HETEROARYL COMPOUNDS AND USES THEREOF

Abstract

Described herein are compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, isotopically labeled derivatives and radiolabeled derivative thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided are methods and kits involving the inventive compounds or compositions for detecting and imaging Tau aggregates in the brain for detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a subject.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof, ##STR00440## wherein, W is N—R or C—R.sup.1; R is absent or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, and the C.sub.1-6 alkyl of which is optionally substituted by the substituent selected from the group consisting of OH, halogen, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy, toluenesulfonyloxy and phenyl which is further optionally substituted by C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, OH or C.sub.1-3 alkyl; the heteroatom contained in the C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy is selected from the group consisting of N, O and S; R.sup.1 is H, halogen, OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkylamino or C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, and OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkylamino or C.sub.1-6 alkoxy of which is optionally substituted by the substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, OH, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy and toluenesulfonyloxy; T is C—R.sup.3 or N; R.sup.3 is H, OH, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy or halogen; Z is N or C; U is N—R.sup.4, S, O or C—R.sup.5; R.sup.4 is absent, H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-6 alkylcarbonyl or benzoyl, and the C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-6 alkylcarbonyl and benzoyl of which is optionally substituted by the substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, OH, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy and toluenesulfonyloxy; R.sup.5 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl, and the C.sub.1-6 alkyl is optionally substituted by halogen and/or OH; V is CH, N or NH; Q is CH or N; X is CH or N; Y is CR.sup.6 or N; R.sup.6 is selected from the group consisting of H, NH.sub.2 and a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, and NH.sub.2 and the C.sub.1-6 alkoxy is optionally substituted by C.sub.1-3 alkyl and/or halogen; J is CH or N; K is CH or N; provided that X and Y are not N simultaneously, and J and Y are not N simultaneously; R′ is halogen, OH, C.sub.1-6 alkyl or C.sub.1-6 alkoxy; R″ is halogen, OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, C.sub.1-6 alkylamino or C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyl, and OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-6 alkoxy, C.sub.1-6 alkylamino and C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyl of which is optionally substituted by the substituent selected from the group consisting of oxo, OH, halogen, C.sub.3-6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy carbonyl, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy, toluenesulfonyloxy and phenyl which is further optionally substituted by OH and/or C.sub.1-3 alkoxy; R′″ is H, OH or halogen; m is 0, 1, 2; n is 0, 1, 2; provided that U and V are both containing N atom, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are not CF.sub.3 or Cl; the structural unit ##STR00441## is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00442## wherein, in Formula I-(c), U is O or S; Z is CH or N; R.sup.a is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, halogen, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino and C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, and OH, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino or C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl of which is optionally substituted by OH, halogen, C.sub.2-6 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy; R.sup.b is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl, benzyl and benzoyl, and the C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl or benzoyl of which is optionally substituted by halogen, OH, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.2-6 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy.

17. The heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16, wherein the moiety of ##STR00443## is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00444## wherein R′ is H or F.

18. The heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16, which is of the structure of formula (II), ##STR00445## wherein, X is CH or N; Y is CH or N, provided that X and Y are not N simultaneously; the structural unit ##STR00446## is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00447## wherein, in Formula I-(c), U is O or S; Z is CH or N; R.sup.a is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, halogen, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino and C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, and OH, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino or C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl of which is optionally substituted by OH, halogen, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy; R.sup.b is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl, benzyl and benzoyl, and the C.sub.1-6 alkyl, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl or benzoyl of which is optionally substituted by halogen, OH, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy.

19. The heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16, wherein, R is C.sub.1-3 alkyl which is optionally substituted by the substituent selected from the group consisting of F, OH, p-toluenesulfonyloxy, C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyloxy and phenyl which is optionally substituted by OH or methoxy; and/or, R.sup.1 is H, F, OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino or C.sub.1-3 alkoxy; and OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino or C.sub.1-3 alkoxy of which is optionally substituted by the substituent selected from the group consisting of F, OH, p-toluenesulfonyloxy and C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyloxy; and/or, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, F or Cl; and/or, R.sup.4 is C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl or benzoyl, and C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl or benzoyl of which is optionally substituted by the substituents selected from the group consisting of F, OH, methoxy, C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyloxy and p-toluenesulfonyloxy; and/or, R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-3 alkyl; and/or, R.sup.6 is selected from the group consisting of H, NH.sub.2 and a C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, and NH.sub.2 and the C.sub.1-3 alkoxy is optionally substituted by C.sub.1-3 alkyl and/or F; and/or, R′ is F, C.sub.1-3 alkyl or C.sub.1-3 alkoxy; and/or, R″ is F, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino or C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyl, and OH, NH.sub.2, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.1-3 alkylamino or C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyl of which is optionally substituted by the substituent selected from the group consisting of oxo, OH, F, Cl, C.sub.3-5 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy carbonyl, C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyloxy, p-toluenesulfonyloxy and phenyl which is further optionally substituted by OH, methoxy or ethoxy; and/or, R′″ is F or Cl.

20. The heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 18, wherein, in formula I-(c), Z is CH, U is S or O; and/or, R.sup.a is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, F, Cl, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, NH.sub.2, N-methylamino, N-ethylamino, N-n-propylamino, N,N-dimethylamino, methylethylamino, methoxycarbonyl and tert-butoxy carbonyl, and OH, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, NH.sub.2, N-methylamino, N-ethylamino, N-n-propylamino, N,N-dimethylamino, methylethylamino, methoxycarbonyl and tert-butoxy carbonyl of which is optionally substituted by OH, F, Cl, C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy; and/or, R.sup.b is H, C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl, benzyl or benzoyl, and the C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-3 alkylcarbonyl or benzoyl of which is optionally substituted by F, Cl, OH, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.3-5 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy.

21. The heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 18, wherein, R.sup.a is H, F, OH, NH.sub.2, methoxy, ethoxy, ##STR00448## R.sup.b is H, methyl, ##STR00449##

22. The heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16, wherein, R is ##STR00450## and/or, R.sup.1 is F, OH, NH.sub.2, ##STR00451## and/or, R.sup.3 is F, OH, methoxy; and/or, R.sup.4 is H, methyl, ##STR00452## and/or, R.sup.5 is H, methyl or ethyl; and/or, R′ is F, OH, methyl or methoxy; and/or, R″ is F, Cl, OH, NH.sub.2, methyl, ##STR00453## methoxy, ethoxy, ##STR00454## and/or, R′″ is H or F.

23. A heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof, which is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00455## ##STR00456## ##STR00457## ##STR00458## ##STR00459## ##STR00460## ##STR00461## ##STR00462## ##STR00463## ##STR00464## ##STR00465## ##STR00466## ##STR00467## ##STR00468## ##STR00469## ##STR00470## ##STR00471## ##STR00472## ##STR00473## ##STR00474##

24. A process for preparing the heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16, when the structural unit ##STR00475## is ##STR00476## comprising the steps of (i) reacting compound 1 with compound 2 to give compound 3 at −78° C. in an organic solvent and in the presence of a base; (ii) reacting the compound 3 obtained from step (i) with compound 4 in an organic solvent and in the presence of a base and a Pd catalyst at 80° C.; ##STR00477## when the structural unit ##STR00478## is ##STR00479## and R.sup.b is ##STR00480## comprising reacting compound 5 with compound 11 at 60° C. in an organic solvent and in the presence of a base; ##STR00481## wherein RC is H, C.sub.1-5 alkyl, C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-2 alkylcarbonyl and phenyl, and the C.sub.1-5 alkyl, C.sub.1-5 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-2 alkylcarbonyl and phenyl of which is optionally substituted by halogen, OH, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, C.sub.3-6 heterocycloalkyloxy or toluenesulfonyloxy; when the structural unit ##STR00482## is ##STR00483## and R.sup.b is ##STR00484## comprising reacting compound 5 with compound 13 at 50° C. in an organic solvent and in the presence of a base; ##STR00485## wherein R.sup.d is H or C.sub.1-3 alkyl; when the structural unit ##STR00486## is ##STR00487## where U is O and Z is N, comprising reacting compound 15 with compound 16 at 120° C. in polyphosphoric acid (PPA); ##STR00488## when the structural unit ##STR00489## is ##STR00490## where U is S and Z is C, comprising reacting compound 18 with compound 19 at 90° C. in an organic solvent and in the presence of a base and a Pd catalyst; ##STR00491## when the structural unit ##STR00492## is ##STR00493## wherein R.sup.b is H, comprising the steps of i) reacting compound 26 with compound 27 to form compound 28 in an organic solvent and in the presence of a Pd catalyst, CuI and an organic base at room temperature; ii) reacting the compound 28 obtained from step i) with DBU to form compound 29 in a mixed solvent of MeOH and H.sub.2O at 80° C.; iii) reacting the compound 29 obtained from step ii) with compound 30 to form compound 31 in an organic solvent and in the presence of a Pd catalyst and a base at 80° C.; ##STR00494## when the structural unit ##STR00495## is ##STR00496## comprising the steps of i) reacting compound 32 with compound 33 to form compound 34 in an alcoholic solvent and in the presence of a base at 80° C.; ii) reacting the compound 34 obtained from step i) with compound 30 in an organic solvent and in the presence of a base and a Pd catalyst at 80° C.; ##STR00497##

25. The process according to claim 24, wherein, when the structural unit ##STR00498## is ##STR00499## comprising the steps of (i) reacting compound 1 with compound 2 to give compound 3 at −78° C. in THF and in the presence of s-butyllithium; (ii) reacting the compound 3 obtained from step (i) with compound 4 in DMF and in the presence of Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 and Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4 at 80° C.; when the structural unit ##STR00500## is ##STR00501## and R.sup.b is ##STR00502## comprising reacting compound 5 with compound 11 at 60° C. in DMF and in the presence of Cs.sub.2CO.sub.3; wherein R.sup.c is a C.sub.1-3 alkyl or a halogenated C.sub.1-3 alkyl; when the structural unit ##STR00503## is ##STR00504## and R.sup.b ##STR00505## comprising reacting compound 5 with compound 13 at 50° C. in DMF and in the presence of K.sub.2CO.sub.3; ##STR00506## ##STR00507## when the structural unit is where U is 0 and Z is N, comprising reacting compound 15 with compound 16 at 120° C. in polyphosphoric acid (PPA); when the structural unit ##STR00508## is ##STR00509## where U is S and Z is C, comprising reacting compound 18 with compound 19 at 90° C. in CH.sub.3CN and in the presence of K.sub.2CO.sub.3 and Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4; when the structural unit ##STR00510## is ##STR00511## wherein R.sup.b is H, comprising the steps of i) reacting compound 26 with compound 27 to form compound 28 in DMF and in the presence of Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.2Cl.sub.2, CuI and triethanolamine at room temperature; ii) reacting the compound 28 obtained from step i) with DBU to form compound 29 in a mixed solvent of MeOH and H.sub.2O at 80° C.; iii) reacting the compound 29 obtained from step ii) with compound 30 to form compound 31 in DMF and in the presence of Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4 and Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 at 80° C.; when the structural unit ##STR00512## is ##STR00513## comprising the steps of i) reacting compound 32 with compound 33 to form compound 34 in EtOH and in the presence of NaHCO.sub.3 at 80° C.; ii) reacting the compound 34 obtained from step i) with compound 30 in DMF and in the presence of K.sub.2CO.sub.3 and Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4 at 80° C. .

26. A pharmaceutical composition comprising heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, isotopically labeled derivative or radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

27. A method of Tau imaging, comprising the steps of (a) administering to a subject an effective amount of the heteroaryl compound having a structure of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, a hydrate, an isotopically labeled derivative or a radiolabeled derivative thereof according to claim 16; and (b) imaging the brain of the subject.

28. A method of Tau imaging, comprising the steps of (a) administering to a subject an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 26; and (b) imaging the brain of the subject.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0157] FIG. 1 are the images generated in rTg4510 mice using two photon imaging for compound J and compound W in comparison with PBB3.

[0158] FIG. 2 are the images generated in rTg4510 mice using two photon imaging for compound J in comparison with PBB3 (top) as well as the quantification of green fluorescence signaling over time (bottom).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0159] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. These embodiments will be described only to deepen the understanding of the claims of the present invention, and are by no means intended to limit the claims of the present invention.

General Method

[0160] Most of chemicals were purchased from Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co.(SCRC), Sigma-Aldrich, Alfa or other vendors.

[0161] 1H NMR or 19F NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker AVIII 400 or Bruker AVIII 500.

[0162] LCMS measurement was run on Agilent 1200 HPLC/6100 SQ System using the follow conditions:

[0163] Method A: Mobile Phase: A: Water (0.01% TFA) B: CAN (0.01% TFA); Gradient Phase: 5% B increase to 95% B within 1.4 min, 95% B with 1.6 min (total runtime: 3 min); Flow Rate: 2.3 mL/min; Column: SunFire C18, 4.6*50 mm, 3.5 μm; Column Temperature: 50° C. Detectors: ADC ELSD, DAD (214 nm and 254 nm), ES-API.

[0164] Method B: Mobile Phase: A: Water (10 mM NH4HCO3) B: Acetonitrile; Gradient Phase: 5% to 95% B within 1.5 min, 95% B with 1.5 min (total runtime: 3 min); Flow Rate: 2.0 mL/min; Column:)(Bridge C18,4.6*50 mm, 3.5 um; Column Temperature: 40° C. Detectors: ADC ELSD, DAD (214 nm and 254 nm), MSD (ES-API).

