments, a method is provided of treating a Ras protein-related disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

It is specifically contemplated that any limitation discussed with respect to one embodiment of the invention may apply to any other embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, any compound or composition of the invention may be used in any method of the invention, and any method of the invention may be used to produce or to utilize any compound or composition of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A: A compound of the present invention, Compound A, exhibits PK-dependent RAS pathway modulation in a Capan-2 CDX model (PDAC, KRAS G12V/WT). Single dose compared to twice administered PK/PD measurement of Compound A. Second dose of Compound A delivered 8 hours following first dose, depicted by black arrow. All dose levels well tolerated. Tumor DUSP6 mRNA expression as percent of control graphed as bars on left y-axis. Dotted line indicates return to control level of DUSP6. Unbound plasma PK (nM) graphed as lines, plotted in Log 10 scale on right y-axis. N=3/time point. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.

FIG. 1B: Combinatorial anti-tumor activity with a compound of the present invention, Compound A, and upstream SHP2 inhibition in a Capan-2 CDX model (PDAC, KRAS G12V/WT). Capan-2 cells were implanted in 50% Matrigel. Animals were randomized and treatment was initiated at average tumor volume of ˜180 mm3. Animals were dosed with SHP2 inhibitor RMC-4550 20 mg/kg po q2d, Compound A 100 mg/kg po bid, combination RMC-4550 and Compound A, or Control for 40 days. All dose levels were tolerated. n=10/group (n=9 in Combination arm). Ns=no significance; ***p<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.

DEFINITIONS AND CHEMICAL TERMS

In this application, unless otherwise clear from context, (i) the term “a” means “one or more”; (ii) the term “or” is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or”; (iii) the terms “comprising” and “including” are understood to encompass itemized components or steps whether presented by themselves or together with one or more additional components or steps; and (iv) where ranges are provided, endpoints are included.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value. In certain embodiments, the term “about” refers to a range of values that fall within 25%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or less in either direction (greater than or less than) of a stated value, unless otherwise stated or otherwise evident from the context (e.g., where such number would exceed 100% of a possible value).

As used herein, the term “adjacent” in the context of describing adjacent atoms refers to bivalent atoms that are directly connected by a covalent bond.

A “compound of the present invention” and similar terms as used herein, whether explicitly noted or not, refers to Ras inhibitors described herein, including compounds of Formula I and subformula thereof, and compounds of Table 1 and Table 2, as well as salts (e.g., pharmaceutically acceptable salts), solvates, hydrates, stereoisomers (including atropisomers), and tautomers thereof.

The term “wild-type” refers to an entity having a structure or activity as found in nature in a “normal” (as contrasted with mutant, diseased, altered, etc) state or context. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that wild-type genes and polypeptides often exist in multiple different forms (e.g., alleles).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain compounds described herein can exist in one or more different isomeric (e.g., stereoisomers, geometric isomers, atropisomers, tautomers) or isotopic (e.g., in which one or more atoms has been substituted with a different isotope of the atom, such as hydrogen substituted for deuterium) forms. Unless otherwise indicated or clear from context, a depicted structure can be understood to represent any such isomeric or isotopic form, individually or in combination.

Compounds described herein can be asymmetric (e.g., having one or more stereocenters). All stereoisomers, such as enantiomers and diastereomers, are intended unless otherwise indicated. Compounds of the present disclosure that contain asymmetrically substituted carbon atoms can be isolated in optically active or racemic forms. Methods on how to prepare optically active forms from optically active starting materials are known in the art, such as by resolution of racemic mixtures or by stereoselective synthesis. Many geometric isomers of olefins, C═N double bonds, and the like can also be present in the compounds described herein, and all such stable isomers are contemplated in the present disclosure. Cis and trans geometric isomers of the compounds of the present disclosure are described and may be isolated as a mixture of isomers or as separated isomeric forms.

In some embodiments, one or more compounds depicted herein may exist in different tautomeric forms. As will be clear from context, unless explicitly excluded, references to such compounds encompass all such tautomeric forms. In some embodiments, tautomeric forms result from the swapping of a single bond with an adjacent double bond and the concomitant migration of a proton. In certain embodiments, a tautomeric form may be a prototropic tautomer, which is an isomeric protonation states having the same empirical formula and total charge as a reference form. Examples of moieties with prototropic tautomeric forms are ketone—enol pairs, amide—imidic acid pairs, lactam—lactim pairs, amide—imidic acid pairs, enamine—imine pairs, and annular forms where a proton can occupy two or more positions of a heterocyclic system, such as, 1H- and 3H-imidazole, 1H-, 2H- and 4H-1,2,4-triazole, 1H- and 2H-isoindole, and 1H- and 2H-pyrazole. In some embodiments, tautomeric forms can be in equilibrium or sterically locked into one form by appropriate substitution. In certain embodiments, tautomeric forms result from acetal interconversion.

