3-(alphaR)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-hydroxybenzyl)-N-alkyl-N-arylbenzamides: potent, non-peptidic agonists of both the micro and delta opioid receptors.

Opioid analgesics with both micro and delta opioid receptor activation represent a new approach to the treatment of severe pain with an improved safety profile. Compounds with this profile may exhibit strong analgesic properties due to micro agonism, with a reduced side effect profile resulting from delta agonism. Replacing the p-diethylamide of the known potent delta opioid receptor selective agonist BW373U86 with a m-diethylamide resulted in a compound with agonist activity at both the micro and delta opioid receptors. Modifying the amide to an N-methyl-N-phenylamide increased agonist potency at both receptors. A series of 3-(alphaR)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-hydroxybenzyl)-N-alkyl-N-arylbenzamides have been made to explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) around the N-methyl-N-phenylamide. Several potent agonists of both the micro and delta opioid receptors have been identified, including (+)-3-((alphaR)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methylbenzamide (23), which has EC50 values of 0.67 and 1.1 nM at the micro (guinea pig ileum assay) and delta (mouse vas deferens assay) opioid receptors, respectively.

Neuromuscular blocking activity and therapeutic potential of mixed-tetrahydroisoquinolinium halofumarates and halosuccinates in rhesus monkeys.

Structure-activity relationships in rhesus monkeys for a novel mixed-onium class of ultra-short-acting nondepolarizing tetrahydroisoquinolinium neuromuscular blockers (NMBs) are described. Bis-onium chlorofumarate 20a with (1R,2S)-benzyltetrahydroisoquinolinium groups was a potent lead compound (ED(95) = 0.079 mg/kg) with an ultra-short duration of NMB effect (7.1 min) and a selectivity index (SI: defined as a ratio of the cardiovascular threshold dose to the ED(95)) similar to that of mivacurium (3). The mean threshold dose for cardiovascular effects with 20a was ca. 20 times its ED(95) value (SI = 20). A novel mixed-onium analogue of 20a was prepared by replacing the benzyltetrahydroisoquinolinium group distal to the fumarate chlorine atom with a (1S,2R)-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolinium moiety. The resulting mixed-onium chlorofumarate 24a displayed good NMB potency (ED(95) = 0.063 mg/kg), ultra-short duration of action (5.6 min) and an improved selectivity index (SI = 57). Several other mixed-onium derivatives containing octanedioate (25a; ED(95) = 0.103 mg/kg), difluorosuccinate (27c; ED(95) = 0.056 mg/kg), and fluorofumarate (28a; ED(95) = 0.137 mg/kg) linkers were also potent, ultra-short-acting NMBs with good to excellent selectivity index values (SI = 37-96). Octanedioate 25a was longer acting at higher doses compared to difluorosuccinate 27c and chlorofumarate 24a. Durations of NMB effect following a 0.4 mg/kg bolus dose (100% block) of 25a, 27c, and 24a were 16.9, 13.0, and 10.0 min, respectively. Recovery time for mixed-onium chlorofumarate 24a following a 1 h continuous infusion at 10-20 microg/kg/min (95-100% block) was ca. 5 min which is similar to that observed following a 0.2 mg/kg bolus dose of this compound and indicates a lack of cummulative effects. Preliminary studies with chlorofumarate 24a in whole human blood revealed that mixed-onium thiazolidine 29 was the major metabolite and that plasma cholinesterases do not play the primary role in duration of NMB effect. The NMB properties of 24a in rhesus monkeys led to its clinical evaluation as a possible alternative to succinylcholine.

Novel 3-phenylprop-2-ynylamines as inhibitors of mammalian squalene epoxidase.

The synthesis of a novel series of 3-phenylprop-2-ynylamines as selective mammalian squalene epoxidase inhibitors is described. Structure activity relationship studies led to the discovery of compound 19, 1-[3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-prop-2-ynyl]-3- methylpiperidine hydrochloride with an IC50 of 2.8 +/- 0.6 microM against rat liver squalene epoxidase. Against 23 strains of fungal squalene epoxidase compound 19 was found to be inactive.