[0165] Method C: Mobile Phase: A: Water (10 mM NH4HCO3) B: Acetonitrile; Gradient Phase: 5% to 95% B within 1.5 min, 95% B with 1.5 min (total runtime: 3 min); Flow Rate: 2.0 mL/min; Column:)(Bridge C18,4.6*50 mm, 3.5 um; Column Temperature: 40° C. Detectors: ADC ELSD, DAD (214 nm and 254 nm), MSD (ES-API).

Formula Ia

General:

[0166] ##STR00291##

[0167] To a solution of amino-aniline 1 (7.94 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) was added s-butyllithium (1.40 M in hexane, 17.01 mL, 23.81 mmoL) at −78° C. dropwise. Then the mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 3 h. The mixture was cooled to −78° C., then added iodo-aryl ethyl ester 2 (3.18 mmol) within 20 min. The resulting mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with methanol (5 mL) at −78° C. and stirred for another 1 h at room temperature. Water was added to the mixture and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (50 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give iodo aryl pyrrolopyrdine 3.

[0168] A mixture of iodo-aryl pyrrolopyridine 3 (0.29 mmol), aryl boronate 4 (0.44 mmol), sodium carbonate (a.q.) (0.73 mL, 1.45 mmol, 2M a.q.) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (35 mg, 0.03 mmol)in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 4 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness. The residue was resolved with ethyl acetate (40 mL×3) and washed with brine (40 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was then purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give pyrrolopyridine 5.

##STR00292##

[0169] To a solution of Boc-pyrrolopyridine 6 (0.20 mmol) and tripropan-2-yl borate (0.12 mL, 0.50 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added lithium diisopropylamide (0.3 mL, 0.60 mmol) dropwise at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 min at 0° C. The mixture was quenched with water (1 mL) and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to give boronate 7 which was used to next step without any purification.

[0170] A mixture of boronate 7 (0.20 mmol), aryl boronate 8 (0.14 mmol), potassium phosphate (88 mg, 0.41 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] dichloropalladium (II) (9 mg, 0.01 mmol) in water (0.5 mL), tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) was stirred at 80° C. overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=97/3) to give aryl pyrrolopyridine 9. To 9 in acetic acid (3 mL) was added hydrogen bromide (3.0 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 110° C. for 16 h in a sealed tube. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was washed with sodium bicarbonate (a.q.) to give crude target compound 10.

[0171] Synthesis of Compound A

Step 1: tert-Butyl 2-[4-(3-aminophenyl)phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0172] A mixture of tert-butyl 2-(4-iodophenyl)pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (100 mg, 0.24 mmol), 3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)aniline (156 mg, 0.71 mmol), sodium carbonate (126 mg, 1.19 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (18 mg, 0.02 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (10 mL) and water (2 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness. The residue was taken up in ethyl acetate (20 mL), washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=from 1% to 25%) to give tert-butyl 2-[4-(3-aminophenyl)phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (230 mg, 75% yield) as a brownish solid, which was used the next step without purification. LCMS (ESI) [M+H]+=386.2.

Step 2: 3-[4-(1H-Pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]aniline

[0173] ##STR00293##

[0174] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-(3-aminophenyl)phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (110 mg, 0.29 mmol) in methanol (6 mL) and water (1.2 mL) was added lithium hydroxide (36 mg, 0.86 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 1 h. After cooling to room temperature, solid was isolated. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was dried to give 3-[4-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]aniline (10.7 mg, 13% yield) as an off-white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=286.1; .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 12.10 (s, 1H), 8.75 (s, 1H), 8.10-8.09 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 8.01-7.99 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.72-7.70 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.52-7.50 (d, J=4.4 Hz, 1H), 7.15-7.11 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.01 (s, 1H), 6.92 (s, 1H), 6.88-6.86 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 6.60-6.59 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 5.20 (s, 2H).

[0175] Synthesis of Compound B

##STR00294##

Step 1: N-Methyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-amine

[0176] ##STR00295##

[0177] A mixture of 5-bromo-N-methylpyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 2.69 mmol) bis(pinacolato)diboron (887 mg, 3.49 mmoL), potassium acetate (791 mg, 8.07 mmoL) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (102 mg, 0.14 mmoL) in 1,4-dioxane (10 mL) was stirred at 100° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was treat with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with (50 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give N-methyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-amine (560 mg, 89% yield), which was used to the next step without further purification. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=235; R.sub.T=1.70 min (Method B).

Step 2: 5-Fluoro-2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine

[0178] ##STR00296##

[0179] To a solution of 6-fluoro-4-methylpyridin-3-amine (1.0 g, 7.94 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) was added s-butyllithium (1.40 M in hexane, 17.01 mL, 23.81 mmoL) at −78° C. dropwise. Then the mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 3 h. The mixture was cooled to −78° C., then added ethyl 4-iodanylbenzoate (877 mg, 3.18 mmol) within 20 min. The resulting mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with methanol (5 mL) at −78° C. and stirred for another 1 h at room temperature. Water was added to the mixture and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (50 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 5-fluoro-2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine (630 mg, 58% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=339; R.sub.T=1.99 min (Method A).

Step 3: 5-(4-(5-Fluoro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N-methylpyridin-2-amine

[0180] ##STR00297##

[0181] A mixture of 5-fluoro-2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine (100 mg, 0.29 mmol), N-methyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-amine (104 mg, 0.44 mmol), sodium carbonate (a.q.) (0.73 mL, 1.45 mmol, 2 M a.q.) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (35 mg, 0.03 mmol)in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 4 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness. The residue was resolved with ethyl acetate (40 mL×3) and washed with brine (40 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was then purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 5-(4-(5-Fluoro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N-methylpyridin-2-amine (18.0 mg, 19% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=319; R.sub.T=1.68 min (Method B); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 12.13 (s, 1H), 8.45 (s, 1H), 8.33 (s, 1H), 7.97 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.82 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.01 (s, 1H), 6.73 (q, J=4.8 Hz , 1H), 6.56 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (d, J=4.8 Hz , 3H).

[0182] Synthesis of Compound C

##STR00298##

Step 1: tert-Butyl 5-(4-bromophenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0183] ##STR00299##

[0184] A mixture of 1-bromanyl-4-iodanyl-benzene (689 mg, 2.43 mmol), [6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (510 mg, 2.02 mmol), bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (59 mg, 0.08 mmol) and potassium carbonate (465 mg, 3.37 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was treated with water (30 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=100/5) to give tert-butyl 5-(4-bromophenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (240 mg, 31% yield) as white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=326.9; R.sub.T=2.501 min (Method A).

Step 2: tert-Butyl 2-di(propan-2-yloxy)boranyl-7-methoxy-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0185] ##STR00300##

[0186] To a solution of tert-butyl 7-methoxypyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (50 mg, 0.20 mmol) and tripropan-2-yl borate (0.12 mL, 0.50 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added lithium diisopropylamide (0.3 mL, 0.60 mmol) dropwise at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 min at 0° C. The mixture was quenched with water (1 mL) and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to give tert-butyl 2-di(propan-2-yloxy)boranyl-7-methoxy-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (90 mg, crude), which was used to next step without any purification. LCMS (ESI) [M-i-Pr+H].sup.+=292.9; R.sub.T=1.434 min (Method B).

Step 3: tert-Butyl 2-(4-(6-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-7-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0187] ##STR00301##

[0188] A mixture of tert-butyl 2-di(propan-2-yloxy)boranyl-7-methoxy-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (90 mg, 0.20 mmol), tert-butyl N-[5-(4-bromophenyl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (50 mg, 0.14 mmol), potassium phosphate (88 mg, 0.41 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] dichloropalladium(II) (9 mg, 0.01 mmol) in water (0.5 mL), tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) was stirred at 80° C. overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=97/3) to give tert-butyl 2-(4-(6-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-7-methoxy-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (60 mg, 53% yield over two steps) as oil. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=531.0; R.sub.T=2.644 min (Method A).

Step 4: 2-(4-(6-(Methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-7-ol

[0189] ##STR00302##

[0190] To a solution of tert-butyl 7-methoxy-2-[4-[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (180 mg, 0.34 mmol) in acetic acid (3 mL) was added hydrogen bromide (3.0 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 110° C. for 16 h in a sealed tube. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was washed with sodium bicarbonate (a.q.) to give crude target compound, which was slurry with methanol to give 2-(4-(6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-7-ol (88 mg, 82% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=317.0; R.sub.T=1.420 min (Method A). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 12.28 (s, 1H), 10.90 (s, 1H), 8.40 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.79-7.77 (dd, J=8.8 Hz, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.92-6.88 (m, 1H), 6.79 (s, 1H), 6.68-6.67 (m, 1H), 6.54 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 6.45 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.82 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 3H).

[0191] Synthesis of Compound D

##STR00303##

Step 1: 5-Bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-amine

[0192] ##STR00304##

[0193] A mixture of 6-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (2.8 g, 24.98 mmol) and N-bromosuccinimide (4.67 g, 26.22 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h. and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether=100% to petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=10/1) to give 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (3.91 g, 82% yield) as a red solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+193.0; R.sub.T=1.64 min (Method B).

Step 2: tert-Butyl 5-bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-ylcarbamate

[0194] ##STR00305##

[0195] To a solution of 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (585 mg, 3.06 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) at 0° C. was added sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (3.06 mL, 2 M in tetrahydrofuran, 6.13 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at this temperature for 0.5 h. tert-Butyl (2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl carbonate (1.0 mg, 4.59 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature until the starting materials were consumed completely and quenched with water, extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3), dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=3/1) to give tert-butyl N-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl) carbamate (420 mg, 47% yield) as a solid. LCMS (ESI) [M−55].sup.+=236.9; R.sub.T=2.02 min (Method B).

Step 3: tert-Butyl 5-bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0196] ##STR00306##

[0197] To a solution of tert-butyl N-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)carbamate (300 mg, 1.03 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) at 0° C. was added sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 37 mg, 1.55 mmol). The mixture was stirred at this temperature for 0.5 h. Iodomethane (222 mg, 1.55 mmol) was added to the mixture. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature until the starting materials were consumed completely. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3). The organic layer was washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=30/1) to give tert-butyl N-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-methyl-carbamate (260 mg, 83% yield) as a solid. LCMS (ESI) [M−55].sup.+=248.6; R.sub.T=2.25 min (Method A).

Step 4: tert-Butyl 2-(4-(6-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0198] ##STR00307##

[0199] A mixture of tert-butyl N-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-methyl-carbamate (200 mg, 0.66 mmol), tert-butyl 2-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (441 mg, 1.05 mmol), potassium carbonate (226 mg, 1.64 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (75 mg, 0.07 mmol) were in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) and water (1 mL) were stirred at 90° C. for 4 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (50 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=100/15) to give tert-butyl 2-[4-[2-fluoranyl-6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (44 mg, 13% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=518.7, R.sub.T=2.22 min (Method A).

Step 5: 5-(4-(1H-Pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-6-fluoro-N-methylpyridin-2-amine

[0200] ##STR00308##

[0201] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-[2-fluoranyl-6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (65 mg, 0.13 mmol) in dichlorometahane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (143 mg, 1.25 mmol). The mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials were consumed completely. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to give 6-fluoranyl-N-methyl-5-[4-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-amine (24 mg, 60% yield) as a solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=319.0; R.sub.T=1.48 min (Method C). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 12.09 (s, 1H), 8.75 (s, 1H), 8.21 (s, 1H), 8.10 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.87-7.74 (m, 1H), 7.63 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 2H), 7.51 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (d, J=4.3 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (s, 1H), 6.48 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 2.76 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 3H).

[0202] Synthesis of Compound E

##STR00309##

Step 1: 5-Bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-amine

[0203] ##STR00310##

[0204] A mixture of 6-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (2.8 g, 24.98 mmol) and N-bromosuccinimide (4.67 g, 26.22 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/methanol=10/1) to give 5-bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-amine (3.91 g, 82% yield) as a red solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=193.0, R.sub.T=1.64 min (Method B).

Step 2: 3-Bromo-2-fluoro-6-iodopyridine

[0205] ##STR00311##

[0206] A mixture of 5-bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-amine (3.3 g, 17.28 mmol), tert-butyl nitrite (2.67 g, 25.92 mmol) and cuprous iodide (4.94 g, 25.92 mmol) in acetonitrile (30 mL) was heated to 60° C. for 2 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/methanol=10/1) to give 3-bromo-2-fluoro-6-iodopyridine (2.1 g, 40% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=302.6, RT=1.89 min (Method A).

Step 3: tert-Butyl 5-bromo-6-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0207] ##STR00312##

[0208] A mixture of 3-bromo-2-fluoro-6-iodopyridine (1.1 g, 3.64 mmol), [6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (0.87 g, 3.46 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.26 g, 9.11 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0.42 g, 0.36 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) and water (1 mL) was stirred at 80° C. under nitrogen atmosphere for 4 h. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=100/15) to give tert-butyl 5-bromo-6-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-yl(methyl)carbamate (723 mg, 52% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=383.8, R.sub.T=2.31 min (Method A).

