The discovery of tropane derivatives as nociceptin receptor ligands for the management of cough and anxiety

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2009 May 1;19(9):2519-23. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.03.031. Epub 2009 Mar 14.

Abstract

The discovery of 1 as a high-affinity ligand for the nociceptin receptor has led to the synthesis of a series of tropane (8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane) derivatives as optimized ligands. These compounds exhibit high affinity for the nociceptin receptor, moderate to excellent selectivity over the opioid mu receptor, and behave as full agonists. In this Letter, we present the synthesis and highlight the structure-activity relationship of tropane derivatives culminating in the identification of 24 and 32 as potent and orally active antitussive and anxiolytic agents. The in vitro and in vivo activities, pharmacokinetic profile, and the hPXR activity, which predicts the potential 3A4 induction in human, are disclosed.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology
  • Antitussive Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antitussive Agents / pharmacology
  • Anxiety / drug therapy*
  • Capsaicin / chemistry
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods
  • Cough / drug therapy*
  • Drug Design
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Humans
  • Ligands*
  • Nociceptin Receptor
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Receptors, Opioid / chemistry
  • Receptors, Steroid / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tropanes / chemical synthesis*
  • Tropanes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Antitussive Agents
  • Ligands
  • Pregnane X Receptor
  • Receptors, Opioid
  • Receptors, Steroid
  • Tropanes
  • Capsaicin
  • Nociceptin Receptor