Pentacycle derivatives as cannabinoid CB1 receptor ligands.

Cannabinoid CB-1 receptors have been the focus of extensive studies since the first clinical results of rimonabant (SR141716) for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders were reported in 2001. To further evaluate the properties of CB receptors, we have designed and efficiently prepared a series of pentacycle derivatives. Five of the new compounds which displayed high in vitro rCB1 binding affinities were assayed for binding to hCB2 receptor. Noticeably, 2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-5-(1-(trifluoromethyl)cyclopropyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (16l) demonstrated good binding affinity and decent selectivity for rCB1 receptor (IC(50)=1.72 nM, hCB2/rCB1=142).