Piriqualone (1) was found to be an antagonist of AMPA receptors. Structure–activity optimization was conducted on each of the three rings in 1 to afford a series of potent and selective antagonists. The sterically crowded environment surrounding the N-3 aryl group provided sufficient thermal stability for atropisomers to be isolated. Separation of these atropisomers resulted in the identification of (+)-38 (CP-465,022), a compound that binds ...
[Wolfe, James F.; Rathman, Terry L.; Sleevi, Mark C.; Campbell, James A.; Greenwood, Thomas D. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1990 , vol. 33, # 1 p. 161 - 166]