Evidence for a significant role of alpha 3-containing GABAA receptors in mediating the anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines.

The GABA(A) receptor subtypes responsible for the anxiolytic effects of nonselective benzodiazepines (BZs) such as chlordiazepoxide (CDP) and diazepam remain controversial. Hence, molecular genetic data suggest that alpha2-rather than alpha3-containing GABA(A) receptors are responsible for the anxiolytic effects of diazepam, whereas the anxiogenic effects of an alpha3-selective inverse agonist suggest that an agonist selective for this subtype should be anxiolytic. We have extended this latter pharmacological approach to identify a compound, 4,2'-difluoro-5'-[8-fluoro-7-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)imidazo[1,2-á]pyridin-3-yl]biphenyl-2-carbonitrile (TP003), that is an alpha3 subtype selective agonist that produced a robust anxiolytic-like effect in both rodent and non-human primate behavioral models of anxiety. Moreover, in mice containing a point mutation that renders alpha2-containing receptors BZ insensitive (alpha2H101R mice), TP003 as well as the nonselective agonist CDP retained efficacy in a stress-induced hyperthermia model. Together, these data show that potentiation of alpha3-containing GABA(A) receptors is sufficient to produce the anxiolytic effects of BZs and that alpha2 potentiation may not be necessary.

The asymmetric Maitland-Japp reaction and its application to the construction of the C1-C19 bis-pyran unit of phorboxazole B.

The synthesis of the C1-C19 bis-pyran unit of phorboxazole B has been achieved. The key pyran rings were constructed by means of an asymmetric Maitland-Japp reaction and a second Maitland-Japp resolution/cyclization reaction. The longest linear sequence was 14 steps, and the C1-C19 bis-pyran unit was formed in an impressive 10.4% yield.

A Brønsted acid mediated cascade enone synthesis from aldehydes containing a tethered propargylsilane.

MeSO3H effects the intramolecular allenylation of a series of aldehydes 1 to provide allenyl alcohol product 3 as a single diastereoisomer. Cyclization proceeds rapidly at -78 degrees C. However, when the reaction is performed at room temperature, aldehyde 1 provides enone product 7 instead. A mechanism for the formation of this product is proposed in which the initially formed allenyl alcohol 3 undergoes dehydration to provide an allyl carbocation, which is trapped with water, thereby installing the enone.

8-Fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine: synthesis, physicochemical properties and evaluation as a bioisosteric replacement for imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine in an allosteric modulator ligand of the GABA A receptor.

8-Fluoroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine has been established as a physicochemical mimic of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine, using both in silico and traditional techniques. Furthermore, a novel synthesis of a 3,7-disubstituted-8-fluoroimidazopyridine 3 has been developed and the utility of the physicochemical mimicry has been demonstrated in an in vitro system. Here, the 8-fluoroimidazopyridine ring contained in ligand 3 acts as a bioisosteric replacement for imidazopyrimidine in the GABA(A) receptor modulator 2.

4-Fluorosulfonylpiperidines: selective 5-HT2A ligands for the treatment of insomnia.

Incorporation of fluorine at the 4-position of an existing series of sulfonyl piperidine 5-HT2A antagonists gave compounds with increased selectivity over the IKr potassium channel. This work led to the identification of 3b, a compound that gave no increase in QTc in the anesthetized dog up to plasma levels as high as 148 microM. Furthermore, 3b has been shown to increase slow-wave sleep bout duration and to decrease the number of awakenings in rats, indicating the potential utility of 5-HT2A antagonists in the treatment of insomnia.