Selectivity profiling of novel indene H(1)-antihistamines for the treatment of insomnia.

A series of indene analogs of the H(1)-antihistamine (-)-R-dimethindene was evaluated for selectivity in the search for potentially improved sedative-hypnotics. Variation of the 6-substitutent in the indene core in combination with a pendant electron rich heterocycle led to the identification of several potent H(1)-antihistamines with desirable selectivity over CYP enzymes, the M(1) muscarinic receptor and the hERG channel. These compounds were candidates for further ADME profiling and in vivo evaluation. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.