Synthesis and Evaluation of Diphenylpyrazine Cyclic Amine Derivatives as IP Receptor Agonists

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe, progressive condition with limited treatments. This study focuses on developing novel IP receptor agonists for PAH therapy. By modifying MRE-269, a highly selective IP receptor agonist, we designed and synthesized 2-cyclic amino-5,6-diphenylpyrazine derivatives. Systematic evaluation revealed that introducing a dimethyl group at the C3 position of the piperidine ring significantly improved antiaggregatory activity. The optimal compound 6c-14S demonstrated a 40-fold increase in potency compared to MRE-269. Docking studies confirmed its high selectivity for the IP receptor, and pharmacokinetic studies showed a 3-fold improvement in half-life, suggesting its potential for therapeutic development.