Synthesis and preliminary in vivo evaluation of 4‐[18F]fluoro‐N‐{2‐[4‐(6‐trifluoromethylpyridin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl}benzamide,a potential PET radioligand for the 5‐HT1A receptor

4‐Fluoro‐N‐{2‐[4‐(6‐trifluoromethylpyridin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl}benzamide is a full 5‐HT_1A agonist with high affinity (pK_i=9.3), selectivity and a c log P of 3.045. The corresponding PET radioligand 4‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐N‐{2‐[4‐(6‐trifluoromethylpyridin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl}benzamide was synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution on the nitro precursor. The fluorinating agent K[¹⁸F]F/Kryptofix 2.2.2 was both dried (9 min, 700 W) and incorporated in the precursor (5 min, 700 W) using a commercially available microwave oven. In a total synthesis time of 60 min, an overall radiochemical yield of 18% (SD=5, n=7, EOS) was obtained. Radiochemical purity was always higher than 99% and specific activity always higher than 81.4 GBq/µmol (2.2 Ci/µmol). Initial brain uptake in mice was 2.19% ID (5.47% ID/g, 2 min) but decreased rapidly (0.17% ID, 0.45% ID/g (60 min)). During the first 20 min p.i., radioactivity concentration of the brain was significantly higher than that of blood demonstrating good brain entry of the tracer. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radiosynthesis and validation of [5‐cyano‐N‐(4‐(4‐[11C]methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)‐2‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)phenyl) furan‐2‐carboxamide] ([11C]CPPC), a PET radiotracer for imaging CSF1R,a microglia‐specific marker

In this practitioner protocol, the radiochemical synthesis of [¹¹C]CPPC is described in detail, and a quality control summary of three validation productions is presented. The results indicate that the radiotracer product can be produced in good radiochemical yield (> 60 mCi (2.22 GBq) at end‐of‐synthesis (EOS)), at high specific activity (molar activity > 11,435 mCi/μmole (423 GBq/μmole) at EOS) and high chemical and radiochemical purity. The entire production conforms to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements. The final product is formulated as a sterile, pyrogen‐free solution suitable for human injection.     

Synthesis of deuterium‐labelled 6‐[5‐(4‐amidinophenyl)furan‐2‐yl]nicotinamidine and N‐alkoxy‐6‐{5‐[4‐(N‐alkoxyamidino)phenyl]‐ furan‐2‐yl}‐nicotinamidines

6‐[5‐(4‐Amidinophenyl)furan‐2‐yl]nicotinamidine‐d₄ ( 5 ) was synthesized from 6‐[5‐(4‐cyanophenyl)furan‐2‐yl]nicotinonitrile‐d₄ ( 3 ), through the bis‐O‐acetoxy‐amidoxime followed by hydrogenation. Compound 3 was prepared from 6‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐nicotinonitrile by a Heck coupling reaction with 4‐bromobenzonitrile‐d₄, a product of selective cyanation reaction of 1,4‐dibromobenzene‐d₄ with Cu(1)CN. Deuterium‐labelled N‐methoxy‐6‐{5‐[4‐(N‐methoxy‐amidinophenyl]‐furan‐2‐yl}‐nicotinamidines were prepared via methylation of their respective amidoximes with dimethyl sulfate‐d₆ in aqueous sodium hydroxide in good yields. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and radiolabelling of [123I]‐4‐iodo‐N‐(4‐(4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl)butyl)‐benzamide,a potential dopamine D3 antagonist for SPECT studies

Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder characterized by relapsing psychotic episodes accompanied with emotional, professional and social decline. The classical dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia postulates that hyperactivity of dopaminergic neurotransmission is responsible for the positive symptoms of the disorder. More exactly hyperactivity of the dopamine D₃ receptor system is thought to be involved in the pathology of schizophrenia. Therefore a new ¹²³I‐labelled compound was developed which may allow in vivo visualization of the D₃ receptor by SPECT. [¹²³I]‐4‐iodo‐N‐(4‐(4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl)butyl)‐benzamide was synthesized and labelled by electrophilic aromatic substitution of the tributylstannyl derrivative. The radiochemical yield was 82–85% and the specific activity was >2.96 Ci/µmol. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and radiolabelling of [123I]‐4‐iodo‐N‐(4‐(4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl)butyl)‐benzamide,a potential dopamine D3 antagonist for SPECT studies

Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder characterized by relapsing psychotic episodes accompanied with emotional, professional and social decline. The classical dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia postulates that hyperactivity of dopaminergic neurotransmission is responsible for the positive symptoms of the disorder. More exactly hyperactivity of the dopamine D₃ receptor system is thought to be involved in the pathology of schizophrenia. Therefore, a new ¹²³I‐labelled compound was developed which may allow in vivo visualization of the D₃ receptor by SPECT. [¹²³I]‐4‐iodo‐N‐(4‐(4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl)butyl)‐benzamide was synthesized and labelled by electrophilic aromatic substitution of the tributylstannyl derrivative. The radiochemical yield was 82–85% and the specific activity was >2.96 Ci/µmol. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anxiolytic‐like effect of 2‐(4‐((1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methyl)piperazin‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐ol is mediated through the benzodiazepine and nicotinic pathways

In this study, we proposed the design, synthesis of a new compound 2‐(4‐((1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methyl)piperazin‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐ol (LQFM032), and pharmacological evaluation of its anxiolytic‐like effect. This new compound was subjected to pharmacological screening referred to as Irwin test, prior to sodium pentobarbital‐induced sleep, open‐field and wire tests. The anxiolytic‐like effect of this compound was evaluated using elevated plus maze and light–dark box tests. In addition, the mnemonic activity was evaluated through step‐down test. In sodium pentobarbital‐induced sleep test, LQFM032 decreased latency and increased duration of sleep. In the open‐field test, LQFM032 altered behavioral parameter, that suggested anxiolytic‐like activity, as increased in crossings and time spent at the center of open field. In the plus maze test and light–dark box test, the LQFM032 showed anxiolytic‐like activity, increased entries and time spent on open arms, and increased in number of transitions and time spent on light area, respectively. Those effects was antagonized by flumazenil but not with 1‐(2‐Methoxyphenyl)‐4‐(4‐phthalimidobutyl)piperazine (NAN‐190). The LQFM032 did not alter mnemonic activity. Moreover, the anxiolytic‐like activity of LQFM032 was antagonized by mecamylamine. In summary, LQFM032 showed benzodiazepine and nicotinic pathways mediated anxiolytic‐like activity without altering the mnemonic activity.     

Antiarrhythmic activity in occlusion‐reperfusion model of 1‐(1H‐indol‐4‐yloxy)‐3‐{[2‐(2‐methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino} propan‐2‐ol and its enantiomers

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, especially in developed countries. The most serious problem after myocardial infarction is reperfusion injury that manifests as functional impairment, arrhythmia, and accelerated progression of cell death in certain critically injured myocytes. Subsequently the infarcted myocardium develops features of necrosis and reactive inflammation. To reduce lethal reperfusion injury in patient with AMI antioxidants, anti‐inflammatory agents, adenosine, opioids, metabolic modulators (glucose, insulin, and potassium, nicorandil and agents which reduce intracellular Ca²⁺ overload and inhibit Na⁺‐H⁺ exchange) are used. In this study a novel compound (compound 9) 1‐(1 h‐indol‐4‐yloxy)‐3‐{[2‐(2‐methoxyphenoxy) ethyl]amino}propan‐2‐ol and its enantiomers are examined in arrhythmia associated with coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion in a rat model. Antioxidant properties are also determined for test compounds using the malondialdehyde (MDA) lipid peroxidation and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. In summary, the tested compounds, especially the S enantiomer has a strong antiarrhythmic activity in a model of occlusion and reperfusion of the left coronary artery which is probably related to their adrenolytic action. In contrast to carvedilol, none of the test compound reduced the lipid peroxidation but increased ferric reducing antioxidant power. In the antioxidant effect, there was no difference between the optical forms of compound 9.     

