GABAB antagonists: resolution, absolute stereochemistry, and pharmacology of (R)- and (S)-phaclofen.

Phaclofen, which is the phosphonic acid analogue of the GABAB agonist (RS)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-aminobutyric acid (baclofen), is a GABAB antagonist. As part of our studies on the structural requirements for activation and blockade of GABAB receptors, we have resolved phaclofen using chiral chromatographic techniques. The absolute stereochemistry of (−)-(R)-phaclofen was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. (−)-(R)-Phaclofen was shown to inhibit the binding of [3H]-(R)-baclofen to GABAB receptor sites on rat cerebellar membranes (IC50 = 76 ± 13 μM), whereas (+)-(S)-phaclofen was inactive in this binding assay (IC50 > 1000 μM). (−)-(R)-Phaclofen (200 μM) was equipotent with (RS)-phaclofen (400 μM) in antagonizing the action of baclofen in rat cerebral cortical slices, while (+)-(S)-phaclofen (200 μM) was inactive. The structural similarity of the agonist (R)-baclofen and the antagonist (−)-(R)-phaclofen suggests that these ligands interact with the GABAB receptor sites in a similar manner. Thus, it may be concluded that the different pharmacological effects of these compounds essentially result from the different spatial and proteolytic properties of their acid groups. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.