Rational Drug Design Leading to the Identification of a Potent 5-HT(2C) Agonist Lacking 5-HT(2B) Activity

2-Phenylcyclopropylmethylamine (PCPMA) as a privileged scaffold for central nervous system drug design

The use of privileged scaffolds in medicinal chemistry is an effective way to accelerate the drug discovery process, especially at the hit/lead optimization stage. 2-Phenylcyclopropylmethylamine (PCPMA) is a less commonly used chemical scaffold in medicinal chemistry, but many PCPMA-containing compounds exert therapeutic effects for various diseases, in particular central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, sleep disorder, and Parkinson's disease. The backbone of the PCPMA scaffold enables a unique structure of an amino group linked to a benzene ring through an alkyl linker, making it a useful template for the design of bioactive compounds especially for CNS drug targets including aminergic GPCRs and transporters. This review summarizes the medicinal chemistry studies of PCPMA-containing drugs and drug-like molecules, their mechanisms of action, and biological activities. We conclude that PCPMA is a unique and useful privileged scaffold for CNS drug design.

Identification of dual role of piperazine-linked phenyl cyclopropyl methanone as positive allosteric modulator of 5-HT2C and negative allosteric modulator of 5-HT2B receptors

Allosteric modulators of G-protein-coupled receptors have lately gained significant traction in drug discovery. Recent studies have shown that allosteric modulation of serotonin 2C receptor (5-HT_2C) as a viable strategy for the treatment of various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Considering the critical role of 5-HT_2C in the modulation of appetite, a selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of 5-HT_2C offers a new opportunity for anti-obesity therapeutic development. In this study, phenyl cyclopropyl-linked N-heterocycles were synthesized and evaluated at 5-HT_2C for agonist and PAM activity. Our study shows that imidazole linked phenyl cyclopropyl methanones has PAM activity on both 5-HT_2C and serotonin 2B receptor (5-HT_2B). Interestingly, piperazine linked phenyl cyclopropyl methanones (58) was active as PAM of 5-HT_2C (increased the E_max of 5-HT to 139%), and as negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of 5-HT_2B (decreases EC₅₀ of 5-HT 10 times without affecting E_max). Similar effect of compound 58 was observed with synthetic orthosteric agonist lorcaserin on 5-HT_2B. Molecular docking study revealed that all active compounds were binding to the predicted allosteric site on 5-HT_2C and shared a common interacting residues. Finally, compound 58 suppressed food intake in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats similar to lorcaserin after i.c.v. administration. Therefore, these results suggest that piperazine moiety is essential for dual activity (PAM & NAM) of compounds 58, and supports the hypothesis of 5-HT_2C PAM for the treatment of obesity similar to the full agonist.

Discovery of N-Substituted (2-Phenylcyclopropyl)methylamines as Functionally Selective Serotonin 2C Receptor Agonists for Potential Use as Antipsychotic Medications

A series of N-substituted (2-phenylcyclopropyl)methylamines were designed and synthesized, with the aim of finding serotonin 2C (5-HT_2C)-selective agonists with a preference for G_q signaling. A number of these compounds exhibit 5-HT_2C selectivity with a preference for G_q-mediated signaling compared with β-arrestin recruitment. Furthermore, the N-methyl compound (+)-15a, which displayed an EC₅₀ of 23 nM in the calcium flux assay while showing no β-arrestin recruitment activity, is the most functionally selective 5-HT_2C agonist reported to date. The N-benzyl compound (+)-19, which showed an EC₅₀ of 24 nM at the 5-HT_2C receptor, is fully selective over the 5-HT_2B receptor. In an amphetamine-induced hyperactivity model, compound (+)-19 showed significant antipsychotic-drug-like activity. These novel compounds shed light on the role of functional selectivity at the 5-HT_2C receptor with respect to antipsychotic activity.

