Saïd Yous

Preparation and pharmacological evaluation of a novel series of 2-(phenylthio)benzo[b]thiophenes as selective MT2 receptor ligands.

A series of N-(2-(5-fluoro-2-(4-fluorophenylthio)benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)ethyl)acylamides was synthesized and evaluated for binding affinity and intrinsic activity at melatonin receptors. The affinity of each compound for the melatonin receptors was determined by binding studies on cloned human MT1 and MT2 receptors expressed in CHO cells. Agonist and antagonist potency was measured on the [35S]GTPγS binding assay for the most interesting compounds. The new derivatives 8-14 showed modest to high selectivity (between 4 and 220) for MT2 receptors. The most selective compound, N-(2-(5-fluoro-2-(4-fluorophenylthio)benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)ethyl)but-3-enamide (14), an MT2 ligand with affinity for the MT2 receptor similar to that of melatonin and a 220-fold preference over MT1 receptors, acts as a partial agonist. In addition, N-(2-(5-fluoro-2-(4-fluorophenylthio)benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)ethyl)propionamide (9), a nanomolar MT2 ligand with a good selectivity ratio (MT1/MT2=51) shows antagonist activity on both melatonin receptors.

Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel naphthalenic derivatives as selective MT 1 melatoninergic ligands

Novel heterodimer analogues of melatonin were synthesized, when agomelatine (1) and various aryl units are linked via a linear alkyl chain through the methoxy group. The compounds were tested for their actions at melatonin receptors. Several of these ligands are MT(1)-selective with nanomolar or subnanomolar affinity. In addition, while most of the derivatives behave as partial agonists on one or both receptor subtypes, N-[2-(7-{4-[6-(1-methoxycarbonylethyl)naphthalen-2-yloxy]butoxy}naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl]acetamide (36), a subnanomolar MT(1) ligand with an 11-fold preference over MT(2) receptors, is a full antagonist on both receptors. Our results also confirm that the selectivity seen for the MT(1) receptor arises predominantly from steric factors and is not a consequence of the bridging of melatonin receptor dimers.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of a series of the Agomelatine Analogues as Melatonin MT1/MT2 Agonist and 5‐HT2C Antagonist

Agomelatine is a naphthalenic analogue of melatonin that is in clinical use for the treatment of major depressive disorders. Interestingly, while agomelatine exhibits potent affinity for melatonin receptors, it binds with only moderate affinity to the serotonin 5‐HT2C receptor. Optimization of agomelatine toward this target could further potentiate its clinical efficacy. To explore this hypothesis and to access derivatives in which a key point of agomelatine metabolism is blocked, a series of naphthalenic derivatives was designed and synthesized as novel analogues of agomelatine. Most of the prepared compounds exhibited good binding affinity at the melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptor subtypes. Two compounds, an acetamide and an acrylamide derivative, exhibited good binding affinities at both the human melatonin (MT) receptors and the serotonin 5‐HT2C receptor subtype, with pKi values of 7.96 and 7.95 against MT1, 7.86 and 8.68 against MT2, and 6.64 and 6.44 against 5‐HT2C, respectively.

Design and synthesis of 3-phenyltetrahydronaphthalenic derivatives as new selective MT2 melatoninergic ligands. Part II.

Following our studies of the melatoninergic receptors, we have developed new tetrahydronaphthalenic derivatives of melatonin that have been tested as selective melatonin receptors ligands. Regarding the role of the phenyl substituent to obtain selective ligands, modulation of selectivity and activity have been achieved by modifications of the acyl group and substitutions on the phenyl ring. Ten of the seventeen evaluated derivatives have MT(2) receptor affinity similar to that of melatonin. Moreover, we have achieved remarkable MT(2) selectivity over MT(1) (selectivity >100) and have been able to further extend the RSA of the tetrahydrophthalenic series. However, the compounds presented here display partial agonist or antagonist behavior instead of full agonist.

Design and synthesis of naphthalenic derivatives as new ligands at the melatonin binding site MT3

Naphthalenic analogs of MCA-NAT (5-methoxycarbonylamino-N-acetyltryptamine) have been synthesized and evaluated as melatonin receptor ligands. Introduction of a methoxycarbonylamino substituent at the C-7 position of the naphthalenic nucleus yields MT3 selective ligands. This selectivity can be modulated with suitable variations of the C-7 position and the acyl group on the C-1 side chain. We identified new series of compounds with affinity for the MT3 binding site in the nanomolar range, and singled out a selective ligand, (N-[2-(7-methylsulfamoyl-naphth-1-yl)ethyl]acetamide (17), with a Ki of 4.9 nM and selectivity of 1024 and 2040 versus MT1 and MT2 receptors respectively.