Rhodium‐mediated [11C]carbonylation: a library of N‐phenyl‐N′‐{4‐(4‐quinolyloxy)‐phenyl}‐[11C]‐urea derivatives as potential PET angiogenic probes

As part of our ongoing investigation into the imaging of angiogenic processes, a small library of eight vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR‐2)/platelet‐derived growth factor receptor β dual inhibitors based on the N‐phenyl‐N′‐4‐(4‐quinolyloxy)‐phenyl‐urea was labelled with ¹¹C (β⁺, t_1/2=20.4 min) in the urea carbonyl position via rhodium‐mediated carbonylative cross‐coupling of an aryl azide and different anilines. The decay‐corrected radiochemical yields of the isolated products were in the range of 38–81% calculated from [¹¹C]carbon monoxide. Starting with 10.7±0.5 GBq of [¹¹C]carbon monoxide, 1‐[4‐(6,7‐dimethoxy‐quinolin‐4‐yloxy)‐3‐fluoro‐phenyl]‐3‐(4‐fluoro‐phenyl)‐[¹¹C]‐urea (2.1 GBq) was isolated after total reaction time of 45 min with a specific activity of 92±4 GBq µmol^?1. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 5,7‐dichloro‐4‐(3‐{4‐[4‐(2‐[18F]fluoroethyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl]‐phenyl}‐ureido)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid as a potential NMDA ligand to study glutamatergic neurotransmission in vivo

The neurotransmitter glutamate is thought to be crucially involved in a huge number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Morbus Parkinson, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Aiming at an improved diagnostic tool for PET a new [¹⁸F]fluorine labelled NMDA receptor ligand was developed that may potentially allow the in vivo visualization of glutama‐tergic neurotransmission. The ¹⁹F‐analogue trans‐5,7‐dichloro‐4‐(3‐{4‐[4‐(2‐fluoroethyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl]‐phenyl}‐ureido)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro quinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid was synthesised to determine the binding affinity, lipophilicity and biodistribution of the ligand. This substance exhibits a K_i of 12 nM for the glycine binding site using [³H]MDL‐105,519 assays on pig cortical membranes. A logD of 1.3 was determined for this compound according to the OECD guidelines employing the HPLC method. Radiosynthesis of this ligand was achieved by labelling the precursor trans‐5,7‐dichloro‐4‐[3‐(4‐piperazin‐1‐yl‐phenyl)‐ureido]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester with 2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethyltosylate and subsequent cleaving of the methyl ester moiety, resulting in an overall decay corrected yield of 35% of the final product trans‐5,7‐dichloro‐4‐(3‐{4‐[4‐(2‐[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)‐piperazin‐1‐yl]‐phenyl}‐ureido)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylic acid. The biodistribution kinetics of this compound were determined with Sprague Dawley rats ex vivo for brain, liver, kidney, and bone. The ligand showed a maximum brain uptake 30 min.p.i. of about 0.1% ID/g. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2‐Amino‐3‐(1‐(4‐(4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl) piperazine‐1‐yl)butyl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl) propanoic acid: synthesized, 99mTc‐tricarbonyl labeled,and bioevaluated as a potential 5HT1A receptor ligand

To develop a novel 5HT_1A receptor imaging agent, a new methoxyphenyl piperazine derivative was synthesized and radiolabeled with ^99mTc‐tricarbonyl precursor. We used the Cu (I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition of azide and terminal alkynes to synthesize 1, 2, 3 triazole as the metal chelating system. This synthesis provided reliable and reproducible method to attach technetium to the methoxyphenyl piperazine moiety. ^99mTc‐tricabonyl labeling of ligand was performed at high radiochemical purity (greater than 95%). The radiolabeled compound was stable at least 24 h in room temperature. In vitro stability study in human serum albumin showed more than 90% stability in 37 °C incubation for 6 h. Biodistribution studies in rat have shown brain hippocampus uptake of 0.31 ± 0.02 %ID/g at 5‐min post‐injection. The favorable in vitro/in vivo stability, lipophilicity, and biodistribution profiles suggest that this radioconjugate is a good candidate for further exploration of its potential clinical application. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Positive Inotropic Evaluation of (E)‐2‐(4‐Cinnamylpiperazin‐1‐yl)‐N‐(1‐substituted‐4,5‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)acetamides

A series of (E)‐2‐(4‐cinnamylpiperazin‐1‐yl)‐N‐(1‐substituted‐4,5‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)acetamides were synthesized and evaluated for their positive inotropic activity by measuring the left atrium stroke volume on isolated rabbit heart preparations. This class of compounds presented favorable in vitro activity compared with the standard drug, milrinone, among which N‐(1‐(3‐chlorophenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinolin‐7‐yl)‐2‐(4‐cinnamylpiperazin‐1‐yl)acetamide 5e was found to be the most potent with 16.58 ± 0.11% increased stroke volume (milrinone: 2.46 ± 0.07%) at a concentration of 3 × 10^?5 M. The chronotropic effects of the compounds having inotropic effects were also evaluated.     

