Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new family of constrained azabicyclic homocholine analogues

Abstract

A family of constrained acylated homocholine analogues have been synthesized, based on the azabicyclic ring scaffold derived from a double-Mannich annulation of cyclic ketones. The short synthetic route allows generation of structural diversity including, variation in the carbocyclic ring size, bridgehead substitution, nitrogen substitution and the ester sidechain. Biological assays on selected analogues demonstrate these compounds are nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists. Several analogues also bind to other neuronal transporter and receptor targets.