Design and synthesis of new anilide and benzylamide derivatives as potential multifunctional ligands with procognitive and antidepressant activity

Abstract

The search for new drugs in the treatment of cognitive and mood disorders belongs to the leading research directions due to the growing prevalence of dementia and depression. The limited therapeutic efficacy of substances with a selective mechanism of action prompts the design of drugs among multifunctional ligands, i.e., molecules with a complex mechanism of action. This paper is an overview of the current research in the field of design and synthesis of potential multifunctional ligands with CNS activity. The serotonin 5-HT<sub>1A</sub>/5-HT<sub>7</sub> receptor ligands and phosphodiesterase PDE4B/PDE7A inhibitors were shown to have procognitive and antidepressant properties <i>in vivo</i>. They may provide higher efficacy in the treatment of cognitive and depressive symptoms of neurodegenerative and mental disorders.