Comprehensive conformational analysis using molecular mechanics calculations (MM2(85)) has been carried out for the potent and selective dopamine D-1 receptor agonist 7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (1; SK&F 38393), the antagonist 7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (8; SCH 23390), and several analogues, including conformationally constrained ones. Calculated conformational energies have been related to pharmacological and biochemical data in an attempt to identify the biologically active conformations of 1 and 8. It is concluded that the most probable receptor-bound conformation in both cases is a chair conformation with an equatorial phenyl ring and for 8 an equatorial N-methyl group. It is suggested that the orientation of the phenyl ring in the receptor-bound molecule does not deviate in terms of dihedral angles by more than about 30 degrees from the preferred phenyl group rotamer in which the planes of two aromatic rings are essentially orthogonal.

A series of 1-piperazino-3-phenylindans was synthesized and tested for neuroleptic and thymoleptic activity. Neuroleptic activity was found only in trans racemates and was associated with one of the enantiomers only. The potent and long-acting neuroleptic compound trans-4-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)indan-1-yl]-1-piperazineethanol (Lu 18-012, tefludazine) was developed by systematic variation of structural components. Thymoleptic activity was optimized, especially with respect to dopamine-uptake inhibition. No geometrical stereoselectivity was found with regard to dopamine-uptake inhibition, but a high enantioselectivity could be demonstrated for both cis and trans racemates. The most potent compounds were 1-piperazino-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)indans with IC50 values of about 2nM for inhibition of dopamine uptake.

Octoclothepin (1) was resolved into its R and S enantiomers via the diastereomeric tartaric acid salts. The enantiomers were shown to be of high optical purity by 1H NMR with use of the chiral shift reagent (R)-(-)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(9-anthryl)ethanol. Pharmacological and biochemical testing confirmed that (S)-1 is the more potent dopamine (DA) D-2 antagonist both in vitro and in vivo, although the R enantiomer still has significant D-2 antagonistic activity. In contrast, both enantiomers were equally active in test models detecting activity at D-1 receptors, serotonin-2 (5-HT2) receptors and alpha 1 adrenoceptors. Contrary to a previous prediction, it was found that norepinephrine (NE) uptake inhibition was confined solely to the S enantiomer. Overall, (S)-1 has a "classical" neuroleptic profile, while the R enantiomer has a more "atypical" profile. These pharmacological profiles seem to be in agreement with the reported clinical profiles of the two enantiomers. A previous conformational study was revised in light of the biochemical test results with enantiomers of known optical purity. Their relative D-2 receptor affinity corresponded well with the calculated conformational energy difference between their "active conformations" deduced from a previously reported new D-2 receptor model. Also the high enantioselectivity of (S)-1 at the NE uptake site could be explained after a detailed conformational analysis showing strict requirements for the orientation of the piperazine lone-pair direction at the NE uptake site.

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