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Antagonists of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) have the potential to treat diseases where neuroinflammation is present such as depression, chronic pain and Alzheimer's disease. We recently developed a structural hybrid (C1; 1-((adamantan-1-yl)methyl)-2-cyano-3-(quinolin-5-yl)guanidine) of a purported competitive P2X7R antagonist (C2; 2-cyano-1-((1S)-1-phenylethyl)-3-(quinolin-5-yl)guanidine) and a likely negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of the P2X7R (C3; N-((adamantan-1-yl)methyl)-2-chloro-5-methoxybenzamide). Here we aimed to pharmacologically characterize C1, to gain insights into how select structural components impact antagonist interaction with the P2X7R. A second aim was to examine the role of the peptide LL-37, an apparent activator of the P2X7R, and compare the ability of multiple P2X7R antagonists to block its effects. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were characterised using washout, Schild and receptor protection studies, all using dye uptake assays in HEK293 cells expressing the P2X7R. LL-37 was examined in the same HEK293 cells and THP-1 monocytes. Compounds 2 and 3 acted as a BzATP-competitive antagonist and NAM of the P2X7R respectively. Compound 1 was a slowly reversible NAM of the P2X7R suggesting the incorporation of an appropriately positioned adamantane promotes binding to the allosteric site of the P2X7R. LL-37 was shown to potentiate the ability of ATP to induce dye uptake at low concentrations (1–3 μg mL-1) or induce dye uptake alone at higher concentrations (10–20 μg mL-1). None of the P2X7R antagonists studied were able to block LL-37-induced dye uptake bringing in to question the ability of current P2X7R antagonists to inhibit the inflammatory action of LL-37 in vivo.

Educators around the world have been challenged to adapt their teaching and pastoral care rapidly in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In this article, we, the academic members of the Chemistry Education and Communication Research Theme (CECR) from the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney, reflect on the challenges and successes over the course of this most unusual semester. We have included discussions on the specific tools and techniques we employed, in light of the available literature, across the range of modes in which we teach, including lectures, tutorials, and laboratories. As many of us prepare to begin or continue teaching, we hope the experiences and lessons we have learned can offer some assistance to our disciplinary colleagues around the world.

Adamantanyl benzamide 1 was identified as a potent P2X7R antagonist but failed to progress further due to poor metabolic stability. We describe the synthesis and SAR of a series of bioisosteres of benzamide 1 to explore improvements in the pharmacological properties of this lead. Initial efforts investigated a series of heteroaromatic bioisosteres, which demonstrated improved physicochemical properties but reduced P2X7R antagonism. Installation of bioisosteric fluorine on the adamantane bridgeheads was well tolerated and led to a series of bioisosteres with improved physicochemical properties and metabolic stability. Trifluorinated benzamide 34 demonstrated optimal physicochemical parameters, superior metabolic stability (ten times longer than lead benzamide 1), and an improved physicokinetic profile and proved effective in the presence of several known P2X7R polymorphisms.

A recently developed pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) method which utilizes an unmodified household espresso machine to facilitate natural products research has also found applications as an effective teaching tool. Specifically, this technique has been used to introduce second- and third-year undergraduates to aspects of natural products chemistry in the laboratory. In this report, two experiments are presented: the PHWE of eugenol and acetyleugenol from cloves and the PHWE of seselin and (+)-epoxysuberosin from the endemic Australian plant species Correa reflexa. By employing PHWE in these experiments, the crude clove extract, enriched in eugenol and acetyleugenol, was obtained in 4-9% w/w from cloves by second-year undergraduates and seselin and (+)-epoxysuberosin were isolated in yields of up to 1.1% w/w and 0.9% w/w from C. reflexa by third-year students. The former exercise was developed as a replacement for the traditional steam distillation experiment providing an introduction to extraction and separation techniques, while the latter activity featured guided-inquiry teaching methods in an effort to simulate natural products bioprospecting. This primarily derives from the rapid nature of this PHWE technique relative to traditional extraction methods that are often incompatible with the time constraints associated with undergraduate laboratory experiments. This rapid and practical PHWE method can be used to efficiently isolate various classes of organic molecules from a range of plant species. The complementary nature of this technique relative to more traditional methods has also been demonstrated previously.