Unless otherwise stated, structures depicted herein are also meant to include compounds that differ only in the presence of one or more isotopically enriched atoms. Exemplary isotopes that can be incorporated into compounds of the present invention include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, fluorine, chlorine, and iodine, such as ²H, ³H, ¹¹C, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹³N, ¹⁵N, ¹⁵O, ¹⁷O, ¹⁸O, ³²P, ³³P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F, ³⁶Cl, ¹²³I and ¹²⁵I. Isotopically-labeled compounds (e.g., those labeled with ³H and ¹⁴C) can be useful in compound or substrate tissue distribution assays. Tritiated (i.e., ³H) and carbon-14 (i.e., ¹⁴C)) isotopes can be useful for their ease of preparation and detectability. Further, substitution with heavier isotopes such as deuterium (i.e., ²H) may afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability (e.g., increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements). In some embodiments, one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by ²H or ³H, or one or more carbon atoms are replaced by ¹³C- or ¹⁴C-enriched carbon. Positron emitting isotopes such as ¹⁵O, ¹³N, ¹¹C, and ¹⁸F are useful for positron emission tomography (PET) studies to examine substrate receptor occupancy. Preparations of isotopically labelled compounds are known to those of skill in the art. For example, isotopically labeled compounds can generally be prepared by following procedures analogous to those disclosed for compounds of the present invention described herein, by substituting an isotopically labeled reagent for a non-isotopically labeled reagent.

As is known in the art, many chemical entities can adopt a variety of different solid forms such as, for example, amorphous forms or crystalline forms (e.g., polymorphs, hydrates, solvate). In some embodiments, compounds of the present invention may be utilized in any such form, including in any solid form. In some embodiments, compounds described or depicted herein may be provided or utilized in hydrate or solvate form.

At various places in the present specification, substituents of compounds of the present disclosure are disclosed in groups or in ranges. It is specifically intended that the present disclosure include each and every individual subcombination of the members of such groups and ranges. For example, the term “C₁-C₆alkyl” is specifically intended to individually disclose methyl, ethyl, C₃alkyl, C₄alkyl, C₅alkyl, and C₆alkyl. Furthermore, where a compound includes a plurality of positions at which substituents are disclosed in groups or in ranges, unless otherwise indicated, the present disclosure is intended to cover individual compounds and groups of compounds (e.g., genera and subgenera) containing each and every individual subcombination of members at each position.

The term “optionally substituted X” (e.g., “optionally substituted alkyl”) is intended to be equivalent to “X, wherein X is optionally substituted” (e.g., “alkyl, wherein said alkyl is optionally substituted”). It is not intended to mean that the feature “X” (e.g., alkyl) per se is optional. As described herein, certain compounds of interest may contain one or more “optionally substituted” moieties. In general, the term “substituted”, whether preceded by the term “optionally” or not, means that one or more hydrogens of the designated moiety are replaced with a suitable substituent, e.g., any of the substituents or groups described herein. Unless otherwise indicated, an “optionally substituted” group may have a suitable substituent at each substitutable position of the group, and when more than one position in any given structure may be substituted with more than one substituent selected from a specified group, the substituent may be either the same or different at every position. For example, in the term “optionally substituted C₁-C₆alkyl-C₂-C₉heteroaryl,” the alkyl portion, the heteroaryl portion, or both, may be optionally substituted. Combinations of substituents envisioned by the present disclosure are preferably those that result in the formation of stable or chemically feasible compounds. The term “stable”, as used herein, refers to compounds that are not substantially altered when subjected to conditions to allow for their production, detection, and, in certain embodiments, their recovery, purification, and use for one or more of the purposes disclosed herein.