New melatonin (MT1/MT2) ligands: Design and synthesis of (8,9-dihydro-7H-furo[3,2-f]chromen-1-yl) derivatives

Herein we describe the synthesis of novel tricyclic analogues issued from the rigidification of the methoxy group of the benzofuranic analogue of melatonin as MT1 and MT2 ligands. Most of the synthesized compounds displayed high binding affinities at MT1 and MT2 receptors subtypes. Compound 6b (MT1, Ki=0.07nM; MT2, Ki=0.08nM) exhibited with the vinyl 6c and allyl 6d the most interesting derivatives of this series. Functional activity of these compounds showed full agonist activity with EC50 in the nanomolar range. Compounds 6a (EC50=0.8nM and Emax=98%) and 6b (EC50=0.2nM and Emax=121%) exhibited good pharmacological profiles.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of dual ligands for melatonin (MT1/MT2) and serotonin 5-HT2C receptor subtypes (II)

In this paper we report the investigation of C-3 and β-acetamide positions of agomelatine analogues. Concomitant insertion of a hydroxymethyl in the β-acetamide position and aliphatic groups in C-3 position produced a positive effect on both melatonin (MT1, MT2) and serotonin (5-HT2C) binding affinities. In particular, the allyl 6b and ethyl 15a represented the more interesting compounds of this series. Furthermore, the introduction of methyl cycloalkyl groups (compounds 11a, 12a) exhibited no change in both MT2 and 5-HT2C binding affinities while a decrease of MT1 binding affinity occurred leading to an MT2 selectivity. Finally, the acetamide modulation has led to methyl thiourea 11h, with a weak MT2 selectivity.

Design of experiments for enantiomeric separation in supercritical fluid chromatography.

A new chiral melatoninergic ligand, potentially successor of Valdoxan(®), presenting an improved pharmacological profile with regard to agomelatine, was chosen as a probe for a supercritical fluid chromatographic separation carried-out on an amylose tris[(S)-1-α-methylbenzylcarbamate] based stationary phase. The goal of this work was to optimize simultaneously three factors identified to have a significant influence to obtain the best resolution in the shortest analysis time (i.e., retention time of the second eluting enantiomer) for this chiral compound. For this purpose a central circumscribed composite (CCC) design was developed with three factors: the flow-rate, the pressure outlet and the percentage of ethanol to optimize of two responses: shortest analysis time and best resolution. The optimal conditions obtained via the optimizer mode of the software (using the Nelder-Mead method) i.e., CO2/EtOH 86:14 (v:v), 104bar, 3.2mLmin(-1) at 35°C lead to a resolution of 3.27 in less than 6min. These conditions were transposed to a preparative scale where a concentrated methanolic solution of 40mM was injected with a sample loop of 100μL. This step allowed to separate an amount of around 65mg of racemic melatonin ligand in only 3h with impressive yields (97%) and enantiomeric excess (99.5%).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new naphtho- and quinolinocyclopentane derivatives as potent melatoninergic (MT1/MT2) and serotoninergic (5-HT2C) dual ligands

We recently reported a series of naphthofuranic compounds as constrained agomelatine analogues. Herein, in order to explore alternative ethyl amide side chain rigidification, naphthocyclopentane and quinolinocyclopentane derivatives with various acetamide modulations were synthesized and evaluated at both melatonin (MT1, MT2) and serotonin (5-HT2C) receptors. These modifications has led to compounds with promising dual affinity and high MTs receptors agonist activity. Enantiomeric separation was then performed on selected compounds allowing us to identify levogyre enantiomers (-)-17g and (-)-17k as the highest (MT1, MT2)/5-HT2C dual ligands described nowadays.

New phenylaniline derivatives as modulators of amyloid protein precursor metabolism

The chloroquinoline scaffold is characteristic of anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine (CQ) or amodiaquine (AQ). These drugs are also described for their potential effectiveness against prion disease, HCV, EBV, Ebola virus, cancer, Parkinson or Alzheimer diseases. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism is deregulated in Alzheimers disease. Indeed, CQ modifies amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism by precluding the release of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ), which accumulate in the brain of Alzheimer patients to form the so-called amyloid plaques. We showed that AQ and analogs have similar effects although having a higher cytotoxicity. Herein, two new series of compounds were synthesized by replacing 7-chloroquinolin-4-amine moiety of AQ by 2-aminomethylaniline and 2-aminomethylphenyle moieties. Their structure activity relationship was based on their ability to modulate APP metabolism, Aβ release, and their cytotoxicity similarly to CQ. Two compounds 15a, 16a showed interesting and potent effect on the redirection of APP metabolism toward a decrease of Aβ peptide release (in the same range compared to AQ), and a 3-10-fold increased stability of APP carboxy terminal fragments (CTFα and AICD) without obvious cellular toxicity at 100 µM.