C-terminal modified Enkephalin-like tetrapeptides with enhanced affinities at the kappa opioid receptor and monoamine transporters.

A new series of enkephalin-like tetrapeptide analogs modified at the C-terminus by an N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-(piperidin-4-yl)propionamide (DPP) moiety were designed, synthesized, and tested for their binding affinities at opioid receptors and monoamine transporters to evaluate their potential multifunctional activity for the treatment of chronic pain. Most ligands exhibited high binding affinities in the nanomolar range at the opioid receptors with a slight delta-opioid receptor (DOR) selectivity over mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) and low binding affinities in the micromolar range at the monoamine transporters, SERT and NET. Ligands of which the positions 1 and 4 were substituted by Dmt and Phe(4-X) residues, respectively, showed the excellent binding affinities at three opioid receptors. Among them, Dmt-d-Tic-Gly-Phe(4-F)-DPP was the most promising considering its excellent opioid affinities, particularly unexpected high binding affinity (Ki = 0.13 nM) at the KOR, and moderate interactions with serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Docking studies revealed that the ligand was a good fit for the KOR binding pocket (binding score = 8,750).

Synthesis of novel 5-(aroylhydrazinocarbonyl)escitalopram as cholinesterase inhibitors.

A novel series of 5-(aroylhydrazinocarbonyl)escitalopram (58-84) have been designed, synthesized and tested for their inhibitory potential against cholinesterases. 3-Chlorobenzoyl- (71) was found to be the most potent compound of this series having IC50 1.80 ± 0.11 µM for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. For the butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition, 2-bromobenzoyl- (76) was the most active compound of the series with IC50 2.11 ± 0.31 µM. Structure-activity relationship illustrated that mild electron donating groups enhanced enzyme inhibition while electron withdrawing groups reduced the inhibition except o-NO2. However, size and position of the substituents affected enzyme inhibitions. . In docking study of AChE, the ligands 71, 72 and 76 showed the scores of 5874, 5756 and 5666 and ACE of -64.92,-203.25 and -140.29 kcal/mol, respectively. In case of BChE, ligands 71, 76 and 81 depicted high scores 6016, 6150 and 5994 with ACE values -170.91, -256.84 and -235.97 kcal/mol, respectively.

Synthesis of Fluoroalkoxy Substituted Arylboronic Esters by Iridium-Catalyzed Aromatic C-H Borylation.

The preparation of fluoroalkoxy arylboronic esters by iridium-catalyzed aromatic C-H borylation is described. The fluoroalkoxy groups employed include trifluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy, and 2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxole. The borylation reactions were carried out neat without the use of a glovebox or Schlenk line. The regioselectivities available through the iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation are complementary to those obtained by the electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions of fluoroalkoxy arenes. Fluoroalkoxy arylboronic esters can serve as versatile building blocks.

Synthesis of novel triazoles and a tetrazole of escitalopram as cholinesterase inhibitors.

A novel serie of escitalopram triazoles (60-88) and a tetrazole (89) have been synthesized and subjected to a study to establish the inhibitory potential of these compounds toward acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Some selectivity in inhibition has been observed. The 4-chlorophenyl- (75, IC50, 6.71 ± 0.25 µM) and 2-methylphenyl- (70, IC50, 9.52 ± 0.23 µM) escitalopram triazole derivatives depicted high AChE inhibition, while 2-fluorophenyl- (76, IC50 = 4.52 ± 0.17 µM) and 4-fluorophenyl- (78, IC50 = 5.31 ± 0.43 µM) have found to be excellent BChE inhibitors. It has also been observed that ortho, meta and para substituted electron donating groups increase the inhibition, while electron withdrawing groups reduce the inhibition. Docking analyses of inhibitors with AChE have depicted the binding energies for 70 and 75 as ΔG(bind) -6.42 and -6.93 kcal/mol, respectively, while ligands 76 and 78 have shown the binding affinity ΔG(bind) -9.04 and -8.51 kcal/mol, respectively, for BChE.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of bifunctional ligands of opioids/SSRIs.

A series of opioid and serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) bifunctional ligands have been designed, synthesized, and tested for their activities and efficacies at µ-, δ- and κ opioid receptors and SSRIs receptors. Most of the compounds showed high affinities for µ- and δ-opioid receptors and lower affinities for SSRIs and κ opioid receptors. A docking study on the µ-opioid receptor binding pocket has been carried out for ligands 3-11. The ligands 7 and 11 have displayed the highest binding profiles for the µ-opioid receptor binding site with ΔGbind (-12.14kcal/mol) and Ki value (1.0nM), and ΔGbind (-12.41kcal/mol) and Ki value (0.4nM), respectively. Ligand 3 was shown to have the potential of dual acting serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant activity in addition to opioid activities, and thus could be used for the design of multifunctional ligands in the area of a novel approach for the treatment of pain and depression.