A Novel Mitragynine Analog with Low-Efficacy Mu Opioid Receptor Agonism Displays Antinociception with Attenuated Adverse Effects

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OH) are the major alkaloids mediating the biological actions of the psychoactive plant kratom. To investigate the structure-activity relationships of mitragynine/7OH templates, we diversified the aromatic ring of the indole at the C9, C10, and C12 positions and investigated their G-protein and arrestin signaling mediated by mu opioid receptors (MOR). Three synthesized lead C9 analogs replacing the 9-OCH3 group with phenyl (4), methyl (5), or 3'-furanyl [6 (SC13)] substituents demonstrated partial agonism with a lower efficacy than DAMGO or morphine in heterologous G-protein assays and synaptic physiology. In assays limiting MOR reserve, the G-protein efficacy of all three was comparable to buprenorphine. 6 (SC13) showed MOR-dependent analgesia with potency similar to morphine without respiratory depression, hyperlocomotion, constipation, or place conditioning in mice. These results suggest the possibility of activating MOR minimally (G-protein Emax ≈ 10%) in cell lines while yet attaining maximal antinociception in vivo with reduced opioid liabilities.

Kratom Alkaloids, Natural and Semi-Synthetic, Show Less Physical Dependence and Ameliorate Opioid Withdrawal

Chronic administration of opioids produces physical dependence and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Users claim the Thai traditional tea "kratom" and component alkaloid mitragynine ameliorate opioid withdrawal without increased sensitivity to pain. Testing these claims, we assessed the combined kratom alkaloid extract (KAE) and two individual alkaloids, mitragynine (MG) and the analog mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP), evaluating their ability to produce physical dependence and induce hyperalgesia after chronic administration, and as treatments for withdrawal in morphine-dependent subjects. C57BL/6J mice (n = 10/drug) were administered repeated saline, or graded, escalating doses of morphine (intraperitoneal; i.p.), kratom alkaloid extract (orally, p.o.), mitragynine (p.o.), or MP (subcutaneously, s.c.) for 5 days. Mice treated chronically with morphine, KAE, or mitragynine demonstrated significant drug-induced hyperalgesia by day 5 in a 48 °C warm-water tail-withdrawal test. Mice were then administered naloxone (10 mg/kg, s.c.) and tested for opioid withdrawal signs. Kratom alkaloid extract and the two individual alkaloids demonstrated significantly fewer naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs than morphine-treated mice. Additional C57BL/6J mice made physically dependent on morphine were then used to test the therapeutic potential of combined KAE, mitragynine, or MP given twice daily over the next 3 days at either a fixed dose or in graded, tapering descending doses. When administered naloxone, mice treated with KAE, mitragynine, or MP under either regimen demonstrated significantly fewer signs of precipitated withdrawal than control mice that continued to receive morphine. In conclusion, while retaining some liabilities, kratom, mitragynine, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl produced significantly less physical dependence and ameliorated precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent animals, suggesting some clinical value.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of (±)-Melokhanine E via an Intramolecular Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

A convergent sequence to access the indole alkaloid (±)-melokhanine E in 12-steps (8-step longest linear sequence) and an 11% overall yield is reported. The approach utilizes two cyclopropane moieties as reactive precursors to a 1,3-dipole and imine species to enable stereoselective construction of the core scaffold through a formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition. The natural product was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity based on isolation reports; however, no activity was observed. The reported efforts serve as a synthetic platform to prepare an array of alkaloids bearing this core structural motif.

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of Methanoquinolizidine-Containing Akuammiline Alkaloids and Related Studies

The akuammiline alkaloids are a structurally diverse class of bioactive natural products isolated from plants found in various parts of the world. A particularly challenging subset of akuammiline alkaloids are those that contain a methanoquinolizidine core. We describe a synthetic approach to these compounds that has enabled the first total syntheses of (+)-strictamine, (-)-2( S)-cathafoline, (+)-akuammiline, and (-)-Ψ-akuammigine. Our strategy relies on the development of the reductive interrupted Fischer indolization reaction to construct a common pentacyclic intermediate bearing five contiguous stereocenters, in addition to late-stage formation of the methanoquinolizidine framework using a deprotection-cyclization cascade. The total syntheses of (-)-Ψ-akuammigine and (+)-akuammiline mark the first preparations of akuammiline alkaloids containing both a methanoquinolizidine core and vicinal quaternary centers. Lastly, we describe the bioinspired reductive rearrangements of (+)-strictamine and (+)-akuammiline to ultimately provide (-)-10-demethoxyvincorine and a new analogue thereof.

The use of residual dipolar coupling for conformational analysis of structurally related natural products

Determining the conformational preferences of molecules in solution remains a considerable challenge. Recently, the use of residual dipolar coupling (RDC) analysis has emerged as a key method to address this. Whilst to date the majority of the applications have focused on biomolecules including proteins and DNA, the use of RDCs for studying small molecules is gaining popularity. Having said that, the method continues to develop, and here, we describe an early case study of the quantification of conformer populations in small molecules using RDC analysis. Having been inspired to study conformational preferences by unexpected differences in the NMR spectra and the reactivity of related natural products, we showed that the use of more established techniques was unsatisfactory in explaining the experimental observations. The use of RDCs provided an improved understanding that, following use of methods to quantify conformer populations using RDCs, culminated in a rationalisation of the contrasting diastereoselectivities observed in a ketone reduction reaction.

