Dopamine agonists: effects of charged and uncharged analogues of dopamine

A Three-Step, Gram-Scale Synthesis of Hydroxytyrosol, Hydroxytyrosol Acetate, and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol

Hydroxytyrosol and two other polyphenols of olive tree, hydroxytyrosol acetate and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, are known for a wide range of beneficial activities in human health and prevention from diseases. The inability to isolate high, pure amounts of these natural compounds and the difficult and laborious procedures for the synthesis of them led us to describe herein an efficient, easy, cheap, and scaling up synthetic procedure, from catechol, via microwave irradiation.

Antipsychotic haloperidol binding to the human dopamine D3 receptor: beyond docking through QM/MM refinement toward the design of improved schizophrenia medicines

As the dopamine D3R receptor is a promising target for schizophrenia treatment, an improved understanding of the binding of existing antipsychotics to this receptor is crucial for the development of new potent and more selective therapeutic agents. In this work, we have used X-ray cocrystallization data of the antagonist eticlopride bound to D3R as a template to predict, through docking essays, the placement of the typical antipsychotic drug haloperidol at the D3R receptor binding site. Afterward, classical and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) computations were employed to improve the quality of the docking calculations, with the QM part of the simulations being accomplished by using the density functional theory (DFT) formalism. After docking, the calculated QM improved total interaction energy EQMDI = -170.1 kcal/mol was larger (in absolute value) than that obtained with classical molecular mechanics improved (ECLDI = -156.3 kcal/mol) and crude docking (ECRDI = -137.6 kcal/mol) procedures. The QM/MM computations reveal the pivotal role of the Asp110 amino acid residue in the D3R haloperidol binding, followed by Tyr365, Phe345, Ile183, Phe346, Tyr373, and Cys114. Besides, it highlights the relevance of the haloperidol hydroxyl group axial orientation, which interacts with the Tyr365 and Thr369 residues, enhancing its binding to dopamine receptors. Finally, our computations indicate that functional substitutions in the 4-clorophenyl and in the 4-hydroxypiperidin-1-yl fragments (such as C3H and C12H hydrogen replacement by OH or COOH) can lead to haloperidol derivatives with distinct dopamine antagonism profiles. The results of our work are a first step using in silico quantum biochemical design as means to impact the discovery of new medicines to treat schizophrenia.

Synthesis of 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and their binding affinity for the dopamine and serotonin transporters

Cocaine is a potent stimulant of the central nervous system. Its reinforcing and stimulant properties have been associated with inhibition of the dopamine transporter (DAT) on presynaptic neurons. In the search for medications for cocaine abuse, we have prepared 2-carbomethoxy-3-aryl-8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octane analogues of cocaine. We report that this class of compounds provides potent and selective inhibitors of the DAT and SERT. The selectivity resulted from reduced activity at the SERT. The 3beta-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) analogue inhibits the DAT and SERT with a potency of IC(50)=5.7 nM and 8.0 nM, respectively. The 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-2,3-unsaturated analogue inhibits the DAT potently (IC(50)=4.5 nM) and selectively (>800-fold vs SERT). Biological enantioselectivity of DAT inhibition was limited for both the 3-aryl-2,3-unsaturated and the 3alpha-aryl analogues (2-fold), but more robust (>10-fold) for the 3beta-aryl analogues. The (1R)-configuration provided the eutomers.

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of 1-,3-,8-, and 9-substituted-9-deazaxanthines at the human A2B adenosine receptor

Over two hundred 1-, 3-, 8-, and 9-substituted-9-deazaxanthines were prepared and evaluated for their binding affinity at the recombinant human adenosine receptors, in particular at the hA(2B) and hA(2A) subtypes. Several ligands endowed with sub-micromolar to low nanomolar binding affinity at hA(2B) receptors, good selectivity over hA(2A) and hA(3), but a relatively poor selectivity over hA(1) were obtained. Good antagonistic potencies and efficacies, with pA(2) values close to the corresponding pK(i)s, were observed in functional assays in vitro performed on a selected series of compounds. 1,3-Dimethyl-8-phenoxy-(N-p-halogenophenyl)-acetamido-9-deazaxanthine derivatives appeared as the most interesting leads, some of them showing outstanding hA(2B) affinities, high selectivity over hA(2A) and hA(3), but low selectivity over hA(1). Structure-affinity relationships suggested that the binding potency at the hA(2B) receptor was mainly modulated by the steric (lipophilic) properties of the substituents at positions 1 and 3 and by the electronic and lipophilic characteristics of the substituents at position 8. A comparison among affinity and selectivity profiles of 9-deazaxanthines with the corresponding xanthines suggested some possible differences in their binding mode.