Step 4: tert-Butyl 2-(6′-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)-6-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-5-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0209] ##STR00313##

[0210] A mixture of tert-butyl 5-bromo-6-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-yl(methyl)carbamate (400 mg, 1.05 mmol), tert-butyl 2-tributylstannylpyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (584 mg, 1.15 mmol), cuprous iodide (20 mg, 0.1 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (121 mg, 0.1 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (6 mL) was stirred at 100° C. overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/methanol=100/35) to give tert-butyl 2-(6′-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)-6-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-5-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (161 mg, 30% yield) as oil. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=520.3, R.sub.T=2.22 min (Method B).

Step 5: 6-Fluoro-N-methyl-5-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-amine

[0211] ##STR00314##

[0212] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-(6′-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)-6-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-5-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (160 mg, 0.31 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (351 mg, 3.08 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 40° C. overnight. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to 6-fluoro-N-methyl-5-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-amine (5 mg, 5% yield) as a solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=320.0, R.sub.T=1.20 min (Method C). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 12.18 (s, 1H), 9.17 (s, 1H), 8.90 (s, 1H), 8.19 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.94 (d, J=13.5 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (s, 1H), 6.88 (s, 1H), 6.57 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 2.85 (d, J=3.9 Hz, 3H).

Formula Ib

General:

[0213] ##STR00315##

[0214] A mixture of aryl pyrrolopyridine 5 (0.67 mmol) 2-bromoalkyl 11 (6.7 mmol) and cesium carbonate (437 mg, 1.34 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 15 h. Water was added and the reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (40 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (30 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was then purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/nethanol=10/1) to give pyrrolopyridine 12.

##STR00316##

[0215] A mixture of aryl pyrrolopyridine 5 (0.25 mmol), epoxide 13 (1.78 mmol) and potassium carbonate (70 mg, 0.51 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) was heated at 50° C. overnight. The mixture was quenched by water and a precipitate was formed. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was recrystallized with methanol to give 14.

[0216] Synthesis of Compound F

##STR00317##

Step 1: 2-(4-Iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine

[0217] ##STR00318##

[0218] To a solution of 4-methylpyridin-3-amine (1.0 g, 9.26 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) was added s-butyllithium (1.40 M in hexane, 19.84 mL, 27.78 mmoL) dropwise at −78° C. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 3 h. The mixture was cooled to −78° C., ethyl 4-iodanylbenzoate (1.02 g, 3.70 mmol) was added within 5 min and stirred at −78° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was quenched by methanol (5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (50 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine (800 mg, 68% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=321 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.48 min (Method A).

Step 2: tert-Butyl 2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0219] ##STR00319##

[0220] A mixture of 2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine (500 mg, 1.56 mmol), di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (1.02 g, 4.69 mmol), potassium carbonate (430 mg, 3.12 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (20 mg, 0.156 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was stirred at 50° C. for 15 h. Water was added and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (40 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (40 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was then purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give tert-butyl 2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (540 mg, 82% yield) as yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=421 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=2.20 min (Method B); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 9.31 (s, 1H), 8.39 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 7.85 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.63 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 6.83 (s, 1H), 1.35 (s, 9H).

Step 3: tert-Butyl 2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0221] ##STR00320##

[0222] A mixture of tert-butyl 2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (500 mg, 1.19 mmol) 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid (542.86 mg, 3.57 mmol), sodium carbonate (630 mg, 5.95 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (87.72 mg, 0.12 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (15 mL) and water (3 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness. The residue was diluted in ethyl acetate (50 mL) and washed with brine (50 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by8 flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give tert-butyl 2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (380 mg, 80% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=401 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.79 min (Method B); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ 9.48 (s, 1H), 8.45 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 7.66-7.59 (m, 4H), 7.52-7.50 (m, 3H), 7.03 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.62 (s, 1H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 1.43 (s, 9H).

Step 4: 2-(4′-Methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine

[0223] ##STR00321##

[0224] To a solutuion of tert-butyl 2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (380 mg, 0.96 mmol) in methanol (10 mL) and water (2 mL) was added lithium hydroxide (121 mg, 2.88 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 2 h and extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (50 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to give 2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine (250 mg, 86% yield), which was used to the next step without further purification. LCMS (ESI) m/z=301 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.68 min (Method A); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 12.06 (s, 1H), 8.74 (s, 1H), 8.09-7.99 (m, 3H), 7.78-7.71 (m, 4H), 7.50 (s, 1H), 7.05-7.01 (m, 3H), 3.81 (s, 3H).

Step 5: 2-(2-(4′-Methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-6H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-6-yl)ethanol (Compound F)

[0225] ##STR00322##

[0226] A mixture of 2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine (200 mg, 0.67 mmol) 2-bromoethanol (831 mg, 6.7 mmol) and cesium carbonate (437 mg, 1.34 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 15 h. Water was added and the reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (40 mL×3). The organic phase was washed with brine (30 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was then purified by flash column chromatography (dichloromethane/nethanol=10/1) to give 2-(2-(4′-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-6H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-6-yl)ethanol (52.0 mg, 23% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=345.1 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.61 min (Method A); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.06 (s, 1H), 8.35 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 8.17 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 8.10 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.77 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 7.48 (s, 1H), 7.08 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 5.23 (t, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 4.68 (t, J=5.2 Hz, 2H), 3.89-3.86 (m, 2H), 3.83 (s, 3H).

[0227] Synthesis of Compound G

##STR00323##

Step 1: tert-Butyl 2-(4-(6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0228] ##STR00324##

[0229] A mixture of [6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (172 mg, 1.04 mmol), tert-butyl2-(4-iodophenyl)pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (290 mg, 0.69 mmol), sodium carbonate (219 mg, 2.07 mmol), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (51 mg, 0.07 mmol) in acetonitrile (10 mL) and water (2 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness and the residue was purified by chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=100/1) to give tert-Butyl 2-(4-(6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (190 mg, 66% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=415.2 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.306 min (Method A).

Step 2: 5-(4-(1H-Pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N,N-dimethylpyridin-2-amine

[0230] ##STR00325##

[0231] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-[6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl] pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (190 mg, 0.46 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 2 h. The reaction was concentrated to dryness and the crude was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=97/3) to give 5-(4-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N,N-dimethylpyridin-2-amine (110 mg, 76% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=315.1 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.243 min (Method A).

Step 3: 1-(2-(4-(6-(Dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-6H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-6-yl)-3-fluoropropan-2-ol

[0232] ##STR00326##

[0233] A mixture of N,N-dimethyl-5-[4-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-amine (80 mg, 0.25 mmol), 2-(fluoranylmethyl)oxirane (135 mg, 1.78 mmol) and potassium carbonate (70 mg, 0.51 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) was heated at 50° C. overnight. The mixture was quenched by water and a precipitate was formed. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was recrystalled with methanol to give 1-(2-(4-(6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-6H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-6-yl)-3-fluoropropan-2-ol (44 mg, 42% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=391.1 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.887 min (Method B); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.56 (s, 1H), 8.51 (d, J=1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.16 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.91-7.88 (dd, J=8.8 Hz, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.61 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (s, 1H), 6.73 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 5.68 (brs, 1H), 4.53-4.48 (m, 2H), 4.40-4.36 (m, 1H), 4.27-4.22 (m, 1H), 4.17-4.11 (m, 1H), 3.07 (s, 6H).

Formula Ic

General:

[0234] ##STR00327##

[0235] A mixture of aminophenol 15 (0.32 mmol), aryl acid 16 (0.16 mmol) in polyphosphoric acid (2 mL) was stirred at 120° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was poured into water and adjusted to pH=7 with saturated sodium hydroxide. Then the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL×4). The combined organic phase was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=100/3) to give 17.

##STR00328##

[0236] A mixture aryl bromide 18 (3.9 mmol), aryl boronic ester 19 (4.68 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (340 mg, 0.3 mmol) and potassium carbonate (1.38 g, 10 mmol) in acetonitrile (15 mL) and water (3.0 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 16 h under nitrogen atmosphere. Water (50 ml) was added and solid was isolated. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was washed with water and ethyl acetate, dried under vacuum to provide 20.

##STR00329##

[0237] Pyridine-3,4-diamine 21 (1.83 mmol), 4-iodanyl aryl benzoic acid (2.02 mmol) were mixed in PPA (10 mL) and stirred at 130° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was poured into water. The mixture was adjusted to pH 9 with saturated aq NaOH. The precipitate was filtered to give the imidazole product 23 (1.74 mmol).

[0238] A mixture of Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 (3.61 mmol), iodo-imidazole 23 (1.2 mmol), aryl boronic acid 24 (1.2 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Cl.sub.2 (40 mg, 0.05 mmol) in MeCN (50 mL) and water (10 mL) was heated at 60° C. for 3 h. The reaction was concentrated to dryness and diluted with water (20 mL), filtered to get white solid. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH=20/1 to 10/1) to give 25 (0.31 mmol) as a white solid.

[0239] Synthesis of Compound H

##STR00330##

Step 1: Ethyl 4-(6-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)benzoate

[0240] ##STR00331##

[0241] A mixture of tert-butyl 5-bromopyridin-2-ylcarbamate (500 mg, 1.84 mmol), 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phenylboronic acid (356 mg, 1.84 mmol), potassium carbonate (762 mg, 5.52 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II) (132 mg, 0.18 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (8 mL) and water (2 mL) was stirred at 100° C. for 4 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate (40 mL×3). The organic layer was washed with brine (30 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=15/1) to give ethyl 4-(6-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)pyridin-3-yl)benzoate (427 mg, 68% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=343.1; R.sub.T=2.37 min (Method B).

Step 2: 4-(6-((tent-Butoxycarbonyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)benzoic acid

[0242] ##STR00332##

[0243] To a solution of ethyl 4-(6-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)pyridin-3-yl)benzoate (250 mg, 0.73 mmol) in ethanol/tetrahydrofuran (v/v=1/1, 6 mL) was added sodium hydroxide (92 mg, 0.42 mmol) at 25° C. The mixture was stirred at 40° C. overnight. Water (30 mL) was added to the mixture and extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mLv3). The organic phase was washed with brine (30 mL×3), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 4-(6-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)pyridin-3-yl)benzoic acid (172 mg, 75% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=315.2; R.sub.T=1.61 min. (Method A)

Step 3: 5-(4-(Oxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine

[0244] ##STR00333##

[0245] A mixture of 4-azanylpyridin-3-ol (35 mg, 0.32 mmol), 4-[6-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl) oxycarbonylamino]pyridin-3-yl]benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.16 mmol) in polyphosphoric acids (2 mL) was stirred at 120° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was poured into water and adjusted to pH=7 with saturated sodium hydroxide. Then the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL×4). The combined organic phase was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=100/3) to give 5-[4-([1,3]oxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-amine (15 mg, 33% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=289.1; R.sub.T=1.62 min (Method B); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.13 (d, J=1.2 Hz, 1H), 8.57 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 8.42 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.26-8.28 (m, 2H), 7.84-7.89 (m, 4H), 6.57 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 6.30 (s, 2H).

[0246] Synthesis of Compound I

##STR00334##

Step 1: 5-(4-(4,4,5,5-Tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine

[0247] ##STR00335##

[0248] A mixture of 5-bromo-pyridin-2-ylamine (500 mg, 2.89 mmol), 1,4-benzenediboronic acid bis(pinacol)ester (1.40 g, 4.25 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] dichloropalladium (II) (116 mg, 0.143 mmol) in 1 M sodium carbonate solution (5.7 mL) and acetonitrile (10 mL) was stirred at 120° C. under microwave for 1 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography to give 5-(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine (534 mg, 64%) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=297.1; R.sub.T=1.992 min (Method B).

Step 2: 2-Bromo-6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazole

[0249] ##STR00336##

[0250] To a solution of 2-amino-6-nitrobenzthiazole (3.0 g, 15.3 mmol) and copper (I) bromide (260 mg, 1.83 mmol) in hydrogen bromide (30 mL, 18% in water) and water (27 mL) was added sodium nitrite (9.0 g, 130 mmol) slowly. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. The white precipitate was filtered and dried to afford 2-bromo-6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazole (1.8 g, 46%). .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 9.19 (d, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 8.36 (dd, J=9.0, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H).

Step 3: 5-(4-(6-Nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine

[0251] ##STR00337##

[0252] A mixture of 2-Bromo-6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazole (1.0 g, 3.9 mmol), 5-(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine (1.38 g, 4.68 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (340 mg, 0.3 mmol) and potassium carbonate (1.38 g, 10 mmol) in acetonitrile (15 mL) and water (3.0 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 16 h under nitrogen atmosphere. Water (50 ml) was added and solid was isolated. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was washed with water and ethyl acetate, dried under vacuum to provide 5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 38%) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=349.0; R.sub.T=1.93 min (Method B).

Step 4: tert-Butyl (5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)carbamate

[0253] ##STR00338##

[0254] A mixture of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (920 mg, 4.2 mmol) and 5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 1.44 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (40 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 24 h. The mixture was concentrated to afford tert-butyl (5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)carbamate (380 mg, 59%) as yellow oil, which was directly used to the next step without purification. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=449.0; R.sub.T=2.23 min (Method B).

