A series of (isoxazole)methylene-1-azacyclic compounds was prepared. The compounds were tested for affinity to central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and central muscarinic receptors. The compounds covered a broad range of affinities for the nAChRs (IC(50) = 0.32 to >1000 nM), with selectivities for the nAChRs over the muscarinic receptors in the range of 3-183. The high-affinity compound (Z)-26 (3-(4-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)methylene-1-azabicyclo[2.2. 2]octane, IC(50) = 3.2 nM) having only one energy minimum was used as the reference structure in a computational study. This ligand has enabled definition of an important distance parameter, and the existence of this parameter was supported by showing that other potent nicotinic ligands (for example, nicotine and epibatidine) fit the model.
A study of a series of compounds with agonistic effect at the alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors resulted in an improved pharmacophore model as well as a CoMFA model. The pharmacophore was composed of three pharmacophoric elements: (1) a site point (a) corresponding to a protonated nitrogen atom, (2) a site point (b) corresponding to an electronegative atom capable of forming a hydrogen bond, and (3) the centre of a heteroaromatic ring or a C=O bond (c). The pharmacophoric elements were related by the following parameters: (a-b) 7.3-8.0 A, (a-c) 6.5-7.4 A, and the angle between the two distance vectors (delta bac) 30.4-35.8 degrees. In addition to this, a stereoselective CoMFA model was developed, which showed good predictability even for compound classes not present in the training set.
[reaction: see text] Pyrrolidine-2,4-diones (1) are naturally occurring analogues of amino acids. We herein present a facile synthesis of N-acylated, O-alkylated pyrrolin-2-ones (2) in high yield and excellent enantiopurity. Molecular mechanics calculations suggest that the resulting dipeptide analogues adopt a linear, extended conformation.
The total synthesis of hippadine by a tandem metalation/cross-coupling/lactamization strategy was investigated starting from either 7-bromoindole or a 6-halogenated methyl piperonate. The Kumada and Negishi cross-coupling reactions failed to provide any of the desired product. However, the Stille and Suzuki reactions furnished hippadine in low yields starting from the electron-deficient methyl 6-iodo- and 6-bromopiperonate, respectively. Starting from the metalated indole, only the Suzuki reaction occurred, affording hippadine in 67-74% and pratosine in 62% isolated yield.
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