Synthesis of tropane and nortropane analogues with phenyl substitutions as serotonin transporter ligands.

Abstract The effects of structural modifications of 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-phenyl tropane analogues were evaluated on in vitro affinity to the dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (5-HTT) transporters in rat brain tissue. The introduction of a large alkyl group at the 4′-position of the phenyl ring, affording 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4′-alkylphenyl) tropane, diminished the affinity for the DAT whereas moderate 5-HTT affinity was obtained. The introduction of an iodine at the 3′-position of the 4′-alkylphenyl, affording 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(3′-iodo-4′-alkylphenyl) tropane, and N -demethylation, affording 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(3′-iodo-4′-alkylphenyl) nortropane, improved affinity and specificity for the 5-HTT. It could be assumed from these results that the combination of these three modifications of tropane structure yielded highly selective compounds for the 5-HTT. Of the new compounds synthesized, the most selective cocaine derivative, 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(3′-iodo-4′-isopropylphenyl) nortropane ( 8d ) labeled with iodine-123 or carbon-11, could be a potential ligand for exploration of the 5-HT transporter by SPET or PET.