Novel piperidine σ receptor ligands as potential antipsychotic drugs

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm00101a012

σ receptor ligands represent a new class of potential antipsychotic drugs. This paper presents the structure-activity relationships leading to novel disubstituted piperidine σ ligands, which have little or no affinity for dopamine D₂ receptors. Selectivity for σ sites over dopamine D₂ or serotonin 5-HT₂ receptors appears to be governed by the chemical nature of the piperidine nitrogen substituent, its distance from the basic nitrogen, and its orientation relative to the other piperidine substituent. Several of these compounds have good oral potency in some animal models used to evaluate potential antipsychotic drugs. The N-cyclopropylmethyl ketones and ethers (e.g. 6i (DuP 734), 6q, 18a, and 18n) have the best in vivo potency. Compounds 6i (DuP 734) and 6q did not cause catalepsy in the rat, even at very high doses. On the basis of the pharmacology profiles of these σ ligands, we propose these compounds may be effective antipsychotic drugs, which do not induce extrapyramidal side effects or tardive dyskinesia.