Step 5: tert-Butyl (2-fluoroethyl)(5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)carbamate

[0255] ##STR00339##

[0256] To a solution of tert-butyl (5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)carbamate (200 mg, 0.45 mmol) and 1-fluoranyl-2-iodanyl-ethane (150 mg, 0.9 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was added sodium hydride (3 mg, 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.13 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 15 h and poured into ice water, extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to give tert-butyl (2-fluoroethyl)(5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)carbamate (150 mg, 67%) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=438.9; R.sub.T=2.25 min (Method B).

Step 6: 2-(4-(6-((2-Fluoroethyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)benzo[d]thiazol-6-amine

[0257] ##STR00340##

[0258] To a stirred solution of tert-butyl (2-fluoroethyl)(5-(4-(6-nitrobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)carbamate (150 mg, 0.30 mmol) in trifluoroacetic acid (10.0 mL) was added iron powder (500 mg). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 2 h. After cooling to room temperture, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was poured into water (30 mL). The precipitate was filtered and washed with water to give the crude product, which was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane/methnol=100/1) to give 2-(4-(6-(2-fluoroethyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)benzo[d]thiazol-6-amine (36 mg, 33%) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=365.0; R.sub.T=1.83 min.(Method B); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.43 (s, 1H), 7.98 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.91-7.60 (m, 4H), 7.09 (d, J=10.7 Hz, 2H), 6.80 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 6.66 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 4.57 (dt, J=47.7, 5.1 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (dd, J=26.3, 5.0 Hz, 2H).

[0259] Synthesis of Compound J

##STR00341##

Step 1: tert-Butyl N-(4-bromophenyl)-N-methyl-carbamate

[0260] ##STR00342##

[0261] A mixture of 4-bromanyl-N-methyl-aniline (600 mg, 3.22 mmol), tert-butyl (2-methyl propan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl carbonate (2.1 g, 9.67 mmol), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (39 mg, 0.32 mmol) and triethanolamine (977 mg, 9.67 mmol) in dichloromethane (6 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. Then water was added and the precipitate was filtered. The filtrate cake was dried to give tert-butyl N-(4-bromophenyl)-N-methyl-carbamate (350 mg, 38% yield). LCMS (ESI) m/z=285 [M+H].sup.+, R.sub.T=1.617 min.

Step 2: tert-Butyl N-methyl-N-[4-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl] phenyl]carbamate

[0262] ##STR00343##

[0263] A mixture of 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]-1,3,2-dioxaborolane (1.15 g, 3.49 mmol), tert-butyl N-(4-bromophenyl)-N-methyl-carbamate (500 mg, 1.75 mmol), sodium carbonate (370 mg, 3.49 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (129 mg, 0.17 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) was stirred at 110° C. for 16 h. Then water was added to the mixture and a precipitate was formed. The precipitate was filtered and dried to give tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[4-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]phenyl]carbamate (300 mg, 42% yield). LCMS (ESI) m/z=409 [M+H].sup.+, R.sub.T=2.14 min.

Step 3: tert-Butyl N-[5-[4-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2- yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0264] ##STR00344##

[0265] A mixture of 2-bromanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (62 mg, 0.27 mmol), tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[5-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]carbamate (110 mg, 0.27 mmol), potassium carbonate (85 mg, 0.81 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (20 mg, 0.03 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (4 mL) and water (1 mL) was stirred at 110° C. for 3 h. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to give the product tert-butyl N-[5-[4-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (40 mg, 34% yield). LCMS (ESI) m/z=431 [M+H].sup.+, R.sub.T=1.806 min.

Step 4: tert-Butyl N-[5-[4-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0266] ##STR00345##

[0267] A mixture of tert-butyl N-[5-[4-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (40 mg, 0.09 mmol) and 2-(fluoranylmethyl)oxirane (70 mg, 0.93 mmol) in methanol (3 mL) was stirred at 50° C. for 16 h. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography to give tert-butyl N- [5-[4-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (35 mg, 74% yield). LCMS (ESI) m/z=508 [M+H].sup.+.

Step 5: 1-Fluoranyl-3-[[2-[4-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl]amino]propan-2-ol

[0268] ##STR00346##

[0269] A mixture of tert-butyl N-[5-[4-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (35 mg, 0.07 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane/hydrochloric acid was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was dried to give 1-fluoranyl-3-[[2-[4-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl]amino]propan-2-ol (20 mg, 71% yield). LCMS (ESI) m/z=408 [M+H].sup.+, R.sub.T=1.4 min; .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.44 (s, 1H), 7.99 (t, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.80 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.73 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 3H), 7.26 (d, J=85.4 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=10.4 Hz, 1H), 6.76 (s, 1H), 6.56 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 6.10 (s, 1H), 5.41-5.27 (m, 1H), 4.43 (dd, J=47.8, 14.7 Hz, 3H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.17 (d, J=35.0 Hz, 2H), 2.83 (d, J=4.7 Hz, 3H).

[0270] Synthesis of Compound K

##STR00347##

Step 1: Synthesis of 3

[0271] Pyridine-3,4-diamine (200 mg, 1.83 mmol), 4-iodanylbenzoic acid (500 mg, 2.02 mmol) were mixed in PPA (10 mL) and stirred at 130° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was poured into water. The mixture was adjusted to pH 9 with saturated aq NaOH. The precipitate was filtered to geive the product 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (560 mg, 1.74 mmol, 95.1% yield) as white solid. LCMS: ESI-MS: m/z: 322.0 [M+H]+; R.sub.T=1.42 (Method A)

Step 2: Synthesis of 4

[0272] A mixture of Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 (383 mg, 3.61 mmol), 2-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (386 mg, 1.2 mmol), [6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (200 mg, 1.2 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Cl.sub.2 (40 mg, 0.05 mmol) in MeCN (50 mL) and water (10 mL) was heated at 60° C. for 3 h. The reaction was concentrated to dryness and diluted with water (20 mL), filtered to get white solid. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH=20/1 to 10/1) to give 5-[4-(1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (100 mg, 0.31 mmol, 26.3% yield) as a white solid. LCMS: ESI-MS: m/z: 316.1 [M+H]+; RT=1.11 (Method B)

Step 3: Synthesis of K

[0273] To a solution of 5-[4-(3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (70 mg, 0.22 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added K.sub.2CO.sub.3 (153 mg, 1.11 mmol) and 1-fluoranyl-2-iodanyl-ethane (193 mg, 1.11 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h. The reaction was concentrated to dryness and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH=100/1 to 30/1) to give 5-[4-[3-(2-fluoranyl ethyl)imidazo[4, 5 -c]pyridin-2-yl]phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (40 mg, 0.11 mmol, 49.8% yield) as a yellow solid.

[0274] LCMS: ESI-MS: m/z: 362.1 [M+H]+; R.sub.T=1.68 (Method A); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.94 (s, 1H), 8.53 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.40 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 8.09 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 7.91-7.93 (m, 1H), 7.72-7.76 (m, 3H), 6.75 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 4.96-4.98 (m, 1H), 4.82-4.86 (m, 2H), 4.75-4.77 (m, 1H), 3.08 (s, 6H) ppm.

Formula Id

General:

[0275] ##STR00348##

[0276] A mixture of ethynl aryl 22 (1.72 mmol), iodo pyridine 21 (1.56 mmol), cuprous iodide (30 mg, 0.16 mmol) and bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (55 mg, 0.08 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) and triethanolamine (948 mg, 9.37 mmol) was stirred at room temperature overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was treated with ammonium chloride (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=1/4) to give 23.

[0277] To a solution of 23 (1.38 mmol) in methanol (6 mL) and water (2 mL) was added 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (1.05 g, 6.9 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. overnight. The mixture was diluted with water and methanol, and then concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=1/10) to give 24.

[0278] A mixture of aryl boronate 25 (1.68 mmol), and 24 (0.84 mmol), sodium carbonate (268 mg, 2.53 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (49 mg, 0.04 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) and water (1 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 5 h. The mixture was quenched with water and a precipitate was formed. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=7/100) to give 26.

[0279] Synthesis of Compound L

##STR00349##

Step 1: tert-Butyl 3-iodopyridin-4-ylcarbamate

[0280] ##STR00350##

[0281] A mixture of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (1.09 g, 5 mmol) and 3-iodanylpyridin-4-amine (1.0 g, 4.55 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 h and concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (50 mL) and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (30 mL) and brine (30 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue is purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=38/12/50) give tert-butyl 3-iodopyridin-4-ylcarbamate (1.2 g, 82% yield) as white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=320.9; R.sub.T=1.65 min (Method A).

Step 2: tert-Butyl 3-((4-bromophenyl)ethynyl)pyridin-4-ylcarbamate

[0282] ##STR00351##

[0283] A mixture of 1-bromanyl-4-ethynyl-benzene (311 mg, 1.72 mmol), tert-butyl N-(3-iodanylpyridin-4-yl)carbamate (500 mg, 1.56 mmol), cuprous iodide (30 mg, 0.16 mmol) and bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (55 mg, 0.08 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) and triethanolamine (948 mg, 9.37 mmol) was stirred at room temperature overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was treated with ammonium chloride (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=1/4) to give tert-butyl 3-((4-bromophenyl)ethynyl)pyridin-4-ylcarbamate (515 mg, 87% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=372.9; R.sub.T=1.899 min (Method A).

Step 3: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine

[0284] ##STR00352##

[0285] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[3-[2-(4-bromophenyl)ethynyl]pyridin-4-yl]carbamate (515 mg, 1.38 mmol) in methanol (6 mL) and water (2 mL) was added 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (1.05 g, 6.9 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. overnight. The mixture was diluted with water and methanol, and then concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=1/10) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine (280 mg, 74% yield) as a pale yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=274.8; R.sub.T=1.697 min (Method A).

Step 4: 3-Fluoro-4′-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-amine

[0286] ##STR00353##

[0287] A mixture of 2-fluoranyl-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)aniline (399 mg, 1.68 mmol), 2-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine (230 mg, 0.84 mmol), sodium carbonate (268 mg, 2.53 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (49 mg, 0.04 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) and water (1 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 5 h. The mixture was quenched with water and a precipitate was formed. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=7/100) to give 3-fluoro-4′-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-amine (123 mg, 48% yield) as a pale yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=303.9; R.sub.T=1.747 min (Method A); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6) δ 12.07 (s, 1H), 8.84 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.73 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.48-7.33 (m, 3H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 6.88-6.83 (m, 1H), 5.37 (s, 2H).

[0288] Synthesis of Compound M

##STR00354##

Step 1: tert-Butyl 3-iodopyridin-4-ylcarbamate

[0289] ##STR00355##

[0290] A mixture of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (1.09 g, 5 mmol) and 3-iodanylpyridin-4-amine (1.0 g, 4.55 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was stirred for 2 h at room temperature and concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (50 mL) and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (30 mL) and brine (30 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate/dichloromethane=12/100) to give tert-butyl 3-iodopyridin-4-ylcarbamate (1.2 g, 82% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=320.9; R.sub.T=1.65 min (Method A).

Step 2: tert-Butyl 3-((4-bromophenyl)ethynyl)pyridin-4-ylcarbamate

[0291] ##STR00356##

[0292] A mixture of 1-bromanyl-4-ethynyl-benzene (311 mg, 1.72 mmol), tert-butyl 3-iodopyridin-4-ylcarbamate (500 mg, 1.56 mmol), cuprous iodide (30 mg, 0.16 mmol) and bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (55 mg, 0.08 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) and triethanolamine (948 mg, 9.37 mmol) was stirred at room temperature overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was treated with ammonium chloride (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=¼) to give tert-butyl 3-((4-bromophenyl)ethynyl)pyridin-4-ylcarbamate (515 mg, 87% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=372.9; R.sub.T=1.899 min (Method A).

Step 3: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine

[0293] ##STR00357##

[0294] To a solution of tert-butyl 3-((4-bromophenyl)ethynyl)pyridin-4-ylcarbamate (515 mg, 1.38 mmol) in methanol (6 mL) and water (2 mL), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (1.05 g, 6.9 mmol) was added, then the reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. overnight. The mixture was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine (280 mg, 74% yield) as pale yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=274.8; R.sub.T=1.697 min (Method A).

tert-Butyl (5-(4-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)(methyl)carbamate

[0295] ##STR00358##

[0296] A mixture of 2-fluoranyl-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)aniline (150 mg, 0.63 mmol), 2-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine (210 mg, 0.63 mmol), sodium carbonate (268 mg, 2.53 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (72 mg, 0.063 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (15 mL) and water (3.0 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 5 h. The mixture was quenched with water and a precipitate was formed. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=20/1) to give tert-butyl (5-(4-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)(methyl)carbamate (70 mg, 32% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS ESI-MS: m/z: 401.1 [M+H].sup.+; R.sub.T=1.643 min (Method A).

Step 5: 5-(4-(1H-Pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N-methylpyridin-2-amine

[0297] ##STR00359##

[0298] A mixture of tert-butyl (5-(4-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)(methyl)carbamate (70 mg, 0.17 mmol), trifluoroacetic acid (1.0 mL) in dichloromethane (3.0 mL). The solution was heated at 40° C. for 3 h. The mixture was quenched with water and a precipitate was formed. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate cake was purified by reverse phase pre-HPLC to afford 5-(4-(1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N-methylpyridin-2-amine as a white solid (20 mg, 38% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=301.0; R.sub.T=1.246 min (Method A); .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.82 (s, 1H), 8.42 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 1H), 8.34-8.12 (m, 3H), 7.94 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 2H), 7.80 (dd, J=8.7, 2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.39 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 1H), 7.07 (s, 1H), 6.68 (t, J=13.6 Hz, 1H), 6.55 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 3H).