Design and Discovery of Functionally Selective Serotonin 2C (5-HT2C) Receptor Agonists

On the basis of the structural similarity of our previous 5-HT_2C agonists with the melatonin receptor agonist tasimelteon and the putative biological cross-talk between serotonergic and melatonergic systems, a series of new (2,3-dihydro)benzofuran-based compounds were designed and synthesized. The compounds were evaluated for their selectivity toward 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2B, and 5-HT_2C receptors in the calcium flux assay with the ultimate goal to generate selective 5-HT_2C agonists. Selected compounds were studied for their functional selectivity by comparing their transduction efficiency at the G protein signaling pathway versus β-arrestin recruitment. The most functionally selective compound (+)-7e produced weak β-arrestin recruitment and also demonstrated less receptor desensitization compared to serotonin in both calcium flux and phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis assays. We report for the first time that selective 5-HT_2C agonists possessing weak β-arrestin recruitment can produce distinct receptor desensitization properties.

Molecular mechanisms of serotonergic action of the HIV-1 antiretroviral efavirenz

Efavirenz is highly effective at suppressing HIV-1, and the WHO guidelines list it as a component of the first-line antiretroviral (ARV) therapies for treatment-naïve patients. Though the pharmacological basis is unclear, efavirenz is commonly associated with a risk for neuropsychiatric adverse events (NPAEs) when taken at the prescribed dose. In many patients these NPAEs appear to subside after several weeks of treatment, though long-term studies show that in some patients the NPAEs persist. In a recent study focusing on the abuse potential of efavirenz, its receptor psychopharmacology was reported to include interactions with a number of established molecular targets for known drugs of abuse, and it displayed a prevailing behavioral profile in rodents resembling an LSD-like activity. In this report, we discovered interactions with additional serotonergic targets that may be associated with efavirenz-induced NPAEs. The most robust interactions were with 5-HT3A and 5-HT6 receptors, with more modest interactions noted for the 5-HT2B receptor and monoamine oxidase A. From a molecular mechanistic perspective, efavirenz acts as a 5-HT6 receptor inverse agonist of Gs-signaling, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C antagonist of Gq-signaling, and a blocker of the 5-HT3A receptor currents. Efavirenz also completely or partially blocks agonist stimulation of the M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors, respectively. Schild analysis suggests that efavirenz competes for the same site on the 5-HT2A receptor as two known hallucinogenic partial agonists (±)-DOI and LSD. Prolonged exposure to efavirenz reduces 5-HT2A receptor density and responsiveness to 5-HT. Other ARVs such as zidovudine, nevirapine and emtricitabine did not share the same complex pharmacological profile as efavirenz, though some of them weakly interact with the 5-HT6 receptor or modestly block GABAA currents.

Further Advances in Optimizing (2-Phenylcyclopropyl)methylamines as Novel Serotonin 2C Agonists: Effects on Hyperlocomotion, Prepulse Inhibition, and Cognition Models

A series of novel compounds with two halogen substituents have been designed and synthesized to further optimize the 2-phenylcyclopropylmethylamine scaffold in the quest for drug-like 5-HT2C agonists. Compound (+)-22a was identified as a potent 5-HT2C receptor agonist, with good selectivity against the 5-HT2B and the 5-HT2A receptors. ADMET assays showed that compound (+)-22a possessed desirable properties in terms of its microsomal stability, and CYP and hERG inhibition, along with an excellent brain penetration profile. Evaluation of (+)-22a in animal models of schizophrenia-related behaviors revealed that it had a desirable activity profile, as it reduced d-amphetamine-stimulated hyperlocomotion in the open field test, it restored d-amphetamine-disrupted prepulse inhibition, it induced cognitive improvements in the novel object recognition memory test in NR1-KD animals, and it produced very little catalepsy relative to haloperidol. These data support the further development of (+)-22a as a drug candidate for the treatment of schizophrenia.

We Need 2C but Not 2B: Developing Serotonin 2C (5-HT2C) Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of CNS Disorders

The serotonin 2C (5-HT2C ) receptor has been identified as a potential drug target for the treatment of a variety of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as obesity, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. In this Viewpoint article, recent progress in developing selective 5-HT2C agonists for use in treating these disorders is summarized, including the work of our group. Challenges in this field and the possible future directions are described. Homology modeling as a method to predict the binding modes of 5-HT2C ligands to the receptor is also discussed. Compared to known ligands, the improved pharmacological profiles of the 2-phenylcyclopropylmethylamine-based 5-HT2C agonists make them preferred candidates for further studies.

