Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-iminocyclohept[b]indoles: high-affinity ligands for the N,N'-di-o-tolylguanidine-labeled sigma binding site

J Med Chem. 1993 Feb 5;36(3):343-52. doi: 10.1021/jm00055a005.

Abstract

A series of 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-iminocyclo[b]indoles substituted at the 5 and/or 11 positions was synthesized from tropinone. Affinity for sigma binding sites was determined using [3H]-N,N'-di-o-tolylguanidine ([3H]DTG) and [3H]-(+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-1-propylpiperidine ([3H]-(+)-3-PPP) and for the dopamine D2 receptor labeled with [3H]sulpiride. Nearly all compounds studied in this series possessed a higher affinity for [3H]DTG than [3H]-(+)-PPP-labeled sigma sites, suggesting that [3H]DTG and [3H]-(+)-3-PPP radioligands label pharmacologically distinct sigma binding sites, as reported previously. Substitution at the 11 position with side chains containing a four-carbon tether resulted in compounds having the highest affinity for the [3H]DTG-labeled sigma site. The most potent and selective member of this series was 11-[4-(2-furanyl)butyl]-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-iminocyclohept [b] indole (40). Enantioselectivity was investigated by preparing the (+)- and (-)-isomers of 40. These studies revealed that (+)-40 was more potent at the [3H]-DTG-labeled sigma site whereas (-)-40 had a higher affinity at sigma sites labeled with [3H]-(+)-PPP. Racemic 40 was observed to possess a higher affinity than either of its respective enantiomers at both the [3H]DTG- and [3H]-(+)-3-PPP-labeled sites, suggesting an allosteric interaction.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carbolines / chemical synthesis*
  • Carbolines / metabolism*
  • Guanidines / metabolism
  • Guinea Pigs
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Piperidines / metabolism
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, sigma / metabolism*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulpiride / metabolism
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Carbolines
  • Guanidines
  • Piperidines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Receptors, sigma
  • Sulpiride
  • preclamol
  • 1,3-ditolylguanidine