Semisynthetic Studies on and Biological Evaluation of N-Methyllaurotetanine Analogues as Ligands for 5-HT Receptors

J Nat Prod. 2015 Apr 24;78(4):722-9. doi: 10.1021/np500893h. Epub 2015 Feb 19.

Abstract

N-Methyllaurotetanine (1) has been reported to display good affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor, but no structure-affinity studies have been performed to date. The commercially available alkaloid boldine (2) was used as the starting material for synthesis of various C-9 alkoxy analogues of N-methyllaurotetanine in order to gauge the effect of C-9 alkylation on affinity and selectivity at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT7 receptors. Mitsunobu reactions were implemented in the alkylation steps leading to the analogues. Modest improvement in 5-HT1A affinity was observed upon alkylation for most analogues. Thus, the C-9 hydroxy group of 1 is not critical for affinity to the 5-HT1A receptor. Some analogues displayed high affinity for the 5-HT7 receptor, comparable to N-methyllaurotetanine, with moderate selectivity vs 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aporphines / chemical synthesis*
  • Aporphines / chemistry
  • Aporphines / pharmacology*
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Receptors, Serotonin / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Aporphines
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • serotonin 7 receptor
  • N-methyllaurotetanine
  • boldine