Design and chemical synthesis of [1,2,4]triazol[1,5-c]pyrimidin-5-yl amines, a novel class of VEGFR-2 kinase inhibitors

The Letter describes a facile approach to 7,8-dihydro[1,2,4]triazol[1,5-c]pyrimidin-5-yl amines, a novel class of potent inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor II (VEGFR-2). The synthetic sequence is centered around preparation of the key 3(5)-cyanomethyl-1,2,4-triazole intermediates and their Knoevenagel condensation with aromatic aldehydes. A subsequent three-step conversion of Knoevenagel adducts involving a reduction of vinyl nitriles followed by the reaction of the resulting amines with aryl isothiocyanates and cyclization of the respective thioureas yielded targeted heterocycles as a 1:1 mixture of tautomers. A representative molecule featured sound activity against VEGFR-2 in both enzymatic and cellular assays.