High affinity central benzodiazepine receptor ligands: synthesis and structure–activity relationship studies of a new series of pyrazolo[4,3- c ]quinolin-3-ones
tested as central benzodiazepinereceptorligands. Results from structure-affinity relationship studies were in full agreement with previously proposed pharmacophore models and, in addition, quantitative structure-activity analysis gave further significant insight into the main molecular determinants of high benzodiazepinereceptoraffinity. The intrinsic activity of some active ligands was also determined
High affinity central benzodiazepine receptor ligands. Part 2: quantitative structure–activity relationships and comparative molecular field analysis of pyrazolo[4,3- c ]quinolin-3-ones
A large series of 2-aryl(heteroaryl)-2,5-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3(3H)-ones (PQ, 106 compounds), carrying appropriate substituents at the quinoline and N-2-phenyl rings, were designed, prepared and tested as central benzodiazepine receptor ligands. Compounds with an affinity significantly higher than the parent compound CGS-8216 were obtained, the most active ligand showing a pIC(50) = 10.35. Hansch and comparative molecular field analyses gave coherent results suggesting the main structural requirements of high receptor binding affinity. The possible formation of a three-centred hydrogen bond (HB) at the HB donor site H-2, as a key interaction for high receptor binding affinity, was assessed by the calculation and comparison of the molecular electrostatic potentials of a series of selected ligands. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.