Synthesis and evaluation of benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl)methanone derivatives as ligands for β-amyloid plaques

A series of benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl)methanone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as novel probes for beta-amyloid plaques. These derivatives were produced by a Rap-Stoermer condensation reaction. Compounds with a N,N-dimethylamino group displayed high affinity for A beta(1-42) aggregates with K(i) values in the nanomolar range. Autoradiography with brain sections of AD model mice (APP/PS1) revealed that a radioiodinated probe, [(125)I]10, labeled beta-amyloid plaques selectively and displayed good brain uptake (3.53% ID/g) at 2 min. The results suggest that benzofuran-2-yl(phenyl) methanone derivatives should be investigated further as potential probes for detecting beta-amyloid plaques in the AD brain. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.