Exploring thienothiadiazine dioxides as isosteric analogues of benzo- and pyridothiadiazine dioxides in the search of new AMPA and kainate receptor positive allosteric modulators

The synthesis and biological evaluation on AMPA and kainate receptors of new examples of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-thieno[3,2-e]-1,2,4-thiadiazine 1,1-dioxides is described. The introduction of a cyclopropyl chain instead of an ethyl chain at the 4-position of the thiadiazine ring was found to dramatically improve the potentiator activity on AMPA receptors, with compound 32 (BPAM395) expressing in vitro activity on AMPARs (EC2x = 0.24 μM) close to that of the reference 4-cyclopropyl-substituted benzothiadiazine dioxide 10 (BPAM344). Interestingly, the 4-allyl-substituted thienothiadiazine dioxide 27 (BPAM307) emerged as the most promising compound on kainate receptors being a more effective potentiator than the 4-cyclopropyl-substituted thienothiadiazine dioxide 32 and supporting the view that the 4-allyl substitution of the thiadiazine ring could be more favorable than the 4-cyclopropyl substitution to induce marked activity on kainate receptors versus AMPA receptors. The thieno-analogue 36 (BPAM279) of the clinically tested S18986 (11) was selected for in vivo evaluation in mice as a cognitive enhancer due to a safer profile than 32 after massive per os drug administration. Compound 36 was found to increase the cognition performance in mice at low doses (1 mg/kg) per os suggesting that the compound was well absorbed after oral administration and able to reach the central nervous system. Finally, compound 32 was selected for co-crystallization with the GluA2-LBD (L504Y,N775S) and glutamate to examine the binding mode of thienothiadiazine dioxides within the allosteric binding site of the AMPA receptor. At the allosteric site, this compound established similar interactions as the previously reported BTD-type AMPA receptor modulators.

New insights in the development of positive allosteric modulators of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors belonging to 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides: Introduction of (mono/difluoro)methyl groups at the 2-position of the thiadiazine ring

Positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA receptors (AMPAR PAMs) have been proposed as new drugs for the management of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. The present study explored new AMPAR PAMs belonging to 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides (BTDs) characterized by the presence of a short alkyl substituent at the 2-position of the heterocycle and by the presence or absence of a methyl group at the 3-position. The introduction of a monofluoromethyl or a difluoromethyl side chain at the 2-position instead of the methyl group was examined. 7-Chloro-4-cyclopropyl-2-fluoromethyl-3,4-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (15e) emerged as the most promising compound associating high in vitro potency on AMPA receptors, a favorable safety profile in vivo and a marked efficacy as a cognitive enhancer after oral administration in mice. Stability studies in aqueous medium suggested that 15e could be considered, at least in part, as a precursor of the corresponding 2-hydroxymethyl-substituted analogue and the known AMPAR modulator 7-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-3,4-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (3) devoid of an alkyl group at the 2-position.

Synthesis and Pharmacology of Mono-, Di-, and Trialkyl-Substituted 7-Chloro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-Dioxides Combined with X-ray Structure Analysis to Understand the Unexpected Structure-Activity Relationship at AMPA Receptors

Positive allosteric modulators of 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionic acid (AMPA)-type ionotropic glutamate receptors are promising compounds for treatment of neurological disorders, for example, Alzheimer's disease. Here, we report synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a series of mono-, di-, or trialkyl-substituted 7-chloro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides, comprising in total 16 new modulators. The trisubstituted compounds 7b, 7d, and 7e revealed potent activity (EC2× = 2.7-4.3 μM; concentration of compound responsible for a 2-fold increase of the AMPA mediated response) as AMPA receptor potentiators in an in vitro cellular fluorescence assay (FLIPR). The 4-cyclopropyl compound 7f was found to be considerably less potent (EC2× = 60 μM), in contrast to previously described 4-monoalkyl-substituted benzothiadiazine dioxides for which the cyclopropyl group constitutes the best choice of substituent. 7b was subjected to X-ray structural analysis in complex with the GluA2 ligand-binding domain. We propose an explanation of the unexpected structure-activity relationship of this new series of mono-, di-, and trialkyl-substituted 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide compounds. The methyl substituent in the 3-position directs the binding mode of the 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (BTD) scaffold. When a methyl substituent is present in the 3-position of the BTD, additional methyl substituents in both the 2- and 4-positions increase potency, whereas introduction of a 4-cyclopropyl group does not enhance potency of 2,3,4-alkyl-substituted BTDs. A hydrogen bond donor in the 2-position of the BTD is not necessary for modulator potency.

