In order to optimize a lead molecule for further development, bioisosteric replacements are generally adopted as one of the strategies. Silicon appears to be the right choice as a carbon isostere because of the similarity in chemical properties. Silicon can be strategically introduced in a molecule to modulate its druglike properties, providing medicinal chemists with an unconventional strategy for replacing a carbon atom. Silicon can also be introduced to replace other heteroatoms and can act as a surrogate of functional groups such as olefin and amide as well. The present Perspective focuses on the opportunities that silicon incorporation offers in drug discovery, with an emphasis on case studies where introduction of silicon has created a benefit over its analog. We have tried to highlight all the recent developments in the field and briefly discuss the challenges associated with them.

Quest for Novel Chemical Entities through Incorporation of Silicon in Drug Scaffolds

Unnatural α-amino acids form a family of essential molecules used for, among other applications, the synthesis of modified peptides, to improve resistance to proteolytic enzyme degradation, and to modulate physico- and biochemical properties of bioactive peptides as well as chiral inducers in asymmetric synthesis. Among them, silicon-containing unnatural amino acids are becoming an interesting new class of building blocks. The replacement of carbon atoms in bioactive substances with silicon is becoming increasingly popular. Peptides containing silyl amino acids hold great promise for maintaining or reinforcing the biological activity of active compounds, while they simultaneously enhance their resistance to enzyme degradation. In addition, the lipophilicity of the silicon atom facilitates their membrane crossing and their bioavailability. Nowadays, the interest of the pharmaceutical industry in peptide- and protein-based therapies is increasing. In this respect, silicon-containing amino acids and peptides...

Silicon-Containing Amino Acids: Synthetic Aspects, Conformational Studies, and Applications to Bioactive Peptides

Application of silyl functionalities is one of the most promising strategies among various 'elements chemistry' approaches for the development of novel and distinctive drug candidates. Replacement of one or more carbon atoms of various biologically active compounds with silicon (so-called sila-substitution) has been intensively studied for decades, and is often effective for alteration of activity profile and improvement of metabolic profile. In addition to simple C/Si exchange, several novel approaches for utilizing silicon in medicinal chemistry have been suggested in recent years, focusing on the intrinsic differences between silicon and carbon. Sila-substitution offers great potential for enlarging the chemical space of medicinal chemistry, and provides many options for structural development of drug candidates.

Progress in the medicinal chemistry of silicon: C/Si exchange and beyond.

Silicon-containing compounds have been largely ignored in drug design and development, despite their potential to improve not only the potency but also the physicochemical and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) properties of drug-like candidates because of the unique characteristics of silicon. This deficiency is in large part attributable to a lack of general methods for synthesizing diverse organosilicon structures. Accordingly, a new building block strategy has been developed that diverges from traditional approaches to incorporation of silicon into drug candidates. Flexible, multi-gram-scale syntheses of silicon-containing tetrahydroquinoline and tetrahydroisoquinoline building blocks are described, along with methods by which diversely functionalized silicon-containing nitrogen heterocycles can be rapidly built using common reactions optimized to accommodate the properties of silicon. Furthermore, to better clarify the liabilities and advantages of silicon incorporation...

Synthesis, Reactivity, Functionalization, and ADMET Properties of Silicon-Containing Nitrogen Heterocycles.

The progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigro-striatal system is a major trait of Parkinson’s disease (PD), manifesting clinically as motor and non-motor symptoms. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are alleged pathogenic mechanisms underlying aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein that in turn triggers dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Peripheral processes, including inflammation, may precede and contribute to neurodegeneration. Whether mitochondrial dyshomeostasis in the central nervous system and systemic inflammation are linked to one another in PD is presently unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are delivery systems through which cells can communicate or unload noxious materials. EV trafficking also participates in mitochondrial quality control (MQC) by generating mitochondrial-derived vesicles to dispose damaged organelles. Disruption of MQC coupled with abnormal EV secretion may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD. Furthermore, due to its bacterial ancestry, circulating mitochondrial DNA can elicit an inflammatory response. Therefore, purification and characterisation of molecules packaged in, and secreted through, small EVs (sEVs)/exosomes in body fluids may provide meaningful insights into the association between mitochondrial dysfunction and systemic inflammation in PD. The EXosomes in PArkiNson Disease (EXPAND) study was designed to characterise the cargo of sEVs/exosomes isolated from the serum of PD patients and to identify candidate biomarkers for PD.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/10/2373/pdf

Mitochondrial-Derived Vesicles as Candidate Biomarkers in Parkinson's Disease: Rationale, Design and Methods of the EXosomes in PArkiNson Disease (EXPAND) Study.