Suitable monovalent substituents on a substitutable carbon atom of an “optionally substituted” group may be, independently, deuterium; halogen; —(CH₂)_0-4R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4OR^o; —O(CH₂)_0-4R^o; —O—(CH₂)_0-4C(O)OR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4CH(OR^o)₂; —(CH₂)_0-4SR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4Ph, which may be substituted with R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4O(CH₂)_0-1Ph which may be substituted with R^o; —CH═CHPh, which may be substituted with R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4O(CH₂)_0-1-pyridyl which may be substituted with R^o; 4-8 membered saturated or unsaturated heterocycloalkyl (e.g., pyridyl); 3-8 membered saturated or unsaturated cycloalkyl (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, or cyclopentyl); —NO₂; —CN; —N₃; —(CH₂)_0-4N(R^o)₂; —(CH₂)_0-4N(R^o)C(O)R^o; —N(R^o)C(S)R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4N(R^o)C(O)NR^o₂; —N(R^o)C(S)NR^o₂; —(CH₂)_0-4N(R^o)C(O)OR^o; —N(R^o)N(R^o)C(O)R^o; —N(R^o)N(R^o)C(O)NR^o₂; —N(R^o)N(R^o)C(O)OR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4C(O)R^o; —C(S)R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4C(O)OR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4—C(O)—N(R^o)₂; —(CH₂)_0-4—C(O)—N(R^o)—S(O)₂—R^o; —C(NCN)NR^o₂; —(CH₂)_0-4C(O)SR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4C(O)OSiR^o₃; —(CH₂)_0-4OC(O)R^o; —OC(O)(CH₂)_0-4SR^o; —SC(S)SR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4SC(O)R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4C(O)NR^O₂; —C(S)NR^o₂; —C(S)SR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4OC(O) NR^o₂; —C(O)N(OR^o)R^o; —C(O)C(O)R^o; —C(O)CH₂C(O)R^o; —C(NOR^o)R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4SSR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4S(O)₂R^o; —(CH₂)_0-4S(O)₂OR^o; —(CH₂)_0-4OS(O)₂R^o; —S(O)₂NR^o₂; —(CH₂)_0-4S(O)R^o; —N(R^o)S(O)₂NR^o₂; —N(R^o)S(O)₂R^o; —N(OR^o)R^o; —C(NOR^o)NR^o₂; —C(NH)NR^o₂; —P(O)₂R^o; —P(O)R^o₂; —P(O)(OR^o)₂; —OP(O)R^o₂; —OP(O)(OR^o)₂; —OP(O)(OR^o)R^o, —SiR^o₃; —(C_1-4straight or branched alkylene)O—N(R^o)₂; or —(C_1-4straight or branched alkylene)C(O)O—N(R^o)₂, wherein each R^omay be substituted as defined below and is independently hydrogen, —C_1-6aliphatic, —CH₂Ph, —O(CH₂)_0-1Ph, —CH₂-(5-6 membered heteroaryl ring), or a 3-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or, notwithstanding the definition above, two independent occurrences of R^o, taken together with their intervening atom(s), form a 3-12-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl mono- or bicyclic ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, which may be substituted as defined below.

Suitable monovalent substituents on R^o(or the ring formed by taking two independent occurrences of R^otogether with their intervening atoms), may be, independently, halogen, —(CH₂)_0-2R^⋅, -(haloR^⋅), —(CH₂)_0-2OH, —(CH₂)_0-2OR^⋅, —(CH₂)_0-2CH(OR^⋅)₂; —O(haloR^⋅), —CN, —N₃, —(CH₂)_0-2C(O)R^⋅, —(CH₂)_0-2C(O)OH, —(CH₂)_0-2C(O)OR^⋅, —(CH₂)_0-2SR^⋅, —(CH₂)_0-2SH, —(CH₂)_0-2NH₂, —(CH₂)_0-2NHR^⋅, —(CH₂)_{0- 2}NR^⋅₂, —N O₂, —SiR^⋅₃, —OSiR^⋅₃, —C(O)SR^⋅, —(C_1-4straight or branched alkylene)C(O)OR^⋅, or —SSR^⋅ wherein each R^⋅ is unsubstituted or where preceded by “halo” is substituted only with one or more halogens, and is independently selected from C_1-4aliphatic, —CH₂Ph, —O(CH₂)_0-1Ph, or a 5-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Suitable divalent substituents on a saturated carbon atom of R^oinclude ═O and ═S.

