Synthesis and Optimization of Nitroxide-Based Inhibitors of Ferroptotic Cell Death in Cancer Cells and Macrophages

JP4-039 is an alkene peptide isostere that acts as a low-micromolar inhibitor of erastin- and RSL-3-induced ferroptotic cell death in the HT-1080 cell line. In this work, we have developed new synthetic strategies that allow access to analogues of this lead structure. Enantioselective vinylogous Mannich or cross-metathesis reactions were key to the preparation of a series of analogues that culminated in the preparation of the ca. 30-fold more potent analogue (S)-6c. Structure–activity relationship analyses used both HT-1080 cells and a luminescence-based ferroptosis assay in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In particular, α,α-disubstituted alkene peptide isosteres (Rα ≠ H) were found to exceed the potency of the corresponding glycine (Rα = H) derivatives.