title: GABA receptor antagonists and insecticides: common structural features of 4-alkyl-1-phenylpyrazoles and 4-alkyl-1-phenyltrioxabicyclooctanes.
abstract: Fipronil [5-amino-3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-trifluoromethylsulfinylpyrazole] is one of the most important insecticides. Structure-activity studies described here reveal that fipronil retains its very high binding potency at the human beta3 and house fly gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and toxicity to house flies on replacing the pyrazole trifluoromethylsulfinyl moiety with tert-butyl or isopropyl and the phenyl trifluoromethyl substituent with ethynyl, trifluoromethoxy, bromo or chloro. Among the compounds studied, those with other alkyl groups at the 4-position of the pyrazole, as well as phenyl substitution without one or both of the 2,6-dichloro groups, are less effective. 5-Amino-4-tert-butyl-3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-ethynylphenyl)pyrazole is highly effective and almost isosteric with 4-tert-butyl-3-cyano-1-(4-ethynylphenyl)-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (the most potent 4-alkyl-1-phenyltrioxabicyclooctane) as a noncompetitive GABA antagonist and insecticide. These findings are interpreted as three binding subsites in the GABA receptor: a hydrophobic site undergoing steric interaction with the tert-butyl or equivalent group; a hydrogen bonding site to pyrazole N-2; a pi bonding site to the face of the phenyl moiety; with supplemental enhancement by the 3-cyano and 4-ethynyl substituents.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3112, USA.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sammelson
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caboni
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Casida
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D000818:Animals; D034242:Cyclooctanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D034242:Cyclooctanes; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D007306:Insecticides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D018079:Receptors, GABA; C082360:fipronil