Suitable divalent substituents on a saturated carbon atom of an “optionally substituted” group include the following: ═O, ═S, ═NNR^*₂, ═NNHC(O)R^*, ═NNHC(O)OR^*, ═NNHS(O)₂R^*, =NR^*, =NOR^*, —O(C(R*₂))_2-3O—, or —S(C(R^{*hd 2}))_2-3S—, wherein each independent occurrence of R^* is selected from hydrogen, C₁-6 aliphatic which may be substituted as defined below, or an unsubstituted 5-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Suitable divalent substituents that are bound to vicinal substitutable carbons of an “optionally substituted” group include: —O(CR^*₂)_2-3O—, wherein each independent occurrence of R^⋅ is selected from hydrogen, C_1-6aliphatic which may be substituted as defined below, or an unsubstituted 5-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

Suitable substituents on the aliphatic group of R^⋅ include halogen, —R^⋅, -(haloR^⋅), —OH, —OR^⋅, —O(haloR^⋅), —CN, —C(O)OH, —C(O)OR^⋅, —NH₂, —NHR^⋅, —NR^⋅₂, or —NO₂, wherein each R^⋅ is unsubstituted or where preceded by “halo” is substituted only with one or more halogens, and is independently C_1-4aliphatic, —CH₂Ph, —O(CH₂)_0-1Ph, or a 5-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

Suitable substituents on a substitutable nitrogen of an “optionally substituted” group include —R^†, —NR^†₂, —C(O)R^†, —C(O)OR^†, —C(O)C(O)R^†, —C(O)CH₂C(O)R^†, —S(O)₂R^†, —S(O)₂NR^†₂, —C(S)NR^†₂, —C(NH)NR^†₂, or —N(R^†)S(O)₂R^†; wherein each R^† is independently hydrogen, C₁-6 aliphatic which may be substituted as defined below, unsubstituted —OPh, or an unsubstituted 3-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or, notwithstanding the definition above, two independent occurrences of R^†, taken together with their intervening atom(s) form an unsubstituted 3-12-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl mono- or bicyclic ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Suitable substituents on an aliphatic group of R^† are independently halogen, —R^⋅, -(haloR^⋅), —OH, —OR^⋅, —O(haloR^⋅), —CN, —C(O)OH, —C(O)OR^⋅, —NH₂, —NHR^⋅, —NR^⋅₂, or —NO₂, wherein each R^⋅ is unsubstituted or where preceded by “halo” is substituted only with one or more halogens, and is independently C_1-4aliphatic, —CH₂Ph, —O(CH₂)_0-1Ph, or a 5-6-membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Suitable divalent substituents on a saturated carbon atom of R^† include ═O and ═S.

The term “acetyl,” as used herein, refers to the group —C(O)CH₃.

The term “alkoxy,” as used herein, refers to a —O—C₁-C₂₀alkyl group, wherein the alkoxy group is attached to the remainder of the compound through an oxygen atom.

The term “alkyl,” as used herein, refers to a saturated, straight or branched monovalent hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 20 (e.g., from 1 to 10 or from 1 to 6) carbons. In some embodiments, an alkyl group is unbranched (i.e., is linear); in some embodiments, an alkyl group is branched. Alkyl groups are exemplified by, but not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n- and/so-propyl, n-, sec-, iso- and tert-butyl, and neopentyl.

The term “alkylene,” as used herein, represents a saturated divalent hydrocarbon group derived from a straight or branched chain saturated hydrocarbon by the removal of two hydrogen atoms, and is exemplified by methylene, ethylene, isopropylene, and the like. The term “C_x-C_yalkylene” represents alkylene groups having between x and y carbons. Exemplary values for x are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and exemplary values for y are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, or 20 (e.g., C₁-C₆, C₁-C₁₀, C₂-C₂₀, C₂-C₆, C₂-C₁₀, or C₂-C₂₀alkylene). In some embodiments, the alkylene can be further substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 substituent groups as defined herein.

The term “alkenyl,” as used herein, represents monovalent straight or branched chain groups of, unless otherwise specified, from 2 to 20 carbons (e.g., from 2 to 6 or from 2 to 10 carbons) containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds and is exemplified by ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, 2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-butenyl, and 2-butenyl. Alkenyls include both cis and trans isomers. The term “alkenylene,” as used herein, represents a divalent straight or branched chain groups of, unless otherwise specified, from 2 to 20 carbons (e.g., from 2 to 6 or from 2 to 10 carbons) containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.

The term “alkynyl,” as used herein, represents monovalent straight or branched chain groups from 2 to 20 carbon atoms (e.g., from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, or from 2 to 10 carbons) containing a carbon-carbon triple bond and is exemplified by ethynyl, and 1-propynyl.

