A stereoselective synthetic approach to N-alkyl-4β-methyl-5-phenylmorphans

Design, synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and molecular dynamics of β-amino acids morphan-derivatives as novel ligands for opioid receptors

Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) is a current approach in the design of new pharmacological agents. We previously reported the synthesis of a novel analogue of morphine, a 2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, which contains a β-amino acid. This bicyclic core exhibits two distinctive chemical handles for further elaboration, which allowed us to create a library of morphan-containing compounds by in silico molecular docking on the μ opioid receptor. Lead candidates were synthesized and biological tests were performed to evaluate their ability to bind to opioid receptors. The four top compounds, three phenyl esters and an N-phenylethyl morphan derivative, were selected for Molecular Dynamics simulations to get topological and thermodynamic information. Aromatic morphan derivatives displayed an interacting domain which fits into a hydrophobic cleft and the effect of the substituents in their affinity was explained by the differences in the calculated binding free energies. Our results indicate that the 3D arrangement of the aromatic ring in the morphine derivatives is not a key issue for a specific ligand - μ receptor interaction. Thus, these morphan derivatives represent a new class of opioid receptor ligands which may be of great use in the clinical practice.

Synthesis of Aryl-Substituted Piperidines by Superacid Activation of Piperidones

Diarylpiperidines (8-12) may be prepared in good to excellent yields (80-99%) by the reaction of piperidones (3d-h) with benzene and the Bronsted superacid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF(3)SO(3)H, TfOH). Tropinone (6) and quinuclidone (7) also react in good yields with benzene in TfOH to give the condensation products (13 and 14). Ketal and acetal derivatives also give condensation products (8 and 24) upon reaction with C(6)H(6) in TfOH. The conversion of 3g to 11 is sensitive to both acid quantity and acid strength; a mechanism is proposed for the conversion that invokes dicationic intermediates.