7,11-methanocycloocta [B] quinoline derivative as highly functionalizable acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

A compound of formula I:

• wherein,
• R is a moiety of formula -A-Y—Z,
• wherein,
• A is C1-C4 alkylene;
• Y is a single bond, —O—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —OS(O)2—, —NH—, —N(R4)— or
• Z is H, halo, cyano, hydroxyl, azide, hydrazinyl, —OR5, —C(O)OR6, —NR6R7, —N+R6R7R8, —CH(COOR6)2, —CH(CH2OH)2, CH2—OC(O)—R9, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyl substituted with halogen or hydroxyl, C2-C4 alkenyl or C2-C4 alkenyl substituted with halogen or hydroxyl;
• R4 and R5 are C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 alkyloxycarbonyl;
• R6, R7 and R8 are independently H or C1-C4 alkyl;
• and
• R9 is C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 alkyl substituted with halogen;
• with the proviso that R is not alkyl;
• Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd are independently H, halogen, cyano, carboxyl, —O(C1-C4 alkyl), —S(C1-C4 alkyl), or —CH2S(C1-C4 alkyl);
• R1 is H or ═CH2;
• and
• R2 is Cl or NR3R′3 wherein R3 and R′3 are independently H, acetyl, C1-C4 alkyl, or —CO(C1-C4 alkyl);
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.