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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
Published on: August 16, 2018
Imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines as functionally selective and orally bioavailable GABA(A)alpha2/alpha3 binding site
Simon C Goodacre1, Leslie J Street, David J Hallett
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck Sharp Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Centre, Terlings Park, Eastwick Road, Harlow, Essex, UK.
Abstract:
A series of high-affinity GABA(A) agonists with good oral bioavailability in rat and dog and functional selectivity for the GABA(A)alpha2 and -alpha3 subtypes is reported. The 7-trifluoromethylimidazopyrimidine 14g and the 7-propan-2-olimidazopyrimidine 14k are anxiolytic in both conditioned and unconditioned animal models of anxiety with minimal sedation observed at full BZ binding site occupancy.
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