Formula Ie

General:

[0299] ##STR00360##

[0300] A mixture of amino pyridine 27 (8.06 mmol), alpha-bromoketo-bromoaryl (8.86 mmol) and sodium bicarbonate (744 mg, 8.86 mmol) in ethanol (50 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=4/1) to give imidazopyridine 29.

[0301] A mixture of imidazopyridine 29 (3.3 mmol), arylboronate 25 (3.96 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.37 g, 9.9 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (241 mg, 0.33 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) and water (4 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 30.

[0302] Synthesis of Compound N

##STR00361##

Step 1: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0303] ##STR00362##

[0304] A mixture of 5-methoxypyridin-2-amine (1.0 g, 8.06 mmol), 2-bromanyl-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethanone (2.46 g, 8.86 mmol) and sodium bicarbonate (744 mg, 8.86 mmol) in ethanol (50 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=4/1) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (1.5 g, 49% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=303.

Step 2: tert-Butyl 5-(4-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0305] ##STR00363##

[0306] A mixture of 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (1.0 g, 3.3 mmol), tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate (1.32 g, 3.96 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.37 g, 9.9 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (241 mg, 0.33 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) and water (4 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give tert-butyl 5-(4-(6-methoxyimidazo [1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (1.3 g, 78% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=431 [M+H].sup.+.

Step 3: 2-(4-(6-(Methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ol

[0307] ##STR00364##

[0308] A solution of tert-butyl N-[5-[4-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (1.5 g, 3.48 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) was stirred at −78° C. for 0.5 h. Then boron tribromide (8.7 mL, 17.4 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for another 0.5 h. The reaction mixture was slowly warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. The mixture was quenched by methanol and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 2-[4-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ol (800 mg, 57% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=317 [M+H].sup.+.

Step 4: 1-Fluoro-3-(2-(4-(6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yloxy)propan-2-ol

[0309] ##STR00365##

[0310] A mixture of 2-[4-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ol (600 mg, 1.9 mmol), 2-(fluoranylmethyl)oxirane (1.44 g, 18.97 mmol) and potassium carbonate (785 mg, 5.69 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 1-fluoranyl-3-[2-[4-[6-(methylamino) pyridine-3-yl]phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl]oxy-propan-2-ol (201 mg, 26% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) m/z=393[M+H].sup.+, R.sub.T=1.653 min; .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.41 (d, J=1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.29 (s, 1H), 7.96 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.76 (dd, J=8.4 Hz, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.07 (dd, J=9.6 Hz, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.705 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 2H), 6.55 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 5.59 (s, 1H), 4.56 (m, 1H), 4.44 (m, 1H), 4.02 (m, 1H), 3.97 (m, 2H), 2.833 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 3H).

[0311] Synthesis of Compound O

##STR00366##

Step 1: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0312] ##STR00367##

[0313] A mixture of 5-methoxypyridin-2-amine (1.0 g, 8.06 mmol), 2-bromanyl-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethanone (2.5 mg, 8.86 mmol) and sodium bicarbonate (744 mg, 8.86 mmol) in ethanol (50 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was added to water and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3). The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=4/1) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (1.5 g, 49% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=303.

Step 2: 5-(4-(6-Methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-N,N-dimethylpyridin-2-amine

[0314] ##STR00368##

[0315] A mixture of N,N-dimethyl-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-amine (196 mg, 0.79 mmol), 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (200 mg, 0.66 mmol), potassium carbonate (273 mg, 1.98 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (48 mg, 0.07 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (4 mL) and water (0.6 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 5-[4-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (200 mg, 79% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=345.

Step 3: 2-(4-(6-(Dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ol

[0316] ##STR00369##

[0317] To a solution of 5-[4-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (200 mg, 0.58 mmol) in dichloromethane (2 mL) was added boron tribromide (1.5 mL, 2.9 mmol) at −78° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 0.5 h, then warmed to room temperature slowly and stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was quenched with methanol and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 2-[4-[6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ol (180 mg, 74% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=331.

Step 4: 1-(2-(4-(6-(Dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yloxy)-3-fluoropropan-2-ol

[0318] ##STR00370##

[0319] A mixture of 2-[4-[6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ol (130 mg, 0.39 mmol), 2-(fluoranylmethyl)oxirane (299 mg, 3.93 mmol) and potassium carbonate (163 mg, 1.18 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 1-[2-[4-[6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl]oxy-3-fluoranyl-propan-2-ol (30 mg, 19% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=407, R.sub.T=1.805 min; .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.50 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.29 (m, 2H), 7.96 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.87 (dd, J=8.8 Hz, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (d, J=10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.05 (dd, J=9.2 Hz, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.73 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 5.53 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 4.56 (m, 1H), 4.45 (m, 1H), 4.06 (m, 1H), 4.00 (m, 1H), 3.08 (s, 6H).

[0320] Synthesis of Compound P

##STR00371##

Step 1: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-6-nitroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0321] ##STR00372##

[0322] A mixture of 5-nitropyridin-2-amine (1.0 g, 7.19 mmol), 2-bromo-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethan-1-one (2.2 g, 7.91 mmol) and sodium bicarbonate (664 mg, 7.91 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was added to water and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3). The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (petroleum ether/ ethyl acetate=4/1) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-nitro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (800 mg, 16% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=318.

Step 2: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-amine

[0323] ##STR00373##

[0324] A mixture of 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-nitro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (800 mg, 2.51 mmol), iron (704 mg, 12.57 mmol), ammonium chloride (673 mg, 12.57 mmol) and in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL), methanol (5 mL) and water (5 mL) was stirred at 50° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=20/1) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-amine (500 mg, 57% yield) as a brown solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=288.

Step 3: tert-Butyl 5-(4-(6-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0325] ##STR00374##

[0326] A mixture of 2-(4-bromophenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-amine (500 mg, 1.74 mmol), [6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (569 mg, 2.26 mmol), potassium carbonate (718 mg, 5.21 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (127 mg, 0.17 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (4 mL) and water (0.6 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=20/1) to give tert-butyl 5-(4-(6-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (400 mg, 32% yield) as a white solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=416.

Step 4: tert-Butyl 5-(4-(6-(3-fluoro-2-hydroxypropylamino)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0327] ##STR00375##

[0328] A mixture of 2-(fluoranylmethyl)oxirane (183 mg, 2.41 mmol), tert-butyl 5-(4-(6-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (100 mg, 0.24 mmol) and in methanol (2 mL) was stirred at 50° C. for 36 h. The reaction mixture was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give tert-butyl 5-(4-(6-(3-fluoro-2-hydroxypropylamino)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (80 mg, 67% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=492.

Step 5: 1-Fluoro-3-(2-(4-(6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ylamino)propan-2-ol

[0329] ##STR00376##

[0330] A mixture of tert-butyl 5-(4-(6-(3-fluoro-2-hydroxypropylamino)imidazo [1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (100 mg, 0.2 mmol), trifluoroacetic acid (70 mg, 0.61 mmol) and in dichloromethane (2 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol=10/1) to give 1-fluoro-3-(2-(4-(6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-ylamino)propan-2-ol (31 mg, 39% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS (ESI) [M+H].sup.+=392, R.sub.T=1.647 min. .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.39 (s, 1H), 8.25 (s, 1H), 7.90 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.79 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (m, 3H), 7.43 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.10 (m, 1H), 6.745 (m, 1H), 6.56 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 5.72 (s, 1H), 5.35 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 4.51 (m, 1H), 4.35 (m, 1H), 3.94 (m, 1H), 3.11 (m, 1H), 2.98 (m, 1H), 2.82 (d, J=4.4 Hz, 3H).

[0331] Synthesis of Compound Q

##STR00377##

Step 1: 2-(4-Bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0332] ##STR00378##

[0333] A mixture of 5-methoxypyridin-2-amine (5 g, 40.28 mmol), 2-bromanyl-1-(4-bromo phenyl)ethanone (11.2 g, 40.3 mmol) and sodium hydrogen carbonate (3.4 g, 40.48 mmol) in ethanol (250 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was diluted with water (100 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3). The combined organic phase was washed with brine (100 mL), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by slurrying in a mixture of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (4/1) to give 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (6.88 g, 53% yield). LC-MS: m/z=303 (M+H)+, retention time 1.311 min (Method A).

Step 2: 6-Methoxy-2-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]imidazo [1,2-a]pyridine

[0334] ##STR00379##

[0335] A mixture of 2-(4-bromophenyl)-6-methoxy-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (5.8 g, 19.13 mmol), 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1,3,2-dioxaborolane (5.8 g, 22.84 mmol), potassium acetate (3.77 g, 38.47 mmol) and [1,1′-bis(diphenyl phosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (0.7 g, 0.96 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (150 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 16 h and then cooled to room temperature. The mixture was filtered and filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane/ethyl acetate=5/1) to give 6-methoxy-2-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (8.5 g, 91% yield). LC-MS: m/z=351 (M+H)+, retention time 1.995 min (Method A).

Step 3: 5-Bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-amine

[0336] ##STR00380##

[0337] To a solution of 6-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (6.4 g, 57.08 mmol) in acetonitrile (90 mL) was added bromosuccinimide (10.67 g, 59.94 mmol). Then the mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h. The solution was poured into water and extracted with dichloromethane (150 mL×3). The combined organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (15% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether) to give 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (8.5 g, 78% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=191(M+H)+, retention time 1.506 min (Method A).

Step 4: 5-Bromo-6-fluoro-N,N-dimethylpyridin-2-amine

[0338] ##STR00381##

[0339] To a solution of 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (6.2 g, 32.46 mmol) in dimethyformamide (100 mL) was added sodium hydride (3.25 g, 81.15 mmol) at 0° C.. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 min, then iodanylmethane (13.82 g, 97.38 mmol) was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h. The mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate (150 mL×3). The combined organics were washed with brine (100 mL×3), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (3% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether) to give 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (6.5 g, 91% yield) as a green solid. LC-MS: m/z=219(M+H)+, retention time 1.239 min (Method A).

Step 5: 6-Fluoranyl-5-[4-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine

[0340] ##STR00382##

[0341] A mixture of 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (1.97 g, 8.99 mmol), 6-methoxy-2-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine (3.15 g, 8.99 mmol), sodium carbonate (1.91 g, 17.99 mmol), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (332.79 mg, 0.45 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (75 mL) and water (15 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography (5% methanol in dichloromethane) to give 6-fluoranyl-5-[4-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)phenyl]-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (1.2 g, 37% yield) as a yellow solid. LCMS: m/z=363 (M+H)+, retention time 5.020 min (Method A). 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.32 (s, 1H), 8.23 (s, 1H), 7.98 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.94-7.82 (m, 1H), 7.58 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.51 (d, J=9.7 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (dd, J=9.7, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 6.64 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 3.06 (s, 6H). 13C NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 157.65, 148.96, 144.48, 142.55, 142.05, 142.00, 134.04, 132.93, 128.57, 128.54, 125.97, 120.20, 117.39, 110.55, 109.14, 107.58, 107.30, 103.96, 56.58, 38.09.

[0342] Synthesis of Compound R

##STR00383##

Step 1: 5-Bromo-4-fluoropyridin-2-amine

[0343] ##STR00384##

[0344] To a solution of 4-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (2.35 g, 20.96 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was added N-bromosuccinimide (3.92 g, 22.01 mmol), then the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=22%) to give 5-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (3.3 g, 17.277 mmol, 82.425% yield) as red solid. LCMS: m/z=250.0 (M−55)+, retention time: 2.07 min.

Step 2: 5-Bromo-4-fluoro-2-iodopyridine

[0345] ##STR00385##

[0346] A mixture of 5-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (3 g, 9.74 mmol), tert-butyl nitrite (1.51 g, 14.61 mmol) and copper (I) iodide (2.78 g, 14.61 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was heated to 60° C. for 2 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=10%) to give 5-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-2-iodanyl-pyridine (1 g, 3.3126 mmol, 34.006% yield) as white solid. LCMS: m/z=250.0(M−55)+, retention time: 2.16 min.

Step 3: Tert-Butyl 5-bromo-4-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0347] ##STR00386##

[0348] A mixture of 5-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-2-iodanyl-pyridine (500 mg, 1.66 mmol), (6-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)(methyl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)boronic acid (396.63 mg, 1.57 mmol), potassium carbonate (571.42 mg, 4.14 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(0) (191.3 mg, 0.17 mmol in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) and water (1 mL) were stirred at 90° C. under nitrogen atmosphere for 3˜4 h. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0˜15%) to give tert-butyl N-[5-(5-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (310 mg, 0.811 mmol, 48.967% yield) as yellow solid.

[0349] LCMS: m/z=383.8(M+H)+, retention time:2.41 min

Step 4: Tert-Butyl 2-(6′-(tert-butoxycarbonyl(methyl)amino)-4-fluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-5-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0350] ##STR00387##

[0351] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-(5-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (310 mg, 0.81 mmol) and tert-butyl 2-tributylstannylpyrrolo [2,3-c] pyridine-1-carboxylate (452.58 mg, 0.89 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (10 mL) was added copper (I) iodide (11.19 mg, 0.08 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (93.67 mg, 0.08 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 100° C. overnight under nitrogen atmosphere. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-30%) to give tert-butyl 2-[4-fluoranyl-646-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (140 mg, 0.2695 mmol, 33.224% yield) as oil. LCMS: m/z=520.3(M+H)+, retention time: 2.24 min.

