De novo analysis of receptor binding affinity data of xanthine adenosine receptor antagonists

The receptor binding affinity data to adenosine A1 and A2 receptors of a wide series of xanthine derivatives have been analyzed by means of the Free-Wilson model. The analysis of the individual group contribution shows, for both A1 and A2 receptors, the primary importance of the presence of bulky substituents at position 8 for an optimum receptor binding. Moreover, considering the different aij contributions of bulky substituents at position 8 for affinity to A1 with respect to A2 receptors, this position appears to be the most important for the synthesis of highly A1 selective xanthine derivatives. Moreover the analysis of group contributions for other substitution positions of the xanthine moiety allows to state that suitable substitutions at positions 3 and 7 could confer some degree of A2 selectivity.