Guanidine and 2-aminoimidazoline aromatic derivatives as (alpha)2-adrenoceptor antagonists, 1: Toward new antidepressants with heteroatomic linkers

Abstract

The efficient preparation and pharmacological characterization of different families of (bis)guanidine and (bis)2-aminoimidazoline derivatives ("twin" and "half" molecules) as potential (alpha)2-adrenoceptor antagonists for the treatment of depression is presented. The affinity toward the (alpha)2-adrenoceptor of all the compounds prepared was measured in vitro in human brain tissue. Additionally, the activity as agonist or antagonist of those compounds with a pKi larger than 7 was determined in functional [35S]GTP(gamma)S binding assays in human brain tissue. Finally, the activity of the most promising compounds was confirmed by means of in vivo microdialysis experiments in rats. Compounds 1, 2b, 3b, 12b, 13b, 17b, 18b, 22b, 25b, 26b, 28b, and 30 showed a good affinity toward the (alpha)2-ARs. In general, the 2-aminoimidazoline derivatives displayed higher affinities than their guanidine analogues. Finally and most importantly, compounds 18b and 26b showed antagonistic properties over (alpha)2-ARs not only in vitro [ 35S]GTP(gamma)S binding but also in vivo microdialysis experiments. Moreover, both compounds have shown to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and, therefore, they can be considered as potential antidepressants. (copyright) 2007 American Chemical Society.