N-Substituted 9β-Methyl-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)morphans Are Opioid Receptor Pure Antagonists

The inhibition of radioligand binding and [35S]GTPγS functional assay data for N-methyl- and N-phenethyl-9β-methyl-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)morphans (5b and 5c) show that these compounds are pure antagonists at the μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors. Since 5b and 5c have the 5-(3-hydroxyphenyl) group locked in a conformation comparable to an equatorial group of a piperidine chair conformation, this information provides very strong evidence that opioid antagonists can interact with opioid receptors in this conformation. In addition, it suggests that the trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine class of antagonist operates via a phenyl equatorial piperidine chair conformation. Importantly, the close relationship between the 4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidines and 5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)morphan antagonists shows that the latter class of compound provides a rigid platform on which to build a novel series of opioid antagonists.