Pyrrolovesamicols - synthesis, structure and VAChT binding of two 4-fluorobenzoyl regioisomers
(2012)
This Letter describes the synthesis of two regioisomers of a new class of vesamicol analogs as possible
ligands for imaging the vesicular acetylcholine transporter in future PET studies. The two pyrrolovesamicols
(±)-6a and (±)-6b were synthesized by nucleophilic ring opening reaction of a tetrahydroindole epoxide
precursor with 4-phenylpiperidine. The reaction mechanism of the synthesis was studied by HPLC
and the molecular structures were determined by X-ray structure analysis. Unexpected low binding affinities
to VAChT (Κi = 312 ± 73 nM for (±)-6a and Κi = 7320 ± 1840 nM for (±)-6b) were determined by competitive
binding analysis using a cell line stably transfected with ratVAChT and (–)-[3H]vesamicol.
Purine nucleotides such as ATP and ADP are important extracellular signaling molecules in almost all tissues activating various subtypes of purinoreceptors. In the brain, the P2Y1 receptor (P2Y1R) subtype mediates trophic functions like differentiation and proliferation, and modulates fast synaptic transmission, both suggested to be affected in diseases of the central nervous system. Research on P2Y1R is limited because suitable brain-penetrating P2Y1R-selective tracers are not yet available. Here, we describe the first efforts to develop an 18F-labeled PET tracer based on the structure of the highly affine and selective, non-nucleotidic P2Y1R allosteric modulator 1-(2-[2-(tert-butyl)phenoxy]pyridin-3-yl)-3- [4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]urea (7). A small series of fluorinated compounds was developed by systematic modification of the p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl, the urea and the 2-pyridyl subunits of the lead compound 7. Additionally, the p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl subunit was substituted by carborane, a boron-rich cluster with potential applicability in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). By functional assays, the new fluorinated derivative 1-{2-[2-(tert-butyl)phenoxy]pyridin-3-yl}-3-[4-(2-fluoroethyl) phenyl]urea (18) was identified with a high P2Y1R antagonistic potency (IC50 ¼10 nM). Compound [18F] 18 was radiosynthesized by using tetra-n-butyl ammonium [18F]fluoride with high radiochemical purity, radiochemical yield and molar activities. Investigation of brain homogenates using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) revealed [18F]fluoride as major radiometabolite. Although [18F]18 showed fast in vivo metabolization, the high potency and unique allosteric binding mode makes this class of compounds interesting for further optimizations and investigation of the theranostic potential as PET tracer and BNCT agent.