Further structure-activity relationship studies of piperidine-based monoamine transporter inhibitors: effects of piperidine ring stereochemistry on potency. Identification of norepinephrine transporter selective ligands and broad-spectrum transporter inhibitors.

4-(4-Chlorophenyl)piperidine analogues each bearing a thioacetamide side chain appendage similar to that found in the wake-promoting drug modafinil have been synthesized. The transporter inhibitory activity of both the cis and trans isomers of these 3,4-disubstituted piperidines in both their (+)- and (-)-enantiomeric forms was determined. These studies reveal that the (-)-cis analogues exhibit dopamine transporter/norepinephrine transporter (DAT/NET) selectivity as was previously reported for the (+)-trans analogues. On the other hand, the (-)-trans and the (+)-cis isomers show serotonin transporter (SERT) or SERT/NET selectivity. Among them, (+)-cis-5b shows a low nanomolar Ki for the NET with 39-fold and 321-fold lower potency at the DAT and SERT, respectively, thus making it a useful pharmacological research tool for exploring NET-associated behavioral signatures. On the other hand, several of the compounds described herein, such as (+)-trans-5c, show comparable activity at all three transporters. Because broad-spectrum transporter inhibitors have been hypothesized to exhibit a more rapid onset of action and/or a greater efficacy as antidepressant agents than those selective for SERT or SERT + NET, some of the present compounds will be valuable to study in animal models of depression.

Discovery of novel conformationally constrained tropane-based biaryl and arylacetylene ligands as potent and selective norepinephrine transporter inhibitors and potential antidepressants.

To further explore the structure-activity relationships of conformationally constrained tropanes, a number of new biaryl and arylacetylene analogs were designed and synthesized. Some of these compounds such as 3a-b, 3d, 3f-h, 5b, and 7g were found to be highly potent and selective or mixed norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibitors with Ki values of 0.8-9.4 nM. Moreover, all of these compounds display weak to extremely weak muscarinic receptor binding affinity, indicating that as potential antidepressants, they may overcome certain side effects that are of concern with other antidepressants, which are thought to be mediated by their anticholinergic properties.