Identification and pharmacological characterization of 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-3-carboxamides as novel ligands for the α4β2 and α6/α3β2β3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)

•A novel series of 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-3-carboxamides has been made. Targets are the α4β2 and α6/α3β2β3 nAChRs.•Members of the obtained chemical library are partial or full agonists.•TC-8831 (compound 7) demonstrated a safe in vitro pharmacological profile.•TC-8831 can reduce l-dopa-induced dyskinesias in several in vivo animal models.•Docking, QSAR and pharmacophore modeling rationalize the binding affinity trend.

We have synthesized a novel series of compounds, 3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-3-carboxamides, targeting both the α4β2 and α6/α3β2β3 nAChRs. Members of the obtained chemical library are partial or full agonists at both the high sensitivity (α4)2(β2)3 and α6/α3β2β3 nAChRs. 3-(Cyclopropylcarbonyl)-3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptane (TC-8831 or compound 7 herein) demonstrated a safe in vitro pharmacological profile and the potential for reducing or preventing l-dopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) in several in vivo animal models [1–4]. In vivo metabolism studies in rat and in vitro metabolism studies in liver microsomes from human, rat, dog and monkey showed TC-8831 to be relatively stable. In vivo pharmacokinetic analysis in the rat confirmed brain penetration, with an average brain:plasma ratio of approximately 0.3 across time points from 0.5 to 4 h. Docking into homology models predicted alternative binding modes for TC-8831 and highlighted the importance of the cationic center, hydrogen-bond acceptor, and hydrophobic aliphatic features in promoting binding affinity to both nAChRs. Pharmacophore elucidation confirmed the importance of these key interactions. QSAR modeling suggested that binding affinity is primarily driven by ligand shape, relative positive charge distribution onto the molecular surface, and molecular flexibility. Of the two subtypes, ligand binding to α6β2β3 appears to be more sensitive to bulkiness and flexibility.

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