To find new compounds with potential neuroprotective activity, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized a series of neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitors with a kynurenamine structure. Among them, N-[3-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropyl]acetamide is the main melatonin metabolite in the brain and shows the highest activity in the series, with an inhibition percentage of 65% at a 1 mM concentration. The structure-activity relationship of the new series partially reflects that of the previously reported 2-acylamido-4-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acids, endowed with a kynurenine-like structure. Structural comparisons between these new kinurenamine derivatives, kynurenines, and 1-acyl-3-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole derivatives also reported confirm our previous model for the nNOS inhibition.
