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Cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), belonging to the endocannabinoid system, is overexpressed in pathologies characterized by inflammation, and its activation counteracts inflammatory states. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is an enzyme responsible for the degradation of the main endocannabinoid anandamide; thus, the simultaneous CB2R activation and FAAH inhibition may be a synergistic anti-inflammatory strategy. Encouraged by principal component analysis (PCA) data identifying a wide chemical space shared by CB2R and FAAH ligands, we designed a small library of adamantyl-benzamides, as potential dual agents, CB2R agonists, and FAAH inhibitors. The new compounds were tested for their CB2R affinity/selectivity and CB2R and FAAH activity. Derivatives

We present and thoroughly characterize a large collection of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones as A2BAR antagonists, an emerging strategy in cancer (immuno) therapy. Most compounds selectively bind A2BAR, with a number of potent and selective antagonists further confirmed by functional cyclic adenosine monophosphate experiments. The series was analyzed with one of the most exhaustive free energy perturbation studies on a GPCR, obtaining an accurate model of the structure-activity relationship of this chemotype. The stereospecific binding modeled for this scaffold was confirmed by resolving the two most potent ligands [(±)-47, and (±)-38Ki = 10.20 and 23.6 nM, respectively] into their two enantiomers, isolating the affinity on the corresponding (S)-eutomers (Ki = 6.30 and 11.10 nM, respectively). The assessment of the effect in representative cytochromes (CYP3A4 and CYP2D6) demonstrated insignificant inhibitory activity, while in vitro experiments in three prostate cancer cells demonstrated that this pair of compounds exhibits a pronounced antimetastatic effect.

We present and thoroughly characterize a large collection of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1

The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of new aromatase (AR, CYP19) inhibitors bearing an imidazole ring linked to a 7-substituted coumarin scaffold at position 4 (or 3) are reported. Many compounds exhibited an aromatase inhibitory potency in the nanomolar range along with a high selectivity over 17-α-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (CYP17). The most potent AR inhibitor was the 7-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-4-imidazolylmethyl coumarin 24 endowed with an IC(50) = 47 nM. Docking simulations on a selected number of coumarin derivatives allowed the identification of the most important interactions driving the binding and clearly indicated the allowed and disallowed regions for appropriate structural modifications of coumarins and closely related heterocyclic molecular scaffolds.

Safinamide, (S)-N2-{4-[(3-fluorobenzyl)oxy]benzyl}alaninamide methanesulfonate, which is in phase III clinical trials as an anti-Parkinson drug, and a library of alkanamidic analogues were prepared through an expeditious solid-phase synthesis and evaluated for their monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitory activity and selectivity. (S)-3-Chlorobenzyloxyalaninamide (8) and (S)-3-chlorobenzyloxyserinamide (13) derivatives proved to be more potent MAO-B inhibitors than safinamide (IC50 = 33 and 43 nM, respectively, vs 98 nM) but with a lower MAO-B selectivity (SI = 3455 and 1967, respectively, vs 5918). The highest MAO-B inhibitory potency (IC50 = 17 nM) and a good selectivity (SI = 2941) were displayed by (R)-21, a tetrahydroisoquinoline analogue of safinamide. Structure-affinity relationships and docking simulations pointed out strong negative steric effects of alpha-aminoamide side chains and para substituents of the benzyloxy groups and favorable hydrophobic interactions of meta substituents. The significantly diverse MAO-B affinities of a number of R and S alpha-aminoamide enantiomers, including the two rigid analogues (21) of safinamide, indicated likely enantioselective interactions at the enzymatic binding sites.

The use of selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and B (MAO-B) holds a therapeutic relevance in the treatment of depressive disorders and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. Here, the discovery of a new class of compounds acting as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-Is) and bearing a 6'-substituted (E)-2-(benzofuran-3(2H)-ylidene)-N-alkylacetamide skeleton is reported. 6'-Sulfonyloxy derivatives exhibited outstanding affinities to MAO-A (7.0 nMIC5049 nM, much higher than moclobemide) and a pronounced MAO-A/B selectivity. The corresponding 6'-benzyloxy derivatives showed potent MAO-B inhibition and inverted selectivity profile. The rigid E-geometry of the exocyclic double bond allowed a more efficient binding conformation compared to more flexible and less active 2-(1-benzofuran-3-yl)-N-methylacetamide isomers and 4-N-methylcarboxamidomethylcoumarin analogues. Focused structural modifications and docking simulations enabled the identification of key molecular determinants for high affinity toward both MAO isoforms. These novel MAO-Is may represent promising hits for the development of safer therapeutic agents with a potential against depression, PD, and other age-related neurodegenerative pathologies.

The multifactorial nature of chemotherapy failure in controlling cancer is often associated with the occurrence of multidrug resistance (MDR), a phenomenon likely related to the increased expression of members of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. In this respect, the most extensively characterized MDR transporters include ABCB1 (also known as MDR1 or P-glycoprotein) and ABCC1 (also known as MRP1) whose inhibition remains a priority to circumvent drug resistance. Herein, we report how the simple galloyl benzamide scaffold can be easily and properly decorated for the preparation of either MRP1 or P-gp highly selective inhibitors. In particular, some gallamides and pyrogallol-1-monomethyl ethers showed remarkable affinity and selectivity toward MRP1. On the other hand, trimethyl ether galloyl anilides, with few exceptions, exhibited moderate to very high and selective P-gp inhibition.

Over two hundred 1-, 3-, 8-, and 9-substituted-9-deazaxanthines were prepared and evaluated for their binding affinity at the recombinant human adenosine receptors, in particular at the hA(2B) and hA(2A) subtypes. Several ligands endowed with sub-micromolar to low nanomolar binding affinity at hA(2B) receptors, good selectivity over hA(2A) and hA(3), but a relatively poor selectivity over hA(1) were obtained. Good antagonistic potencies and efficacies, with pA(2) values close to the corresponding pK(i)s, were observed in functional assays in vitro performed on a selected series of compounds. 1,3-Dimethyl-8-phenoxy-(N-p-halogenophenyl)-acetamido-9-deazaxanthine derivatives appeared as the most interesting leads, some of them showing outstanding hA(2B) affinities, high selectivity over hA(2A) and hA(3), but low selectivity over hA(1). Structure-affinity relationships suggested that the binding potency at the hA(2B) receptor was mainly modulated by the steric (lipophilic) properties of the substituents at positions 1 and 3 and by the electronic and lipophilic characteristics of the substituents at position 8. A comparison among affinity and selectivity profiles of 9-deazaxanthines with the corresponding xanthines suggested some possible differences in their binding mode.