Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 5-pyrrolidinylquinoxalines as a novel class of peripherally restricted κ-opioid receptor agonists.

Bourgeois C, Werfel E, Galla F, Lehmkuhl K, Torres-Gómez H, Schepmann D, Kögel B, Christoph T, Straßburger W, Englberger W, Soeberdt M, Hüwel S, Galla HJ, Wünsch B (2014) Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 5-pyrrolidinylquinoxalines as a novel class of peripherally restricted κ-opioid receptor agonists. J Med Chem 57(15), 6845-6860.

Abstract

5-Pyrrolidinyl substituted perhydroquinoxalines were designed as conformationally restricted κ-opioid receptor agonists restricted to the periphery. The additional N atom of the quinoxaline system located outside the ethylenediamine κ pharmacophore allows the fine-tuning of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. The perhydroquinoxalines were synthesized stereoselectively using the concept of late stage diversification of the central building blocks 14. In addition to high κ-opioid receptor affinity they demonstrate high selectivity over μ, δ, σ1, σ2, and NMDA receptors. In the [35S]GTPγS assay full agonism was observed. Because of their high polarity, the secondary amines 14a (log D7.4=0.26) and 14b (log D7.4=0.21) did not penetrate an artificial blood-brain barrier. 14b was able to inhibit the spontaneous pain reaction after rectal mustard oil application to mice (ED50=2.35 mg/kg). This analgesic effect is attributed to activation of peripherally located κ receptors, since 14b did not affect centrally mediated referred allodynia and hyperalgesia.

Leibniz-HKI-Authors

Héctor Torres-Gomez

Identifier

doi: 10.1021/jm500940q

PMID: 25062506