Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Disubstituted Pyrimidines as Selective 5-HT Agonists.

Here, we describe the synthesis of disubstituted pyrimidine derivatives and their biological evaluation as selective 5-HT agonists. To improve selectivity for 5-HT over other subtypes, we synthesized two series of disubstituted pyrimidines with fluorophenylalkoxy groups at either the 5-position or 4-position and varying cyclic amines at the 2-position. The in vitro cell-based assay and binding assay identified compounds and as potent 5-HT agonists. Further studies on selectivity to 5-HT subtypes and drug-like properties indicated that 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidine showed a highly agonistic effect on the 5-HT receptor, with excellent selectivity, as well as exceptional drug-like properties, including high plasma and microsomal stability, along with low CYP inhibition. Thus, pyrimidine could be considered a viable lead compound as a 5-HT selective agonist.