Development of Oxygen-Bridged Pyrazole-Based Structures as Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Ligands

In this work, the synthesis of the cannabinoid receptor 1 neutral antagonists 8-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-piperidin-1-yl-4,5-dihydrobenzo-1H-6-oxa-cyclohepta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide 1a and its deaza N-cyclohexyl analogue 1b has led to a deepening of the structure-activity studies of this class of compounds. A series of novel 4,5-dihydrobenzo-oxa-cycloheptapyrazoles analogues of 1a,b, derivatives 1c–j, was synthesized, and their affinity towards cannabinoid receptors was determined. Representative terms were evaluated using in vitro tests and isolated organ assays. Among the derivatives, 1d and 1e resulted in the most potent CB(1) receptor ligands (K(i)CB(1) = 35 nM and 21.70 nM, respectively). Interestingly, both in vitro tests and isolated organ assays evidenced CB(1) antagonist activity for the majority of the new compounds, excluding compound 1e, which showed a CB(1) partial agonist behaviour. CB(1) antagonist activity of 1b was further confirmed by a mouse gastrointestinal transit assay. Significant activity of the new CB(1) antagonists towards food intake was showed by preliminary acute assays, evidencing the potentiality of these new derivatives in the treatment of obesity.