Benzodioxoles: novel cannabinoid-1 receptor inverse agonists for the treatment of obesity

J Med Chem. 2008 Apr 10;51(7):2115-27. doi: 10.1021/jm701487t. Epub 2008 Mar 13.

Abstract

The application of the evolutionary fragment-based de novo design tool TOPology Assigning System (TOPAS), starting from a known CB1R (CB-1 receptor) ligand, followed by further refinement principles, including pharmacophore compliance, chemical tractability, and drug likeness, allowed the identification of benzodioxoles as a novel CB1R inverse agonist series. Extensive multidimensional optimization was rewarded by the identification of promising lead compounds, showing in vivo activity. These compounds reversed the CP-55940-induced hypothermia in Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice and reduced body-weight gain, as well as fat mass, in diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats. Herein, we disclose the tools and strategies that were employed for rapid hit identification, synthesis and generation of structure-activity relationships, ultimately leading to the identification of (+)-[( R)-2-(2,4-dichloride-phenyl)-6-fluoro-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl]-morpholin-4-yl-methanone ( R)-14g . Biochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic characteristics of ( R)-14g are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzodioxoles / administration & dosage*
  • Benzodioxoles / chemical synthesis
  • Benzodioxoles / chemistry
  • Benzodioxoles / pharmacology*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclohexanols / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclohexanols / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia / chemically induced
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microsomes / drug effects
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / agonists*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • (2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-6-fluoro-2-(4-fluorophenyl)benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl)morpholin-4-ylmethanone
  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Benzodioxoles
  • Cyclohexanols
  • Ligands
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • 3-(2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl)-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol