Tricycloundecane Derivatives as Potential N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor and Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Modulators.

Neurodegenerative disorders are debilitating conditions characterised by progressive dysfunction and death of neuronal cells. Amidst the proposed mechanisms of neurodegeneration, the effects of excitotoxicity via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor stimulation and activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) on neuronal cells are prominent. This has led to the development of polycyclic cage molecules such as NGP1-01, which exhibit neuroprotective properties through NMDA receptor and VGCC modulation. The medicinal potential of structurally related tricycloundecanes that are open-cage or rearranged polycyclic moieties has not been explored. This study is therefore focused on the synthesis of a series of novel tricycloundecane derivatives and their ability to inhibit NMDA receptors and VGCC. Significant NMDA receptor inhibition was observed for tricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7) ]undec-9-ene-3,6-dione (4, 78%) and 6-hydroxytricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7) ]undec-9-en-3-one (5, >95%) at a concentration of 100 μM. The highest inhibitory activity was observed for 6-(benzylimino)tricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7) ]undec-9-en-3-one (9, >95%), which is in the same range as the inhibitory activity of MK-801 (dizocilpine). In the VGCC inhibition assay, 6-(benzylamino)tricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7) ]undeca-4,9-dien-3-one (8, 34%), 9 (38%) and 2-(benzylamino)-3,6-epoxytricyclo[6.2.1.0(5,10) ]undecan-9-ol (12, 40%) showed statistically significant (p<0.05) VGCC inhibition.