2,3-disubstituted 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes as novel dopamine transporter inhibitors

A series of cis and trans 3beta-aryl-2-carbomethoxy-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes, with different substitution at the para-position of the aryl group, were synthesized and examined for reuptake inhibition at the dopamine transporter (DAT). The potency for inhibition of DA reuptake was compared with that of cocaine to determine the significance of the replacement of the 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (tropane nucleus), displayed in cocaine, for the 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (normorphan framework). This bicyclic core structure constitutes a novel chemical scaffold in DAT inhibitor design, which may provide new insights into the 3D structure of the DAT and its interaction with cocaine and DA. Among these compounds, the trans-amine series 8 were the most potent ligands at the DAT. In particular, the normorphan analogue 8c (bearing a p-chloro substituent at the beta-aryl group, IC(50)=452 nM) displayed a potency that is in the same range as cocaine (IC(50)=459 nM) itself.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-azabicyclo-[3.2.1]octanes: new dopamine transporter inhibitors

The synthesis and biological activity of a series of 6-substituted 1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes are described. 1-Azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes represent a new class of compounds that exhibit monoamine transporter inhibitory activity highly dependent on the overall topology and the absolute stereochemistry of the molecule.     

Synthesis of dopamine transporter selective 3-[2-(diarylmethoxyethylidene)]-8-alkylaryl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A series of 3-[2-(diarylmethoxyethylidene)]-8-alkylaryl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes was synthesized and the binding affinities of the compounds were determined at the dopamine and serotonin transporters. The 8-phenylpropyl analogues 8a (K(i)=4.1 nM) and 8b (K(i)=3.7 nM) were the most potent compounds of the series with binding affinities 3 times greater than GBR-12909. In addition, 8a (SERT/DAT=327) was over 300-fold more selective for the dopamine transporter than the serotonin transporter.     

Synthesis and dopamine transporter binding affinities of 3alpha-benzyl-8-(diarylmethoxyethyl)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A series of 3alpha-benzyl-8-(diarylmethoxyethyl)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes was synthesized and the binding affinities of the compounds were determined at the dopamine transporter. The unsubstituted analogue 7b (K(i)=98nM) was the most potent compound of the series with binding affinity three-times greater than cocaine and only 5-fold less than GBR-12909. The structure-activity data for 7a-f suggests that these compounds may be binding at the dopamine transporter in a similar fashion to GBR 12909.     

Synthesis and biological activity of 2-carbomethoxy-3-catechol-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

Cocaine inhibits the dopamine transporter and the consequent elevation of dopamine is thought to contribute to the addictive properties of cocaine. Tropane analogues of cocaine, targeted to the dopamine transporter (DAT), are a significant focus of drug design for cocaine addiction medications. Herein, we report the function of the ortho hydroxy substituents in dopamine with respect to the azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton. The introduction of the o-dihydroxyl functionality led to reduced binding potency at monoamine transporters, rather than enhanced interaction with the DAT. It is therefore likely that the binding site for these compounds on the DAT is not the same as that for dopamine. Notwithstanding the moderate potency of the free catechols (>100 nM), 7 manifested stimulant activity with a duration of effect that exceeded 4 h in a rat locomotor activity assay. Compound 10, a diacetoxy prodrug for 7, substituted fully for cocaine in a rat drug-discrimination paradigm and is now undergoing further investigation as a potential medication for cocaine abuse.     

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.     

Synthesis and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding affinities of 2- and 3-isoxazolyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

A series of epiboxidine homologues, 2- and 3-isoxazole substituted 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as potential ligands for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in [(3)H]cytisine labeled rat brain. The 2beta-isoxazolyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane 9b (K(i)=3 nM) was the most potent compound of the series with a binding affinity twice that of nicotine. The 3beta-isoxazolyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane 15b (K(i)=148 nM) exhibited moderate affinity while the corresponding 2alpha- and 3alpha-isomers exhibited micromolar binding affinity.     

Chlorophenylpiperazine analogues as high affinity dopamine transporter ligands

Selective σ₂ ligands continue to be an active target for medications to attenuate the effects of psychostimulants. In the course of our studies to determine the optimal substituents in the σ₂-selective phenyl piperazines analogues with reduced activity at other neurotransmitter systems, we discovered that 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-phenethylpiperazine actually had preferentially increased affinity for dopamine transporters (DAT), yielding a highly selective DAT ligand.     

The synthesis of bivalent 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-8-heterobicyclo[3.2.1]octanes as probes for proximal binding sites on the dopamine and serotonin transporters

3-Aryltropanes have been widely explored for potential medications for remediation of cocaine abuse. Research has focused predominantly on 8-azatropanes and it is now well recognized that these compounds can be designed to manifest varied selectivity and potency for inhibition of the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine uptake systems. We had reported that the 8-nitrogen atom present in the 3-aryltropanes is not essential for tropanes to bind to monoamine uptake systems. We demonstrated that compounds in which the amine had been exchanged for an ether or a thioether retained binding potency and selectivity. We have now designed bivalent compounds in which two tropane moieties are linked by an intervening chain. These 8-homo- and 8-heterotropane bivalent compounds allowed a search for adjacent tropane binding sites on the DAT as well as a further exploration of whether the binding sites for 8-azatropanes are the same as those for other 8-heterotropanes. A comparison of these compounds with their progenitor tropanes cast into doubt the existence of proximal binding sites on the DAT, and offered support for the existence of different binding sites for the 8-azatropanes compared with 8-oxa- and 8-thiatropanes. Indeed, 8-aza bivalent tropanes inhibited DAT with potency about 10-fold lower (DAT: IC50 = 31 nM) than their monovalent counterparts. Furthermore, bivalent ligands in which one or both of the tropanes was devoid of an amine suffered a further loss of inhibitory potency. We conclude that it is unlikely that there exist two tropane binding sites in close proximity to one another on either the DAT or SERT.     

The synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-(3-methyl or 3-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)-3-aryl-8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

Cocaine, a potent stimulant of the central nervous system, owes its reinforcing and stimulant properties to its ability to inhibit monoamine uptake systems such as the Dopamine Transporter (DAT), and the Serotonin Transporter (SERT) located on presynaptic neurons in the striatum. The search for pharmacotherapies for cocaine addiction has focused on the design of compounds that bind selectively to the DAT and manifest slow onset of stimulatory action with long duration of action. We had reported that 3-aryl-2-carbomethoxy-8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes are potent and selective inhibitors of the DAT. In this Letter we report on the effects of replacement of the 2-carbomethoy group by a 2-isoxazole. This new class of 8-thiabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes provides potent and selective inhibitors of the DAT. The 3β-aryl compounds are particularly potent inhibitors of DAT (IC₅₀ = 7-43 nM) with substantial selectivity versus inhibition of SERT.     

QSAR study and synthesis of new phenyltropanes as ligands of the dopamine transporter (DAT)

The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of dopamine neurotransmission, and is involved in a number of physiological functions and brain disorders. Furthermore the DAT analysis by molecular imaging techniques is a useful tool for the diagnosis and follow up treatment of diseases involving the DAT. In order to predict the affinity of new derivatives for the DAT, different QSAR molecular modeling models based on cocaine were compared. We have evaluated in these models tropane derivatives synthesized with original synthons which coupled properties of both fluorine and iodine atoms. One compound showed a high in vitro affinity and selectivity for the DAT (K(i)=0.87±0.04 nM). This compound should be radiolabeled with radioiodine for further investigations by SPECT.     

[3-Azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-1-yl]phenyl-benzenesulfonamides as selective dopamine D3 antagonists

A new class of azabicyclo[3.1.0]benzenesulfonamides is presented as selective dopamine D₃ antagonists together with SAR and selectivity data.     

Novel aryloxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-enes with 5-HT transporter and 5-HT1A affinity

Joining aryl 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-enes with aryloxyethanes and aryloxypropanes produces novel series of compounds 11 and 12 with potent 5-HT-T affinity and moderately potent 5-HT(1A) affinity. Moreover, several of these compounds possess functional 5-HT(1A) antagonism. Optimal compounds are, 4-indolyloxyethane 21, 4-indolyloxypropanes 25, and 27, which possess potent 5-HT-T affinity (5-HT-T K(i): 21: 1.2nM, 25: 0.54nM, 27: 0.38nM) and good 5-HT(1A) affinity/antagonism (5-HT(1A)K(i), [(35)S]GTPgammaS: E(max) (%): 21: 111.1nM, 0%; 25: 173.2nM, 0%; 27: 107nM, 0%).     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of hexahydrobenz[f]isoquinolines as a novel class of dopamine 3 receptor ligands

We previously identified hexahydrobenz[f]isoquinoline (4a) as a new class of dopamine 3 receptor (D(3)) ligand. Herein, we described the design, synthesis, and preliminary structure-activity relationships of new analogues of 4a as a novel class of D(3) ligands. Among these new analogues, compound 4 h is a potent D(3) ligand (K(i)=6.1 nM) and has a selectivity of 133-fold between D(3)- and D(2)-like receptors, and of 163-fold between D(3)- and D(1)-like receptors, respectively. Thus, compound 4 h represents a promising new lead compound for further design and optimization toward achieving highly potent and selective D(3) ligands.     

