Identification of a new scaffold for opioid receptor antagonism based on the 2-amino-1,1-dimethyl-7-hydroxytetralin pharmacophore

The trans-(3,4)-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidines are a unique class of opioid antagonists that have recently provided selective antagonists for μ-opioid receptors (MOR) and κ-opioid receptors (KOR). Molecular modeling indicated a strong structural similarity between the parent of this series and 2-amino-1,1-dimethyl-7-hydroxytetralin. In binding and in vitro functional assays, the aminotetralin derivatives displayed some overlap in SAR with that previously reported for the phenylpiperidine series, providing evidence for a common binding mode for the two series at opioid receptors. Introduction of a methoxy group in the 3-position increased potency at MOR and KOR receptors, suggesting that this aminotetralin skeleton can be utilized as a new scaffold for the design of selective opioid receptor antagonists.