Almost all conventional drug discovery research has been based on hydrocarbon-based frameworks and common chemical elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and the halogens. However, triggered by the approval of bortezomib, a boronic acid-containing pharmaceutical agent, the incorporation of functionalities that are not native in biological systems has been intensively investigated. Several other boron-containing pharmaceuticals have also been marketed. Therefore, the inclusion of various elements is one of the most promising strategies for the development of novel and distinctive drug candidates. In this symposium review, the author focused on the 'elements chemistry' approaches for the structural development of biologically active compounds, particularly those involving silicon and phosphorus. The isosteric exchange of Si and C (Si/C-exchange) is one of the most-investigated forms of substituting elements. We revealed the detailed physicochemical impact of Si/C-exchange, and we proposed several applications of silyl functionalities other than the simple Si/C-exchange. Regarding phosphorus, we recently revealed that the P-B substructure can function as the isostere of C-C or Si-C substructures. In addition to these isosteric exchanges, the development of biologically active compounds bearing unique substructures such as carboranes, hydrophobic boron clusters, and ferrocene is introduced. These novel strategies provide several options for structural development, offering great potential for expanding the chemical space of medicinal chemistry.
Keywords: boron; carborane; elements chemistry; isostere; phosphorus; silicon.