Discovery of <i>N</i>‑(Pyridin-4-yl)-1,5-naphthyridin-2-amines as Potential Tau Pathology PET Tracers for Alzheimer’s Disease

A mini-HTS on 4000 compounds selected using 2D fragment-based similarity and 3D pharmacophoric and shape similarity to known selective tau aggregate binders identified N-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)­quinolin-2-amine 10 as a novel potent binder to human AD aggregated tau with modest selectivity versus aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ). Initial medicinal chemistry efforts identified key elements for potency and selectivity, as well as suitable positions for radiofluorination, leading to a first generation of fluoroalkyl-substituted quinoline tau binding ligands with suboptimal physicochemical properties. Further optimization toward a more optimal pharmacokinetic profile led to the discovery of 1,5-naphthyridine 75, a potent and selective tau aggregate binder with potential as a tau PET tracer.