Novel and potent ligands to the serotonin7 (5-HT7) receptor have been synthesized. The synthesized compounds include a set of substituted pyrimidines which show high affinity to the 5-HT7 receptor, synthesized by previously described methods [1,2] in high yield. Comparing the affinities of substituted pyrimidines to previously calculated models [3,4] yielded new hypotheses about the nature of interaction between the pyrimidine ligands and the 5-HT7 binding site. Several new series of compounds were synthesized by various methods to validate these hypotheses, including a conjugate addition to vinylpyrimidines [5]. These compounds include benzofurans, oximes, hydrazones, as well as a group of substituted piperazines. All series of compounds show affinity to the 5-HT7 receptor comparable to previously synthesized 5-HT7 ligands. Several of the synthesized ligands show affinity which exceeds that of currently available ligands. The synthesized compounds were evaluated quantitatively by calculating a three-dimensional quantitative structure-affinity relationship (3D-QSAR) for the 5-HT7 receptor. Evaluation of the calculated model validated qualitative assumptions about the data set as well as described regions of interaction in greater detail than previously available. These observations give further insight on the nature of ligand-binding site interactions with highly potent ligands such as 4-(3-furyl)-2-(N-methylpiperazino)pyrimidine which will lead to more potent 5-HT7 receptor ligands. Additionally, a model was calculated for affinity to the 5-HT2a receptor. Comparing this model to that calculated for affinity to the 5-HT7 receptor identified two regions which may be exploited in future sets of ligands to increase selectivity to the 5HT7 receptor.

Une bibliothèque de nouveaux catalyseurs bifonctionnels combinant à la fois l’aminocatalyse et l’activation acide par un acide phosphonique sur une même structure peptidique a été développée. Des variations structurales ont été apportées afin d’optimiser la géométrie du site catalytique. Le potentiel de ces catalyseurs a été testé sur la réaction d’addition de Michael stéréosélective d’aldéhydes sur divers nitroalcènes aromatiques. Dans des conditions optimisées, de très bonnes sélectivités (r.d. < 95:5 / r.e. < 93:7) ont été atteintes. Grâce à leur forte solubilité dans l’eau, ces catalyseurs ont été facilement extraits et réutilisés sur 10 cycles sans perte significative de sélectivité. Enfin, des études mécanistiques ont été menées afin de connaitre le mode d’action exact de ces catalyseurs. Tant l’énamine que l’activation acide se sont avérées essentielles pour que la réaction ait lieu. L’enchainement peptidique permet une réaction intramoléculaire et stéréosélective. / A novel bifunctional organocatalyst library combining both aminocatalysis and phosphonic acid activation on a peptide structure was developed. Some structural variations allowed the optimization of the catalytic site. The potential of these catalysts was evaluated on the stereoselective Michael addition of aldehydes with several aromatic nitroalkenes. In optimized conditions, very good selectivities (up to 95:5 d.r. and 93:7 e.r) were achieved. Due to their high water-solubility, the catalysts were easily recyclable and reused over several cycles without any significant loss of selectivities. Mechanistic investigations were carried out to understand the exact mode of action of the catalysts. Both enamine formation and acid activation were essential for the reaction to occur. The peptide structure allows an intramolecular and stereoselective reaction.