Enantiomers of 2-[(Acylamino)ethyl]-1,4-benzodiazepines, potent ligands of kappa-opioid receptor: chiral chromatographic resolution, configurational assignment and biological activity.

Compounds 2a and 3a-e are racemic 2-[(acylamino)ethyl]-1,4-benzodiazepines, tifluadom analogs, with high affinity and selectivity towards the kappa-opioid receptor. We describe the enantiomeric separation of all compounds through liquid chromatography with chiral stationary phases, as well as the resolution of the enantiomers of the most interesting compounds, 2a and 3a, by the semipreparative column Chiralpak AD. The configuration of the resolved enantiomers was investigated: the comparative study of CD and (1)H NMR spectra shows that compounds (-)-2a and (-)-3a have the same absolute configuration of (+)-(S)-tifluadom. A study on the stereoselective interaction with opiate receptors is reported.

Synthesis of pyrrolinylnaphthalenes and evaluation of their antinociceptive activity.

In this paper the regioselective preparation of (R/S)-1,2-dimethyl-3-[2-(6-substituted naphthyl)]-2H,5H-pyrrolines 2a-d is reported. These compounds were prepared by thermal dehydration of the corresponding alcohols (2R,3S/2S,3R)-1,2-dimethyl-3-[2-(6-substituted naphthyl)]-3-hydroxy-pyrrolidines (2R,3S/2S,3R)-1a-d with anhydrous FeCl3-SiO2, under vacuum. Pharmacological properties of (R/S)-2a-d are also described. Analgesic activity was investigated by the hot plate test, also in the presence of selective antagonists of mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors. Preliminary analysis of the side-effects was also accomplished using the rota-rod test. Interesting antinociceptive activity was shown by all compounds and in particular by (R/S)-2a (AD50 = 0.31 mg/kg); delta opioid receptors were found to be mainly involved in the pharmacological process and, in general, it was found that the compounds influenced locomotory activity to a much lesser extent than did morphine.