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Despite its widespread use, Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) remains underspecified. The lack of a detailed specification encourages improvisation by software developers, complicates data standardization efforts, and undermines extension development. Balsa, a reformulation of SMILES, addresses these problems. A formal, machine- readable grammar defines Balsa’s syntax. Semantics are described at three levels of resolution: constitution; configuration; and conformation. To estimate the compatibility of Balsa strings with SMILES software, all differences between the two languages were enumerated. To the extent that SMILES documentation is unambiguous, every difference was consistent with Balsa being a language subset.

The preclinical characterization of novel phenyl(piperazin-1-yl)methanones that are histamine H3 receptor antagonists is described. The compounds described are high affinity histamine H3 antagonists. Optimization of the physical properties of these histamine H3 antagonists led to the discovery of several promising lead compounds, and extensive preclinical profiling aided in the identification of compounds with optimal duration of action for wake promoting activity. This led to the discovery of two development candidates for Phase I and Phase II clinical trials.

A series of 1-aryl-2-(((6-aryl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)ethanols have been found to be competitive inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). One member of this class, JNJ-40413269, was found to have excellent pharmacokinetic properties, demonstrated robust central target engagement, and was efficacious in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

The SAR of brain penetration for a series of heteroaryl piperazinyl- and piperadinyl-urea fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors is described. Brain/plasma (B/P) ratios ranging from >4:1 to as low as 0.02:1 were obtained through relatively simple structural changes to various regions of the heteroaryl urea scaffold. It was not possible to predict the degree of central nervous system (CNS) penetration from the volumes of distribution (Vd) obtained from pharmacokinetic (PK) experiments as very high Vds did not correlate with high B/P ratios. Similarly, calculated topological polar surface areas (TPSAs) did not consistently correlate with the degree of brain penetration. The lowest B/P ratios were observed for those compounds that were significantly ionized at physiological pH. However, as this class of compounds inhibits the FAAH enzyme through covalent modification, low B/P ratios did not preclude effective central target engagement.

A series of small molecules consisting of a heterocyclic core flanked by two basic functionalities were synthesized and screened for in vitro affinity at the human histamine H 3 receptor (hH 3 R). Nine of the twenty-eight compounds tested were found to possess a hH 3 R K i of less than 5 nM and consisted of a diverse range of central hetero-aromatic linkers (pyridine, pyrazine, oxazole, isoxazole, thiazole, furan, thiophene, and pyrrole). One member of this series, (4-isopropyl-piperazin-1-yl)-(6-piperidin-1-ylmethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-methanone ( 37 ), was found to be a high affinity, selective antagonist that crosses the blood-brain barrier and occupies H 3 receptors after oral administration in the rat.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is an integral membrane enzyme within the amidase-signature family. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of several endogenous biologically active lipids, including anandamide (arachidonoyl ethanolamide), oleoyl ethanolamide, and palmitoyl ethanolamide. These endogenous FAAH substrates have been shown to be involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including synaptic regulation, regulation of sleep and feeding, locomotor activity, pain and inflammation. Here we describe the biochemical and biological properties of a potent and selective FAAH inhibitor, 4-(3-phenyl-[1,2,4]thiadiazol-5-yl)-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid phenylamide (JNJ-1661010). The time-dependence of apparent IC(50) values at rat and human recombinant FAAH, dialysis and mass spectrometry data indicate that the acyl piperazinyl fragment of JNJ-1661010 forms a covalent bond with the enzyme. This bond is slowly hydrolyzed, with release of the piperazinyl fragment and recovery of enzyme activity. The lack of inhibition observed in a rat liver esterase assay suggests that JNJ-1661010 is not a general esterase inhibitor. JNJ-1661010 is >100-fold preferentially selective for FAAH-1 when compared to FAAH-2. JNJ-1661010 dose-dependently increases arachidonoyl ethanolamide, oleoyl ethanolamide, and palmitoyl ethanolamide in the rat brain. The compound attenuates tactile allodynia in the rat mild thermal injury model of acute tissue damage and in the rat spinal nerve ligation (Chung) model of neuropathic pain. JNJ-1661010 also diminishes thermal hyperalgesia in the inflammatory rat carrageenan paw model. These data suggest that FAAH inhibitors with modes of action similar to JNJ-1661010 may be useful clinically as broad-spectrum analgesics.

