Novel Potent Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists: Investigation on the Nature of Lipophilic Substituents in the 5- and/or 6-Positions of the 1,4-Dioxane Nucleus

J Med Chem. 2020 Jun 11;63(11):5763-5782. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02100. Epub 2020 May 19.

Abstract

A series of novel 1,4-dioxane analogues of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist 2 was synthesized and studied for their affinity at M1-M5 mAChRs. The 6-cyclohexyl-6-phenyl derivative 3b, with a cis configuration between the CH2N+(CH3)3 chain in the 2-position and the cyclohexyl moiety in the 6-position, showed pKi values for mAChRs higher than those of 2 and a selectivity profile analogous to that of the clinically approved drug oxybutynin. The study of the enantiomers of 3b and the corresponding tertiary amine 33b revealed that the eutomers are (2S,6S)-(-)-3b and (2S,6S)-(-)-33b, respectively. Docking simulations on the M3 mAChR-resolved structure rationalized the experimental observations. The quaternary ammonium function, which should prevent the crossing of the blood-brain barrier, and the high M3/M2 selectivity, which might limit cardiovascular side effects, make 3b a valuable starting point for the design of novel antagonists potentially useful in peripheral diseases in which M3 receptors are involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dioxanes / chemistry*
  • Drug Design
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / chemistry*
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / metabolism
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Dioxanes
  • Muscarinic Antagonists
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3
  • Receptors, Muscarinic
  • 1,4-dioxane