The P2X7 receptor plays a significant role in microglial activation, and as a potential drug target, the P2X7 receptor is also an interesting target in positron emission tomography. The current study aimed at the development and evaluation of a potent tracer targeting the P2X7 receptor, to which end four adamantanyl benzamide analogues with high affinity for the human P2X7 receptor were labelled with carbon-11. All four analogues could be obtained in excellent radiochemical yield and high radiochemical purity and molar activity, and all analogues entered the rat brain. [11C]SMW139 showed the highest metabolic stability in rat plasma, and showed high binding to the hP2X7 receptor in vivo in a hP2X7 receptor overexpressing rat model. Although no significant difference in binding of [11C]SMW139 was observed between post mortem brain tissue of Alzheimer’s disease patients and that of healthy controls in in vitro autoradiography experiments, [11C]SMW139 could be a promising tracer for P2X7 receptor imaging using positron emission tomography, due to high receptor binding in vivo in the hP2X7 receptor overexpressing rat model. However, further investigation of both P2X7 receptor expression and binding of [11C]SMW139 in other neurological diseases involving microglial activation is warranted.

In order for undergraduate laboratory experiments to reflect modern research practice, it is essential that they include a range of elements, and that synthetic tasks are accompanied by characterization and analysis. This intermediate general chemistry laboratory exercise runs over 2 weeks, and involves the preparation of a Schiff base ligand and its metal (Fe3+ or Cu2+) complex. Students are then able to determine the metal–ligand stoichiometry of one metal–ligand pair. This experiment demonstrates that varying the transition metal can give rise to different structures, and hence different properties.

RCS-4 [(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-yl-(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone] represents the first of several N-alkyl-3-(methoxybenzoyl)indoles identified by forensic scientists as synthetic cannabinoid (SC) designer drugs. Despite the detection of RCS-4 and several analogues (RCS-2, RCS-3, RCS-2-C4, RCS-3-C4, and RCS-4-C4) in products intended for human consumption, relatively little is known about this class of cannabinoids. The synthesis of all regioisomers of RCS-4 and their C4 homologues is described. This study also systematically explored the structure–activity relationships of this class of SCs at human CB1 and CB2 receptors using an in vitro fluorometric imaging plate reader membrane potential assay. All compounds demonstrated agonist activity at CB1 (EC50 = 54–574 nM) and CB2 (EC50 = 4.5–46 nM) receptors, with the C4 homologues showing a preference for CB2 receptors over CB1 receptors (31–42 times). Since most of the analogues (RCS-2, RCS-3, RCS-2-C4, RCS-3-C4 and RCS-4-C4) are not subject to regulation in much of the world, despite their activities towards CB1 and CB2 receptors, there is a possibility that these analogues will emerge on the black market.

Synthetic cannabinoid (SC) designer drugs featuring bioisosteric fluorine substitution are identified by forensic chemists and toxicologists with increasing frequency. Although terminal fluorination of N-pentyl indole SCs is sometimes known to improve cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor binding affinity, little is known of the effects of fluorination on functional activity of SCs. This study explores the in vitro functional activities of SC designer drugs JWH-018, UR-144, PB-22, and APICA, and their respective terminally fluorinated analogues AM-2201, XLR-11, 5F-PB-22, and STS-135 at human CB1 and CB2 receptors using a FLIPR membrane potential assay. All compounds demonstrated agonist activity at CB1 (EC50 = 2.8–1959 nM) and CB2 (EC50 = 6.5–206 nM) receptors, with the fluorinated analogues generally showing increased CB1 receptor potency (∼2–5 times). Additionally, the cannabimimetic activities and relative potencies of JWH-018, AM-2201, UR-144, XLR-11, PB-22, 5F-PB-22, APICA, and STS-135 in vivo were evaluated in rats using biotelemetry. All SCs dose-dependently induced hypothermia and reduced heart rate at doses of 0.3–10 mg/kg. There was no consistent trend for increased potency of fluorinated SCs over the corresponding des-fluoro SCs in vivo. Based on magnitude and duration of hypothermia, the SCs were ranked for potency (PB-22 > 5F-PB-22 = JWH-018 > AM-2201 > APICA = STS-135 = XLR-11 > UR-144).

