The 3,3-disubstituted oxindole moiety is a versatile and rigid three-dimensionally shaped scaffold. When engineered with a purine hinge-binding core, exceptionally selective PI3Kδ kinase inhibitors were discovered by exploiting small differences in isoform selectivity pockets. Crystal structures of early lead 2f bound to PI3Kδ and PI3Kα helped rationalize the high selectivity observed with 2f. By attenuating the lypophilicity and metabolic liabilities of an oxindole moiety, we improved the preclinical species PK and solubility and reduced adenosine uptake activity. The excellent potency and kinome selectivity of 7-azaoxindole 4d and spirooxindole 5d, together with a low plasma clearance and good half-life in rat and dog, supported a low once-daily predicted human dose.
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