Synthesis and evaluation of aminopyridine derivatives as potential BACE1 inhibitors

To identify a new non-peptidyl BACE1 inhibitor, we focused on the aminopyridine structure, which binds to the active sites of BACE1. Synthesis of aminopyridine derivatives and evaluation of inhibitory activity against rBACE1 are described. The 2-aminopyridine moiety and/or 3-methoxybenzaldehyde could be converted to terminal acetylene derivatives by the Sonogashira method. Sonogashira or Glaser cross-coupling reactions with the corresponding derivatives followed by hydrogenation could derive the designed compounds. Although inhibitory activities of the synthetic compounds against rBACE1 were weak, the aminopyridine motif has potential as a BACE1 inhibitor.