The term “alkynyl sulfone,” as used herein, represents a group comprising the structure

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wherein R is any chemically feasible substituent described herein.

The term “amino,” as used herein, represents —N(R^†)₂, e.g., —NH₂and —N(CH₃)₂.

The term “aminoalkyl,” as used herein, represents an alkyl moiety substituted on one or more carbon atoms with one or more amino moieties.

The term “amino acid,” as described herein, refers to a molecule having a side chain, an amino group, and an acid group (e.g., —CO₂H or —SO₃H), wherein the amino acid is attached to the parent molecular group by the side chain, amino group, or acid group (e.g., the side chain). As used herein, the term “amino acid” in its broadest sense, refers to any compound or substance that can be incorporated into a polypeptide chain, e.g., through formation of one or more peptide bonds. In some embodiments, an amino acid has the general structure H₂N—C(H)(R)—COOH. In some embodiments, an amino acid is a naturally-occurring amino acid. In some embodiments, an amino acid is a synthetic amino acid; in some embodiments, an amino acid is a D-amino acid; in some embodiments, an amino acid is an L-amino acid. “Standard amino acid” refers to any of the twenty standard L-amino acids commonly found in naturally occurring peptides. Exemplary amino acids include alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, optionally substituted hydroxylnorvaline, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, norvaline, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, pyrrolysine, selenocysteine, serine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, represents a monovalent monocyclic, bicyclic, or multicyclic ring system formed by carbon atoms, wherein the ring attached to the pendant group is aromatic. Examples of aryl groups are phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl, and anthracenyl. An aryl ring can be attached to its pendant group at any heteroatom or carbon ring atom that results in a stable structure and any of the ring atoms can be optionally substituted unless otherwise specified.

The term “C₀,” as used herein, represents a bond. For example, part of the term —N(C(O)—(C₀-C₅alkylene-H)— includes —N(C(O)—(C₀alkylene-H)—, which is also represented by —N(C(O)—H)—.

The terms “carbocyclic” and “carbocyclyl,” as used herein, refer to a monovalent, optionally substituted C₃-C₁₂monocyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic ring structure, which may be bridged, fused or spirocyclic, in which all the rings are formed by carbon atoms and at least one ring is non-aromatic. Carbocyclic structures include cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and cycloalkynyl groups. Examples of carbocyclyl groups are cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctynyl, 1,2-dihydronaphthyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, indanyl, decalinyl, and the like. A carbocyclic ring can be attached to its pendant group at any ring atom that results in a stable structure and any of the ring atoms can be optionally substituted unless otherwise specified.

The term “carbonyl,” as used herein, represents a C(O) group, which can also be represented as c═O.

The term “carboxyl,” as used herein, means —CO₂H, (C═O)(OH), COOH, or C(O)OH or the unprotonated counterparts.

The term “cyano,” as used herein, represents a —CN group.

The term “cycloalkyl,” as used herein, represents a monovalent saturated cyclic hydrocarbon group, which may be bridged, fused or spirocyclic having from three to eight ring carbons, unless otherwise specified, and is exemplified by cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cycloheptyl.

The term “cycloalkenyl,” as used herein, represents a monovalent, non-aromatic, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon group, which may be bridged, fused or spirocyclic having from three to eight ring carbons, unless otherwise specified, and containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.

The term “diastereomer,” as used herein, means stereoisomers that are not mirror images of one another and are non-superimposable on one another.

The term “enantiomer,” as used herein, means each individual optically active form of a compound of the invention, having an optical purity or enantiomeric excess (as determined by methods standard in the art) of at least 80% (i.e., at least 90% of one enantiomer and at most 10% of the other enantiomer), preferably at least 90% and more preferably at least 98%.

The term “guanidinyl,” refers to a group having the structure:

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wherein each R is, independently, any any chemically feasible substituent described herein.

The term “guanidinoalkyl alkyl,” as used herein, represents an alkyl moiety substituted on one or more carbon atoms with one or more guanidinyl moieties.

The term “haloacetyl,” as used herein, refers to an acetyl group wherein at least one of the hydrogens has been replaced by a halogen.

The term “haloalkyl,” as used herein, represents an alkyl moiety substituted on one or more carbon atoms with one or more of the same of different halogen moieties.

The term “halogen,” as used herein, represents a halogen selected from bromine, chlorine, iodine, or fluorine.