Biosynthetically inspired divergent approach to monoterpene indole alkaloids: total synthesis of mersicarpine, leuconodines B and D, leuconoxine, melodinine E, leuconolam, and rhazinilam

Inspired by their potential biosynthesis, we have developed divergent total syntheses of seven monoterpene indole alkaloids including mersicarpine, leuconodines B and D, leuconoxine, melodinine E, leuconolam, and rhazinilam, and one unnatural analogue with an unprecedented structural skeleton. The key steps involve a Witkop-Winterfeldt oxidative indole cleavage followed by transannular cyclization. The transannular cyclization product was then converted to the corresponding structural skeletons by pairing its functional groups into different reaction modes.

Total synthesis of the opioid agonistic indole alkaloid mitragynine and the first total syntheses of 9-methoxygeissoschizol and 9-methoxy-Nb-methylgeissoschizol

An enantiospecific method for the synthesis of 4-methoxytryptophan has been developed via a regiospecific Larock heteroannulation and employed for the first total syntheses of 9-methoxygeissoschizol and 9-methoxy-Nb-methylgeissoschizol, as well as the total synthesis of the opioid agonistic alkaloid mitragynine. The asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction and a Ni(COD)2-mediated cyclization served as key steps.

Cycloaddition protocol for the assembly of the hexacyclic framework associated with the kopsifoline alkaloids

An approach to the hexacyclic framework of the kopsifoline alkaloids has been developed and is based on a Rh(II)-catalyzed cyclization-cycloaddition cascade. The resulting [3+2]-cycloadduct was readily converted into the TBS enol ether 23. Oxidation of the primary alcohol present in 23 followed by reaction with CsF afforded compound 24 that contains the complete hexacyclic skeleton of the kopsifolines. [reaction: see text]

Arboflorine, an Unusual Pentacyclic Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid Incorporating a Third Nitrogen Atom

[structure: see text] A new indole alkaloid, arboflorine, possessing a novel pentacyclic carbon skeleton and incorporating a third nitrogen atom was obtained from the Malayan Kopsia arborea. The structure was established by spectroscopic analysis, and a possible biogenetic pathway from a preakuammicine-type precursor is presented.

An easy entry into berbane and alloyohimbane alkaloids via a 6-exo radical cyclization

[reaction: see text] The pharmacologically important tetracyclic berbane and pentacyclic alloyohimbane structures were prepared efficiently in four steps including a stereoselective 6-exo radical cyclization using xanthates as the radical source.

Synthesis and characterization of a high affinity radioiodinated probe for the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor

The availability of radioiodinated probes has facilitated the localization and molecular characterization of cell membrane receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters. However, such probes are not available for the study of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor. This report describes the synthesis and characterization of functionalized derivatives of the selective alpha 2-adrenergic antagonists, rauwolscine and yohimbine, which can be radiolabeled to high specific activity with 125I. Following demethylation of rauwolscine or yohimbine, the resultant carboxylic acid derivatives were reacted with 4-aminophenethylamine to yield the respective 4-aminophenethyl carboxamides, 17 alpha-hydroxy-20 alpha-yohimban-16 beta-[N-4-amino-phenethyl]carboxamide (rau-pAPC) and 17 alpha-hydroxy-20 beta-yohimban-16 alpha-[N-4-aminophenethyl]carboxamide. In competitive inhibition studies using rat renal membranes and the radioligand [3H]rauwolscine, rau-pAPC (Ki = 11 +/- 1 nM) exhibited a 14-fold greater affinity than the corresponding yohimbine derivative (Ki = 136 +/- 45 nM). The higher affinity compound, rau-pAPC, was radioiodinated by the chloramine T method, and the product, 125I-rau-pAPC [17 alpha-hydroxy-20 alpha-yohimban-16 beta-(N-4-amino-3 -[125I]iodophenethyl)carboxamide], was purified by reverse phase HPLC to high specific activity (2175 Ci/mmol) and its binding characteristics were investigated in rat kidney membranes. Specific binding of 125I-rau-pAPC was saturable and of high affinity as determined by Scatchard analysis (KD = 1.8 +/- 0.3 nM) or from kinetic studies (KD = k2/k1 = 0.056 +/- 0.013 min-1)/4.3 +/- 0.2 X 10(7) M-1 min-1 = 1.3 +/- 0.3 nM). In competition studies, alpha-adrenergic antagonists and agonists inhibited the binding of 125I-rau-pAPC with a potency order consistent with an interaction at alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (rauwolscine greater than phentolamine greater than prazosin; clonidine greater than (-)-epinephrine greater than (-)-norepinephrine greater than dopamine greater than (+)-epinephrine). In rat liver and human platelet membranes, high affinity binding of 125I-rau-pAPC was also observed (liver, KD = 1.2 +/- 0.4 nM; platelet, KD = 3.2 +/- 1.5 nM). In addition, the density of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors identified from binding studies with 125I-rau-pAPC in kidney, liver, and platelet membranes was similar to that observed in parallel studies with [3H]rauwolscine. These findings indicate that 125I-rau-pAPC is a high affinity probe that selectively identifies alpha 2-adrenergic binding sites. Availability of this radioligand should facilitate the localization and biochemical characterization of this alpha-adrenergic receptor subtype.