Tetrahydronaphthyridine and dihydronaphthyridinone ethers as positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu₅).

Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu(5)) represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of schizophrenia. Starting from an acetylene-based lead from high throughput screening, an evolved bicyclic dihydronaphthyridinone was identified. We describe further refinements leading to both dihydronaphthyridinone and tetrahydronaphthyridine mGlu(5) PAMs containing an alkoxy-based linkage as an acetylene replacement. Exploration of several structural features including western pyridine ring isomers, positional amides, linker connectivity/position, and combinations thereof, reveal that these bicyclic modulators generally exhibit steep SAR and within specific subseries display a propensity for pharmacological mode switching at mGlu(5) as well as antagonist activity at mGlu(3). Structure-activity relationships within a dihydronaphthyridinone subseries uncovered 12c (VU0405372), a selective mGlu(5) PAM with good in vitro potency, low glutamate fold-shift, acceptable DMPK properties, and in vivo efficacy in an amphetamine-based model of psychosis.