Cyclopropane is the smallest cyclic compound with unique structural features and physicochemical properties, which is widely used in the design of small molecule drugs. In drug design, it is often used to increase activity, fix conformation and improve PK and water solubility. The introduction of cyclopropyl groups into drugs can change various properties of molecules, such as improving metabolic stability; increasing biological activity; enhancing drug efficacy; limiting polypeptide conformation and slowing down its hydrolysis; reducing plasma clearance; improving drug dissociation and many more. Cyclopropane rings are widely found in marketed drugs, including cardiovascular drugs, central nervous system (CNS) drugs, anticancer drugs, autoimmune and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Tetrahydroisoquinoline is an organic compound with the chemical formula C9H11N. It is classified as a secondary amine, obtained from isoquinoline by hydrogenation. The tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety forms the backbone of several natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs approved for the treatment of cancer, pain, gout and various neurodegenerative diseases.