Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoxazole derivatives, analogues of riluzole

This manuscript describes the synthesis of a new series of 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoxazole derivatives (1-5) and a benzothiazine derivative (6) structurally related to riluzole, the only neuroprotective drug currently approved for the treatment of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Preliminary results indicate that the synthesized compounds, in particular benzamide derivatives 3 and 4, are able to antagonize voltage-dependent Na+ channel currents, and therefore they could be exploited as new inhibitors of these channels. Moreover, all compounds possess low binding affinity for GABA and NMDA receptors.