10.1016/j.bmc.2010.08.028
The study focuses on the 3D QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) analysis, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of (+)-5-FBVM, a potential PET (Positron Emission Tomography) radioligand for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), which is a significant target for early detection of cholinergic neuron degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers conducted QSAR studies on vesamicol and benzovesamicol derivatives, considering the stereoselectivity of the VAChT binding site, and identified both enantiomers of 5-FBVM as promising candidates with predicted VAChT affinities between 6.1 and 0.05 nM. They synthesized enantiopure (R,R)- and (S,S)-5-FBVM and their corresponding triazene precursors for future radiofluorination. The in vitro evaluation revealed high affinity and selectivity for VAChT, with (+)-5-FBVM showing particular promise for further investigation as a potential radioligand for in vivo PET imaging of cholinergic nerve terminals.