ABSTRACT
A 5-fluoro-tetrahydrocarbazole serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) building block was combined with a variety of linkers and dopamine D2 receptor ligands in an attempt to identify potent D2 partial agonist/SRI molecules for treatment of schizophrenia. This approach has the potential to treat a broader range of symptoms compared to existing therapies. Selected compounds in this series demonstrate high affinity for both targets and D2 partial agonism in cell-based and in vivo assays.
Subject(s)
Carbazoles/chemistry , Dopamine Agonists/chemistry , Receptors, Dopamine D2/agonists , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/chemistry , Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists , Animals , Carbazoles/chemical synthesis , Carbazoles/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Dopamine Agonists/chemical synthesis , Dopamine Agonists/pharmacology , Rats , Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A/metabolism , Receptors, Dopamine D2/metabolism , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/pharmacologyABSTRACT
A novel series of substituted sulfanyldihydroimidazolones (1) that modulates high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been reported to have HDL-elevating properties in several animal models. Concerns about the chemical and metabolic stability of 1 directed us to explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a related series of substituted thiohydantoins (2). Expansion of the scope of the thiohydantoin series led to exploration of compounds in related thio-containing ring systems 3-7 and the N-cyanoguanidine derivative 8. Compounds were tested sequentially in three animal models to assess their HDL-C elevating efficacy and safety profiles. Further evaluation of selected compounds in a dose-response paradigm culminated in the identification of compound 2.39 as a candidate compound for advanced preclinical studies.