Step 5: 4-Fluoro-N-methyl-5-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-amine (Compound R)

[0352] ##STR00388##

[0353] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-fluoranyl-6-[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxy carbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (140 mg, 0.27 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (307.23 mg, 2.69 mmol) and then the mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials was consumed. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Prep-HPLC to give 5-[4-fluoranyl-5-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-pyridin-2-amine (3 mg, 0.0094 mmol, 3.4865% yield) as solid.

[0354] LCMS: m/z=320.1(M+H)+, retention time: 1.70 min, purity 100% (UV 254).

[0355] 1HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 12.10 (s, 1H), 9.13 (d, J=11.0 Hz, 1H), 8.91 -8.78 (m, 2H), 8.18 (dd, J=8.8, 2.2 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 7.97 (d, J=13.3 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (t, J=10.6 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (s, 2H), 6.56 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 1H), 2.88 (t, J=17.8 Hz, 3H).

[0356] Synthesis of Compound S

##STR00389##

Step 1: 5-Bromo-6-fluoropyridin-2-amine

[0357] ##STR00390##

[0358] To a solution of 6-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (2.8 g, 24.98 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was added N-bromosuccinimide (4.67 g, 26.22 mmol). Then the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0˜10%) to give 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (3.91 g, 20.471 mmol, 81.965% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=193.0 (M+H)+, retention time: 1.64 min (Method B).

Step 2: 3-Bromo-2-fluoro-6-iodopyridine

[0359] ##STR00391##

[0360] A mixture of 5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-amine (3.3 g, 17.28 mmol), tert-butyl nitrite (2.67 g, 25.92 mmol) and copper (I) iodide (4.94 g, 25.92 mmol) in acetonitrile (30 mL) was heated to 60° C. for 2 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give 3-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl--iodanyl-pyridine (2.1 g, 6.9564 mmol, 40.263% yield) as white solid. LC-MS: m/z=302.6 (M+H)+, retention time: 1.89 min (Method A).

Step 3: Tert-Butyl 2-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0361] ##STR00392##

[0362] A mixture of tert-butyl 2-tributylstannylpyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (500 mg, 0.98 mmol), 3-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-6-iodanyl-pyridine (357 mg, 1.18 mmol), copper (I) iodide (18 mg, 0.09 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (113 mg, 0.09 mmol) and cesium fluoride (29 mg, 0.19 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) were stirred at 50° C. under nitrogen atmosphere overnight. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography eluting (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl 2-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (400 mg, 54.84% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=392 (M)+, retention time: 1.991 min (Method A).

Step 4: Tert-Butyl 2-[6-fluoranyl-5-[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]pyrrolo[2,3 -c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0363] ##STR00393##

[0364] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine -1-carboxylate (300 mg, 0.76 mmol) and [6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl] amino]pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (289 mg, 1.14 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) and water (5 mL) was added potassium carbonate (316 mg, 2.29 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenyl phosphine)palladium(0) (88 mg, 0.07 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 85° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered and concentrated to get the crude product (300 mg, 22.47% yield, purity 54%) as oil, which was directly used to the next step without purification. LC-MS: m/z=520(M+H)+, retention time: 2.220 min (Method B).

Step 5: 5-[2-Fluoranyl-6-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]-N-methyl-pyridin-2-amine

[0365] ##STR00394##

[0366] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-[6-fluoranyl-5-[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxy carbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (200 mg, 0.384 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) and then the mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials were consumed completely. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to give 5-[2-fluoranyl-6-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]-N-methyl-pyridin-2-amine (26 mg, 21.15% yield) as solid. LC-MS: m/z=320.0(M+H)+, purity 100% (UV 254), retention time: 1.725 min (Method C); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 12.19 (s, 1H), 8.81 (s, 1H), 8.36 (s, 1H), 8.30-8.18 (m, 1H), 8.10 (dd, J=11.4, 6.6 Hz, 2H), 7.74 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.27 (s, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 6.58 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (d, J=4.7 Hz, 3H).

[0367] Synthesis of Compound T

##STR00395##

Step 1: 4-Fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine

[0368] ##STR00396##

[0369] To a solution of 4-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (2.0 g, 17.84 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL), was added N-iodosuccinimide (4.81 g, 21.40 mmol), then the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. overnight and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-30%) to give 4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (2.0 g, 47.10% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=238 (M+H)+, retention time: 1.682 min (Method B).

Step 2: 2-Bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine

[0370] ##STR00397##

[0371] A mixture of 4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (1.5 g, 6.3 mmol), tert-butyl nitrite (3.2 g, 31.42 mmol) and copper (I) bromide (4.47 g, 31.51 mmol) in acetonitrile (30 mL) was heated to 60° C. overnight and then cooled to room temperature. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give 2-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine (800 mg, 37.843% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: no MS, retention time: 1.89 min (Method A).

Step 3: Tert-Butyl N-[5-(6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0372] ##STR00398##

[0373] To a solution of 2-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine (431 mg, 1.42 mmol) and [6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (300 mg, 1.19 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) and water (5 mL) was added sodium carbonate (378 mg, 3.57 mmol) and bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (137 mg, 0.11 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl N-[5-(6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (200 mg, 40.44% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=381 (M)+, retention time: 2.141 min (Method A).

Step 4: Tert-Butyl 2-[4-fluoranyl-5-[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]pyrrolo[2,3 -c]pyridine-1-carboxylate

[0374] ##STR00399##

[0375] A mixture of tert-butyl N-[5-(6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (200 mg, 0.52 mmol), tert-butyl 2-tributylstannylpyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (291 mg, 0.57 mmol), copper (I) iodide (7 mg, 0.05 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (60 mg, 0.05 mmol) and cesium fluoride (15.8 mg, 0.10 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) were stirred at 50° C. under nitrogen atmosphere overnight. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0-10%) to give tert-butyl 2-[4-fluoranyl-5[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (130 mg, 47.81% yield) as white solid. LC-MS: m/z=520(M+H)+, retention time: 2.190 min (Method B).

Step 5: 5-[4-Fluoranyl-6-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]-N-methyl-pyridin-2-amine

[0376] ##STR00400##

[0377] To a solution of tert-butyl 2-[4-fluoranyl-5-[6-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxy carbonyl]amino]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (110 mg, 0.217 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) and then the mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials were consumed completely. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to give 5-[4-fluoranyl-6-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-3-yl]-N-methyl-pyridin-2-amine (41 mg, 59.43% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=320.0(M+H)+, purity: 100% (UV 254), retention time: 1.363 min (Method B); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 12.19 (s, 1H), 8.81 (s, 1H), 8.36 (s, 1H), 8.30-8.18 (m, 2H), 8.10 (dd, J=11.4, 6.6 Hz, 2H), 7.74 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.27 (s, 1H), 6.89 (d, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 6.58 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 2.83 (d, J=4.7 Hz, 3H).

[0378] Synthesis of Compound U

##STR00401##

Step 1: 6-Fluoro-5-iodopyridin-2-amine

[0379] ##STR00402##

[0380] A mixture of 6-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 4.46 mmol) and N-iodosuccinimide (833 mg, 4.68 mmol) in acetonitrile (10 mL) was stirred at 0° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=10/1) to give 6-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (700 mg, 2.853 mmol, 64% yield) as white solid. LC-MS: m/z=239(M+H)+.

Step 2: 6-Bromo-2-fluoro-3-iodopyridine

[0381] ##STR00403##

[0382] A mixture of 6-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (700 mg, 2.94 mmol), tert-butylnitrite (1516 mg, 14.7 mmol) and copper (I) bromide (2117 mg, 14.71 mmol) in acetonitrile (20 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 3 h. Water was added to the mixture. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=20/1) to give 6-bromo-2-fluoro-3-iodopyridine (600 mg, 1.75 mmol, 59.3% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: no MS.

[0383] Step 3: 6-Bromo-3-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-2-fluoropyridine

##STR00404##

[0384] A mixture of 6-bromo-2-fluoro-3-iodopyridine (500 mg, 1.66 mmol) and tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (9565 mg, 8.28 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) was stirred at 100° C. for 16 h. Water was added to the mixture. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=3/1) to give 6-bromo-3-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-2-fluoropyridine (200 mg, 0.761 mmol, 45.9% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=246(M+H)+.

Step 4: 1-(6-Bromo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)ethanone

[0385] ##STR00405##

[0386] A mixture of 6-bromo-3-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-2-fluoropyridine (150 mg, 0.61 mmol) and hydrochloric acid (4 N in dioxane, 0.76 mL, 3.05 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by Pre-TLC (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=10/1) to give 1-(6-bromo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)ethanone (90 mg, 0.366 mmol, 60.1% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: no MS.

Step 5: 2-Bromo-1-(6-bromo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)ethanone

[0387] ##STR00406##

[0388] A mixture of 1-(6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)ethanone (50 mg, 0.23 mmol), N-bromosuccinimide (41 mg, 0.23 mmol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (4.5 mg, 0.023 mmol) was stirred at 100° C. for 2 h. Dichloromethane was added and the mixture was washed with water. The organic layer was dried and concentrated to give 2-bromanyl-1-(6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)ethanone (60 mg, 0.1253 mmol, 54.63% yield) as yellow solid. The crude product was used for next step without purification. LC-MS: no MS.

Step 6: 2-(6-Bromo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0389] ##STR00407##

[0390] A mixture of 2-bromanyl-1-(6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)ethanone (132 mg, 0.44 mmol), 5-methoxypyridin-2-amine (50 mg, 0.40 mmol) and NaHCO.sub.3 (37 mg, 0.44 mmol) in ethanol (5 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h. The reaction was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 2-(6-bromo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (20 mg, 0.043 mmol, 10.8% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=322(M+H)+.

Step 7: 6-Fluoro-5-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-amine

[0391] ##STR00408##

[0392] A mixture of 2-(6-bromo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (20 mg, 0.06 mmol), [6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (15.5 mg, 0.09 mmol), tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (7.2 mg, 0.01 mmol) and potassium carbonate (0.09 mL, 0.19 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (3 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h. Water was added to the mixture. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=5/1) to give 6-fluoro-5-(6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-2,3′-bipyridin-6′-amine (5.5 mg, 0.015 mmol, 24.38% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=364(M+H)+, purity 100% (214 nm), Rt=4.067. 1HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.854 (d, J=1.6 Hz, 1H), 8.600 (m,1H),8.361 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.286 (d, J=4.0 Hz, 1H), 8.180 (dd, J=9.2 Hz, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.925 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.538 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 7.090 (dd, J=10.0 Hz, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.751 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 3H), 3.802 (s, 3H), 3.116 (s, 6H).

[0393] Synthesis of Compound V

##STR00409##

Step 1: 1-(2-Bromobenzo[d]thiazol-6-ylamino)-3-fluoropropan-2-ol

[0394] ##STR00410##

[0395] To a solution of 2-bromobenzo[d]thiazol-6-amine (1 g, 4.58 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) was added 2-(fluoromethyl)oxirane (1.74 g, 22.9 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0-30%) to give (1.74 g, 75.3%, yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=304 (M+H)+, retention time: 1.651 min (Method B).

Step 2: Tert-Butyl N-[5-(6-bromanylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0396] ##STR00411##

[0397] To a solution of 2-bromanyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine (637 mg, 2.24 mmol) and tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate (500 mg, 1.49 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) and water (5 mL) was added potassium carbonate (619 mg, 4.48 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (172 mg, 0.14 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl N-[5-(6-bromanylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (400 mg, 71.93% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=364 (M+H)+, retention time: 2.136 min (Method B).

Step 3: Tert-Butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(6-tributylstannylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate

[0398] ##STR00412##

[0399] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-(6-bromanylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (380 mg, 1.04 mmol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was added n-butyl lithium (0.62 mL, 1.25 mmol) at −78° C., the mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 10 min, then tributylchlorostannane (509 mg, 1.56 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(6-tributylstannylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate (180 mg, 25.53% yield) as yellow oil. LC-MS: m/z=574 (M)+, retention time: 2.101 min (Method A).

Step 4: Tert-Butyl N-[5-[6-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0400] ##STR00413##

[0401] A mixture of 1-[(2-bromanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl)amino]-3-fluoranyl-propan-2-ol (85 mg, 0.27 mmol), tert-butyl 2-tributylstannylpyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (175 mg, 0.30 mmol), copper (I) iodide (3.8 mg, 0.02 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(0) (32 mg, 0.02 mmol) and cesium fluoride (4.23 mg, 0.02 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) were stirred at 90° C. under nitrogen atmosphere overnight. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0-30%) to give tert-butyl N[5-[6-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (38 mg, 24.63% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=510 (M)+, retention time: 1.982 min (Method A).

