N-(3-fluoro-4-(4-(2,3-dichloro- or 2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-yl)-butyl)-aryl carboxamides were prepared and evaluated for binding and function at dopamine D3 (D3R) and D2 receptors (D2R). In this series, we discovered some of the most D3R selective compounds reported to date, (e.g. 8d and 8j >1000-fold D3R-selective over D2R.) In addition, chimeric receptor studies further identified the second extracellular (E2) loop as an important contributor to D3R binding selectivity. Further, compounds lacking the carbonyl group in the amide linker were synthesized and while these amine-linked analogues bound with similar affinities to the amides at D2R, this modification dramatically reduced binding affinities at D3R by >100-fold (e.g. D3RKi for 15b = 393 v. for 8j = 2.6 nM) resulting in compounds with significantly reduced D3R selectivity. This study supports a pivotal role for the D3R E2 loop and the carbonyl group in the 4-phenylpiperazine class of compounds and further reveals a point of separation between structure-activity relationships at D3R and D2R.

ABSTRACT:We previously reported on the synthesis of substituted phenyl-4-hydroxy-1-piperidyl indole analogues with nanomolar affinity at D2 dopamine receptors, ranging from 10-to 100-fold selective for D2 compared to the D3 dopamine receptor subtype. More recently, we evaluated a panel of aripiprazole analogues, identifying several analogues that also exhibit D2 vs D3 dopamine receptor binding selectivity. These studies further characterize the intrinsic efficacy of the compound with the greatest binding selectivity from each chemical class, 1-((5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-4-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)piperidin-4-ol (SV 293) and 7-(4-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)butoxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (SV-III-130s), using an adenylyl cyclase inhibition assay, a G-protein-coupled inward-rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel activation assay, and a cell based phospho-MAPK (pERK1/2) assay. SV 293 was found to be a neutral antagonist at D2 dopamine receptors using all three assays. SV-III-130s is a partial agonist using an adenylyl cyclase inhibition assay but an antagonist in the GIRK and phospho ERK1/2 assays. To define the molecular basis for the binding selectivity, the affinity of these two compounds was evaluated using (a) wild type human D2 and D3 receptors and (b) a panel of chimeric D2/D3 dopamine receptors. Computer-assisted modeling techniques were used to dock these compounds to the human D2 and D3 dopamine receptor subtypes. It is hoped that these studies on D2 receptor selective ligands will be useful in the future design of (a) receptor selective ligands used to define the function of D2-like receptor subtypes, (b) novel pharmacotherapeutic agents, and/or (c) in vitro and in vivo imaging agents. KEYWORDS: Dopamine receptors, binding selectivity, functional selectivity, GPCR structure, D2-like dopamine receptors, GPCR model building, ligand−receptor docking T here are three dopaminergic pathways in the brain: the nigrostriatal pathway, the mesocorticolimbic pathway, and the tuberoinfundibular pathway. These pathways are involved in movement coordination, cognition, emotion, memory, reward, and regulation of prolactin secretion. Alterations in the dopaminergic pathways are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurological, neuropsychiatric, and hormonal disorders. 1−6 Modulation of the dopaminergic pathways is also thought to occur as a consequence of acute or chronic abuse of pyschostimulants. 7,8 Previous studies have defined two types of dopamine receptors, the D1-like (D1 and D5 subtypes) and D2-like (D2, D3, and D4 subtypes) receptors. D1-like receptors are linked to the activation of adenylyl cyclase via coupling to the Gs/Golf class of G proteins. 9 Stimulation of the D2-like receptors results in coupling with the Gi/Go class of G proteins, leading to the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity. 10,11 Agonist activation of D2-like receptors can also lead to (a) activation of G-protein-coupled inward rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, (b) stimulation of mitogenesis, (c) an increase in...

A series of N-(2-methoxyphenyl)homopiperazine analogs was prepared and their affinities for dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptors were measured using competitive radioligand binding assays. Several ligands exhibited high binding affinity and selectivity for the D3 dopamine receptor compared to the D2 receptor subtype. Compounds 11a, 11b, 11c, 11f, 11j and 11k had Ki values ranging from 0.7–3.9 nM for the D3 receptor with 30- to 170-fold selectivity for the D3 vs. D2 receptor. Calculated log P values (log P = 2.6–3.6) are within the desired range for passive transport across the blood brain barrier. When the binding and the intrinsic efficacy of these phenylhomopiperazines was compared to those of previously published phenylpiperazine analogues, it was found that a) affinity at D2 and D3 dopamine receptors generally decreased, b) the D3 receptor binding selectivity (D2:D3 Ki value ratio) decreased and, c) the intrinsic efficacy, measured using a forskolin-dependent adenylyl cyclase inhibition assay, generally increased.

A series of 2-methoxyphenyl piperazine analogues containing a triazole ring were synthesized and their in vitro binding affinities at human dopamine D2 and D3 receptors were evaluated. Compounds 5b, 5c, 5d, and 4g, demonstrate high affinity for dopamine D3 receptors and moderate selectivity for the dopamine D3 versus D2 receptor subtypes. To further examine their potential as therapeutic agents, their intrinsic efficacy at both D2 and D3 receptors was determined using a forskolin-dependent adenylyl cyclase inhibition assay. Affinity at dopamine D4 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors was also determined. In addition, information from previous molecular modeling studies of the binding of a panel of 163 structurally-related benzamide analogues at dopamine D2 and D3 receptors was applied to this series of compounds. The results of the modeling studies were consistent with our previous experimental data. More importantly, the modeling study results explained why the replacement of the amide linkage with the hetero-aromatic ring leads to a reduction in the affinity of these compounds at D3 receptors.

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Most of the title compounds (I)‐(III) exhibit significant anthelmintic activities against Eudrilus species.

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