SAR of tertiary carbinamine derived BACE1 inhibitors: Role of aspartate ligand amine pK_a in enzyme inhibition

The optimization of tertiary carbinamine derived inhibitors of BACE1 from its discovery as an unstable lead to low nanomolar cell active compounds is described. Five-membered heterocycles are reported as stable and potency enhancing linkers. In the course of this work, we have discovered a clear trend where the activity of inhibitors at a given assay pH is dependent on pK_a of the amino group that interacts directly with the catalytic aspartates. The potency of compounds as inhibitors of Αβ production in a cell culture assay correlated much better with BACE1 enzyme potency measured at pH 7.5 than at pH 4.5.