Step 5: 1-Fluoranyl-3-[[2-[5-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl]amino]propan-2-ol

[0402] ##STR00414##

[0403] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-[6-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (40 mg, 0.07 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) and then the mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials were consumed completely. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to give 1-fluoranyl-3-[[2-[5-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl] amino]propan-2-ol (11 mg, 34.22% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=410(M+H)+, purity 100% (UV 254), retention time: 1.570 min, (Method B); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.92 (s, 1H), 8.51 (s, 1H), 8.18 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 7.90 (s, 1H), 7.82 (dd, J=41.3, 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (s, 1H), 6.89 (dd, J=23.5, 6.5 Hz, 2H), 6.58 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 6.18 (s, 1H), 5.31 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 4.69-4.46 (m, 1H), 4.42-4.34 (m, 1H), 3.93 (d, J=16.4 Hz, 1H), 3.31-3.28 (m, 1H), 3.21 (dd, J=27.9, 21.2 Hz, 1H), 2.84 (d, J=4.3 Hz, 3H).

[0404] Synthesis of Compound W

##STR00415##

Step 1: Tert-Butyl N-[5-(5-bromanylpyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0405] ##STR00416##

[0406] To a solution of 5-bromo-2-iodopyridine (637 mg, 2.24 mmol) and tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate (500 mg, 1.49 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL) and water (5 mL) was added potassium carbonate (619 mg, 4.48 mmol) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (172 mg, 0.14 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 3 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl N-[5-(6-bromanylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (380 mg, 69.73% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=364 (M+H)+, retention time: 2.143 min (Method B).

Step 2: Tert-Butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(6-tributylstannylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate

[0407] ##STR00417##

[0408] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-(6-bromanylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (380 mg, 1.04 mmol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 ml) was added n-butyl lithium (0.62 mL, 1.25 mmol) at −78° C., the mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 10 min, then tributylchlorostannane (509 mg, 1.56 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl N-methyl-N-[5-(6-tributylstannylpyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl]carbamate (150 mg, 25.03% yield) as yellow oil. LC-MS: m/z=574 (M)+, retention time: 2.277 min (Method A).

Step 3: Tert-Butyl N-[5-[5-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]pyridin-2-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0409] ##STR00418##

[0410] A mixture of 1-[(2-bromanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl)amino]-3-fluoranyl-propan-2-ol (85 mg, 0.27 mmol), tert-butyl 2-tributylstannylpyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine-1-carboxylate (175 mg, 0.30 mmol), copper (I) iodide (3.8 mg, 0.02 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(0) (32 mg, 0.02 mmol) and cesium fluoride (4.23 mg,0.02 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) were stirred at 90° C. under nitrogen atmosphere overnight . The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0-30%) to give tert-butyl N-[5-[6-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (15 mg, 10.56% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=510 (M)+, retention time: 2.135 min (Method B).

Step 4: 1-Fluoranyl-3-[[2-[5-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl]amino]propan-2-ol

[0411] ##STR00419##

[0412] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-[6-[6-[(3-fluoranyl-2-oxidanyl-propyl)amino]-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (35 mg, 0.06 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) and then the mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials were consumed completely. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to give 1-fluoranyl-3-[[2-[5-[6-(methylamino)pyridin-3-yl]pyridin-2-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl]amino]propan-2-ol (6 mg, 21.33% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=410(M+H)+, purity 100% (UV 254), retention time: 1.763 min (Method B); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.12 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 8.83 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 8.27 (dd, J=8.4, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.16 (dd, J=8.8, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 7.96 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (d, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.14-6.86 (m, 2H), 6.56 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 1H), 6.16 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 5.32 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.44 (dddd, J=24.1, 15.1, 9.6, 4.4 Hz, 2H), 3.93 (d, J=17.3 Hz, 1H), 3.30-2.88 (m, 2H), 2.85 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 3H).

[0413] Synthesis of Compound X

##STR00420##

[0414] Step 1: 5-(5-Bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine

##STR00421##

[0415] A mixture of 3-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-6-iodanyl-pyridine (500 mg, 1.60 mmol), [6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]boronic acid (250 mg, 1.50 mmol), bis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(II) chloride (105 mg, 0.15 mmol), sodium carbonate (625 mg, 4.8 mmol) in dioxane (12 mL) and water (4 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 16 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (30 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give 5-(5-Bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (400 mg, 89% yield) as white solid. LCMS: m/z=297[M+H]+; RT=2.000 min. (Method B)

Step 2: 5-(6-Fluoranyl-5-tributylstannyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine

[0416] ##STR00422##

[0417] To a solution of 5-(5-bromanyl-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (600 mg, 2.02 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) was added n-butyl lithium (194 mg, 3.03 mmol) at −78° C., the mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 15 min, then tributylchlorostannane (989 mg, 3.03 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (30 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-6%) to give 5-(6-fluoranyl-5-tributylstannyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (800 mg, 66% yield) as yellow oil. LCMS: m/z=506 [M]+; RT=2.096 min. (Method B)

Step 3: 1-[[2-[6-[6-(Dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl]-1,3-benzo thiazol-6-yl]amino]-3-fluoranyl-propan-2-ol

[0418] ##STR00423##

[0419] A mixture of 1-[(2-bromanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl)amino]-3-fluoranyl-propan-2-ol (56 mg, 0.27 mmol), 5-(6-fluoranyl-5-tributylstannyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-pyridin-2-amine (100 mg, 0.195 mmol), copper (I) iodide (3.4 mg, 0.018 mmol), tetrakis(triphenyl phosphine)palladium(0) (21 mg, 0.018 mmol) and cesium fluoride (2.73 mg, 0.018 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) were stirred at 90° C. under nitrogen atmosphere overnight. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0-30%) to give 1-[[2-[6-[6-(dimethylamino)pyridin-3-yl]-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl]amino]-3-fluoranyl-propan-2-ol (44 mg, 53.22% yield) as yellow solid.

[0420] LC-MS: m/z=442(M+H)+, purity 100% (UV 254), retention time: 2.037 min (Method B); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.90 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 8.76-8.61 (m, 1H), 8.22 (dd, J=9.1, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 8.01 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 1H), 7.19 (d, J=1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.02-6.90 (m, 1H), 6.78 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 6.22 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 5.73-5.38 (m, 1H), 5.73-4.17 (m, 2H), 3.94 (d, J=21.0 Hz, 1H), 3.29-3.18 (m, 1H), 3.13 (s, 6H), 2.87-2.82 (m, 1H)

[0421] Synthesis of Compound Y

##STR00424##

Step 1: Tert-Butyl N-(5-bromanylpyrimidin-2-yl)-N-methyl-carbamate

[0422] ##STR00425##

[0423] A mixture of 5-bromanyl-N-methyl-pyrimidin-2-amine (4 g, 21.27 mmol), tert-butyl (2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl carbonate (9 g, 42.54 mmol), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (260 mg, 2.13 mmol) and triethylamine (6 g, 63.8 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (80 mL) was heated at 70° C. for 3 h and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=4/1) to give tert-butyl N-(5-bromanyl pyrimidin-2-yl)-N-methyl-carbamate (5.5 g, 19.0 mmol, 89.728% yield) as white solid. LC-MS: m/z=232(M−56+H)+, purity 100%(UV 254 nm). Retention time: 2.06 min.

Step 2: (2-((Tert-Butoxycarbonyl)(methyl)amino)pyrimidin-5-yl)boronic acid

[0424] ##STR00426##

[0425] A mixture of tert-butyl N-(5-bromanyl pyrimidin-2-yl)-N-methyl-carbamate (4 g, 13.88 mmol), 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1,3,2-dioxa borolane (5.29 g, 20.82 mmol), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloro palladium(II) (205.6 mg, 0.28 mmol), potassium acetate (4.08 g, 41.65 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (100 mL) was stirred at 90° C. for 3 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=3/1) to give (2-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)(methyl)amino) pyrimidin-5-yl)boronic acid (3 g, 10.669 mmol, 76.857% yield). LC-MS: m/z=324(M-56+H)+, purity 100%(UV 254 nm). Retention time: 1.31 min.

Step 3: 6-Fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine

[0426] ##STR00427##

[0427] To a solution of 6-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (3.0 g, 17.84 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was added N-iodosuccinimide (5.2 g, 29.43 mmol), then the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. overnight. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-30%) to give 6-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (5.0 g, 73.01% yield) as white solid. LC-MS: m/z=238 (M+H)+, retention time: 1.529 min (Method B).

Step 4: 6-Bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-3-iodanyl-pyridine

[0428] ##STR00428##

[0429] A mixture of 6-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (4.0 g, 16.8 mmol), tert-butyl nitrite (2.5 g, 25.2 mmol) and copper (I) bromide (3.5 g, 25.2 mmol) in acetonitrile (30 mL) was heated to 60° C. overnight and then cooled to room temperature. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give 2-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine (2.5 g, 44.34% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: no Ms, retention time: 2.088 min (Method B)

Step 5: (6-Bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-tributyl-stannane

[0430] ##STR00429##

[0431] To a solution of 6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-3-iodanyl-pyridine (1.4 g, 4.63 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) was added n-butyl lithium (1.9 mL, 4.63 mmol) at −78° C., the mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 15 min, then tributylchlorostannane (2.26 g, 6.95 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (30 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-6%) to give (6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-tributyl-stannane (800 mg, 37.09% yield) as yellow oil. 1HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 8.06-7.57 (m, 1H), 7.58 (dd, J=7.2, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 2.36-1.93 (m, 12H), 1.77-1.22 (m, 6H), 0.57 (dd, J=82.9, 42.7 Hz, 9H).

Step 6: 2-(6-Bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine

[0432] ##STR00430##

[0433] A mixture of 2-bromanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (150 mg, 0.65 mmol), (6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-tributyl-stannane (319 mg, 0.68 mmol), copper (I) iodide (9 mg, 0.06 mmol), tetrakis(triphenyl phosphine)palladium(0) (75 mg, 0.06 mmol) and cesium fluoride (15.8 mg, 0.10 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (15 mL) were stirred at 60° C. under nitrogen atmosphere overnight. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL), washed with brine and water, dried over with anhydrous sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (methanol/dichloromethane=0-10%) to give 2-(6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-1,3-benzo thiazol-6-amine (100 mg, 36.75% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=325(M+H)+, retention time: 2.028 min (Method B).

Step 7: Tert-Butyl N-[5[5-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate

[0434] ##STR00431##

[0435] A mixture of 2-(6-bromanyl-2-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (100 mg, 0.30 mmol), [2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyrimidin-5-yl] boronic acid (117 mg, 0.46 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (35 mg, 0.03 mmol), potassium carbonate (127 mg, 0.92 mmol) in dioxane (12 mL) and water (4 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 16 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (30 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate/petroleum ether=0-10%) to give tert-butyl N-[5-[5-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (40 mg, 28.65% yield) as yellow solid.

[0436] LCMS: m/z=453[M+H]+; RT=2.026 min.(Method B)

Step 8: 2[2-Fluoranyl-6-[2-(methylamino)pyrimidin-5-yl]pyridin-3-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine

[0437] ##STR00432##

[0438] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-[5-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-6-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (40 mg, 0.08 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) and then the mixture was stirred under reflux until the starting materials were consumed completely. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by Pre-HPLC to give2-[2-fluoranyl-6-[2-(methylamino)pyrimidin-5-yl]pyridin-3-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (3 mg, 9.63% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=352(M+H)+, purity 100% (UV 254), retention time: 3.360 min (Method B); 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.05 (dd, J=76.2, 68.1 Hz,2H), 6 8.79 (dd, J=76.2, 68.1 Hz, 1H), 8.03 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.87-7.72 (m, 2H), 7.14 (d, J=2.1 Hz, 1H), 6.86 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 5.62 (s, 2H), 2.89 (s, 6H).

Synthesis of Compound Z

[0439] ##STR00433##

Step 1: 4-Fluoro-5-iodopyridin-2-amine

[0440] ##STR00434##

[0441] To a solution of 4-fluoranylpyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 4.46 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) was added N-iodosuccinimide (880 mg, 4.94 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. overnight and concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=3/1) to give 4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (700 mg, 2.9 mmol, 66% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=239(M+H)+, purity 100% (UV 254 nm). Retention time: 1.70 min.

Step 2: 2-Bromo-4-fluoro-5-iodopyridine

[0442] ##STR00435##

[0443] To a solution of 4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 2.1 mmol) in acetonitrile (15 mL) was added tert-butyl nitrite (1080 mg, 10.47 mmol) and copper (I) bromide (1490 mg, 10.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 16 h and concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=10/1) to give 2-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine (180 mg, 0.5366 mmol, 25.54% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: no MS, purity 90% (UV 254 nm). Retention time 2.01 min

Step 3: 2-Bromo-4-fluoro-5-(tributylstannyl)pyridine

[0444] ##STR00436##

[0445] To a solution of 2-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-5-iodanyl-pyridine (100 mg, 0.3300 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) was added n-butyl lithium (0.2 mL, 0.5000 mmol) at −78° C. . The mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 15 min, then tributylchlorostannane (163.33 mg, 0.5000 mmol) was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=20/1) to give (6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-tributyl-stannane (100 mg, 0.2150 mmol, 64.916% yield) as yellow oil. LC-MS: no MS. purity 90% (UV 254 nm). Retention time: 2.65 min

Step 4: 2-(6-Bromo-4-fluoropyridin-3-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-6-amine

[0446] ##STR00437##

[0447] To a solution of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (50 mg, 0.02 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) was added copper (I) iodide (4 mg, 0.03 mmol), cesium fluoride (4 mg, 0.0300 mmol), (6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-tributyl-stannane (100 mg, 0.22 mmol) and 2-bromanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (50 mg, 0.2200 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 6 h and cooled to room temperature. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 2-(6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (70 mg, 0.1188 mmol, 54.418% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=324(M+H)+, purity 54%(UV 254 nm). Retention time: 1.81 min.

Step 5: Tert-Butyl 5-(5-(6-aminobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-fluoropyridin-2-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate

[0448] ##STR00438##

[0449] To a solution of 2-(6-bromanyl-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-3-yl)-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (40 mg, 0.1200 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (4 mL) was added [2-[methyl-[(2-methylpropan-2-yl)oxycarbonyl]amino]pyrimidin-5-yl]boronic acid (46 mg, 0.1800 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (14 mg, 0.02 mmol) and potassium carbonate (50 mg, 0.3800 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give tert-butyl 5-(5-(6-aminobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-fluoropyridin-2-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl(methyl)carbamate (15 mg, 0.03 mmol, 27% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=453(M+H)+, purity 33% (UV 254 nm). Retention time: 2.01 min.

Step 6: 2-(4-Fluoro-6-(2-(methylamino)pyrimidin-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-6-amine

[0450] ##STR00439##

[0451] To a solution of tert-butyl N-[5-[5-(6-azanyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-fluoranyl-pyridin-2-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl]-N-methyl-carbamate (15 mg, 0.0400 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 mL) was added trifluoroacetic acid (1 mL, 0.07 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 45° C. for 2h and concentrated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (dichloromethane /methanol=20/1) to give 2-[4-fluoranyl-6-[2-(methylamino)pyrimidin-5-yl]pyridin-3-yl]-1,3-benzothiazol-6-amine (3 mg, 0.0083 mmol, 18.876% yield) as yellow solid. LC-MS: m/z=353(M+H)+, purity 98%(UV 254 nm). Retention time: 3.35 min; 1HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 9.34 (d, 1H), 9.10 (d, 2H), 8.08 (d, 1H), 7.79 (s, 1H), 7.70 (s, 1H), 7.14 (s, 1H), 6.86 (d, 1H), 5.64 (s, 2H), 2.89 (d, 3H).

Biological Experiments

[0452] Expression and purification of human Tau protein

Materials:

[0453] pET41a-Tau wild type

[0454] One Shot® BL21(DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli (Invitrogen, C600003)

[0455] Kanamycin sulfate (Sangon Biotech, A506636)

[0456] IPTG (Sangon Biotech, A100487)

[0457] Pipes buffer (100 mM Pipes, pH6.8, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM MgSO4)

[0458] Hepes buffer (25 mM Hepes, pH7.2, 0.1 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM DTT, 100 mM NaCl)

[0459] Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column (GE Healthcare, 17-0510-01)

[0460] SP-Sepharose Fast Flow column (GE Healthcare, 17-0729-01)

Procedures:

Protein Expression:

[0461] Step 1: Transform luL expression plasmid pET41a-tau wt into one One Shot® BL21(DE3) Chemically Competent E. coli, on ice 30 min.

[0462] Step 2: 42° C. heat shock 90 second and on ice 2 min, 37° C. recovery for 30 min, Plate small amount on LB(Kan+) agar plate incubate overnight at 37° C.

[0463] Step 3: Pick and resuspend a single colony in 200 mL liquid culture with 50 ug/mL Kanamycin to produce a starter culture. Inoculate starter culture and shake 200 rpm overnight at 37° C. .

[0464] Step 4: Add 100× dilution Starter into fresh culture medium(Kan+) shake 200 rpm at 37° C. until OD600=0.8.

[0465] Step 5: Add IPTG(final conc. 1 mM) and express protein for 3 hr.

[0466] Step 6: Collect cell pellet and store at −80° C. for purification.

Protein Purification:

[0467] Step 1: Cell pellet was resuspended in Pipes buffer.

[0468] Step 2: Sonication and centrifugation (15,000 rpm, 15 min at 4° C.).

[0469] Step 3: The supernatant was placed in a boiling water bath for 20 min and subsequently centrifuged. The heat-stable proteins in the supernatant were loaded onto a Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column (20 mL)

[0470] Step 4: The flow through containing tau was loaded onto SP-Sepharose Fast Flow column (10 mL), eluted with Pipes buffer containing 0.2M NaCl.

[0471] Step 6: Fractions containing tau were pooled, concentrated and dialyzed against Hepes buffer, stored at −80° C.

[0472] Step 7: Reload SP-Flow through into Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column (20 mL) and SP-Sepharose Fast Flow column (10 mL) again, eluted with Pipes buffer containing 0.2M NaCl.

[0473] Step 8: Fractions containing tau were pooled, concentrated and dialyzed against Hepes buffer, stored at −80° C. Repeat step 6-7 twice, Collect all above all elution product and concentrated.

Biological Assays

Fluorescence Quantitative Tau Binding Assay In Vitro

[0474] 2 uM of recombinant tau proteins and 15 uM of heparin were fiberized in 30 mM Tr is (pH 7.5) buffer by overnight incubation at 37° C. 0.04 uM of recombinant tau proteins which was diluted in 30 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.5) was then reacted with test compounds (containing 1%DMSO) for lh. Regarding the fluorometric data, the binding saturation curve was created and the parameter estimation method was conducted using Prism software (GraphPad). Kd values were determined for each of test compounds. Table A lists Kd values of exemplary test compounds.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE A Quantitative Tau binding assay Compound No. Kd (uM) Compound A 0.5 Compound B 0.99 Compound C 0.25 Compound D 0.69 Compound E 2.7 Compound R 1.82 Compound S 0.94 Compound T 2.51 Compound F 0.34 Compound G 0.28 Compound H 0.09 Compound I 0.8 Compound J 0.89 Compound K 3.5 Compound V 3.57 Compound W ND Compound X 0.17 Compound Y >10 Compound Z 1.45 Compound L 0.54 Compound M 2.63 Compound N 0.26 Compound O 0.27 Compound P 0.37 Compound U 1.51 Compound Q 0.52 (ND: not determined)

Fluorescence Competitive Binding Assay In Vitro

[0475] Fluorescence competitive binding assay in vitro was performed as reported previouslyl. Frozen tissues derived from the temporal cortex of an Alzheimer's disease patient was homogenized in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, containing protease inhibitor cocktail (cOmplete™, EDTA-free; Roche), and stored at −80° C. pending analyses. To assay radioligand binding with homologous or heterologous blockade, these homogenates (100 μg tissue) were incubated with 5 nM [11C]PBB3 (molar radioactivity: 100-150 GBq/μmol) in the absence or presence of unlabeled PBB3 at varying concentrations ranging from 10.sup.−11-10.sup.−6 M in Tris-HCl buffer containing 10% ethanol, pH 7.4, for 30 min at room temperature. Non-specific binding of [11C]PBB3 was determined in the presence of 5×10.sup.−7 M PBB3. Samples were run once only and specific radioligand binding was determined as pmol/g tissue. Inhibition constant (Ki) and percentage of displacement were determined by using non-linear regression to fit a concentration-binding plot to one-site and two-site binding models derived from the Cheng-Prusoff equation with GraphPad Prism version 6.0 (GraphPad Software), followed by F-test for model selection. In a one-site homologous blockade model, dissociation constant (Kd) was calculated from homologous competitive binding using this function:

Kd=K.sub.i=IC50−Radioligand

[0476] where IC50 and [Radioligand] stand for the concentration of the competitor inducing 50% inhibition and radioligand concentration, respectively. Experiments with [.sup.11C]PBB3 and unlabeled PBB3 were performed in a dimly lit condition to avoid photoconversion of the compounds. Table B lists Ki values of exemplary test compounds.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE B In vitro binding assay Compound No. Ki (uM) Compound A 0.045 Compound B 0.002 Compound C 0.025 Compound D 0.001 Compound E 0.005 Compound R 0.015 Compound S 0.015 Compound T 0.14 Compound F ND Compound G 0.01 Compound H ND Compound I 0.005 Compound J 0.005 Compound K ND Compound V 0.0075 Compound W 0.005 Compound X ND Compound Y ND Compound Z 0.005 Compound L 0.005 Compound M 0.015 Compound N 0.02 Compound O 0.01 Compound P 0.045 Compound U ND Compound Q 0.005 (ND: not determined)

Histological Examination By Fluorescence Staining

[0477] The fluorescence binding assessment was performed as reported previously.sup.1. For fluorescence labeling with PBB3 and test compounds, deparaffinized temporal cortex sections of an AD brain were incubated in 50% ethanol containing 0.001% (W/V) of PBB3 or test compound at room temperature for 30 min. The samples were rinsed with 50% ethanol for 5 min, dipped into distilled water twice for 3 min, and mounted in non-fluorescent mounting media (VECTASHIELD; Vector Laboratories). Fluorescence images were captured using a DM4000 microscope (Leica) equipped with a custom filter cube for PBB3 (excitation band-pass at 391-437 nm and suppression low-pass with 458 nm cutoff). In the fluorescence binding assessment, the reactivity of compounds with tau aggregates was semiquantitatively evaluated as ‘0’ (no labeling), ‘1’ (faint labeling), ‘2’ (weaker than PBB3), and ‘3’ (equivalent to or greater than PBB3). ‘0.5’ score describes a middle-grounded condition of two integer scores 0 and 1. ‘1.5’ score describes a middle-grounded condition of two integer scores 1 and 2. ‘2.5’ score describes a middle-grounded condition of two integer scores 2 and 3. Table C lists scores of exemplary test compounds.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE C Compound No. Fluorescent binding Tangle/Thread Compound A 2/2 Compound B 3/3 Compound C .sup. 2/1.5 Compound D 3/3 Compound E 3/3 Compound R 3/3 Compound S 3/3 Compound T 2.5/2.5 Compound F ND Compound G .sup. 2/0.5 Compound H ND Compound I .sup. 2/1.5 Compound J 3/3 Compound K ND Compound V 2.5/2.5 Compound W 3/3 Compound X ND Compound Y ND Compound Z 3/3 Compound L 2.5/1.5 Compound M 2.5/2.sup.  Compound N 0.5/0.sup.  Compound O 1.5/1.5 Compound P 1/0 Compound U ND Compound Q .sup. 1/0.5 (ND: not determined)

[0478] Live Two-Photon Imaging in Awake Animals

[0479] Live imaging in awake animals was performed by two-photon laser scanning microscopy as reported previously.sup.2. For the placement of a cranial window, rTg4510 tau transgenic mice.sup.3 at 6-13 months of age were anesthetized with a mixture of air, oxygen, and isoflurane (3-5% for induction and 2% for surgery) via a facemask, and a cranial window (3-4 mm in diameter) was placed over the left somatosensory cortex, centered at 1.8 mm caudal and 2.5 mm lateral to the bregma, according to ‘Seylaz-Tomita method’.sup.4. A custom metal plate was affixed to the skull with a 7-mm-diameter hole centered over the cranial window. The method for preparing the chronic cranial window was previously reported in detail by Takuwa et al..sup.5. All imaging experiments were performed at least two weeks after the creation of the cranial window. Vessels and pathological tau inclusions were fluorescently labeled with a sulforhodamine 101 (SR101; MP Biomedicals, Irvine, Calif.) and either PBB3 or test compounds, respectively. SR101 was dissolved in saline to 5 mM, and either PBB3 or test compounds was dissolved in DMSO (Wako): Saline=1: 1 solution to 0.05% (W/V). 100 μL of both solutions were injected intraperitoneally to the mice just right before initiation of the imaging experiments. Noted that experiments of the same experimental set (consisted of test-compounds and PBB3 experiments, respectively) were conducted sequentially with a roughly one-week-long interval on the same rTg4510 tau transgenic mouse. For imaging sessions, the awake animal was placed on a custom-made apparatus as previously described.sup.5. Briefly, the metal plate on the animal's head was screwed to a custom-made stereotactic apparatus, and the animal was then placed on a styrofoam ball that was floating using a stream of air, allowing the animal to exercise freely on the ball while the animal's head was fixed to the apparatus. After head fixing, real-time imaging was conducted by a two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TCS-SP5 MP, Leica Microsystems GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) with an excitation wavelength of 900 nm. Emission signals were separated by a beam splitter (560/10 nm) and simultaneously detected with band-pass filters for SR101 (610/75 nm) and PBB3 (525/50 nm). A single image plane consisted of 1024×1024 pixels, and in-plane pixel size was 0.45 μm. Volume images were acquired with a maximum depth of 0.3-0.5 mm from the cortical surface with a z-step size of 2.5 μm. For each set of experiments conducted in the same rTg4510 tau transgenic mice, a reference image plane showing abundant and clear fluorescence-labeled tau pathologies was assigned accordingly based on the result of the control (PBB3) experiment and its equivalents in all related experiments were also extracted from the original volume image sets, respectively, for comparison. In each resultative images, fluorescence intensity from 10 randomly selected fluorescence-labeled pathologies were measured by ImageJ and the average was calculated after background normalization. Noted that the background intensity of each image was acquired by averaging the fluorescence intensity at 10 randomly selected areas where no fluorescence-labeled pathologies were found. FIG. 1 shows the results of two-photon laser fluorescence microscopy for compound J and compound W in comparison with PBB3. FIG. 2 shows the images generated in rTg4510 mice using two photon imaging for compound J in comparison with PBB3 (top), and the quantification of green fluorescence signaling over time (bottom).

REFERENCES

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