Synthesis of 3‐[[4‐(4‐[18F] fluorophenyl)piperazin‐1‐yl]methyl]‐1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine

3‐[[4hyphen;(4‐[¹⁸F]fluorophenyl)piperazin‐1‐yl] methyl] ‐1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine, acandidate to image dopamine D₄ receptors, was synthesised via electrophilic fluorination of a trimethylstannyl precursor with high specific radioactivity [¹⁸F]F₂. The precursor was obtained by a facile four‐step synthetic approach; the trimethylstannyl leaving group was introduced by displacement of iodine utilising palladium catalysis and hexamethyldistannane in an inert solvent. The total radiosynthesis time was 50 min, including purification and formulation for injection. Decay corrected radiochemical yield was <1% as calculated from the amount of [¹⁸F]F^? produced. Specific radioactivity at the end of synthesis was 12.8–16.4 GBq/μmol. Radiochemical purity was 88–92%. Ex vivo studies in rats showed homogeneous distribution of radioactivity within rat brain. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

18F‐labelling of a potent nonpeptide CCR1 antagonist: synthesis of 1‐(5‐chloro‐2‐{2‐[(2R)‐4‐(4‐[18F]fluorobenzyl)‐2‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl]‐2‐oxoethoxy}phenyl)urea in an automated module

The synthesis of 1‐(5‐chloro‐2‐{2‐[(2R)‐4‐(4‐[¹⁸F]fluorobenzyl)‐2‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl]‐2‐oxoethoxy}phenyl)urea ( [¹⁸F]4 ), a potent nonpeptide CCR1 antagonist, is described as a module‐assisted two‐step one‐pot procedure. The final product was obtained utilizing the reductive amination of the formed 4‐[¹⁸F]fluorobenzaldehyde ( 2 ) with a piperazine derivative 3 and sodium cyanoborohydride. After HPLC purification of the final product [¹⁸F]4 , its solid phase extraction, formulation and sterile filtration, the isolated (not decay‐corrected) radiochemical yields of [¹⁸F]4 were between 7 and 13% (n=28). The time of the entire manufacturing process did not exceed 95 min. The radiochemical purity of [¹⁸F]4 was higher than 95%, the chemical purity ?60% and the enantiomeric purity >99.5%. The specific radioactivity was in the range of 59–226 GBq/µmol at starting radioactivities of 23.6–65.0 GBq [¹⁸F]fluoride. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Activity of New N‐(Alkyl/Sub‐stituted aryl)‐N′‐[4‐(5‐cyclohexylamino)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐2‐yl)phenyl]thioureas

A series of novel thiourea derivatives carrying the 5‐cylohexylamino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole moiety was synthesized and their anticonvulsant activity was evaluated. Structures of the synthesized compounds have been confirmed by IR, ¹H‐NMR, and elemental analysis. All of the compounds were administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Some of the active compounds have different effects in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) tests, indicating the therapeutical potential in petit mal seizures, but not in grand mal seizures. Compounds 10 , 11 , 13 , and 14 carrying 2‐methylphenyl, 4‐chlorophenyl, allyl, and 4‐methylphenyl on the thiourea pharmacophore, increased the survival rate in the PTZ model. The ED₅₀ values of the active compounds 10 , 11 , 13 , and 14 were found 68.42, 43.75, 18.75 and 25 mg/kg, respectively.     