Ring-fused thiadiazines as core structures for the development of potent AMPA receptor potentiators

Amongst ionotropic glutamatergic receptors, the AMPA receptor subtype has been recognized as a major contributor to the fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system and the expression and maintenance of longterm potentiation. This receptor subtype also represents an interesting target to develop innovative therapeutic drugs such as positive allosteric modulators (AMPA receptor potentiators) since the enhancement of AMPA signals is expected to be beneficial in the management of several neurological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and learning-memory deficits linked to Alzheimer's disease. This article is dedicated to the use of (hetero) aromatic ring-fused thiadiazines (i.e. benzo- pyrido- and thienothiadiazines) as core structures for the discovery of new positive allosteric modulators of AMPA receptors. Recent advances exploring other chemotypes in the field of AMPA potentiators is the object of a separate review of the present issue.

Chloro-substituted 3-alkylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides as ATP-sensitive potassium channel activators: impact of the position of the chlorine atom on the aromatic ring on activity and tissue selectivity

The synthesis of 5-chloro-, 6-chloro-, and 8-chloro-substituted 3-alkylamino/cycloalkylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides is described. Their inhibitory effect on the insulin releasing process and their vasorelaxant activity was compared to that of previously reported 7-chloro-3-alkylamino/cycloalkylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides. "5-Chloro" compounds were found to be essentially inactive on both the insulin-secreting and the smooth muscle cells. By contrast, "8-chloro" and "6-chloro" compounds were found to be active on insulin-secreting cells, with the "6-chloro" derivatives emerging as the most potent drugs. Moreover, the "6-chloro" analogues exhibited less myorelaxant activity than their "7-chloro" counterparts. 8-Chloro-3-isopropylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (25b) and 6-chloro-3-cyclobutylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (19e) were further identified as K(ATP) channel openers by radioisotopic measurements conducted on insulin-secreting cells. Likewise, current recordings on HEK293 cells expressing human SUR1/Kir6.2 channels confirmed the highly potent activity of 19e (EC(50) = 80 nM) on such types of K(ATP) channels. The present work indicates that 6-chloro-3-alkylamino/cycloalkylamino-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides appear to be more attractive than their previously described 7-chloro-substituted analogues as original drugs activating the SUR1/Kir6.2 K(ATP) channels.

In search of novel AMPA potentiators

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Amongst ionotropic receptors responding to glutamate, the AMPA subtype has been considered as essential for the fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system and the expression and maintenance of long-term potentiation. As glutamate is known to be involved in many neurological and psychiatric disorders, AMPA receptors seem to represent interesting targets to develop therapeutic drugs. Hence, the enhancement of AMPA signals is an approach currently investigated for the management of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia or mood disorders. In particular, many efforts are being conducted in the development of AMPA positive allosteric modulators ("potentiators"), which alter the rate of receptor desensitization. The major chemical families developed as AMPA potentiators are aniracetam derivatives, cyclothiazide derivatives and biarylpropylsulfonamides derivatives.

Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacology of Novel 7-Substituted 3,4-Dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-Dioxides as Positive Allosteric Modulators of AMPA Receptors

A series of 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides have been synthesized and evaluated as potentiators of AMPA receptors. Attention was paid to the impact of the substituent introduced at the 7-position of the heterocycle. The biological evaluation was achieved by measuring the AMPA current in rat cortex mRNA-injected Xenopus oocytes. The most potent compound, 4-ethyl-7-fluoro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (12a) was found to be active in an object recognition test in rats demonstrating cognition enhancing effects in vivo after oral administration.