Phosphahelicenes with (Thio)Phosphinic Acid and Ester Functions by the Oxidative Photocyclisation Approach

Phosphahelicenes with thiophosphinic acid and ester functions have been obtained by the oxidative photocyclisation of olefins bearing both a benzophenanthrene and a benzophosphole unit. When the method has been extended to olefins bearing a partially saturated benzophospholene unit, a divergent regioselectivity of the photocyclisation step has been observed, leading to new helicenes in which the phosphorus function is located on the external rim of the helical backbone. The observed regioselectivity correlates well with the free-valence numbers of the atoms involved in the photocyclisation reaction (DFT calculations).

Revisiting the Quinoxalinedione Scaffold in the Construction of New Ligands for the Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors

More than two decades ago, the quinoxalinedione scaffold was shown to act as an α-amino acid bioisoster. Following extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, the antagonists DNQX, CNQX, and NBQX in the ionotropic glutamate receptor field were identified. In this work, we revisit the quinoxalinedione scaffold and explore the incorporation of an acid functionality in the 6-position. The SAR studies disclose that by this strategy it was possible to tune in iGluR selectivity among the AMPA, NMDA, and KA receptors, and to some extent also obtain full receptor subtype selectivity. Highlights of the study of 44 new analogues are compound 2m being a high affinity ligand for native AMPA receptors (IC₅₀= 0.48 μM), analogues 2e,f,h,k,v all displayed selectivity for native NMDA receptors, and compounds 2s,t,u are selective ligand for the GluK1 receptor. Most interestingly, compound 2w was shown to be a GluK3-preferring ligand with full selectivity over native AMPA, KA and NMDA receptors.

Binding mode of an α-amino acid-linked quinoxaline-2,3-dione analogue at glutamate receptor subtype GluK1

Two α-amino acid-functionalized quinoxalines, 1a (CNG-10301) and 1b (CNG-10300), of a quinoxaline moiety coupled to an amino acid moiety were designed, synthesized, and characterized pharmacologically. While 1a displayed low affinity at native AMPA, KA, and NMDA receptors, and at homomeric GluK1,3 receptors, the affinity for GluK2 was in the midmicromolar range (Ki = 136 μM), 1b displayed low to midmicromolar range binding affinity at all the iGluRs (Ki = 9-126 μM). In functional experiments (outside-out patches excised from transfected HEK293T cells), 100 μM 1a partially blocked GluK1 (33% peak response), while GluK2 was unaffected (96% peak response). Furthermore, 1a was shown not to be an agonist at GluK1 and GluK2 at 100 μM. On the other hand, 100 μM 1b fully antagonized GluK1 (8% peak response) but only partially blocked GluK2 (33% peak response). An X-ray structure at 2.3 Å resolution of 1b in the GluK1-LBD (ligand-binding domain) disclosed an unexpected binding mode compared to the predictions made during the design phase; the quinoxaline moiety remains to act as an amino acid bioisostere, but the amino acid moiety is oriented into a new area within the GluK1 receptor. The structure of the GluK1-LBD with 1b showed a large variation in domain openings of the three molecules from 25° to 49°, demonstrating that the GluK1-LBD is capable of undergoing major domain movements.

Benzoxazoles and oxazolopyridines in medicinal chemistry studies

The benzoxazole heterocycle is often found in ligands targeting a plethora of receptors and enzymes. By analysis of published X-ray structures, this review aims at highlighting key interactions which the benzoxazole may engage in with its host protein. Furthermore, bioavailability, metabolism and the use of benzoxazole as a bioisostere are discussed. The review is extended to cover structure-activity relationship studies of 2-substituted benzoxazoles, 2-substituted oxazolopyridines, and in perspective, application of the recently published novel heterocycle oxazolopyrazine in medicinal chemistry studies.

Structure-activity-relationship study of N-acyl-N-phenylpiperazines as potential inhibitors of the Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters (EAATs): improving the potency of a micromolar screening Hit is not truism

The excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are transmembrane proteins responsible for the uptake of (S)-glutamate from the synaptic cleft. To date, five subtypes EAAT1-5 have been identified for which selective inhibitors have been discovered for EAAT1 and EAAT2. By screening of a commercially available compound library consisting of 4,000 compounds, N-acyl-N-phenylpiperazine analog (±)- exo -1 was identified to be a non-selective inhibitor at EAAT1-3 displaying IC50 values in the mid-micromolar range (10 μ M, 40 μ M and 30 μ M at EAAT1, 2 and 3, respectively). Subsequently, we designed and synthesized a series of analogs to explore the structure-activity-relationship of this scaffold in the search for analogs characterized by increased inhibitory potency and/or EAAT subtype selectivity. Despite extensive efforts, all analogs of (±)- exo -1 proved to be either inactive or to have least 3-fold lower inhibitory potency than the lead, and furthermore none of the active analogs displayed selectivity for a particular subtype amongst the EAAT1-3. On the basis of our findings, we speculate that (±)- exo -1 binds to a recess (deepening) on the EAAT proteins than a well-defined pocket.