Ward_1998_J.Med.Chem_41_379

The acetyl group of the muscarinic agonist aceclidine 4 was replaced by various 1,2,5-thiadiazoles to provide a new series of potent m1 muscarinic agonists 17 and 18. Optimal m1 muscarinic agonist potency was achieved when the 1,2,5-thiadiazole substituent was either a butyloxy, 17d, or butylthio, 18d, group. Although 1,2,5-oxadiazole 37 and pyrazine 39 are iso-pi-electronic with 1,2,5-thiadiazole 17d, both analogues were substantially less active than 17d. Compounds with high muscarinic affinity and/or m1 muscarinic agonist efficacy were also obtained when the 3-oxyquinuclidine moiety of 17d or 18c was replaced by ethanolamines, hydroxypyrrolidines, hydroxyazetidine, hydroxyisotropanes, or hydroxyazanorbornanes. The structure-activity data support the participation of the oxygen or sulfur atom in the substituent on the 1,2,5-thiadiazole in the activation of the m1 receptor. Several of these new 1,2,5-thiadiazoles have m1 agonist efficacy, potency, and selectivity comparable to those of xanomeline 2 in the muscarinic tests investigated.