The P2X7 receptor plays a significant role in microglial activation, and as a potential drug target, the P2X7 receptor is also an interesting target in positron emission tomography. The current study aimed at the development and evaluation of a potent tracer targeting the P2X7 receptor, to which end four adamantanyl benzamide analogues with high affinity for the human P2X7 receptor were labelled with carbon-11. All four analogues could be obtained in excellent radiochemical yield and high radiochemical purity and molar activity, and all analogues entered the rat brain. [11C]SMW139 showed the highest metabolic stability in rat plasma, and showed high binding to the hP2X7 receptor in vivo in a hP2X7 receptor overexpressing rat model. Although no significant difference in binding of [11C]SMW139 was observed between post mortem brain tissue of Alzheimer’s disease patients and that of healthy controls in in vitro autoradiography experiments, [11C]SMW139 could be a promising tracer for P2X7 receptor imaging using positron emission tomography, due to high receptor binding in vivo in the hP2X7 receptor overexpressing rat model. However, further investigation of both P2X7 receptor expression and binding of [11C]SMW139 in other neurological diseases involving microglial activation is warranted.

Adamantanyl benzamide 1 was identified as a potent P2X

A series of novel quinolinone-chalcone hybrids and analogues were designed, synthesized and their biological activity against the mammalian stages of Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania infantum evaluated. Promising molecular scaffolds with significant microbicidal activity and low cytotoxicity were identified. Quinolinone-chalcone 10 exhibited anti-parasitic properties against both organisms, being the most potent anti-L. infantum agent of the entire series (IC50 value of 1.3±0.1 μM). Compounds 4 and 11 showed potency toward the intracellular, amastigote stage of L. infantum (IC50 values of 2.1±0.6 and 3.1±1.05 μM, respectively). Promising trypanocidal compounds include 5 and 10 (IC50 values of 2.6±0.1 and 3.3±0.1 μM, respectively) as well as 6 and 9 (both having IC50 values of5 μM). Chemical modifications on the quinolinone-chalcone scaffold were performed on selected compounds in order to investigate the influence of these structural features on antiparasitic activity.

Here we report adamantyl cyanoguanidine compounds based on hybrids of the adamantyl amide scaffold reported by AstraZeneca and cyanoguanidine scaffold reported by Abbott Laboratories. Compound 27 displayed five-fold greater inhibitory potency than the lead compound 2 in both pore-formation and interleukin-1β release assays, while 35-treated mice displayed an antidepressant phenotype in behavioral studies. This SAR study provides a proof of concept for hybrid compounds, which will help in the further development of P2X7R antagonists. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Preparation of N-(indol-2-yl)amides and N-(indol-3-yl)amides are scarce in the scientific literature due to unstable intermediates impeding current reported syntheses. We have employed cheap and readily available substrates in the Curtius rearrangement of indole-3-carboxazide to afford N-(indol-3-yl)amides. The reaction is observed for alkyl and aryl carboxylic acids and both N-substituted or 1H-indole derivatives are tolerated. This approach was extended to the preparation of N-(indol-2-yl)amides from the corresponding indole-2-carboxazides.

