Pharmacophore models based studies on the affinity and selectivity toward 5-HT1A with reference to α1-adrenergic receptors among arylpiperazine derivatives of phenytoin.

The study is focused on (2-alkoxy)phenylpiperazine derivatives of 1-(2-hydroxy-3-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl)-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione with alkyl or ester substituents at N3 of hydantoin ring, as well as a new designed and synthesized series of compounds with a free N3H group or N3-acetic acid terminal fragment. The compounds were assessed on their affinity for 5-HT(1A) and α(1)-adrenoceptors and evaluated in functional bioassays for antagonistic properties. Classical molecular mechanics (MMFFs force field, MCMM, MacroModel) and DFT methods (B3LYP functional, Gaussian 0.3) were used to investigate 3D structure of the compounds. SAR analysis was based on two pharmacophore models, the one described by Barbaro et al. for α(1)-adenoceptor antagonist and the model of Lepailleur et al. for 5-HT(1A) receptor ligands. All compounds exhibited significant to moderate affinities for 5-HT(1A) receptors in nanomolar range (7-610nM). The highest activity (7nM) and selectivity (17.38) for 5-HT(1A) was observed for 1-(3-(4-(2-ethoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropyl)-3-methyl-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (13a). Among new synthesized compounds 1-(2-hydroxy-3-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)propyl)-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione hydrochloride (20a) displayed the highest affinity (16.6nM) and selectivity (5.72) for α(1)-AR.

Synthesis, anticonvulsant properties and 5-HT1A/5-HT2A receptor affinity of new N-[(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-2-aza-spiro[4.4]nonane and [4.5]decane-1,3-dione derivatives.

A series of twenty new N-[(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-2-aza-spiro[4.4]nonane- and [4.5]decane-1,3-dione derivatives were synthesized and their anticonvulsant activity was evaluated in maximal electroshock (MES) and sc pentertazole (sc PTZ) tests. Their neurotoxicity was examined as well. Although no antiseizure properties of the investigated compounds were found in the MES model, eight of them were active in the sc PTZ test and three, namely 2-{3-[4-(2-fluorophenyl)-piperazin-1yl]-propyl}-2-aza-spiro[4.4]nonane-1,3-dione (7), 2-{3-[4-(2-fluorophenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-propyl}-7-methyl-2-aza-spiro[4.5]-decane-1,3- dione (22) and 2-{3-[4-(3-chlorophenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-propyl}-7-methyl-2-aza-spiro[4.5]-decane-1,3-dione (23) were classified to the Anticonvulsant Screening Program (ASP) 1 class. In addition, since the investigated compounds belong to a class of long-chain arylpiperazines, their serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor affinity was determined. All the 2-OCH3 and 3-Cl derivatives were the most potent 5-HT1A receptor ligands (Ki = 24-143 and 70-107 nM, respectively), whereas the highest 5-HT2A affinity was observed for the unsubstituted and 3-Cl derivatives (Ki = 8-66 nM). No correlation between anticonvulsant and serotonergic activity was observed.