Synthesis and evaluation of benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl)methanone derivatives as ligands for β-amyloid plaques

A series of benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl)methanone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as novel probes for β-amyloid plaques. These derivatives were produced by a Rap–Stoermer condensation reaction. Compounds with a N,N-dimethylamino group displayed high affinity for Aβ1–42 aggregates with Ki values in the nanomolar range. Autoradiography with brain sections of AD model mice (APP/PS1) revealed that a radioiodinated probe, [125I]10, labeled β-amyloid plaques selectively and displayed good brain uptake (3.53% ID/g) at 2 min. The results suggest that benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl)methanone derivatives should be investigated further as potential probes for detecting β-amyloid plaques in the AD brain.

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