title: Novel ligands for the opioid receptors: synthesis and structure-activity relationships among 5'-aryl and 5'-heteroaryl 17-cyclopropylmethyl-4,5 alpha-epoxypyrido[2',3':6,7]morphinans.
abstract: A series of pyridomorphinans possessing an aryl (10a-s) or heteroaryl (11a-h) substituent at the 5'-position of the pyridine ring of 17-cyclopropylmethyl-4,5 alpha-epoxypyrido[2',3':6,7]morphinan was synthesized and evaluated for binding and functional activity at the opioid delta, mu, and kappa receptors. All of these pyridomorphinans bound with higher affinity at the delta site than at mu or kappa sites. The binding data on isomeric compounds revealed that there exists greater bulk tolerance for substituents placed at the o-position of the phenyl ring than at m- or p-positions. Among the ligands examined, the 2-chlorophenyl (10l), 2-nitrophenyl (10n), 2-pyridyl (11a), and 4-quinolinyl (11g) compounds bound to the delta receptor with subnanomolar affinity. Compound 10c with the p-tolyl substituent displayed the highest mu/delta selectivity (ratio=42) whereas compound 10l with the 2-chlorophenyl substituent displayed the highest kappa/delta selectivity (ratio=23). At 10 microM concentration, the in vitro functional activity determined using [(35)S]GTP-gamma-S binding assays showed that all of the compounds were antagonists devoid of any significant agonist activity at the delta, mu, and kappa receptors. Antagonist potency determinations of three selected ligands revealed that the p-tolyl compound 10c is a potent delta selective antagonist. In the [(35)S]GTP-gamma-S assays this compound had a functional antagonist K(i) value of 0.2, 4.52, and 7.62 nM at the delta, mu, and kappa receptors, respectively. In the smooth muscle assays 10c displayed delta antagonist potency with a K(e) value of 0.88 nM. As an antagonist, it was 70-fold more potent at the delta receptors in the MVD than at the mu receptors in the GPI. The in vitro delta antagonist profile of this pyridomorphinan 10c resembles that of the widely used delta selective antagonist ligand naltrindole.
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Department, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL 35255, USA. ananthan@sri.org
authors.forename: Subramaniam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ananthan
authors.forename: Naveen K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Khare
authors.forename: Surendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.forename: Peg
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dersch
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porreca
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rothman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008024:Ligands; D009019:Morphinans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D051381:Rats; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D009019:Morphinans; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu