New analgesics synthetically derived from the paracetamol metabolite N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-icosatetra-5,8,11,14-enamide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm800807k

N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-icosatetra-5,8,11,14-enamide (AM404) is a metabolite of the well-known analgesic paracetamol. AM404 inhibits endocannabinoid cellular uptake, binds weakly to CB₁ and CB ₂ cannabinoid receptors, and is formed by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in vivo. We prepared three derivatives of this new (endo)cannabinoid using bioisosteric replacement (1), homology (2), and derivatization (3) of the 4-aminophenol moiety in AM404 and tested them against CB₁, CB ₂, and FAAH. We found affinities toward both cannabinoid receptors equal to or greater than that of AM404. Shortening the acyl chain from C ₂₀ to C₂ led to three new paracetamol analogues: N-(1H-indazol-5-yl)acetamide (5), N-(4-hydroxybenzyl)acetamide (6), and N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (7). Again, 5, 6, and 7 were tested against CB₁, CB₂, and FAAH without significant activity. However, 5 and 7 behaved like inhibitors of cyclooxygenases in whole blood assays. Finally, 5 (50 mg/kg) and 6 (275 mg/kg) displayed analgesic activities comparable to paracetamol (200 mg/kg) in the mouse formalin test.