Discovery and Structure-Activity Relationships of 2,5-Dimethoxyphenylpiperidines as Selective Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists

J Med Chem. 2024 May 9;67(9):7224-7244. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00082. Epub 2024 Apr 22.

Abstract

Classical psychedelics such as psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) are showing promising results in clinical trials for a range of psychiatric indications, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorder. These compounds are characterized by broad pharmacological activity profiles, and while the acute mind-altering effects can be ascribed to their shared agonist activity at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), their apparent persistent therapeutic effects are yet to be decidedly linked to activity at this receptor. We report herein the discovery of 2,5-dimethoxyphenylpiperidines as a novel class of selective 5-HT2AR agonists and detail the structure-activity investigations leading to the identification of LPH-5 [analogue (S)-11] as a selective 5-HT2AR agonist with desirable drug-like properties.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Piperidines* / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines* / chemistry
  • Piperidines* / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A* / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists* / chemical synthesis
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists* / chemistry
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists* / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists
  • Piperidines
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A