Synthesis and transporter binding properties of 3 beta-(4'-alkyl-, 4'-alkenyl-, and 4'-alkynylphenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters: Serotonin transporter selective analogs

New methods for the synthesis of 3 beta-(4'-alkyl-, 4'-alkenyl-, and 4'-alkynylphenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters 2-4, respectively, were developed. These methods involved coupling of the appropriate organometallic reagents to 3 beta-(4'-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (6a, RTI-55) or to an N-protected derivative of 6a followed by N-demethylation or removal of the protecting group. Some analogs were prepared by catalytic reduction of the alkene and alkyne analogs 3 and 4 or by isomerization of the alkenes 3. The analogs 2-4 were evaluated for inhibition of radioligand binding to the serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) transporters. 3 beta-(4'-Isopropenyl- and 4'-cis-propenylphenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters (3b,d), which possessed IC50 values of 0.6 and 1.15 nM, respectively, were the most potent analogs at the 5-HT transporter, and with NE/5-HT IC50 ratios of 240 and 128 nM, respectively, they were selective for the 5-HT relative to the NE transporter. Since interaction with the serotonin transporter may modulate the pharmacological effects resulting from binding to the dopamine transporter, 3 beta-(4'-isopropenylphenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (11b) which has good affinity for both the 5-HT and DA transporters but low affinity at the NE transporter may be useful for studying this interaction.