5-HT1A-versus D2-receptor selectivity of flesinoxan and analogous N4-substituted N1-arylpiperazines.

We investigated the structural requirements for high 5-HT1A affinity of the agonist flesinoxan and its selectivity versus D2 receptors. For this purpose a series of arylpiperazine congeners of flesinoxan were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to displace [3H]-8-OH-DPAT and [3H]spiperone from their specific binding sites in rat frontal cortex homogenates and rat striatum, respectively. Variations were made in the N4-substituent and the arylpiperazine region. Effects of N4-substitution in the investigated compounds appeared to be quite similar for 5-HT1A- and D2-receptor affinity. Lipophilicity at a distance of four carbon atoms from the piperazine N4 atom seems to be the main contributing factor to affinity for both receptors. Our data show that the amide group in the flesinoxan N4-substituent is unlikely to interact with the 5-HT1A receptor but, instead, acts as a spacer. In contrast to the structure-affinity relationships (SARs) of the N4-substituents, selectivity for 5-HT1A versus D2 receptors was gained by the arylpiperazine substitution pattern of flesinoxan. Restriction of flexibility of the N4-(benzoylamino)ethyl substituent and its effect on 5-HT1A-receptor affinity and activity were also studied. Our data show that in the bioactive conformation, the N4-[(p-fluorobenzoyl)amino]ethyl substituent is probably directed anti-periplanar relative to the HN4 atom. These results were used to dock flesinoxan (1) and two of its congeners (27 and 33) into a model of the 5-HT1A receptor that we previously reported. Amino acid residues surrounding the N4-[(p-fluorobenzoyl)amino]ethyl substituent of flesinoxan and its congeners are also present in D2 receptors. In contrast, several residues that contact the benzodioxane moiety differ from those in D2 receptors. These observations from the 3D model agree with the 5-HT1A SAR data and probably account for the selectivity of flesinoxan versus D2 receptors.

N6,C8-distributed adenosine derivatives as partial agonists for adenosine A1 receptors.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of N6, C8-disubstituted derivatives of adenosine as potential partial agonists for adenosine receptors is described. Via three routes, two series of compounds were prepared, viz., N6-cyclopentyladenosine derivatives 3a-e and C8-(cyclopentylamino)adenosine analogs 3e and 9a-d, respectively. The X-ray structure determination of one of these compounds, N6-ethyl-8(cyclopentylamino)adenosine (9b), was carried out (orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) (No. 19) with a = 11.039(3), b = 8.708(2), and c = 24.815(12) angstrom, Z=4,R1=0.0974,R2(W) = 0.2455). Due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding, the ribose moiety of this compound is in an anti conformation. The compounds were tested in vitro in radioligand binding studies, yielding their affinities for A1 and A2a adenosine receptors. All compounds appeared A1 selective, with affinities in the high nanomolar, low micromolar range. On A1 receptors the so-called GTP shift was also determined, i.e., the ratio between the affinities measured in the presence and absence of 1 mM GTP. All GTP shifts (values between 1.1 and 3.8) were lower than the GTP shift for CPA (6.0). This GTP shift appeared indicative for partial agonism in vivo, since the N6-cyclopentyladenosine derivatives showed lower intrinsic activities than the prototypic full agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine on the decrease in heart rate in conscious, normotensive rats.