A series of thiadiazolopiperazinyl aryl urea fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors is described. The molecules were found to inhibit the enzyme by acting as mechanism-based substrates, forming a covalent bond with Ser241. SAR and PK properties are presented.

Aplysamine-1 (1), a marine natural product, was synthesized and screened for in vitro activity at the human and rat histamine H3 receptors. Aplysamine-1 (1) was found to possess a high binding affinity for the human H3 receptor (Ki = 30+/-4 nM). Synthetic analogs of 1, including des-bromoaplysamine-1 (10) and dimethyl-{2-[4-(3-piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-phenyl]-ethyl}-amine (13), were potent H3 antagonists.

Two new series of 4-(1-alkyl-piperidin-4-yloxy)-benzonitriles and 4-(1-isopropyl-piperidin-4-yloxy)-benzylamines have been prepared. In vitro activity was determined at the recombinant human H(3) receptor and several members of these new series were found to be potent H(3) antagonists. The present compounds contain a 4-phenoxypiperidine core, which behaves as a conformationally restricted version of the 3-amino-1-propanol moiety common to the many previously described non-imidazole histamine H(3) ligands. One selected member of the new series, 4-[4-(1-isopropyl-piperidin-4-yloxy)-benzyl]-morpholine (13g), was found to be a potent, highly selective H(3) receptor antagonist with in vivo efficacy in a rat EEG model of wakefulness at doses as low as 1 mg/kg sc.

1 1-[4-(3-piperidin-1-yl-propoxy)-benzyl]-piperidine (JNJ-5207852) is a novel, non-imidazole histamine H3 receptor antagonist, with high affinity at the rat (pKi=8.9) and human (pKi=9.24) H3 receptor. JNJ-5207852 is selective for the H3 receptor, with negligible binding to other receptors, transporters and ion channels at 1 microm. 2 JNJ-5207852 readily penetrates the brain tissue after subcutaneous (s.c.) administration, as determined by ex vivo autoradiography (ED50 of 0.13 mg kg(-1) in mice). In vitro autoradiography with 3H-JNJ-5207852 in mouse brain slices shows a binding pattern identical to that of 3H-R-alpha-methylhistamine, with high specific binding in the cortex, striatum and hypothalamus. No specific binding of 3H-JNJ-5207852 was observed in brains of H3 receptor knockout mice. 3 In mice and rats, JNJ-5207852 (1-10 mg kg(-1) s.c.) increases time spent awake and decreases REM sleep and slow-wave sleep, but fails to have an effect on wakefulness or sleep in H3 receptor knockout mice. No rebound hypersomnolence, as measured by slow-wave delta power, is observed. The wake-promoting effects of this H3 receptor antagonist are not associated with hypermotility. 4 A 4-week daily treatment of mice with JNJ-5207852 (10 mg kg(-1) i.p.) did not lead to a change in body weight, possibly due to the compound being a neutral antagonist at the H3 receptor. 5 JNJ-5207852 is extensively absorbed after oral administration and reaches high brain levels. 6 The data indicate that JNJ-5207852 is a novel, potent and selective H3 antagonist with good in vitro and in vivo efficacy, and confirm the wake-promoting effects of H3 receptor antagonists.

A procedure for direct reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones was developed which uses phenylsilane as a stoichiometric reductant and dibutyltin dichloride as a catalyst. Suitable amines included anilines and dialkylamines but not monoalkylamines.

The title compound was prepared in six steps from dicumarol. Subsequent resolution with O-methylmandelic acid gave either enantiomer in ≥98% ee.

A new procedure for the allylation of aldehydes with allyltributyltin in the presence of 10 mol% dibutyltin dichloride and either an acid chloride or trimethylsilyl chloride has been developed. Homoallylic esters, carbonates, trimethylsilyl ethers, and alcohols were obtained in up to 99% yield.

Dibutyltin dichloride and diphenyltin dichloride functioned as effective catalysts for the trimethylsilylcyanation of aldehydes and ketones. Isolated yields ranged from 71% to 97%.

Dibutyltin dichloride and diphenyltin dichloride functioned as effective catalysts for the trimethylsilylcyanation of aldehydes and ketones. Isolated yields ranged from 71% to 97%.

