Potent adenosine A1 and A2A receptors antagonists: recent developments

This review summarizes the current tendencies observed in the past 5 years in the development of A(1) and A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonists performed in various academia and industry. A(1) and A(2A) AR antagonists are as well xanthines as heteroaromatic derivatives and are most commonly 6:5 fused heteroatomic compounds. Among xanthine-based compounds, some common features could be pointed out. The recent A(1) AR ligands which show good biological profile, possess long alkyl chains in position 1 and 3 as well as bulky C(8)-substituent, while A(2A) AR antagonists with a high A(2A) AR affinity are C(8)-styryl substituted with N(1)-alkyl/alkynyl moiety or fused tricyclic xanthines possessing heteroatom(s) in the third cycle. The research in the field of heteroaromatic A(1) and A(2A) ARs antagonists impressively has a wide range. Ligands are as well non-fused monocyclic substituted compounds as fused bi- and tricyclic derivatives with the nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur heteroatoms. Most often, adenosine A(1) receptor non-xanthine antagonists are adenine-based, having substituted amino group and variable nitrogen atoms positions in the molecules. A(2A) AR ligands show good affinity when furanyl function, which is crucial for binding, is present in the fused bicyclic and tricyclic analogs. Moreover, tricyclic nitrogen containing antagonists in order to be active, frequently possess long-alkylphenyl moiety.