Modeling of the interaction of Na+ and K+ with the binding of dopamine and [3H]WIN 35,428 to the human dopamine transporter

Although much is known about the effects of Na+, K+, and Cl- on the functional activity of the neuronal dopamine transporter, little information is available on their role in the initial event in dopamine uptake, i.e., the recognition step. This was addressed here by studying the inhibition by dopamine of the binding of [3H]WIN 35,428 [2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)[3H]tropane], a phenyltropane analogue of cocaine, to the cloned human dopamine transporter expressed in HEK-293 cells. The decrease in the affinity of dopamine (or WIN 35,428) binding affinity with increasing [K+] could be fitted to a competitive model involving an inhibitory cation site (1) overlapping with the dopamine (or WIN 35,428) domain. The K+ IC50 for inhibiting dopamine or WIN 35,428 binding increased linearly with [Na+], indicating a K(D,Na+) of 30-44 mM and a K(D,K+) of 13-16 mM for this cation site. A second Na+ site (2), distal from the WIN 35,428 domain but linked by positive allosterism, was indicated by model fitting of the WIN 35,428 binding affinities as a function of [Na+]. No strong evidence for this second site was obtained for dopamine binding in the absence or presence of low (20 mM) Cl- and could not be acquired for high [Cl-] because of the lack of a suitable substitute ion for Na+. The K(D) but not Bmax of [3H]WIN 35,428 binding increased as a function of the [K+]/[Na+] ratio regardless of total [Cl-] or ion tonicity. A similar plot was obtained for the Ki of dopamine binding, with Cl- at > or = 140 mM decreasing the Ki. At 290 mM Cl- and 300 mM Na+ the potency of K+ in inhibiting dopamine binding was enhanced as compared with the absence of Cl- in contrast to the lack of effect of Cl- up to 140 mM (Na up to 150 mM). The results indicate that Cl- at its extracellular level enhances dopamine binding through a mechanism not involving site 1. The observed correspondence between the WIN 35,428 and dopamine domains in their inclusion of the inhibitory cation site explains why many of the previously reported interrelated effects of Na+ and K+ on the binding site of radiolabeled blockers to the dopamine transporter are applicable to dopamine uptake in which dopamine recognition is the first step.     

Synthesis and biodistribution of new radiolabeled high-affinity choline transporter inhibitors [11C]hemicholinium-3 and [18F]hemicholinium-3

The high-affinity choline transporter (CHT1) system is an attractive target for the development of positron emission tomography (PET) biomarkers to probe brain, cardiac, and cancer diseases. An efficient and convenient synthesis of new radiolabeled CHT1 inhibitors [(11)C]hemicholinium-3 and [(18)F]hemicholinium-3 by solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique using a cation-exchange CM Sep-Pak cartridge has been well developed. The preliminary evaluation of both tracers through biodistribution studies in 9L-glioma rats has been performed, and the uptakes in the heart and tumor were observed, while very low brain uptake was seen.     

Proteolytic cleavage of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine-labelled nucleoside transporter in human erythrocytes.

The transmembrane topology of the nucleoside transporter of human erythrocytes, which had been covalently photolabelled with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine, was investigated by monitoring the effect of proteinases applied to intact erythrocytes and unsealed membrane preparations. Treatment of unsealed membranes with low concentrations of trypsin and chymotrypsin at 1 degree C cleaved the nucleoside transporter, a band 4.5 polypeptide, apparent Mr 66 000-45 000, to yield two radioactive fragments with apparent Mr 38 000 and 23 000. The fragment of Mr 38 000, in contrast to the Mr 23 000 fragment, migrated as a broad peak (apparent Mr 45 000-31 000) suggesting that carbohydrate was probably attached to this fragment. Similar treatment of intact cells under iso-osmotic saline conditions at 1 degree C had no effect on the apparent Mr of the [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine-labelled band 4.5, suggesting that at least one of the trypsin cleavage sites resulting in the apparent Mr fragments of 38 000 and 23 000 is located at the cytoplasmic surface. However, at low ionic strengths the extracellular region of the nucleoside transporter is susceptible to trypsin proteolysis, indicating that the transporter is a transmembrane protein. In contrast, the extracellular region of the [3H]cytochalasin B-labelled glucose carrier, another band 4.5 polypeptide, was resistant to trypsin digestion. Proteolysis of the glucose transporter at the cytoplasmic surface generated a radiolabelled fragment of Mr 19 000 which was distinct from the Mr 23 000 fragment radiolabelled with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine. The affinity for the reversible binding of [3H]cytochalasin B and [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine to the glucose and nucleoside transporters, respectively, was lowered 2-3-fold following trypsin treatment of unsealed membranes, but the maximum number of inhibitor binding sites was unaffected despite the cleavage of band 4.5 to lower-Mr fragments.     

2,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes as novel h5-HT receptor agonists.

The conformational restriction of a (benzylamino)methyl substituted pyrrolidine to form 2,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes has led to a series of compounds with high affinity at the h5-HT1D receptor as well as dramatically increased concentrations in the hepatic portal vein following oral administration.