Anilide derivatives of an 8-phenylxanthine carboxylic congener are highly potent and selective antagonists at human A(2B) adenosine receptors

No highly selective antagonists of the A(2B) adenosine receptor (AR) have been reported; however such antagonists have therapeutic potential as antiasthmatic agents. Here we report the synthesis of potent and selective A(2B) receptor antagonists. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of 8-phenyl-1, 3-di-(n-propyl)xanthine derivatives in binding to recombinant human A(2B) ARs in HEK-293 cells (HEK-A(2B)) and at other AR subtypes were explored. Various amide derivatives of 8-[4-[[carboxymethyl]oxy]phenyl]-1,3-di-(n-propyl)xanthine, 4a, were synthesized. A comparison of aryl, alkyl, and aralkyl amides demonstrated that simple anilides, particularly those substituted in the para-position with electron-withdrawing groups, such as nitro, cyano, and acetyl, bind selectively to human A(2B) receptors in the range of 1-3 nM. The unsubstituted anilide 12 had a K(i) value at A(2B) receptors of 1.48 nM but was only moderately selective versus human A(1)/A(2A) receptors and nonselective versus rat A(1) receptors. Highly potent and selective A(2B) antagonists were a p-aminoacetophenone derivative 20 (K(i) value 1.39 nM) and ap-cyanoanilide 27 (K(i) value 1.97 nM). Compound 27 was 400-, 245-, and 123-fold selective for human A(2B) receptors versus human A(1)/A(2A)/A(3) receptors, respectively, and 8.5- and 310-fold selective versus rat A(1)/A(2A) receptors, respectively. Substitution of the 1,3-dipropyl groups with 1,3-diethyl offered no disadvantage for selectivity, and high affinities at A(2B) receptors were maintained. Substitution of the p-carboxymethyloxy group of 4a and its amides with acrylic acid decreased affinity at A(2B) receptors while increasing affinity at A(1) receptors. 1, 3-Di(cyclohexylmethyl) groups greatly reduced affinity at ARs, although the p-carboxymethyloxy derivative 9 was moderately selective for A(2B) receptors. Several selective A(2B) antagonists inhibited NECA-stimulated calcium mobilization in HEK-A(2B) cells.

2-Carbomethoxy-3-aryl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes: potent non-nitrogen inhibitors of monoamine transporters

Cocaine is a potent stimulant of the mammalian central nervous system. Its reinforcing and stimulant properties have been associated with its propensity to bind to monoamine transporter systems. It has generally been assumed that the amino function on monoamines is a requirement for binding to monoamine transporters. In particular, the 8-amino function on the tropane skeleton of cocaine and cocaine analogs has been assumed to provide an ionic bond to the aspartic acid residue on the dopamine transporter (DAT). We have prepared the first 8-oxa analogs of the 3-aryltropanes (WIN compounds) and have found that the 3 beta-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) (6g) and 3 alpha-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) (7g) analogs are particularly potent (IC50 = 3.27 and 2.34 nM, respectively) inhibitors of the dopamine transporter. We now describe the synthesis and biology of the family of 2-carbomethoxy-3-aryl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and demonstrate that an amino nitrogen is not required for binding to the DAT.

Syntheses and molecular structures of 3-N, N-di-n-propylamino-2-chromanones as new analogues of dopamine

A series of 3-N,N-di-n-propylamino-2-chromanones were synthesized as dopamine analogues. The lactone ring was introduced as a means to reduce their propensity to cross the blood-brain barrier and to avoid central side effects, rendering these compounds potentially useful for the treatment of glaucoma. Pharmacological activities were determined in vitro on rat striatum, by examining their capacity to displace the specific binding of the labeled dopaminergic ligand 3H sulpiride or 3H spiperone and 3H SCH 23390 for D2 and D1 sites, respectively. Compound 6a showed a weak dopaminergic activity on D2-receptors and no affinity for D1-receptors, which can be explained, at least in part, by a weak pKa and the presence of an internal hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, computer molecular modelling studies showed that the aromatic ring of 6a was negatively charged in contrast to the classical D2-agonists aminotetralin derivatives, hampering a possible interaction with a negatively charged area of the D2-receptor. These results, taken together, can account for the moderate dopaminergic activities exhibited by these lactone derivatives.

5 Centrally Acting Dopamine D2 Receptor Ligands: Agonists

The collected amount of research on D2 agonists is immense. The D2 research field has been, and still is, very dynamic. Despite this fact, only a few compounds have reached the clinic so far. At present there are clinical trials ongoing with partial D2 agonists possessing a range of intrinsic efficacies. Some of these agonists are tested for their potential effects in Parkinson's disease (high intrinsic efficacy), while others are tested for potential anti-psychotic effects (low intrinsic efficacy). An interesting possibility has arisen through the research on the synergism between D1 and D2 receptors. This could possibly be utilized in the alleviation of Parkinsonian symptomatology. The near future will show whether the compounds under evaluation hold promise for being new, valuable medicines for treating major diseases like Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.