A novel series of 2-(2'-furo[3,2-b]pyridinyl) pyrrolidines has been synthesized and evaluated as novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands. Changing the pyrrolidine stereochemistry and N-substitution pattern afforded analogs with K-i values ranging from 2.7 to 97 nM. Rubidium efflux studies revealed that these compounds had intrinsic activities ranging from 9-58% that of nicotine in the IMR-32 cell line and 6-81% in the K177 cell line. The N(Me)-2(S) analog 3a demonstrated good selectivity in the K177 cell line (alpha(4) beta(2) receptor) versus the IMR-32 cells (alpha(3) beta(x) receptor) and TE 671 cells (alpha(1) neuromuscular receptor), and was a partial agonist with an EC50 value of 141 nM in dopamine release assay using rat striatal slices. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.
FUROPYRIDINE, THIENOPYRIDINE, PYRROLOPYRIDINE AND RELATED PYRIMIDINE, PYRIDAZINE AND TRIAZINE COMPOUNDS USEFUL IN CONTROLLING CHEMICAL SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION