High-affinity and selective dopamine D3 receptor full agonists

We have designed, synthesized and evaluated a series of new compounds with the goal to identify potent and selective D-3 ligands. The two most potent and selective new D-3 ligands are compounds 38 and 52, which bind to the D-3 receptors with a K-i value of <1 nM and display a selectivity of 450-494 times over the D-2 receptors and >10,000 times over the D-1 receptors. Both 38 and 52 are full agonists with high potency at the D-3 receptor in a D-3 functional assay. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.