5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one derivatives as lipophilic cyclic analogues of baclofen: design, synthesis, and neuropharmacological evaluation

Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Sep 1;16(17):7983-91. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.07.064. Epub 2008 Jul 29.

Abstract

In trials to preserve the pharmacological profile and improve the bioavailability via lipophilicity increment of baclofen 1 and searching for more potent and less toxic muscle relaxants and analgesics, nine substituted cyclic analogues of 1 were designed and synthesized. The target derivatives 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one (11-19) were obtained through amide formation to the corresponding intermediates (2-10) followed by cyclization using acetic anhydride. The structures of the target compounds (11-19) were confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. The neuropharmacological activities of these lipophilic cyclic analogues (11-19) were assessed for their effects on motor activity, muscle relaxation, pain relief and impaired cognition, by intraperitoneal administration at a dose of 3mg/kg with reference to those of baclofen 1. Our results showed that compounds 11-14 are devoid of all of the tested pharmacological effects associated with 1. In all paradigms tested, undecyl, tridecyl, heptdec-8-enyl and benzyl substituted analogue derivatives (15, 16, 18, and 19) revealed a significant neurological activity being vividly favorable comparable with baclofen 1. 2-Benzyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one derivative 19 is the most active candidate with high significant neurological potencies, while 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(dec-8-enyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one derivative 17 displayed activity at relatively higher time interval. These results probe a new structurally distinct class incorporating 1,3-oxazepine nucleus as promising candidates as GABA(B) agonists for further investigations.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Baclofen / chemistry*
  • Baclofen / pharmacology
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Cyclization
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • GABA Agonists / chemical synthesis
  • GABA Agonists / chemistry
  • GABA Agonists / pharmacology
  • GABA-B Receptor Agonists
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / standards
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Muscle Relaxation / drug effects*
  • Oxazepines / chemical synthesis*
  • Oxazepines / chemistry
  • Oxazepines / pharmacology*
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Receptors, GABA-B / chemistry
  • Reference Standards
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • GABA Agonists
  • GABA-B Receptor Agonists
  • Oxazepines
  • Receptors, GABA-B
  • Baclofen