Synthesis and in vitro opioid receptor functional antagonism of analogues of the selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist (3R)-7-Hydroxy-N-((1S)-1-{[(3R,4R)-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-1-piperidinyl]methyl}-2-methylpropyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide (JDTic)

In previous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, we identified (3R)-7-hydroxy-N-((1S)-1-{[(3R,4R)-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-1-piperidinyl]methyl}-2-methylpropyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide (JDTic, 1) as the first potent and selective K opioid receptor antagonist from the trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine class of opioid antagonist. In the present study, we report the synthesis and in vitro opioid receptor functional antagonism of a number of analogues of 1 using a [S-35]GTP gamma S binding assay. The results from the studies better define the pharmacophore for this class of K opioid receptor antagonist and has identified new potent and selective kappa antagonist. (3R)-7-Hydroxy-N-[(1 S, 2S)-1-{[(3R,4R)-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl]methyl}-2-methylbutyl]-1,2,3,4tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxamide (3) with a K-e value of 0.03 nM at the kappa receptor and 100- and 793-fold selectivity relative to the mu and delta receptors was the most potent and selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist identified.