Design And Synthesis Of N-Aryl Phenoxyethoxy Pyridinones As Highly Selective And Cns Penetrant Mglu(3) Nams

Herein, we detail the optimization of the mGlu(3) NAM, VU0650786, via a reductionist approach to afford a novel, simplified mGlu(3) NAM scaffold that engenders potent and selective mGlu(3) inhibition (mGlu(3) IC50 = 245 nM, mGlu(2) IC50 > 30 mu M) with excellent central nervous system penetration (rat brain/plasma K-p = 1.2, K-p,K-uu = 0.40). Moreover, this new chemotype, exemplified by VU6010572, requires only four synthetic steps and displays improved physiochemical properties and in vivo efficacy in a mouse tail suspension test (MED = 3 mg/kg i.p.).