Clozapine derived 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,4- and 1,5-benzodiazepines with D4 receptor selectivity: synthesis and biological testing

Recent findings leading to the discovery of selective dopamine D4 receptor ligands for the treatment of widespread diseases

Since its discovery, the dopamine D₄ receptor (D₄R) has been suggested to be an attractive target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases. Novel findings have renewed the interest in such a receptor as an emerging target for the management of different diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, alcohol or substance use disorders, eating disorders, erectile dysfunction and cognitive deficits. The recently resolved crystal structures of D₄R in complexes with the potent ligands nemonapride and L-745870 strongly improved the knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involving the D₄R functions and may help medicinal chemists in drug design. This review is focused on the recent development of the subtype selective D₄R ligands belonging to classical or new chemotypes. Moreover, ligands showing functional selectivity toward G protein activation or β-arrestin recruitment and the effects of selective D₄R ligands on the above-mentioned diseases are discussed.

Solid-phase synthesis of 4,7,8-trisubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-5-ones

Solid-phase synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-5-ones with use of polystyrene resin is described. The starting material was polymer supported 1,2-diaminoethane and as a key synthon, 4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-nitrobenzoic acid was used. The synthetic approach allows the preparation of derivatives with variable substitution at positions 4 and 8. Additionally, a skeletal diversity was increased when the nitro group was reduced and some benzene fused heterocycles were prepared. An expansion of a diazepinone to a benzodiazocinone scaffold was also successful although some limitations in a diversity of target derivatives were observed.

Synthesis and biodistribution of 8-iodo-11-(4-methylpiperazino)-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]-diazepine: Iozapine

8-Iodo-11-(4-methylpiperazino)-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]-diazepine: Iozapine, a potential D(4)-receptor ligand was synthesized using oxidative iodo-destannylation reaction. The preliminary biodistribution studies of radioiodinated iozapine have shown that the compound is taken up in the brains of mice and rabbits.

Microwave-assisted cyclic amidine synthesis using TiCl4

Microwave-assisted treatment of various heterocyclic amides (benzodiazepinone, phthalazone) with TiCl(4) in the presence of primary or secondary amines provides the corresponding amidines. In addition to the interest of the microwaves for this reaction, our study highlights the higher reactivity of the cyclic acetamide moiety compared to the cyclic benzamide moiety towards this TiCl(4)-mediated reaction.