There is preclinical evidence supporting the finding that the GABA(B) receptor orthosteric agonist, baclofen, has significant effects on eating behavior suggesting the potential therapeutic application of this compound for the treatment of eating related disorders. However, the wide clinical use of baclofen might be limited by the appearance of sedative and motor impairment effects. The identification of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABA(B) receptors represents a novel therapeutic approach to reduce the centrally-mediated adverse effects typical of the GABA(B) receptor orthosteric agonist. In the present work, we report the in vitro profile of a novel chemical structure, 2-{1-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-2-piperidinyl}ethanol (CMPPE) identified by screening the GSK compound collection. CMPPE potentiates GABA-stimulated [(35)S]GTPγS binding to membranes of human recombinant cell line and of rat brain cortex. GABA concentration-response curves (CRC) in the presence of fixed concentrations of CMPPE, in rat native tissue, revealed an increase of both the potency and maximal efficacy of GABA. A similar modulatory effect was observed in GABA(B) receptor-mediated activation of inwardly rectifying potassium channels in hippocampal neurons. CMPPE (30-100 mg/kg) and GS39783 (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased food consumption in rat without impairment on the animal locomotor activity. On the contrary, baclofen (2.5 mg/kg) decreased both food intake and motor performance. All together these findings confirm the role of GABA(B) system in controlling animal food intake and for the first time demonstrate that GABA(B) receptor PAMs may represent a novel pharmacological approach to treat eating disorders without unwanted sedative effects.

A new synthetic pathway to the final compound 1-[(1S)-5’,11’-dihydrospiro[cyclopentane-1,10’-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten]-3-yl]-3-azetidinecarboxylic acid (1) was set up. The two preparative chiral HPLC separations needed in the first route were successfully avoided and replaced by two diastereomeric crystallizations of intermediate compounds 5 and 10.

5-{2-[4-(2-Methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-2(1H)-quinolinones and 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones have been identified with different combinations of 5-HT1 autoreceptor antagonist and hSerT potencies and excellent rat PK profiles. The availability of tool compounds with a range of profiles at targets known to play a key role in the control of synaptic 5-HT levels will allow exploration of different pharmacological profiles in a range of animal behavioral and disease models.

A novel imidazobenzazepine template (5a) with potent dual H(1)/5-HT(2A) antagonist activity was identified. Application of a zwitterionic approach to this poorly selective and poorly developable starting point successfully delivered a class of high quality leads, 3-[4-(3-R(1)-2-R-5H-imidazo[1,2-b][2]benzazepin-11-yl)-1-piperazinyl]-2,2-dimethylpropanoic acids (e.g., 9, 19, 20, and 21), characterized by potent and balanced H(1)/5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist activities and good developability profiles.

Sweet dreams are made of this! Spirotetracyclic derivatives designed from mirtazapine and mianserin were synthesized and key examples were evaluated in vitro. A potent dual 5HT2A and H1 receptor antagonist has been identified as an appealing lead to identify potential drug candidates for the treatment of sleep disorders. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Histamine H(1) and serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptors mediate two different mechanisms involved in sleep regulation: H(1) antagonists are sleep inducers, while 5-HT(2A) antagonists are sleep maintainers. Starting from 9'a, a novel spirotetracyclic compound endowed with good H(1)/5-HT(2A) potency but poor selectivity, very high Cli, and a poor P450 profile, a specific optimization strategy was set up. In particular, we investigated the possibility of introducing appropriate amino acid moieties to optimize the developability profile of the series. Following this zwitterionic approach, we were able to identify several advanced leads (51, 65, and 73) with potent dual H(1)/5-HT(2A) activity and appropriate developability profiles. These compounds exhibited efficacy as hypnotic agents in a rat telemetric sleep model with minimal effective doses in the range 3-10 mg/kg po.

Bioisoteric replacement of the metabolically labile N-methyl amide group of a series of benzoxazinones with small heterocyclic rings has led to novel series of fused tricyclic benzoxazines which are potent 5-HT1A/B/D receptor antagonists with and without concomitant human serotonin transporter (hSerT) activity. Optimizing against multiple parameters in parallel identified 6-{2-[4-(2-methyl-5-quinolinyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-4H-imidazo[5,1-c][1,4]benzoxazine-3-carboxamide (GSK588045) as a potent 5-HT1A/B/D receptor antagonist with a high degree of selectivity over human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channels, favorable pharmacokinetics, and excellent activity in vivo in rodent pharmacodynamic (PD) models. On the basis of its outstanding overall profile, this compound was progressed as a clinical candidate with the ultimate aim to assess its potential as a faster acting antidepressant/anxiolytic with reduced side-effect burden.

8-[2-(4-Aryl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl]-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-ones have been identified as highly potent 5-HT(1A/B/D) receptor antagonists with and without additional SerT activity and a high degree of selectivity over hERG potassium channels. Modulation of the different target activities gave compounds with a range of profiles suitable for further in vivo characterization.

A useful microwave-assisted synthesis of γ-nitro-α-amino esters and corresponding acids, under mild conditions and without solvent, is described. The desired products were obtained via Michael addition from methyl N-(diphenylmethylene)-2,3-didehydroalaninate and commercially available nitroalkanes.

Synthesis of g-Nitro-a-Amino Ester and Acid Derivatives R berto Ballini,*a Cesare Balsamini,b Francesca Bartoccini,b Massimo Gianotti,b Chiara Martinelli, b Nicoletta Savoretti a Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche dell’Università, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy b Istituto di Chimica Farmaceutica, Università degli Studi di Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’, Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy Fax +39(0737)402297; E-mail: roberto.ballini@unicam.it Received 27 August 2004

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

A straightforward method for the synthesis of alkylidene/arylidene malonates and arylidene cyanoacetates, utilizing proline as an alternative to traditional catalysts is presented. A large number of unsaturated esters was obtained from the Knoevenagel reaction under very mild conditions and utilizing cheap reagents.

The conjugate addition of O-benzylhydroxylamine and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)hydroxylamine to alkylidene and arylidene malonates in the presence of Lewis acids affords the corresponding β-hydroxylamino derivatives in good yields. The use of Cu(OTf)2 in the presence of chiral bisoxazoline ligands opens the possibility of performing this reaction in a catalytic and enantioselective way.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

The conjugate additions of homochiral lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methyl-4-methoxybenzylimide to tert-butyl 3-(3-pyridyl)- and tert-butyl 3-(4-pyridyl)-prop-2-enoates proceed in 84% de, and after subsequent recrystallisation and oxidative N-deprotection furnish the (S)-3-(3-pyridyl)- and (S)-3-(4-pyridyl)-beta-amino acid derivatives in 97% ee and 98% ee respectively. Conjugate additions of lithium N-benzyl-N-alpha-methyl-4-methoxybenzylamide to tert-butyl 3-(2-pyridyl)prop-2-enoates proceed with low levels of diastereoselectivity unless the 3-(2-pyridyl) ring is substituted. Application of this methodology allows the asymmetric synthesis of (R)-tert-butyl 3-(2-chloro-3-methoxymethoxy-6-pyridyl)-3-aminopropanoate. the protected beta-amino ester component of kedarcidin, in 97% ee.