Discovery of N-Substituted (2-Phenylcyclopropyl)methylamines as Functionally Selective Serotonin 2C Receptor Agonists for Potential Use as Antipsychotic Medications

A series of N-substituted (2-phenylcyclopropyl)methylamines were designed and synthesized, with the aim of finding serotonin 2C (5-HT2C)-selective agonists with a preference for Gq signaling. A number of these compounds exhibit 5-HT2C selectivity with a preference for Gq-mediated signaling compared with β-arrestin recruitment. Furthermore, the N-methyl compound (+)-15a, which displayed an EC50 of 23 nM in the calcium flux assay while showing no β-arrestin recruitment activity, is the most functionally selective 5-HT2C agonist reported to date. The N-benzyl compound (+)-19, which showed an EC50 of 24 nM at the 5-HT2C receptor, is fully selective over the 5-HT2B receptor. In an amphetamine-induced hyperactivity model, compound (+)-19 showed significant antipsychotic-drug-like activity. These novel compounds shed light on the role of functional selectivity at the 5-HT2C receptor with respect to antipsychotic activity.