The active analog approach applied to the pharmacophore identification of benzodiazepine receptor ligands

Summary Applied to seven potent benzodiazepine-receptor ligands belonging to chemically different classes, the active analog approach allowed the stepwise identification of the pharmacophoric pattern associated with the recognition by the benzodiazepine receptor.A unique pharmacophore model was derived which involves six critical zones: (a) a -electron rich aromatic (PAR) zone; (b) two electron-rich zones ₁ and ₂ placed at 5.0 and 4.5 Å respectively from the reference centroid in the PAR zone; (c) a freely rotating aromatic ring (FRA) region; (d) an out-of-plane region (OPR), strongly associated with agonist properties; and (e) an additional hydrophobic region (AHR).The model accommodates all presently known ligands of the benzodiazepine receptor, identifies sensitivity to steric hindrance close to the ₁ zone, accounts forR andS differential affinities and distinguishes requirements for agonist versus non-agonist activity profiles.Abbreviations Pyrazoloquinolines CGS (2-phenyl-2,5-dihydro pyrazolo [4,3-c] quinoline-3 (3H)-one) - Cinnolinones CIN (2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-benzo [h] 3-cinnolinone - Triazolophthalazines TZPH (3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6 pyrrolidinotriazolo [4,3-a] phthalazine - Cyclopyrrolones RP 27267, CLO ([6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-7 oxo-5H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyrazin-5-yl] 4-methyl-l-piperazine carboxylate) - Phenylquinolines PK (phenyl-2 (morpholinocarbonyl methyl oxy)-4 quinoline - -Carbolines BCC (3-carboethoxy--carboline) - Benzodiazepines: Diazepam DZ (7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5 phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one)