Selective adenosine receptor modulators are potential tools for numerous therapeutic applications, including cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, the synthesis and biological evaluation at the four human adenosine receptor subtypes of a series of 9-substituted 8-(2-furyl)adenine derivatives are reported. Results show that 8-(2-furyl)-9-methyladenine is endowed with high affinity at the A2A subtype. Further modification of this compound with introduction of arylacetyl or arylcarbamoyl groups in N6-position takes to different effects on the A2A affinity and in
particular on the selectivity versus the other three adenosine receptor subtypes. A molecular modelling
analysis at three different A2A receptor crystal structures provides an interpretation of the obtained biological results.