The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) has attracted a great deal of attention as a prospective drug target due to its involvement in numerous neurological disorders and, more recently, for its therapeutic potential in neuropathic pain. As there was no crystal structure of this membrane-bound protein reported until 2016, ligand generation was driven by pharmacophore refinements to the general model suggested by Glennon and co-workers. The generalised S1R pharmacophore comprises a central region where a basic amino group is preferred, flanked by two hydrophobic groups. Guided by this pharmacophore, S1R ligands containing piperazines, piperazinones, and ethylenediamines have been developed. In the current work, we systematically deconstructed the piperazine core of a prototypic piperazine S1R ligand (vide infra) developed in our laboratories. Although we did not improve the affinity at the S1R compared to the lead, we identified several features important for affinity and selectivity. These included at least one basic nitrogen atom, conformational flexibility and, for S1R, a secondary or tertiary amine group proximal to the anisole. Furthermore, S2R selectivity can be tailored with functional group modifications of the N-atom proximal to the anisole.

A practical, multigram approach to the 2-(2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)acetamide (DPA) class of ligands targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) is described. This synthetic route offers several improvements over all previously described sequences, including the isolation of intermediates without resort to chromatography. The common precursor to the DPA class of high affinity TSPO ligands, N,N-diethyl-2-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)acetamide, was produced in 40% yield over six steps, and was cleanly alkylated to give multigram quantities of several DPA analogues in 90–96% yield after recrystallization.

The detection and study of glucuronide metabolites is essential in many fields including pharmaceutical development, sports drug testing, and the detection of agricultural residues. Therefore, the development of improved methods for the synthesis of glucuronide conjugates is an important aim. The glycosynthase derived from E. coli β-glucuronidase provides an efficient, scalable, single-step synthesis of β-glucuronides under mild conditions. In this article we report on experimental and kinetic studies of the E. coli glucuronylsynthase, including the influence of acceptor substrate, pH, temperature, cosolvents, and detergents, leading to optimized conditions for glucuronide synthesis. Enzyme kinetics also reveals that both substrate and product inhibition may occur in glucuronylsynthase reactions but that these effects can be ameliorated through the judicious choice of acceptor and donor substrate concentrations. An investigation of temporary polar substituents was conducted leading to improved aqueous solubility of hydrophobic steroidal acceptors. In this way the synthesis of the steroidal metabolite dehydroepiandrosterone 3-β-D-glucuronide was achieved in three steps and 86% overall yield from dehydroepiandrosterone.

Synthetic cannabinoid (SC) designer drugs based on indole and indazole scaffolds and featuring l-valinamide or l-tert-leucinamide side chains are encountered with increasing frequency by forensic researchers and law enforcement agencies and are associated with serious adverse health effects. However, many of these novel SCs are unprecedented in the scientific literature at the time of their discovery, and little is known of their pharmacology. Here, we report the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of AB-FUBINACA, ADB-FUBINACA, AB-PINACA, ADB-PINACA, 5F-AB-PINACA, 5F-ADB-PINACA, ADBICA, 5F-ADBICA, and several analogues. All synthesized SCs acted as high potency agonists of CB1 (EC50 = 0.24-21 nM) and CB2 (EC50 = 0.88-15 nM) receptors in a fluorometric assay of membrane potential, with 5F-ADB-PINACA showing the greatest potency at CB1 receptors. The cannabimimetic activities of AB-FUBINACA and AB-PINACA in vivo were evaluated in rats using biotelemetry. AB-FUBINACA and AB-PINACA dose-dependently induced hypothermia and bradycardia at doses of 0.3-3 mg/kg, and hypothermia was reversed by pretreatment with a CB1 (but not CB2) antagonist, indicating that these SCs are cannabimimetic in vivo, consistent with anecdotal reports of psychoactivity in humans.

