A series of novel N-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-indol-1-amines and other heteroaryl analogs was synthesized and evaluated in tests to determine potential utility for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. From these compounds, N-propyl-N-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-indol-1-amine (besipirdine, 4c) was selected for clinical development based on in-depth biological evaluation. In addition to cholinomimetic properties based initially on in vitro inhibition of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding, in vivo reversal of scopolamine-induced behavioral deficits, and subsequently on other results, 4c also displayed enhancement of adrenergic mechanisms as evidenced in vitro by inhibition of [3H] clonidine binding and synaptosomal biogenic amine uptake, and in vivo by reversal of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis. The synthesis, structure-activity relationships for this series, and the biological profile of 4c are reported.
A novel series of substituted (pyrroloamino)pyridines was synthesized, and the compounds were evaluated for cholinomimetic-like properties in vitro (inhibition of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding) and in vivo (reversal of scopolamine-induced dementia) as potential agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Compounds displaying significant activity were more broadly evaluated, which revealed the presence of a desirable adrenergic component of activity. The synthesis and structure-activity relationships for this series is presented, along with the biological profiles of selected compounds.
A series of 5-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolinones was designed and synthesized as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The compounds are related to hyperzine A, a naturally occurring cholinesterase inhibitor. They inhibit acetylcholinesterase in vitro, and many are active in vivo in reversing a scopolamine-induced impairment of 24 h memory in a passive avoidance paradigm. Although these compounds were designed as partial structures of huperzine A, it is unlikely that they bind to the enzyme in a similar fashion, since they lack the unsaturated three-carbon bridge of huperzine A and both the quinolinone nitrogen and the amino group must be substituted in order to obtain good enzyme affinity.
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