Synthesis, Radiosynthesis and Biological Evaluation of Buprenorphine-Derived Phenylazocarboxamides as Novel µ-Opioid Receptor Ligands.

Targeted structural modifications have led to a novel type of buprenorphine-derived opioid receptor ligand displaying an improved selectivity profile for the µ-OR subtype. On this basis, it is shown that phenylazocarboxamides may serve as useful bioisosteric replacements for the widely occurring cinnamide units, without loss of OR binding affinity or subtype selectivity. This study further includes functional experiments pointing to weak partial agonist properties of the novel µ-OR ligands, as well as docking and metabolism experiments. Finally, the unique bifunctional character of phenylazocarboxylates, herein serving as precursors for the azocarboxamide subunit, was exploited to demonstrate the accessibility of an 18 F-fluorinated analogue.

SC83288 is a clinical development candidate for the treatment of severe malaria.

Severe malaria is a life-threatening complication of an infection with the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which requires immediate treatment. Safety and efficacy concerns with currently used drugs accentuate the need for new chemotherapeutic options against severe malaria. Here we describe a medicinal chemistry program starting from amicarbalide that led to two compounds with optimized pharmacological and antiparasitic properties. SC81458 and the clinical development candidate, SC83288, are fast-acting compounds that can cure a P. falciparum infection in a humanized NOD/SCID mouse model system. Detailed preclinical pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies reveal no observable drawbacks. Ultra-deep sequencing of resistant parasites identifies the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transporting PfATP6 as a putative determinant of resistance to SC81458 and SC83288. Features, such as fast parasite killing, good safety margin, a potentially novel mode of action and a distinct chemotype support the clinical development of SC83288, as an intravenous application for the treatment of severe malaria.

[18F]Fluorophenylazocarboxylates: Design and Synthesis of Potential Radioligands for Dopamine D3 and µ-Opioid Receptor.

18F-Labeled building blocks from the type of [18F]fluorophenylazocarboxylic-tert-butyl esters offer a rapid, mild, and reliable method for the 18F-fluoroarylation of biomolecules. Two series of azocarboxamides were synthesized as potential radioligands for dopamine D3 and the µ-opioid receptor, revealing compounds 3d and 3e with single-digit and sub-nanomolar affinity for the D3 receptor and compound 4c with only micromolar affinity for the µ-opioid receptor, but enhanced selectivity for the µ-subtype in comparison to the lead compound AH-7921. A "minimalist procedure" without the use of a cryptand and base for the preparation of 4-[18F]fluorophenylazocarboxylic-tert-butyl ester [18F]2a was established, together with the radiosynthesis of methyl-, methoxy-, and phenyl-substituted derivatives ([18F]2b-f). With the substituted [18F]fluorophenylazocarbylates in hand, two prototype azocarboxylates radioligands were synthesized by 18F-fluoroarylation, namely the methoxy azocarboxamide [18F]3d as the D3 receptor radioligand and [18F]4a as a prototype structure of the µ-opioid receptor radioligand. By introducing the new series of [18F]fluorophenylazocarboxylic-tert-butyl esters, the method of 18F-fluoroarylation was significantly expanded, thereby demonstrating the versatility of 18F-labeled phenylazocarboxylates for the design of potential radiotracers for positron emission tomography .

Hydrogen Peroxide Promoted Mizoroki-Heck Reactions of Phenyldiazenes with Acrylates, Acrylamides, and Styrenes.

Mizoroki-Heck reactions, which are well-known for aryldiazonium salts and which have recently been described for arylhydrazines, have now been extended to phenyldiazenes. In situ generation of phenyldiazenes from azocarboxylates allowed clean and selective reactions with styrenes, acrylates, and acrylamides using palladium(II) acetate in the presence of silver(I) acetate or hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Hydrogen peroxide was thereby shown to be a cheap and broadly applicable alternative for the established palladium-silver(I) system.

Synthesis and evaluation of fluoro substituted pyridinylcarboxamides and their phenylazo analogues for potential dopamine D3 receptor PET imaging.

A series of fluoro substituted pyridinylcarboxamides and their phenylazo analogues with high affinity and selectivity for the dopamine D3 receptor was synthesized by the use of 6-fluoropyridine-3-carbonyl chloride (1) and fluorophenylazocarboxylic ester (2). Several of these compounds (9a-e and 10a-h) have been evaluated in vitro, among which 9b, 10a, 10c and 10d proved to have at least single-digit nanomolar affinity for D3. They also exhibit considerable selectivity over the other dopamine receptor subtypes and noteworthy selectivity over the structurally related serotonin receptor subtypes 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT2, offering potential radiotracers for positron emission tomography.

The trapping of phenyldiazenes in cycloaddition reactions.

The reactivity of phenyldiazenes was studied intensively in the late 1960s, but not much is known about their behavior under acidic conditions. Based on the formation of phenyldiazenes from phenylazocarboxylates, we herein describe how reactions of phenyldiazenes can be directed into ionic or radical pathways. Cycloaddition reactions with furans leading to pyridazinium salts represent the first examples for the direct trapping of phenyldiazenes with conservation of the N=N moiety.

Radiosynthesis and validation of ¹8F-FP-CMT, a phenyltropane with superior properties for imaging the dopamine transporter in living brain.

To date there is no validated, (18)F-labeled dopamine transporter (DAT) radiotracer with a rapid kinetic profile suitable for preclinical small-animal positron emission tomography (PET) studies in rodent models of human basal ganglia disease. Herein we report radiosynthesis and validation of the phenyltropane (18)F-FP-CMT. Dynamic PET recordings were obtained for (18)F-FP-CMT in six untreated rats, and six rats pretreated with the high-affinity DAT ligand GBR 12909; mean parametric maps of binding potential (BPND) relative to the cerebellum reference region, and maps of total distribution volume (VT) relative to the metabolite-corrected arterial input were produced. (18)F-FP-CMT BPND maps showed peak values of ∼4 in the striatum, versus ∼0.4 in the vicinity of the substantia nigra. Successive truncation of the PET recordings indicated that stable BPND estimates could be obtained with recordings lasting only 45 minutes, reflecting rapid kinetics of (18)F-FP-CMT. Pretreatment with GBR 12909 reduced the striatal binding by 72% to 76%. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed rapid metabolism of (18)F-FP-CMT to a single, non-brain penetrant hydrophilic metabolite. Total distribution of volume calculated relative to the metabolite-corrected arterial input was 4.4 mL/g in the cerebellum. The pharmacological selectivity of (18)F-FP-CMT, rapid kinetic profile, and lack of problematic metabolites constitute optimal properties for quantitation of DAT in rat, and may also predict applicability in human PET studies.

Fast and efficient (18) F-labeling by [(18) f]fluorophenylazocarboxylic esters.

Introduction of [(18) F]fluoride ion into the aromatic core of phenylazocarboxylic esters was achieved in only 30 seconds, with radiochemical yields of up to 95 % (85(±10) %). For labeling purposes, the resulting (18) F-substituted azoester can be further converted in radical-arylation reactions to give biaryls, or in substitutions at its carbonyl unit to produce azocarboxamides.