Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)arylacetamide analogues as potent sigma1 receptor ligands.

A series of N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)arylacetamides were synthesized and evaluated for their binding properties for sigma1 and sigma2 receptors. In agreement with previously reported sigma1/sigma2 receptor binding data for N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)phenylacetamide, all of the N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)arylacetamide compounds reported below displayed higher affinity for sigma1 vs sigma2 receptors. Replacement of the phenyl ring of the phenylacetamide moiety with a thiophene, naphthyl, or indole aromatic ring had no significant effect on the sigma1 receptor affinity. Replacement of the phenyl ring with an imidazole or pyridyl aromatic ring resulted in a >60-fold loss in affinity for sigma1 receptors and no significant binding affinity for sigma2 receptors. Substitution on the aromatic ring of the benzyl group showed a similar or slightly decreased affinity for sigma1 receptors. Substitution on the aromatic rings of both the phenylacetamide moiety and the benzyl group with a halogen resulted in a similar affinity for sigma(1) receptors and a significantly increased affinity for sigma2 receptors. Comparative molecular field analysis revealed that electrostatic properties of the substituents in the phenylacetamide aromatic ring strongly influenced binding to sigma1 receptors. Compounds 1, 10, 18, 22, 37, and 40 showed the highest selectivity for sigma1 receptors with K(i) (sigma2) to K(i) (sigma(1)) ratios of 100, >92, >122, 77, 74, and 80, respectively. In agreement with previously reported results, the phenylacetamide analogues had no binding affinity for dopamine receptors (D2/D3).     

Novel 1-phenylpiperazine and 4-phenylpiperidine derivatives as high-affinity sigma ligands.

sigma receptors may represent an exciting new approach for the development of novel psychotherapeutic agents. Unfortunately, many of the commonly used sigma ligands lack selectivity (e.g., many bind at phencyclidine or dopamine receptors) or suffer from other serious drawbacks. Recently, we described a series of 2-phenylaminoethanes that bind at sigma receptors with high affinity and selectivity. Because there is evidence that 1-phenylpiperazines can structurally mimic the 2-phenylaminoethane moiety, we prepared a series of 1-phenylpiperazines and related analogues and incorporated structural features already shown to enhance the sigma binding of the 2-phenylaminoethanes. Several of these derivatives bind at sigma receptors with high affinity (Ki = 1-10 nM) and lack appreciable affinity for phencyclidine and dopamine receptors. In as much as certain of these agents structurally resemble the high-affinity, but nonselective, sigma ligand haloperidol, and because they bind with 10 times the affinity of haloperidol, we have apparently identified what appears to be the primary sigma pharmacophore of that agent.     

New potent antagonists of leukotrienes C4 and D4. 1. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships

(p-Amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid (3a) had moderate antagonist activities against LTD4-induced smooth muscle contraction on guinea pig ileum and LTC4-induced bronchoconstriction in anesthetized guinea pigs. Modifications were made in the hydrophobic part (cinnamoyl moiety) and the hydrophilic part (anthranilate moiety) of 3a. A series of 8-(benzoylamino)-2-tetrazol-5-yl-1,4-benzodioxans and 8-(benzoylamino)-2-tetrazol-5-yl-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyrans were revealed to be potent antagonists of leukotrienes C4 and D4. Among both series, ONO-RS-347 (18k) and ONO-RS-411 (19h) were the most potent and orally active antagonists, respectively. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of potent and enantioselective sigma 1, and sigma 2 ligands.

In a previous study we found that substitutions of the (+)-cis-N-normetazocine nucleus of (+)-MPCB with 1-adamantanamine provide the compound (+/-)-10 with high affinity and selectivity for sigma receptors. Starting with this result we have synthesized a new series of eight 1-phenyl-2-cyclopropylmethylamines structurally related to (+/-)-10, and binding affinities, with respect to sigma 1, sigma 2, opioid and dopaminergic D2 receptors, have been reported. All compounds showed a negligible opioid and dopaminergic affinity and high selectivity for sigma receptors. Modifications on the amino moiety and methylcarboxyester group of 10 provide compounds with different sigma 1 and sigma 2 binding affinity and selectivity. Moreover, we have also synthesized the respective enantiomers of componds (+/-)-10 and (+/-)-18 in order to evaluate the enantioselectivity for sigma 1 and sigma 2 receptors. The binding data showed that carboxymethylester on the cyclopropane ring was more critical for enantioselectivity than the hydroxymethylenic group. In fact, the (-)-10 enantiomer showed a preference for sigma 1 whereas (+)-10 showed a preference for sigma 2.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of naphthamides as dopamine D3 receptor ligands

A series of naphthamides were synthesized, and the affinities of these compounds were determined for dopamine D2 and D3 receptors using radioligand binding techniques. The naphthamide compounds that were prepared include N-(1-alkylpiperidin-4-yl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamides (1-6), (S)-N-(1-alkylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamides (7-12), (R)-N-(1-alkylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamides (13-18), (S)-N-(1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamides (19-25), (R)-N-(1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamides (26-31), and N-(9-alkyl-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3beta-yl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamides (32, 33). The results of in vitro radioligand binding studies indicated that the majority of the naphthamide analogues bound with high affinity at both the D2 and D3 dopamine receptor subtypes and most of the compounds demonstrated some selectivity for the dopamine D3 dopamine receptor subtype. These results demonstrated that both the structure of the central amine moiety (piperidine, pyrrolidine, and 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) ring and the N-(alkyl) substitution on the amine significantly effects the binding affinity at D2 and D3 dopamine receptors. The bulkiness of the N-(1-alkyl) substituent was found to (a) have no effect on pharmacologic selectivity, (b) increase the affinity at D3 receptors, or (c) decrease the affinity at D2 receptors. The most potent analogue in this series was (S)-N-(1-cycloheptylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamide (10), which had equilibrium dissociation (K(i)) values of 1.8 and 0.2 nM for D2 and D3 receptors, respectively. The most selective analogue was (R)-N-(1-cycloheptyl-2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)-4-bromo-1-methoxy-2-naphthamide (30), which had K(i) values of 62.8 and 2.4 nM for D2 and D3 receptors, respectively. Radioligand binding results for sigma receptors indicated that the structure of the amine moiety and the N-(1-alkyl) substitutions also significantly influence the affinity and selectivity of these compounds at the sigma1 and sigma2 sigma receptor subtypes. The two naphthamides containing a 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3beta-yl central ring were found to be selective for sigma2 receptors.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of N,N'-di-o-tolylguanidine analogues, high-affinity ligands for the haloperidol-sensitive sigma receptor