Loperamide (1a), an opioid receptor agonist, is in clinical use as an antidiarrheal agent. Carbon/silicon exchange (sila-substitution) at the 4-position of the piperidine ring of 1a (R3 COH→R3 SiOH) leads to sila-loperamide (1b). Sila-loperamide was synthesized in a multistep procedure, starting from triethoxyvinylsilane and taking advantage of the 4-methoxyphenyl (MOP) unit as a protecting group for silicon. The in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of the C/Si analogues 1a and 1b were determined and compared. Despite significant differences in the in vitro PK properties of loperamide and sila-loperamide regarding clearance, permeability, and efflux, both compounds exhibited nearly identical in vivo PK profiles. The increase in metabolic stability of the silicon compound 1b observed in vitro seems to be counterbalanced by an increase in efflux and diminished permeability compared to the parent carbon compound 1a. Overall, sila-loperamide exhibits high unbound clearance (CLu ), leading to a significant decrease in unbound concentration (Cu ) and unbound area under the curve (AUCu ) after oral exposure, compared to loperamide. In vitro and in vivo metabolic studies showed an altered profile of biotransformation for the silicon compound 1b, leading to the formation of a more polar and quickly cleared metabolite and preventing the formation of the silicon analogue of the neurotoxic metabolite observed for the parent carbon compound 1a. These differences can be correlated with the different chemical properties of the C/Si analogues 1a and 1b. This study provides some of the most detailed insights into the effects of a carbon/silicon switch and how this carbon/silicon exchange affects overall drug properties.

Can Silicon Make an Excellent Drug Even Better? An in vitro and in vivo Head‐to‐Head Comparison between Loperamide and Its Silicon Analogue Sila‐Loperamide

4-Silacyclohexan-1-ones 1a–1c, 4-silacyclohexan-1-one oximes 2a–2c, 1,4-azasilepan-7-ones 3a–3c, 1,4-azasilepanes 4a–4c, and 2-bromo-4-silacyclohexan-1-ones 5a and 5b were prepared in multistep syntheses, starting from trimethoxypropylsilane. All of these compounds represent C-functional (R2C═O, R2C═N–OH, R–NH(C═O)–R, R2NH, or R3C–Br) silicon-containing heterocycles that contain Si–MOP, Si–DMOP, or Si–TMOP moieties (MOP = 4-methoxyphenyl; DMOP = 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl; TMOP = 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl), which can be cleaved under mild conditions by protodesilylation. As a proof of principle, compounds 3a–3c were transformed quantitatively and selectively into the chlorosilane 6 (treatment with hydrogen chloride in dichloromethane). Thus, the C- and Si-functional compounds 1a–1c, 2a–2c, 3a–3c, 4a–4c, 5a, and 5b represent versatile building blocks for synthesis.

Si- and C-Functional Organosilicon Building Blocks for Synthesis Based on 4-Silacyclohexan-1-ones Containing the Silicon Protecting Groups MOP (4-Methoxyphenyl), DMOP (2,6-Dimethoxyphenyl), or TMOP (2,4,6-Trimethoxyphenyl).

With an odor threshold value of 0.54 ng L–1 air, (3E,5E)-7,7-dimethyl-5-tert-butylocta-3,5-dien-2-one (1a) constitutes the most potent member of a new family of acyclic musk odorants with ionone aspects. Replacement of the quaternary carbon atoms of 1a with silicon atoms leads to the (di)sila analogues 1b (replacement of the carbon atom C-7), 1c (replacement of the quaternary carbon atom of the 5-tert-butyl group), and 1d (replacement of both quaternary carbon atoms). Compounds 1b–1d were prepared in multistep syntheses, and their olfactory properties were characterized. The disila analogue 1d turned out to be the weakest compound of the series (197 ng L–1 air), with only very faint musky aspects. The 7-sila analogue 1b was very floral, of iononeand rose character, and also had a distinct musky note (1.63 ng L–1 air). The 5-trimethylsilyl analogue 1c was the most musky sila odorant of the series (10.6 ng L–1 air), with rosy but not ionone-like facets. Thus, exchange of one or both tert-butyl groups of 1a for a trimethylsilyl substituent had quite dramatic effects on the odor, and steric bulk at the carbon atom C-5 seems to be important for creating a musk odor impression.

Synthesis and Olfactory Characterization of Novel Silicon-Containing Acyclic Dienone Musk Odorants

The GPR81 and GPR109A receptors mediate antilipolytic effects and are potential drug targets for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. There is still a need to identify potent GPR81 agonists as pharmacological tools. A high-throughput screen identified an acylurea-based GPR81 agonist lead series, with activities at the GPR109A receptor as well. To expand the chemical scope and to explore the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic consequences, a series of structurally related organosilicon compounds with a 6-sila-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]thiazole skeleton was synthesized and studied for their physicochemical properties [octanol/water distribution coefficient (pH 7.4), solubility in HBSS buffer (pH 7.4)], agonistic potency at rat GPR81 and GPR109A receptors, and intrinsic clearance in human liver microsomes and rat hepatocytes. The straightforward synthesis of these organosilicon compounds offered a valuable expansion of the chemical scope in the above-mentioned GPR81 agonist lead series, provided potency and efficacy SAR, and yielded compounds with sub-micromolar GPR81 potency. This work supports the value of including silicon chemistry into the toolbox of medicinal chemistry.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Properties of Silicon-Containing GPR81 and GPR109A Agonists

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Can Silicon Make an Excellent Drug Even Better? An in vitro and in vivo Head‐to‐Head Comparison between Loperamide and Its Silicon Analogue Sila‐Loperamide

Si- and C-Functional Organosilicon Building Blocks for Synthesis Based on 4-Silacyclohexan-1-ones Containing the Silicon Protecting Groups MOP (4-Methoxyphenyl), DMOP (2,6-Dimethoxyphenyl), or TMOP (2,4,6-Trimethoxyphenyl).

Synthesis and Olfactory Characterization of Novel Silicon-Containing Acyclic Dienone Musk Odorants

Synthesis and Pharmacological Properties of Silicon-Containing GPR81 and GPR109A Agonists