In order to target behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), we used molecular modeling-assisted design to obtain novel multifunctional arylsulfonamide derivatives that potently antagonize 5-HT(6/7/2A) and D2 receptors, without interacting with M1 receptors and hERG channels. In vitro studies confirmed their antagonism of 5-HT(7/2A) and D2 receptors and weak interactions with key antitargets (M1R and hERG) associated with side effects. Marked 5-HT6 receptor affinities were also observed, notably for 6-fluoro-3-(piperidin-4-yl)-1,2-benzoxazole derivatives connected by a 3-4 unit alkyl linker with mono- or bicyclic, lipophilic arylsulfonamide moieties. N-[4-[4-(6-Fluoro-1,2-benzoxazol-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]butyl]benzothiophene-2-sulfonamide (72) was characterized in vitro on 14 targets and antitargets. It displayed dual blockade of 5-HT6 and D2 receptors and negligible interactions at hERG and M1 receptors. Unlike reference antipsychotics, 72 displayed marked antipsychotic and antidepressant activity in rats after oral administration, in the absence of cognitive or motor impairment. This profile is particularly attractive when targeting a fragile, elderly BPSD patient population.
A series of new long-chain arylpiperazine (LCAP) derivatives with flexible and partly constrained alkyl linker were synthesized and investigated in vitro as potential serotonin 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(7) receptor ligands. The compounds were prepared by a two-step procedure using naphthalimide and 2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2,4(3H)-dione as imides, and 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (o-OMe-PhP) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) as amine pharmacophores. Modifications of the spacer structure included introduction of flexible penta- and hexamethylene chains as well as partly constrained m- and p-xylyl moieties. In general, the new compounds were more active at the 5-HT(1A) than at the 5-HT(7) receptor, and the o-OMe-PhP derivatives displayed higher affinities than their respective THIQ analogs. The spacer modifications had little effect on the observed in vitro activities. Within the o-OMe-PhP series, except for a small binding reduction for ligands containing the m-xylyl moiety, there was no substantial change in the compounds' potency at both receptors, while for the THIQ derivatives a clear structure-activity relationship was visible only for the interaction of the compounds with the 5-HT(7) receptor, which strongly favored flexible analogs.
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