Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of enantiomerically pure endo-configured KOR agonists with 2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold

Conformationally restricted bicyclic KOR agonists 10 with an endo configured amino moiety were synthesized to analyze the bioactive conformation of conformationally flexible KOR agonists such as 2-5. A seven-step, chiral pool synthesis starting with (S)-configured 4-oxopiperidine-2-carboxylate 13 was developed. cis and trans configured diesters 12 were obtained in a 3:1 ratio via hydrogenation of the α,β unsaturated ester 14. After establishment of the bicyclic scaffold, a diastereoselective reductive amination of ketone 11 provided exclusively the endo configured bicyclic amines 10a,b. The 3:1 mixtures of enantiomers were separated by chiral HPLC, respectively, leading to enantiomerically …