Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a series of pyrrole cannabinoid receptor agonists

Bioorg Med Chem. 2003 Sep 1;11(18):3965-73. doi: 10.1016/s0968-0896(03)00413-9.

Abstract

We designed and synthesized a series of pyrrole derivatives with the aim of investigating the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for the binding of non-classical agonists to CB(1) and CB(2) cannabinoid receptors. Superposition of two pyrrole-containing cannabinoid agonists, JWH-007 and JWH-161, allowed us to identify positions 1, 3 and 4 of the pyrrole nucleus as amenable to additional investigation. We prepared the 1-alkyl-2,5-dimethyl-3,4-substituted pyrroles 10a-e, 11a-d, 17, 21, 25 and the tetrahydroindole 15, and evaluated their ability to bind to and activate cannabinoid receptors. Noteworthy in this set of compounds are the 4-bromopyrrole 11a, which has an affinity for CB(1) and CB(2) receptors comparable to that of well-characterized heterocyclic cannabimimetics such as Win-55,212-2; the amide 25, which, although possessing a moderate affinity for cannabinoid receptors, demonstrates that the 3-naphthoyl group, commonly present in indole and pyrrole cannabimimetics, can be substituted by alternative moieties; and compounds 10d, 11d, showing CB(1) partial agonist properties.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cerebellum / drug effects
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Protein Binding
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / agonists
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / agonists
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / genetics
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / agonists
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
  • Indoles
  • Ligands
  • Pyrroles
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • Recombinant Proteins