New beta-arylchalcogeno amines with procognitive properties targeting Carbonic Anhydrases and Monoamine Oxidases

Cognitive deficits are enduring and disabling symptoms for many patients with severe mental illness, and these impairments are inadequately addressed by current medications. In this study, we reported the synthesis of beta-arylchalcogeno amines bearing sulfurated, selenated, and tellurated moieties (2-4) which are structurally related to amphetamine with good activation properties for Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs) isoforms present in the cortical and hippocampal brain structures (hCA IV and hCA XIV). In addition, these compounds showed selective inhibition against the Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A isoform. In vivo evaluation of two derivatives (2a and 3a) revealed procognitive effects in the object recognition and social discrimination tests. Interestingly, these compounds, despite having a similar structure to amphetamine, did not caused hypophagia or hyperlocomotion, two effects often observed following the administration of amphetamine-like drugs. In this context, beta-arylchal-cogeno amines may have utility for improving the symptoms of cognitive decline associated with neurodegen-erative and psychiatric diseases such as attention deficit disorder, Parkinson's disease-related cognitive dysfunction and cognitive disorders associated with depression.