Nascent structure-activity relationship study of a diastereomeric series of kappa opioid receptor antagonists derived from CJ-15,208.

Cyclic tetrapeptide c[Phe-pro-Phe-trp] 2, a diastereomer of CJ-15,208 (1), was identified as a potent dual kappa/mu opioid receptor antagonist devoid of delta opioid receptor affinity against cloned human receptors: K(i) (2)=3.8nM (kappa), 30nM (mu); IC(50) ([(35)S]GTPgammaS binding)=140nM (kappa), 21nM (mu). The d-tryptophan residue rendered 2 ca. eightfold and fourfold more potent at kappa and mu, respectively, than the corresponding l-configured tryptophan in the natural product 1. Phe analogs 3-10, designed to probe the effect of substituents on receptor affinity and selectivity, possessed K(i) values ranging from 14 to 220nM against the kappa opioid receptor with mu/kappa ratios of 0.45-3.0. An alanine scan of 2 yielded c[Ala-pro-Phe-trp] 12, an analog equipotent to 2. Agents 2 and 12 were pure antagonists in vitro devoid of agonist activity. Ac-pro-Phe-trp-Phe-NH(2)16 and Ac-Phe-trp-Phe-pro-NH(2)17 two of the eight possible acyclic peptides derived from 1 and 2, were selective, modestly potent mu ligands: K(i) (16)=340nM (mu); K(i) (17)=360nM (mu).

Discovery of a series of aminopiperidines as novel iNOS inhibitors.

Nitric oxide (NO), a mediator of various physiological and pathophysiological processes, is synthesized by three isozymes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Potential candidate clinical drugs should be devoid of inhibitory activity against endothelial NOS (eNOS), since eNOS plays an important role in maintaining normal blood pressure and flow. A new series of aminopiperidines as potent inhibitors of iNOS were identified from a HTS lead. From this study, we identified compound 33 as a potent iNOS inhibitor, with >25-fold selectivity over eNOS and 16-fold selectivity over nNOS.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel octahydro-1H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazine as mu-opioid receptor antagonists.

To better understand structural requirements for a mu ligand of the trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine class to interact with the mu opioid receptor, we have described in the previous article (Le Bourdonnec, B. et al. J. Med. Chem. 2006, 25, 7278-7289) new, constrained analogues of the N-phenethyl derivative 3. One of the active constrained analogues, compound 4, exhibited subnanomolar mu-opioid receptor affinity (K(i) = 0.62 nM) and potent mu-opioid antagonist activity (IC(50) = 0.54 nM). On the basis of structure 4, a new series of mu-opioid receptor antagonists were designed. In these compounds the octahydroquinolizine template of 4 was replaced by an octahydro-1H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazine scaffold. The new derivatives were tested for their binding affinities and in vitro functional activity against the cloned human mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors. From this study, we identified compound 36, which displays high affinity toward the mu-opioid receptor (K(i) = 0.47 nM), potent mu in vitro antagonist activity (IC(50) = 1.8 nM) and improved binding selectivity profile mu/kappa and mu/delta, when compared to 4.

An ab initio molecular orbital study of the reduction of carbonyls by alkylaluminum complexes.

Semi-empirical and ab initio MO methods were used to explore mechanisms for the reduction of carbonyls by alkylaluminum reagents. Two distinct pathways have been observed experimentally, depending on the stoichiometric amounts of the reagents present. The corresponding intermediates and transition structures have been characterized. Alkylaluminum alkoxides are generally less reactive than the analogous alkylaluminum complexes. We suggest that the controlling factor here is not binding of the substrate, but the higher barrier to reaction of the alkoxide.

Arylacetamide kappa opioid receptor agonists with reduced cytochrome P450 2D6 inhibitory activity.

Some kappa opioid receptor agonists of the arylacetamide class, for example, ICI 199441 (1), were found to strongly inhibit the activity of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) (1: CYP2D6 IC50=26 nM). Certain analogs bearing a substituted sulfonylamino group, for example, 13, were discovered to have significantly reduced CYP2D6 inhibitory activity (13: CYP2D6 IC50>10 microM) while displaying high affinity toward the cloned human kappa opioid receptor, good kappa/delta and kappa/mu selectivity, and potent in vitro and in vivo agonist activity.

Azepinone as a conformational constraint in the design of kappa-opioid receptor agonists.

A new class of kappa-opioid receptor agonists is described. The design of these agents was based upon energy minimization and structural overlay studies of the generic azepin-2-one structure 3 with the crystal structure of arylacetamide kappa agonist 1, ICI 199441. The most active compound identified was ligand 4a (K(i)=0.34 nM), which demonstrated potent antinociceptive activity after oral administration in rodents.