Discovery of Novel Aminotetralines and Aminochromanes as Selective and Competitive Glycine Transporter 1 (GlyT1) Inhibitors

The glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) has emerged as a key novel target for the treatment of schizophrenia. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of aminotetralines and aminochromanes as novel classes of competitive GlyT1 inhibitors. Starting from a high-throughput screening hit, structure–activity relationship studies led first to the discovery of aminotetralines displaying high GlyT1 potency and selectivity, with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Systematic investigations of various parameters (e.g., topological polar surface area, number of hydrogen bond donors) guided by ex vivo target occupancy evaluation resulted in lead compounds possessing favorable brain penetration properties as for (7S,8R)-27a. Further optimization revealed compounds with reduced efflux liabilities as for aminochromane 51b. In an in vivo efficacy model (7S,8R)-27a, dose-dependently reversed L-687,414 induced hyperlocomotion in mice with an ED₅₀ of 0.8 mg/kg. All these results suggest (7S,8R)-27a and 51b as new GlyT1 inhibitors worthy of further profiling.