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editorial
. 2025 Jul 17;16(8):1503–1504. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00415

Novel 3‑(2-(Aminoethyl)-indol-4-ol Derivatives as 5‑HT2C Agonists for Treating Depression, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, PTSD, and Seizure Disorders

Ram W Sabnis 1,*
PMCID: PMC12358982  PMID: 40832544

Abstract

Provided herein are novel 3-(2-(aminoethyl)-indol-4-ol derivatives as 5-HT2C agonists, pharmaceutical compositions, use of such compounds in treating depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and seizure disorders, and processes for preparing such compounds.


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Important Compound Classes

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Title

3-(2-(Aminoethyl)-indol-4-ol Derivatives, Methods of Preparation Thereof and the Use as 2-HT Receptor Modulators

Patent Publication Number

US 2023/0140635 A1

URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230140635A1/en

Publication Date

May 4, 2023

Priority Application

US 62/988,826

Priority Date

March 12, 2020

Inventors

Kozikowski, A.; Shapiro, G.; Tueckmantel, W.; McCorvy, J.

Assignee Company

Bright Minds Biosciences Inc., Canada and The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc., USA

Disease Area

Depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and seizure disorders

Biological Target

5-HT2C

Summary

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms collectively known as “psilocybin mushrooms.” As a prodrug, psilocybin is quickly metabolized by the body to generate the bioactive psilocin, which has mind altering effects not unlike those produced by other psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). These effects include, inter alia, euphoria, visual and mental hallucinations, changes in perception, and distortions in one’s sense of time.

Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are powerful psychoactive substances that alter perception and mood and affect numerous cognitive processes. After the discovery of (5R,8R)-(+)-lysergic acid-N,N-diethylamide (LSD) and the identification of serotonin in the brain, early research focused intensively on LSD. Today, there is a consensus that psychedelics are agonists or partial agonists at brain serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptors. Psychedelics have both rapid onset and persisting effects, which includes changes in mood and brain function. The classical psychotic agents include LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline.

The 5-HT2A receptor plays an important role in emotional responses and is an important target to be considered in the action of 5-HT2A agonist psychedelics. In fact, a majority of known 5-HT2A agonists produce hallucinogenic effects in humans. Psilocybin activates 5HT1A receptors, which may contribute to antidepressant/antianxiety effects.

The present application describes a series of novel 3-(2-(aminoethyl)-indol-4-ol derivatives as 5-HT2C agonists for the treatment of depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and seizure disorders. Further, the application discloses compounds, their preparation, use, pharmaceutical composition, and treatment.

Definitions

R1 = C1–C6 alkyl, C2–C6 alkenyl, C2–C6 alkynyl, C3–C6 cycloalkyl, CH2(C3–C6 cycloalkyl), substituted benzyl, halobenzyl, C1–C6 alkylbenzyl, C1–C6 alkoxybenzyl, or C1–C6 alkylaryl;

R2 = H, C1–C6 alkyl, C2–C6 alkenyl, C2–C6 alkynyl, C3–C6 cycloalkyl, CH2(C3–C6 cycloalkyl), substituted benzyl, halobenzyl, C1–C6 alkylbenzyl, C1–C6 alkoxybenzyl, or C1–C6 alkylaryl;

R3 = C1–C6 alkyl, C3–C6 cycloalkyl, CH2(C3–C6 cycloalkyl), C3–C6 heterocycloalkyl, CH2(C3–C6 heterocyclyl), 3-oxetanyl, 4–7 membered heterocyclyl or CH2(4–7 membered heterocyclyl); and

Z = H, (R4)­(R5)­N–C­(O)-, C1–C6 alkyl–C­(O)-, or C3–C6 cycloalkyl–C­(O)-.

Key Structures

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Biological Assay

The 5-HT2C receptor Gq-dissociation BRET assay was performed. The compounds described in this application were tested for agonist activity at 5-HT2C receptor. The 5-HT2C IC50 (nM) values are shown in the following Table.

Biological Data

The Table below shows representative compounds that were tested for agonist activity at 5-HT2C. The biological data obtained from testing representative examples are listed in the following Table.graphic file with name ml5c00415_0003.jpg

Claims

Total claims: 35

Compound claims: 19

Method of treatment claims: 1

Canceled claims: 15

Recent Review Articles

See References − .

The author declares no competing financial interest.

Published as part of ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters special issue “Psychedelics and Entactogens”.

References

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