New, Eco-Friendly Method for Synthesis of 3-Chlorophenyl and 1,1′-Biphenyl Piperazinylhexyl Trazodone Analogues with Dual 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>/5-HT<sub>7</sub> Affinity and Its Antidepressant-like Activity

oleh: Przemysław Zaręba, Anna Partyka, Gniewomir Latacz, Grzegorz Satała, Paweł Zajdel, Jolanta Jaśkowska

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-10-01

Deskripsi

Serotonin 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> and 5-HT<sub>7</sub> receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis and pharmacotherapy of depression. Previously identified <i>N</i>-hexyl trazodone derivatives, 2-(6-(4-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl)hexyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]pyridin-3(2<i>H</i>)-one hydrochloride (<b>7a·HCl</b>), with high affinity for 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>R and 2-(6-(4-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)hexyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]pyridin-3(2<i>H</i>)-one hydrochloride (<b>7b·HCl</b>), a dual-acting 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>/5-HT<sub>7</sub> receptor ligand, were prepared with a new microwave-assisted method. The protocol for the synthesis of <b>7a</b> and <b>7b</b> involved reductive alkylation under a mild reducing agent. We produced the final compounds with yield of 56–63% using ethanol or 51–56% in solvent-free conditions in 4 min. We then determined the 5-HT<sub>7</sub>R binding mode for compounds <b>7a</b> and <b>7b</b> using in silico methods and assessed the preliminary ADME and safety properties (hepatotoxicity and CYP3A4 inhibition) using in vitro methods for <b>7a·HCl</b> and <b>7b·HCl</b>. Furthermore, we evaluated antidepressant-like activity of the dual antagonist of 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>/5-HT<sub>7</sub> receptors (<b>7b·HCl</b>) in the forced swim test (FST) in mice. The 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>R ligand (<b>7a·HCl</b>) with a much lower affinity for 5-HT<sub>7</sub>R compared to that of <b>7b·HCl</b> was tested comparatively. Both compounds showed antidepressant activity, while 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>/5-HT<sub>7</sub> double antagonist <b>7b·HCl</b> showed a stronger and more specific response.