Design and Synthesis of (2-(5-Chloro-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-yl)cyclopropyl)methanamine as a Selective Serotonin 2C Agonist

A conformationally restricted analog of a selective cyclopropane-bearing serotonin 2C agonist was designed and synthesized. A 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran scaffold was investigated as a constrained variant of a biologically active isopropyl phenyl ether. Construction of the required dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran intermediate began using a procedure that relied on a microwave-assisted alkylation reaction. The synthesis of the designed compound as its HCl salt is reported in a total of 12 steps and 17% overall yield. Biological evaluation revealed the constrained analog to be a selective serotonin 2C agonist with modest potency.

Optimization of 2-phenylcyclopropylmethylamines as selective serotonin 2C receptor agonists and their evaluation as potential antipsychotic agents

The discovery of a new series of compounds that are potent, selective 5-HT2C receptor agonists is described herein as we continue our efforts to optimize the 2-phenylcyclopropylmethylamine scaffold. Modifications focused on the alkoxyl substituent present on the aromatic ring led to the identification of improved ligands with better potency at the 5-HT2C receptor and excellent selectivity against the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors. ADMET studies coupled with a behavioral test using the amphetamine-induced hyperactivity model identified four compounds possessing drug-like profiles and having antipsychotic properties. Compound (+)-16b, which displayed an EC50 of 4.2 nM at 5-HT2C, no activity at 5-HT2B, and an 89-fold selectivity against 5-HT2A, is one of the most potent and selective 5-HT2C agonists reported to date. The likely binding mode of this series of compounds to the 5-HT2C receptor was also investigated in a modeling study, using optimized models incorporating the structures of β2-adrenergic receptor and 5-HT2B receptor.

Imaging evaluation of 5HT2C agonists, [(11)C]WAY-163909 and [(11)C]vabicaserin, formed by Pictet-Spengler cyclization

The serotonin subtype 2C (5HT_2C) receptor is an emerging and promising drug target to treat several disorders of the human central nervous system. In this current report, two potent and selective 5HT_2C full agonists, WAY-163909 (2) and vabicaserin (3), were radiolabeled with carbon-11 via Pictet–Spengler cyclization with [¹¹C]formaldehyde and used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Reaction conditions were optimized to exclude the major source of isotope dilution caused by the previously unknown breakdown of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to formaldehyde at high temperature under mildly acid conditions. In vivo PET imaging was utilized to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and distribution of the carbon-11 labeled 5HT_2C agonists. Both radiolabeled molecules exhibit high blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration and nonspecific binding, which was unaltered by preadministration of the unlabeled agonist. Our work demonstrates that Pictet–Spengler cyclization can be used to label drugs with carbon-11 to study their pharmacokinetics and for evaluation as PET radiotracers.

Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated α'-haloketones through the chemoselective addition of halomethyllithiums to Weinreb amides

A straightforward synthesis of variously functionalized α,β-unsaturated α'-haloketones has been achieved through the chemoselective addition of halomethyllithium carbenoids to Weinreb amides at -78 °C. A comparative study employing the corresponding esters under the same reaction conditions pointed out that the instability of the tetrahedral intermediate formed from the latter is responsible for the observed formation of carbinols instead of the desired haloketones.

An overview of phenylcyclopropylamine derivatives: biochemical and biological significance and recent developments

trans-2-Phencylcyclopropylamine (2-PCPA), a potent, clinically used antidepressant, affects monoamine neurotransmitter levels by inhibiting the main metabolizing enzymes, monoamine oxidases (MAOs). However, the antidepressant action of this compound was not fully explained by its effects on MAOs due to its wide variety of biological effects. 2-PCPA also affects depression-associated pathophysiological pathways, and linked with increased levels of trace amines in brain, upregulation of GABAB receptors (where GABA is gamma amino butyric acid), modulation of phospholipid metabolism, and interference with various cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Consequently, despite its adverse effects and limited clinical applicability, 2-PCPA has attracted interest as a structural scaffold for the development of mechanism-based inhibitors of various enzymes, including lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), which is a possible target for cancer chemotherapy. In the recent years, many reports have appeared in the literature based on 2-PCPA scaffold and their potential medicinal implications. This review mainly focuses on the medicinal chemistry aspects including drug design, structure-activity relationships (SAR), biological and biochemical properties, and mechanism of actions of 2-PCPA and its derivatives. Furthermore, we also highlight recent advance in this area and discuss their future applications for beneficial therapeutic effects.