Desoxy analogues of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been reported to provide a novel mode of analgesia whilst avoiding the psychotropic side effects associated with most cannabinoid drugs. A detailed and improved synthesis of desoxy THC, desoxy CBD and didesoxy CBD is reported here. The key improvements include a concentration-dependent boron trifluoride mediated electrophilic aromatic substitution which was used to synthesize both THC and CBD analogues. The synthetic route is general and could be applied to the development of a library of modified desoxy THC and desoxy CBD analogues.

Sixteen new phenyl alkyl ether derivatives (12, 14e28) of the 5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3ylacetamide (DPA) class were synthesized and evaluated in a competition binding assay against [ 3 H] PK11195 using 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) derived from rat kidney mitochondrial fractions. All analogues showed superior binding affinities for TSPO compared to DPA-713 (5) and DPA-714 (6). Picomolar affinities were observed for this class of TSPO ligands in this assay for the first time, with phenethyl ether 28 showing the greatest affinity (Ki ¼ 0.13 nM). Additionally, all analogues increased pregnenolone biosynthesis (134e331% above baseline) in a rat C6 glioma cell steroidogenesis assay. © 2015 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Relative to other polycyclic frameworks (1–3), a carborane cage (4 and Cs·5) exerts a significant biological effect as an inhibitor of the purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) which allows one to target depression in vivo and thus demonstrate, for the first time, that a carborane has the capacity to modify CNS activity.

A series of novel quinolinone-chalcone hybrids (III) (14 examples) and pyrazole analogues such as (V) are designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiparasitic activity.

Two novel adamantane derivatives, adamantan-1-yl(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone (AB-001) and N-(adamtan-1-yl)-1-pentyl-1H-indole-3-carboxamide (SDB-001), were recently identified as cannabimimetic indoles of abuse. Conflicting anecdotal reports of the psychoactivity of AB-001 in humans, and a complete dearth of information about the bioactivity of SDB-001, prompted the preparation of AB-001, SDB-001, and several analogues intended to explore preliminary structure-activity relationships within this class. This study sought to elucidate which structural features of AB-001, SDB-001, and their analogues govern the cannabimimetic potency of these chemotypes in vitro and in vivo. All compounds showed similar full agonist profiles at CB1 (EC50 = 16-43 nM) and CB2 (EC50 = 29-216 nM) receptors in vitro using a FLIPR membrane potential assay, with the exception of SDB-002, which demonstrated partial agonist activity at CB2 receptors. The activity of AB-001, AB-002, and SDB-001 in rats was compared to that of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC) and cannabimimetic indole JWH-018 using biotelemetry. SDB-001 dose-dependently induced hypothermia and reduced heart rate (maximal dose 10 mg/kg) with potency comparable to that of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC, maximal dose 10 mg/kg), and lower than that of JWH-018 (maximal dose 3 mg/kg). Additionally, the changes in body temperature and heart rate affected by SDB-001 are of longer duration than those of Δ(9)-THC or JWH-018, suggesting a different pharmacokinetic profile. In contrast, AB-001, and its homologue, AB-002, did not produce significant hypothermic and bradycardic effects, even at relatively higher doses (up to 30 mg/kg), indicating greatly reduced potency compared to Δ(9)-THC, JWH-018, and SDB-001.

