Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Benzimidazole Derivatives as Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Ligands for Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2

J Med Chem. 2020 Oct 22;63(20):12060-12072. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01394. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

Abstract

Three benzimidazole derivatives (13-15) have been synthetized as potential positron emission tomography (PET) imaging ligands for mGluR2 in the brain. Of these compounds, 13 exhibits potent binding affinity (IC50 = 7.6 ± 0.9 nM), positive allosteric modulator (PAM) activity (EC50 = 51.2 nM), and excellent selectivity against other mGluR subtypes (>100-fold). [11C]13 was synthesized via O-[11C]methylation of its phenol precursor 25 with [11C]methyl iodide. The achieved radiochemical yield was 20 ± 2% (n = 10, decay-corrected) based on [11C]CO2 with a radiochemical purity of >98% and molar activity of 98 ± 30 GBq/μmol EOS. Ex vivo biodistribution studies revealed reversible accumulation of [11C]13 and hepatobiliary and urinary excretions. PET imaging studies in rats demonstrated that [11C]13 accumulated in the mGluR2-rich brain regions. Pre-administration of mGluR2-selective PAM, 17 reduced the brain uptake of [11C]13, indicating a selective binding. Therefore, [11C]13 is a potential PET imaging ligand for mGluR2 in different central nervous system-related conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzimidazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Benzimidazoles / chemistry*
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, AMPA / analysis*
  • Receptors, AMPA / deficiency
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • benzimidazole
  • glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2