Characterization of a cannabinoid CB2 receptor-selective agonist, A-836339 [2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [3-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-3H-thiazol-(2Z)-ylidene]-amide], using in vitro pharmacological assays, in vivo pain models, and pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging.

Studies demonstrating the antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects of cannabinoid CB(2) receptor activation have been largely derived from the use of receptor-selective ligands. Here, we report the identification of A-836339 [2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid [3-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-4,5-dimethyl-3H-thiazol-(2Z)-ylidene]-amide], a potent and selective CB(2) agonist as characterized in in vitro pharmacological assays and in in vivo models of pain and central nervous system (CNS) behavior models. In radioligand binding assays, A-836339 displays high affinities at CB(2) receptors and selectivity over CB(1) receptors in both human and rat. Likewise, A-836339 exhibits high potencies at CB(2) and selectivity over CB(1) receptors in recombinant fluorescence imaging plate reader and cyclase functional assays. In addition A-836339 exhibits a profile devoid of significant affinity at other G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels. A-836339 was characterized extensively in various animal pain models. In the complete Freund's adjuvant model of inflammatory pain, A-836339 exhibits a potent CB(2) receptor-mediated antihyperalgesic effect that is independent of CB(1) or mu-opioid receptors. A-836339 has also demonstrated efficacies in the chronic constrain injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain, skin incision, and capsaicin-induced secondary mechanical hyperalgesia models. Furthermore, no tolerance was developed in the CCI model after subchronic treatment with A-836339 for 5 days. In assessing CNS effects, A-836339 exhibited a CB(1) receptor-mediated decrease of spontaneous locomotor activities at a higher dose, a finding consistent with the CNS activation pattern observed by pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging. These data demonstrate that A-836339 is a useful tool for use of studying CB(2) receptor pharmacology and for investigation of the role of CB(2) receptor modulation for treatment of pain in preclinical animal models.

Alkylation of dihydrofullerenes.

The fulleride dianions C(60)(2-) and C(70)(2-) were generated by deprotonation of the corresponding hydrogenated fullerenes, 1,2-C(60)H(2) and 1,2-C(70)H(2). These anions were prepared in the presence of a variety of alkylating agents, and mono- or dialkylated products were obtained. Alkylation was not successful with sulfonate ester alkylating agents. Deprotonation of monoalkylated compounds, followed by second alkylation with a different alkylating agent, produced heterodialkylated compounds. The monoalkyated material was invariably the 1,2-isomers, while the dialkylated materials were generally 1,4-isomers, although some 1,2-isomer was observed in the C(70) context. The major product from alkylation of C(70)(2-) was the 7,23-isomer 13a, a structure where the alkylation took place near the equator of the fullerene cage, rather than at the more strained carbons near the poles.