Mechanisms of Action Underlying Conductance-Modifying Positive Allosteric Modulators of the NMDA Receptor.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors that mediate a slow, Ca-permeable component of excitatory neurotransmission. Modulation of NMDAR function has the potential for disease modification as NMDAR dysfunction has been implicated in neurodevelopment, neuropsychiatric, neurologic, and neurodegenerative disorders. We recently described the thieno[2,3-day]pyrimidin-4-one (EU1622) class of positive allosteric modulators, including several potent and efficacious analogs.

Molecular mechanism of ligand gating and opening of NMDA receptor.

Glutamate transmission and activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors are the fundamental means by which neurons control their excitability and neuroplasticity. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is unique among all ligand-gated channels, requiring two ligands-glutamate and glycine-for activation. These receptors function as heterotetrameric ion channels, with the channel opening dependent on the simultaneous binding of glycine and glutamate to the extracellular ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of the GluN1 and GluN2 subunits, respectively.

Synthesis of Asthma Drug Zafirlukast (Accolate) Using Intramolecular Oxidative Coupling via sp C-H Bond Activation.

The FDA-approved drug for the treatment of asthma, zafirlukast, is synthesized engaging multiple catalytic reactions including a new method for the construction of 3-aroylindoles via oxidative cyclization. The highlights include transition-metal and peroxide free C-H bond activation using the stoichiometric amount of sodium persulfate as an oxidizing agent in the construction of 3-aroylindole, avoiding transition metal, with over 28% overall yield. The complete process has a turnaround time of 28 h to get the target molecule starting from substituted aniline, with practically no protecting groups.