Discovery of VU6005649, a CNS Penetrant mGlu7/8 Receptor PAM Derived from a Series of Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

Herein, we report the structure–activity relationships within a series of mGlu7 PAMs based on a pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine core with excellent CNS penetration (Kps > 1 and Kp,uus > 1). Analogues in this series proved to display a range of Group III mGlu receptor selectivity, but VU6005649 emerged as the first dual mGlu7/8 PAM, filling a void in the Group III mGlu receptor PAM toolbox and demonstrating in vivo efficacy in a mouse contextual fear conditioning model.