Purpose: Neuroinflammation is involved in several brain disorders and can be monitored through expression of thetranslocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) on activated microglia. In recent years, several new PET radioligands for TSPO have beenevaluated in disease models. [18F]DPA-714 is a TSPO radiotracer with great promise; however results vary between differentexperimental models of neuroinflammation. To further examine the potential of [18F]DPA-714, it was compared directly to[11C]PK11195 in experimental cerebral ischaemia in rats. Methods: Under anaesthesia, the middle cerebral artery of adult rats was occluded for 60 min using the filament model.Rats were allowed recovery for 5 to 7 days before one hour dynamic PET scans with [11C]PK11195 and/or [18F]DPA-714under anaesthesia. Results: Uptake of [11C]PK11195 vs [18F]DPA-714 in the ischemic lesion was similar (core/contralateral ratio: 2.8460.67 vs2.2860.34 respectively), but severity of the brain ischemia and hence ligand uptake in the lesion appeared to vary greatlybetween animals scanned with [11C]PK11195 or with [18F]DPA-714. To solve this issue of inter-individual variability, weperformed a direct comparison of [11C]PK11195 and [18F]DPA-714 by scanning the same animals sequentially with bothtracers within 24 h. In this direct comparison, the core/contralateral ratio (3.3561.21 vs 4.6662.50 for [11C]PK11195 vs[18F]DPA-714 respectively) showed a significantly better signal-to-noise ratio (1.6 (1.3–1.9, 95%CI) fold by linear regression)for [18F]DPA-714. Conclusions: In a clinically relevant model of neuroinflammation, uptake for both radiotracers appeared to be similar at first,but a high variability was observed in our model. Therefore, to truly compare tracers in such models, we performed scanswith both tracers in the same animals. By doing so, our result demonstrated that [18F]DPA-714 displayed a higher signal-tonoiseratio than [11C]PK11195. Our results suggest that, with the longer half-life of [18F] which facilitates distribution of thetracer across PET centre, [18F]DPA-714 is a good alternative for TSPO imaging.

The glycosynthase derived from E. coli β-glucuronidase catalyzes the glucuronylation of a range of primary, secondary, and aryl alcohols with moderate to excellent yields. The procedure provides an efficient, stereoselective, and scalable single-step synthesis of β-glucuronides under mild conditions.

The glycosynthase derived from E. coli beta-glucuronidase catalyzes the glucuronylation of a range of primary, secondary, and aryl alcohols with moderate to excellent yields. The procedure provides an efficient, stereoselective, and scalable single-step synthesis of beta-glucuronides under mild conditions.

The recent identification of tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a non-marketed designer androgen used for sports doping but previously undetectable by established mass spectrometry-based urine drug screens, and its production by a facile chemical modification of gestrinone has raised concerns about the risks of developing designer androgens from numerous marketed progestins. We therefore have used yeast-based in vitro androgen and progesterone bioassays to conduct a structure-activity study assessing the intrinsic androgenic potential of commercially available progestins and their derivatives, to identify those compounds or structures with the highest risk of forming a basis for such misapplication. Progestins had a wide range of androgenic bioactivity that was not reliably predicted for individual steroids by their progestin bioactivity. 17alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone and 19-norprogesterone derivatives with their bulky 17beta-substituents were strong progestins but generally weak androgens. 17alpha-Ethynylated derivatives of testosterone, 19-nortestosterone and 18-methyl-19-nortestosterone such as gestrinone, ethisterone, norethisterone and norgestrel had the most significant intrinsic androgenicity of all the commercially marketed progestins. Facile chemical modification of the 17alpha-ethynyl group of each of these progestins produces 17alpha-methyl, ethyl and allyl derivatives, including THG and norbolethone, which further enhanced androgenic bioactivity. Thus by using the rapid and sensitive yeast bioassay we have screened a comprehensive set of progestins and associated structures and identified the ethynylated testosterone, 19-nortestosterone and 18-methyl-19-nortestosterone derivatives as possessing the highest risk for abuse and potential for conversion to still more potent androgens. By contrast, modern progestins such as progesterone, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 19-norprogesterone derivatives had minimal androgenic bioactivity and pose low risk.

Over the past decade, a plethora of indole-based synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have emerged with their structures clearly inspired by scientific literature. Their structures continually evolve to elude detection by law enforcement and circumvent finite scheduling laws. The latest generation of SCs follow patent literature that encompasses a bioisosteric fluorine-for-hydrogen replacement commonly applied in medicinal chemistry. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical development, where rigorous preclinical evaluation is completed before human administration, these SCs are distributed for intended recreational consumption with little-to-no pharmacological data known. This highlight explores the evolution of SCs to this latest generation of fluorinated SCs where accumulating evidence indicates increased health concerns.