Synthesis of novel 3,4-diaryl-5-aminopyrazoles as potential kinase inhibitors

Synthesis of a diverse series of novel 3,4-diaryl-5-aminopyrazoles as candidates in the development of new protein kinase inhibitors is reported for the first time. In the course of a wider study into bisindolylmaleimide (BIM) derivatives, we examined a novel 5-aminopyrazole heterocyclic moiety as a structural analogue of the highly potent VEGF-R2/3 inhibitor pyrrole-2-one (8). The versatile nature of this pharmacophore allows considerable scope for derivatisation and hence exploration of structure activity relationships. Consequently, a variety of structural modifications were used in order to diversify the aminopyrazole ring substituents. Bicyclic derivatives of the parent aminopyrazoles (11, 12) were also synthesised as a means of probing the kinase active site, leading to formation of complex planar pyrimidine moieties. This work provides the framework for new explorations into kinase inhibition and critical investigations into selectivity of inhibitory activity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.