This report concerns the synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of a novel series of kappa agonists related to the morphinan (-)-cyclorphan (3a) and the benzomorphan (-)-cyclazocine (2) as potential agents for the pharmacotherapy of cocaine abuse. Recent evidence suggests that agonists acting at kappa opioid receptors may modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons and alter the neurochemical and behavioral effects of cocaine. We describe the synthesis and chemical characterization of a series of morphinans 3a-c, structural analogues of cyclorphan [(-)-3-hydroxy-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan S(+)-mandelate, 3a], the 10-ketomorphinans 4a,b, and the 8-ketobenzomorphan 1b. Binding experiments demonstrated that the cyclobutyl analogue 3b [(-)-3-hydroxy-N-cyclobutylmethylmorphinan S(+)-mandelate, 3b, MCL-101] of cyclorphan (3a) had a high affinity for mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors in guinea pig brain membranes. Both 3a,b were approximately 2-fold more selective for the kappa receptor than for the mu receptor. However 3b (the cyclobutyl analogue) was 18-fold more selective for the kappa receptor in comparison to the delta receptor, while cyclorphan (3a) had only 4-fold greater affinity for the kappa receptor in comparison to the delta receptor. These findings were confirmed in the antinociceptive tests (tail-flick and acetic acid writhing) in mice, which demonstrated that cyclorphan (3a) produced antinociception that was mediated by the delta receptor while 3b did not produce agonist or antagonist effects at the delta receptor. Both 3a,b had comparable kappa agonist properties. 3a,b had opposing effects at the mu receptor: 3b was a mu agonist whereas 3a was a mu antagonist.

Fluorescent probes have been designed and developed for dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors. Fluorescein and/or NBD (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) derivatives of PPHT (D-2 agonist), spiperone (D-2 antagonist), SKF 38393 (D-1 agonist), and SKF 83566 (D-1 antagonist) were synthesized via their amino-functionalized analogues and all ligands were pharmacologically evaluated by measuring their ability to displace [3H]SCH 23390 and [3H]spiperone from D-1 and D-2 receptor sites in caudate putamen of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The fluorescein derivatives of PPHT and SKF 83566 and the NBD derivatives of spiperone and SKF 83566 retained the high affinity and selectivity of the parent ligands. The NBD derivatives of PPHT showed higher D-2 receptor affinity and selectivity than their parent ligands. The enantiomers of the fluorescent derivatives of PPHT were also synthesized and were found to exhibit stereoselectivity in binding to the D-2 receptor, with the S enantiomers having a considerably higher affinity than their R analogues. In contrast to these results, the fluorescein derivative of SKF 38393 showed only a low affinity for the D-1 receptor. These fluorescein- and NBD-coupled D-1 and D-2 receptor ligands have considerable significance as potential probes in the study of distribution of the receptors at the cellular/subcellular level and of their mobility in membranes in normal/diseased states by use of fluorescence microscopic and fluorescence photobleaching recovery techniques, respectively. The development of these novel fluorescent probes should also provide new leads for the design and synthesis of additional fluorescent ligands with better fluorescent properties and/or higher affinity/selectivity for the DA receptors.

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