A new procedure for the allylation of aldehydes with allyltributyltin in the presence of 10 mol% dibutyltin dichloride and either an acid chloride or trimethylsilyl chloride has been developed. Homoallylic esters, carbonates, trimethylsilyl ethers, and alcohols were obtained in up to 99% yield.

The title compound was prepared in six steps from dicumarol. Subsequent resolution with O-methylmandelic acid gave either enantiomer in ≥98% ee.

A procedure for direct reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones was developed which uses phenylsilane as a stoichiometric reductant and dibutyltin dichloride as a catalyst. Suitable amines included anilines and dialkylamines but not monoalkylamines.

A series of (4-aminobutyn-1-yl)benzylamines were prepared and the SAR around three key areas: (1) the amine attached to the butynyl linker (R(3)R(4)N-); (2) the benzylamine moiety (R(1)R(2)N-); and (3) the point of attachment of the benzylamine group (R(1)R(2)N- in the ortho, meta, or para positions) was examined. One compound, 4-[3-(4-piperidin-1-yl-but-1-ynyl)-benzyl]-morpholine (9s) was chosen for further profiling and found to be a selective histamine H(3) antagonist with desirable drug-like properties. Ex vivo receptor occupancy studies established that 9s does occupy H(3) binding sites in the brain of rats after oral administration. Subcutaneous doses of 9s (10mg/kg) given during the natural sleep phase demonstrated robust wake-promoting effects.

Currently, the only clinically effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. These inhibitors have limited efficacy in that they only treat the symptoms and not the disease itself. Additionally, they often have unpleasant side effects. Here we consider the viability of a single molecule having the actions of both an AChE inhibitor and histamine H(3) receptor antagonist. Both histamine H(3) receptor antagonists and AChE inhibitors improve and augment cholinergic neurotransmission in the cortex. However, whereas an AChE inhibitor will impart its effect everywhere, a histamine H(3) antagonist will raise acetylcholine levels mostly in the brain as its mode of action will primarily be on the central nervous system. Therefore, the combination of both activities in a single molecule could be advantageous. Indeed, studies suggest an appropriate dual-acting compound may offer the desired therapeutic effect with fewer unpleasant side effects [CNS Drugs2004, 18, 827]. Further, recent studies(2) indicate the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE interacts with the beta-amyloid (betaA) peptide. Consequently, a molecule capable of disrupting this interaction may have a significant impact on the production of or the aggregation of betaA. This may result in slowing down the progression of the disease rather than only treating the symptoms as current therapies do. Here, we detail how the use of the available crystal structure information, pharmacophore modeling and docking (automated, manual, classical, and QM/MM) lead to the identification of an AChE inhibitor-histamine H(3) receptor antagonist. Further, based on our models we speculate that this dual-acting compound may interact with the PAS. Such a dual-acting compound may be able to affect the pathology of AD in addition to providing symptomatic relief.

A study of the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of 2f (OL-135), a potent inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), is detailed, targeting the 5-position of the oxazole. Examination of a series of substituted benzene derivatives (12-14) revealed that the optimal position for substitution was the meta-position with selected members approaching or exceeding the potency of 2f. Concurrent with these studies, the effect of substitution on the pyridine ring of 2f was also examined. A series of small, nonaromatic C5-substituents was also explored and revealed that the K(i) follows a well-defined correlation with the Hammett sigma(p) constant (rho = 3.01, R2 = 0.91) in which electron-withdrawing substituents enhance potency, leading to inhibitors with K(i)s as low as 400 pM (20n). Proteomic-wide screening of the inhibitors revealed that most are exquisitely selective for FAAH over all other mammalian proteases, reversing the 100-fold preference of 20a (C5 substituent = H) for the enzyme TGH.

4-(Aminoalkoxy)benzylamines were prepared and screened for in vitro activity at the human histamine H(3) receptor. Some members of this series exhibited subnanomolar binding affinities. Analogues in which one nitrogen atom was replaced with a methine group showed greatly reduced binding affinities. Six members of this series were found to be antagonists in a cell-based model of human histamine H(3) receptor activation. One member of this series, 1-[4-(3-piperidin-1-ylpropoxy)benzyl]piperidine (7b), was found to be a selective and potent human H(3) receptor antagonist.

Correction to: British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 143, 649–661. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705964 In the above paper, the incorrect version of Figure 2 was published. The correct version of the figure appears below. The authors apologise for this mistake.