Structure-activity relationships of the 1-amino-3-(1H-indol-1-yl)-3-phenylpropan-2-ol series of monoamine reuptake inhibitors

Abstract The SAR of a series of 1-amino-3-(1 H -indol-1-yl)-3-phenylpropan-2-ols as monoamine reuptake inhibitors, with a goal to improve both potency toward inhibiting the norepinephrine transporter and selectivity over the serotonin transporter, is reported. The effect of specific substitution on both the 3-phenyl group and the indole moiety were explored. This study led to the discovery of compound 20 which inhibited the norepinephrine transporter with an IC 50 value of 4 nM while exhibiting 86-fold selectivity over the serotonin transporter.