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A series of substituted 6-methoxysalicylamides were synthesized from their corresponding 2,6-dimethoxybenzamides by demethylation of one methoxy group with boron tribromide. Substituted 6-methoxysalicylamides having a lipophilic aromatic substituent in the 3-position para with respect to the methoxy group, e.g. a bromo or an iodo atom or an ethyl or a propyl group, and having an (S)-N-(1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl moiety as the side chain were found to be potent blockers of [3H]spiperone binding in vitro and potent inhibitors of the apomorphine syndrome in the rat. Similar to remoxipride but in contrast to haloperidol, some of the substituted salicylamides show a 10-20-fold separation between the dose that inhibits hyperactivity and that which inhibits stereotypy. It was concluded that, besides the requirement of a lipophilic substituent in the position para to the methoxy group for antidopamine activity in vivo, the formation of a coplanar six-membered pseudoring involving the amide moiety and the methoxy group is a structural requirement for activity in vitro.

A series of some novel N-(l-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)benzamides was synthesized and tested for dopamine receptor blockade in vivo by the ability to block the apomorphine syndrome in the rat. Several compounds were considerably more potent than sulpiride as dopamine receptor blockers and displayed low liability to induce extrapyramidal side effects (catalepsy) in the rat. The blockade of dopamine receptor activity in vivo was mainly confined to the levorotatory isomers having the S absolute configuration. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.

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1 A series of substituted p-aminophenethylamines and some related compounds were examined with regards to the inhibition ofmonoamine oxidase (MAO) in vivo inside and outside 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neurones in the rat hypothalamus. This was recorded as the protection against the irreversible inhibition of MAO produced by phenelzine by determining the remaining deaminating activity in the absence and presence of citalopram using a low (0.1 yIM) concentration of ['4CJ-5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as substrate. 2 Some of the phenethylamines were much more potent inside than outside the 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neurones. This neuronal selectivity was antagonized by pretreatment of the rats with norzimeldine, a 5-HT uptake inhibitor, which indicates that these compounds are accumulated in the 5-HT nerve terminals by the 5-HT pump. 3 Selectivity was obtained for compounds with dimethyl, monomethyl or unsubstituted p-amino groups. An isopropyl group appears to substitute for the dimethylamino group but with considerably lower potency. Compounds with 2-substitution showed selectivity for aminergic neurones and this effect decreased with increased size of the substituent. The 2,6-dichloro derivative FLA 365 had, however, no neuronal selective action but was a potent MAO inhibitor. Substitutions in the 3-and 5-positions decreased both potency and selectivity. 4 Prolongation of the side chain with one methylene group abolished the preference for the MAO in 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neurones although the MAO inhibitory potency remained. The selectivity disappeared by increasing the a-substituent to an ethyl group but remained for the oco-dimethyl substituted derivatives. 5 It is concluded that compounds which are (1) transported by the 5-HT pump and (2) potent reversible MAO-A inhibitors produce pronounced inhibition of MAO in 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neurones.