Discovery of N-[(3R)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl]furo[2,3-c]pyridine-5-carboxamide, an agonist of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, for the potential treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: synthesis and structure--activity relationship.

N-[(3R)-1-Azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl]furo[2,3-c]pyridine-5-carboxamide (14, PHA-543,613), a novel agonist of the alpha7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7 nAChR), has been identified as a potential treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Compound 14 is a potent and selective alpha7 nAChR agonist with an excellent in vitro profile. The compound is characterized by rapid brain penetration and high oral bioavailability in rat and demonstrates in vivo efficacy in auditory sensory gating and, in an in vivo model to assess cognitive performance, novel object recognition.