Benzodioxoles:: Novel cannabinoid-1 receptor inverse Agonists for the treatment of obesity

The application of the evolutionary fragment-based de novo design tool TOPology Assigning System (TOPAS), starting from a known CBIR (CB-1 receptor) ligand, followed by further refinement principles, including pharmacophore compliance, chemical tractability, and drug likeness, allowed the identification of benzodioxoles as a novel CB I R inverse agonist series. Extensive multidimensional optimization was rewarded by the identification of promising lead compounds, showing in vivo activity. These compounds reversed the CP-55940-induced hypothermia in Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice and reduced body-weight gain, as well as fat mass, in diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats. Herein, we disclose the tools and strategies that were employed for rapid hit identification, synthesis and generation of structure-activity relationships, ultimately leading to the identification of (+)-[(R)-2-(2,4-dichloride-phenyl)-6-fluoro-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl]-morpholin-4-yl-metha- none (R)-14g. Biochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic characteristics of (R)-14g are discussed.