The term “heteroalkyl” as used herein, refers to SET “alkyl” group, as defined herein, in which at least one carbon atom has been replaced with a heteroatom (e.g., an O, N, or S atom). The heteroatom may appear in the middle or at the end of the radical.

The term “heteroaryl,” as used herein, represents a monovalent, monocyclic or polycyclic ring structure that contains at least one fully aromatic ring: i.e., they contain 4n+2 μl electrons within the monocyclic or polycyclic ring system and contains at least one ring heteroatom selected from N, O, or S in that aromatic ring. Exemplary unsubstituted heteroaryl groups are of 1 to 12 (e.g., 1 to 11, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, 2 to 12, 2 to 11, 2 to 10, or 2 to 9) carbons. The term “heteroaryl” includes bicyclic, tricyclic, and tetracyclic groups in which any of the above heteroaromatic rings is fused to one or more, aryl or carbocyclic rings, e.g., a phenyl ring, or a cyclohexane ring. Examples of heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, pyridyl, pyrazolyl, benzooxazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, quinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, and 4-azaindolyl. A heteroaryl ring can be attached to its pendant group at any ring atom that results in a stable structure and any of the ring atoms can be optionally substituted unless otherwise specified. In some embodiment, the heteroaryl is substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 substituents groups.

The term “heterocycloalkyl,” as used herein, represents a monovalent monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic ring system, which may be bridged, fused or spirocyclic, wherein at least one ring is non-aromatic and wherein the non-aromatic ring contains one, two, three, or four heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. The 5-membered ring has zero to two double bonds, and the 6- and 7-membered rings have zero to three double bonds. Exemplary unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl groups are of 1 to 12 (e.g., 1 to 11, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, 2 to 12, 2 to 11, 2 to 10, or 2 to 9) carbons. The term “heterocycloalkyl” also represents a heterocyclic compound having a bridged multicyclic structure in which one or more carbons or heteroatoms bridges two non-adjacent members of a monocyclic ring, e.g., a quinuclidinyl group. The term “heterocycloalkyl” includes bicyclic, tricyclic, and tetracyclic groups in which any of the above heterocyclic rings is fused to one or more aromatic, carbocyclic, heteroaromatic, or heterocyclic rings, e.g., an aryl ring, a cyclohexane ring, a cyclohexene ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclopentene ring, a pyridine ring, or a pyrrolidine ring. Examples of heterocycloalkyl groups are pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl, decahydroquinolinyl, dihydropyrrolopyridine, and decahydronapthyridinyl. A heterocycloalkyl ring can be attached to its pendant group at any ring atom that results in a stable structure and any of the ring atoms can be optionally substituted unless otherwise specified.

The term “hydroxy,” as used herein, represents a —OH group.

The term “hydroxyalkyl,” as used herein, represents an alkyl moiety substituted on one or more carbon atoms with one or more —OH moieties.

The term “isomer,” as used herein, means any tautomer, stereoisomer, atropiosmer, enantiomer, or diastereomer of any compound of the invention. It is recognized that the compounds of the invention can have one or more chiral centers or double bonds and, therefore, exist as stereoisomers, such as double-bond isomers (i.e., geometric E/Z isomers) ordiastereomers (e.g., enantiomers (i.e., (+) or (−)) or cis/trans isomers). According to the invention, the chemical structures depicted herein, and therefore the compounds of the invention, encompass all the corresponding stereoisomers, that is, both the stereomerically pure form (e.g., geometrically pure, enantiomerically pure, or diastereomerically pure) and enantiomeric and stereoisomeric mixtures, e.g., racemates. Enantiomeric and stereoisomeric mixtures of compounds of the invention can typically be resolved into their component enantiomers or stereoisomers by well-known methods, such as chiral-phase gas chromatography, chiral-phase high performance liquid chromatography, crystallizing the compound as a chiral salt complex, or crystallizing the compound in a chiral solvent. Enantiomers and stereoisomers can also be obtained from stereomerically or enantiomerically pure intermediates, reagents, and catalysts by well-known asymmetric synthetic methods.

As used herein, the term “linker” refers to a divalent organic moiety connecting moiety B to moiety W in a compound of Formula I, such that the resulting compound is capable of achieving an IC50 of 2 uM or less in the Ras-RAF disruption assay protocol provided in the Examples below, and provided here:

- The purpose of this biochemical assay is to measure the ability of test compounds to facilitate ternary complex formation between a nucleotide-loaded Ras isoform and cyclophilin A; the resulting ternary complex disrupts binding to a BRAF^RBDconstruct, inhibiting Ras signaling through a RAF effector.
- In assay buffer containing 25 mM HEPES pH 7.3, 0.002% Tween20, 0.1% BSA, 100 mM NaCl and 5 mM MgCl₂, tagless Cyclophilin A, His6-K-Ras-GMPPNP (or other Ras variant), and GST-BRAF^RBDare combined in a 384-well assay plate at final concentrations of 25 μM, 12.5 nM and 50 nM, respectively. Compound is present in plate wells as a 10-point 3-fold dilution series starting at a final concentration of 30 μM. After incubation at 25° C. for 3 hours, a mixture of Anti-His Eu-W1024 and anti-GST allophycocyanin is then added to assay sample wells at final concentrations of 10 nM and 50 nM, respectively, and the reaction incubated for an additional 1.5 hours. TR-FRET signal is read on a microplate reader (Ex 320 nm, Em 665/615 nm). Compounds that facilitate disruption of a Ras:RAF complex are identified as those eliciting a decrease in the TR-FRET ratio relative to DMSO control wells.

In some embodiments, the linker comprises 20 or fewer linear atoms. In some embodiments, the linker comprises 15 or fewer linear atoms. In some embodiments, the linker comprises 10 or fewer linear atoms. In some embodiments, the linker has a molecular weight of under 500 g/mol. In some embodiments, the linker has a molecular weight of under 400 g/mol. In some embodiments, the linker has a molecular weight of under 300 g/mol. In some embodiments, the linker has a molecular weight of under 200 g/mol. In some embodiments, the linker has a molecular weight of under 100 g/mol. In some embodiments, the linker has a molecular weight of under 50 g/mol.

As used herein, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 500 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 400 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 300 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 200 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 100 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 50 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 25 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 20 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 15 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 10 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 1 kDa. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” is less than 500 g/mol. In some embodiments, a “monovalent organic moiety” ranges between 500 g/mol and 500 kDa.

The term “stereoisomer,” as used herein, refers to all possible different isomeric as well as conformational forms which a compound may possess (e.g., a compound of any formula described herein), in particular all possible stereochemically and conformationally isomeric forms, all diastereomers, enantiomers or conformers of the basic molecular structure, including atropisomers. Some compounds of the present invention may exist in different tautomeric forms, all of the latter being included within the scope of the present invention.

The term “sulfonyl,” as used herein, represents an —S(O)₂— group.

The term “thiocarbonyl,” as used herein, refers to a —C(S)— group.

The term “vinyl ketone,” as used herein, refers to a group comprising a carbonyl group directly connected to a carbon-carbon double bond.

The term “vinyl sulfone,” as used herein, refers to a group comprising a sulfonyl group directed connected to a carbon-carbon double bond.

The term “ynone,” as used herein, refers to a group comprising the structure

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wherein R is any any chemically feasible substituent described herein.

Those of ordinary skill in the art, reading the present disclosure, will appreciate that certain compounds described herein may be provided or utilized in any of a variety of forms such as, for example, salt forms, protected forms, pro-drug forms, ester forms, isomeric forms (e.g., optical or structural isomers), isotopic forms, etc. In some embodiments, reference to a particular compound may relate to a specific form of that compound. In some embodiments, reference to a particular compound may relate to that compound in any form. In some embodiments, for example, a preparation of a single stereoisomer of a compound may be considered to be a different form of the compound than a racemic mixture of the compound; a particular salt of a compound may be considered to be a different form from another salt form of the compound; a preparation containing one conformational isomer ((Z) or (E)) of a double bond may be considered to be a different form from one containing the other conformational isomer ((E) or (Z)) of the double bond; a preparation in which one or more atoms is a different isotope than is present in a reference preparation may be considered to be a different form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Compounds

Provided herein are Ras inhibitors. The approach described herein entails formation of a high affinity three-component complex between a synthetic ligand and two intracellular proteins which do not interact under normal physiological conditions: the target protein of interest (e.g., Ras), and a widely expressed cytosolic chaperone (presenter protein) in the cell (e.g., cyclophilin A). More specifically, in some embodiments, the inhibitors of Ras described herein induce a new binding pocket in Ras by driving formation of a high affinity tri-complex between the Ras protein and the widely expressed cytosolic chaperone, cyclophilin A (CYPA). Without being bound by theory, the inventors believe that one way the inhibitory effect on Ras is effected by compounds of the invention and the complexes they form is by steric occlusion of the interaction site between Ras and downstream effector molecules, such as RAF, which are required for propagating the oncogenic signal.