Synthesis of (R)‐ and (S)‐[O‐methyl‐11C]N‐[2‐[3‐(2‐cyano‐phenoxy)‐2‐hydroxy‐propylamino]‐ethyl]‐N′‐(4‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐urea as candidate high affinity β1‐adrenoceptor PET radioligands

Molecular imaging and quantification of myocardial β₁‐adrenoceptor (AR) rather than total β‐AR density is of great clinical interest since cardiac biopsy studies suggest that myocardial β₁‐AR density is reduced in patients with chronic heart failure whereas cardiac β₂‐AR density may vary. Positron emission tomography (PET), with appropriate radioligands, offers the possibility to assess β‐AR density non‐invasively in humans. However, no PET radioligand for the selective imaging of cardiac β₁‐ARs is clinically available. Here some derivatives of the well characterized β₁‐AR selective antagonist, ICI 89,406, namely the enantiomers of N‐[2‐[3‐(2‐cyano‐phenoxy)‐2‐hydroxy‐propylamino]‐ethyl]‐N′‐(4‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐urea ( 5a and 5b ) were synthesized and evaluated in vitro. The (R)‐isomer 5a was more β₁‐selective but has lower affinity than its (S)‐enantiomer 5b (β₁‐AR selectivity: 6100 vs 1240; β₁‐affinity: K₁ = 0.288 nM vs K₁ = 0.067 nM). Etherification of the analogous desmethyl precursors, 5e and 5f , respectively, with [¹¹C]iodomethane gave ¹¹C‐labelled versions of 5a and 5b , namely 5g and 5h , in 44 ± 5% radiochemical yield (decay‐corrected) and 97.4 ± 1.3% radiochemical purity with specific radioactivities of 26.4 ± 9.4 GBq/µmol within 41.2 ± 3.4 min from the end of bombardment (n = 14). 5g and 5h are now being evaluated as candidate radioligands for myocardial β₁‐ARs. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design,Synthesis, and Antitumor Activity of (E,Z)‐1‐(dihydrobenzofuran‐5‐yl)‐3‐phenyl‐2‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐2‐propen‐1‐ones

A series of (E,Z)‐1‐(dihydrobenzofuran‐5‐yl)‐3‐phenyl‐2‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐2‐propen‐1‐ones ( C1 – C35 ) were designed and synthesized, and the structures of compounds (Z)‐ C27 and (Z)‐ C29 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The antitumor activities of these novel compounds against cervical cancer (HeLa), lung cancer (A549), and breast cancer (MCF‐7) cell lines were evaluated in vitro. Majority of the title compounds exhibited strong antitumor activities and were much more promising than the positive control Taxol, which were also accompanied by lower cytotoxicity to normal cells. In particular, compounds (E,Z)‐ C24 exhibited the most consistent potent activities against three neoplastic cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.2 to 7.1 μm . Further researches demonstrated that compounds (E,Z)‐ C24 could induce cell apoptosis and arrest cell cycle at the G2/M and S phases. Meanwhile, the structure–activity relationship between the configurations and cytotoxicity of the compounds was also investigated.     

Radiosynthesis of N‐[4‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)piperidin‐1‐yl]‐N′‐(2‐[11C]oxo‐1,3‐dihydrobenzimidazol‐5‐yl)oxamide,a NR2B‐selective NMDA receptor antagonist

In order to perform in vivo imaging of the NR2B NMDA receptor system by positron emission tomography, a NR2B selective NMDA receptor antagonist has been labelled with carbon‐11 (half‐life: 20 min). N‐[4‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)piperidin‐1‐yl]‐N′‐(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dihydrobenzimidazol‐5‐yl)oxamide has been described demonstrating high affinity and selectivity for the NR2B receptors (IC₅₀ of 5 nM in [³H]Ro‐25,6981 binding assay). The labelling precursor and the reference compound were synthesized by coupling the 4‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)piperidine with the corresponding oxalamic acid. The reaction of [¹¹C]phosgene with phenylenediamine precursor led the formation of the [¹¹C]benzimidazolone ring present on the ligand. The labelling occurred in THF or acetonitrile and the decay corrected radiochemical yield was 30–40% from the produced [¹¹C]methane. HPLC purification and formulation led to 2.6–3.7 GBq (70–100 mCi) of radioligand within 30–35 min. The specific radioactivity was 72–127 GBq/µmol (2–3.4 Ci/µmol) at the end of synthesis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.