Synthesis and in silico screening of a library of β-carboline-containing compounds

The synthesis of a library of tetrahydro-β-carboline-containing compounds in milligram quantities is described. Among the unique heterocyclic frameworks are twelve tetrahydroindolizinoindoles, six tetrahydrocyclobutanindoloquinolizinones and three tetrahydrocyclopentenoneindolizinoindolones. These compounds were selected from a virtual combinatorial library of 11,478 compounds. Physical chemical properties were calculated and most of them are in accordance with Lipinski’s rules. Virtual docking and ligand-based target evaluations were performed for the β-carboline library compounds and selected synthetic intermediates to assess the therapeutic potential of these small organic molecules. These compounds have been deposited into the NIH Molecular Repository (MLSMR) and may target proteins such as histone deacetylase 4, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 6 and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1. These in silico screening results aim to add value to the β-carboline library of compounds for those interested in probes of these targets.