Without being bound by theory, the inventors postulate that non-covalent interactions of a compound of the present invention with Ras and the chaperone protein (e.g., cyclophilin A) may contribute to the inhibition of Ras activity. For example, van der Waals, hydrophobic, hydrophilic and hydrogen bond interactions, and combinations thereof, may contribute to the ability of the compounds of the present invention to form complexes and act as Ras inhibitors. Accordingly, a variety of Ras proteins may be inhibited by compounds of the present invention (e.g., K-Ras, N-Ras, H-Ras, and mutants thereof at positions 12, 13 and 61, such as G12C, G12D, G12V, G12S, G13C, G13D, and Q61L, and others described herein).

Accordingly, provided herein is a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the structure of Formula 00:

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wherein the dotted lines represent zero, one, two, three, or four non-adjacent double bonds;

A is —N(H or CH₃)C(O)—(CH₂)— where the amino nitrogen is bound to the carbon atom of —CH(R¹⁰)—, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkylene, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered heterocycloalkylene, optionally substituted 6-membered arylene, or optionally substituted 5 to 10-membered heteroarylene;

G is optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkylene, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkenylene, optionally substituted C₁-C₄heteroalkylene, —C(O)O—CH(R⁶)— where C is bound to —C(R⁷R⁸)—, —C(O)NH—CH(R⁶)— where C is bound to —C(R⁷R⁸)—, optionally substituted C₁-C₄heteroalkylene, or 3 to 8-membered heteroarylene;

swlp (Switch l/P-loop) refers to an organic moiety that non-covalently binds to both the Switch l binding pocket and residues 12 or 13 of the P-loop of a Ras protein (see, e.g., Johnson et al., 292:12981-12993 (2017), incorporated herein by reference);

X¹is optionally substituted C₁-C₂alkylene, NR, O, or S(O)_n;

X²is O or NH;

X³is N or CH;

n is 0, 1, or 2;

each R′ is, independently, H or optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkyl;

Y¹is C, CH, or N;

Y², Y³, Y⁴, and Y⁷are, independently, C or N;

Y⁵is CH, CH₂, or N;

Y⁶is C(O), CH, CH₂, or N;

R¹and R²combine with the atoms to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R³is absent, or

R²and R³combine with the atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 8-membered cycloalkyl or optionally substituted 3 to 14-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R⁴is absent, hydrogen, halogen, cyano, or methyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 halogens;

R⁵is hydrogen, C₁-C₄alkyl optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, hydroxy, or C₁-C₄alkoxy, cyclopropyl, or cyclobutyl;

R⁶is hydrogen or methyl; R⁷is hydrogen, halogen, or optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl, or

R⁶and R⁷combine with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R⁷and R⁸combine with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form C═CR^7′R^8′; C═N(OH), C═N(O—C₁-C₃alkyl), C═O, C═S, C═NH, optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl, or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R^7aand R^8aare, independently, hydrogen, halo, optionally substituted C₁-C₃alkyl, or combine with the carbon to which they are attached to form a carbonyl;

R^7′ and R^8′ combine with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form optionally substituted 3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl or optionally substituted 3 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl;

R¹⁰is hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, C₁-C₃alkoxy, or C₁-C₃alkyl;

R^10ais hydrogen or halo; and

R¹⁶is hydrogen or C₁-C₃alkyl (e.g., methyl). In some embodiments, the resulting compound is capable of achieving an IC50 of 2 uM or less (e.g., 1.5 uM, 1 uM, 500 nM, or 100 nM or less) in the Ras-RAF disruption assay protocol described herein.

Accordingly, provided herein is a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the structure of Formula I:

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wherein the dotted lines represent zero, one, two, three, or four non-adjacent double bonds;

G is optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkylene, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkenylene, optionally substituted C₁-C₄heteroalkylene, —C(O)O—CH(R⁶)— where C is bound to —C(R⁷R⁸)—, —C(O)NH—CH(R⁶)— where C is bound to —C(R⁷R⁸)—, optionally substituted C₁-C₄heteroalkylene, or 3 to 8-membered heteroarylene; L is absent or a linker;