Tataridis_2002_Farmaco_57_979

A general synthetic route that can lead to nicotinic ligands bearing a variety of bulky aza-ring systems was developed. This methodology was applied to obtain 5-(3-pyridinyl)- and 5-(3-quinolinyl)-4-azahomoadamantanes 2a, 3a and 2b, 3b. The parent 5-(3-pyridinyl)-4-azahomoadamantane 2a (Ki = 5.0 microM) binds with about 100 times lower affinity than (+)-epibatidine 1 (Ki = 0.045 microM) to alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). N-methyl substitution of 2a gives compound 3a which has about nine times lower binding affinity. The replacement of pyridinyl with a quinolinyl ring (compounds 2b, 3b) results in a dramatic reduction in potency (Ki > 1000 microM).