With an eye toward the development of novel atypical antipsychotic agents, we have studied the structure-affinity relationships of N,N'-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG, 3) and its congeners at the haloperidol-sensitive sigma receptor. A number of DTG analogues were synthesized and evaluated in in vitro radioligand displacement experiments with guinea pig brain membrane homogenates, using the highly sigma-specific radioligands [3H]-3 and [3H]-(+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine and the phencyclidine (PCP) receptor specific compounds [3H]-N-[1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl]piperidine and [3H]-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10- imine. The affinity of N,N'-diarylguanidines for the sigma receptor decreases with increasing steric bulk of ortho substituents larger than C2H5. Hydrophobic substituents are generally preferred over similarly positioned hydrophilic ones. Furthermore, electroneutral substituents are preferred over strongly electron donating or withdrawing groups. Significant binding to the sigma receptor is usually retained as long as at least one side of the guanidine bears a preferred group (e.g. 2-CH3C6H5). Replacement of one or both aryl rings with certain saturated carbocycles (e.g. cyclohexyl, norbornyl, or adamantyl) leads to a significant increase in affinity. By combining the best aromatic and best saturated carbocyclic substituents in the same molecule, we arrived at some of the most potent sigma ligands described to date (e.g. N-exo-2-norbornyl-N'-(2-iodophenyl)guanidine, IC50 = 3 nM vs [3H]-3). All of the compounds tested were several orders of magnitude more potent at the sigma receptor than at the PCP receptor, with a few notable exceptions. This series of disubstituted guanidines may be of value in the development of potential antipsychotics and in the further pharmacological and biochemical characterization of the sigma receptor.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 4-pyridones as potential antimalarials

A series of diaryl ether substituted 4-pyridones have been identified as having potent antimalarial activity superior to that of chloroquine against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and murine Plasmodium yoelii in vivo. These were derived from the anticoccidial drug clopidol through a systematic study of the effects of varying the side chain on activity. Relative to clopidol the most active compounds show >500-fold improvement in IC50 for inhibition of P. falciparum in vitro and about 100-fold improvement with respect to ED50 against P. yoelii in mice. These compounds have been shown elsewhere to act selectively by inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport at the cytochrome bc1 complex.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of novel arylpiperazines as potent and selective agonists of the melanocortin subtype-4 receptor

The melanocortin receptors have been implicated as potential targets for a number of important therapeutic indications, including inflammation, sexual dysfunction, and obesity. We identified compound 1, an arylpiperazine attached to the dipeptide H-d-Tic-d-p-Cl-Phe-OH, as a novel melanocortin subtype-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist through iterative directed screening of nonpeptidyl G-protein-coupled receptor biased libraries. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies demonstrated that substitutions at the ortho position of the aryl ring improved binding and functional potency. For example, the o-isopropyl-substituted compound 29 (K(i) = 720 nM) possessed 9-fold better binding affinity compared to the unsubstituted aryl ring (K(i) = 6600 nM). Sulfonamide 39 (K(i) = 220 nM) fills this space with a polar substituent, resulting in a further 2-fold improvement in binding affinity. The most potent compounds such as the diethylamine 44 (K(i) = 60 nM) contain a basic group at this position. Basic heterocycles such as the imidazole 50 (K(i) = 110 nM) were similarly effective. We also demonstrated good oral bioavailability for sulfonamide 39.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 1-arylmethyl-5-aryl-6-methyluracils as potent gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists

Based on the SAR from bicyclic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists such as 6-aminomethyl-7-aryl-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimid-4-ones (5) and 2-aryl-3-aminomethyl-imidazolo[1,2-a]pyrimid-5-ones (6a,b), a series of novel uracil compounds (8) were derived as GnRH antagonists. The synthesis and SAR studies of 6-methyluracils as human GnRH receptor antagonists are discussed herein. Introduction of a small methyl substituent at the beta-position of the N3 side-chain improved the GnRH binding potency by 5-10-fold. Introduction of a methyl group of (R)-configuration at the alpha-carbon of the N-3 side-chain gave a modest improvement in binding affinity over the unsubstituted ethylene analogues. This modification enabled us to make uracil compounds without the labile 2-pyridylethyl motif on the basic nitrogen while still maintained excellent potency against the hGnRH receptor.     

Fluoronaphthyridines and quinolones as antibacterial agents. 1. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of new 1-substituted derivatives

A series of novel 7-piperazinyl-1-substituted-6-fluoroquinolones and naphthyridines have been prepared and their antibacterial activities evaluated. These derivatives are characterized by having alkyl, alkenyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, and cycloalkenyl groups at the 1-position. As a result of this study, derivatives 7 and 26, which are substituted with tert-butyl groups at N-1, were found to possess excellent in vitro and in vivo potency, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, comparable to that of norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin. Structure-activity relationships of N-1 substituted alkyls and cycloalkyls are also discussed.