Click Chemistry: 1,2,3-Triazoles as Pharmacophores

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal an Asian journal, 2011-10, Vol.6 (10), p.2696-2718
• Main Authors: Agalave, Sandip G., Maujan, Suleman R., Pore, Vandana S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkynes - chemistry; Azides - chemistry; Catalysis; Chemistry; Click Chemistry; copper; Copper - chemistry; Cyclization; cycloaddition; Drug Discovery; Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmaceutical Preparations - chemical synthesis; Pharmaceutical Preparations - chemistry; pharmacophores; triazoles; Triazoles - chemical synthesis; Triazoles - chemistry
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201100432

The copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,2,3‐triazole‐forming reaction between azides and terminal alkynes has become the gold standard of ‘click chemistry’ due to its reliability, specificity, and biocompatibility. Applications of click chemistry are increasingly found in all aspects of drug discovery; they range from lead finding through combinatorial chemistry and target‐templated in vitro chemistry, to proteomics and DNA research by using bioconjugation reactions. The triazole products are more than just passive linkers; they readily associate with biological targets, through hydrogen‐bonding and dipole interactions. The present review will focus mainly on the recent literature for applications of this reaction in the field of medicinal chemistry, in particular on use of the 1,2,3‐triazole moiety as pharmacophore. Easy as 1,2,3: Click chemistry is used for the synthesis of 1,2,3‐triazole wherein the CuI is used as catalyst to obtain 1,4‐disubstituted triazole as the sole product (see scheme). This review explains the excellent use of click chemistry for the synthesis of a number of biologically important intermediates, linkers, lead molecules, and various drugs.