Structure activity relationship studies of 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6α-(isoquinoline-3'-carboxamido)morphinan (NAQ) analogues as potent opioid receptor ligands: preliminary results on the role of electronic characteristics for affinity and function.

17-Cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6α-(isoquinoline-3'-carboxamido)morphinan (NAQ) was previously designed following the 'message-address' concept and was identified as a potent and highly selective mu opioid receptor (MOR) ligand based on its pharmacological profile. We here report the preliminary structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of this novel lead compound. For the new ligands synthesized as NAQ analogues, their binding assay results showed that a longer spacer and a saturated ring system of the side chain were unfavorable for their MOR selectivity over the kappa and delta opioid receptors. In contrast, substitutions with different electronic properties at either 1'- or 4'-position of the isoquinoline ring of the side chain were generally acceptable for reasonable MOR selectivity. The majority of NAQ analogues retained low efficacy at the MOR compared to NAQ in the (35)S-GTP[γS] binding assays while electron-withdrawing groups at 1'-position of the isoquinoline ring induced higher MOR stimulation than electron-donating groups did. In summary, the electronic characteristics of substituents at 1'- or 4'-position of the isoquinoline ring in NAQ seem to be critical and need to be further tuned up to achieve higher MOR selectivity and lower MOR stimulation. Published by Elsevier Ltd.