Indan analogs of fenfluramine and norfenfluramine have reduced neurotoxic potential.

N-Ethyl-5-trifluoromethyl-2-aminoindan (ETAI) and 5-trifluoromethyl-2-aminoindan (TAI) were synthesized to examine the effects of side-chain cyclization on the pharmacology of the anorectic drugs fenfluramine (FEN) and norfenfluramine (norFEN), respectively. ETAI and TAI inhibited synaptosomal accumulation of 5-HT but were less effective at inhibiting catecholamine uptake than FEN or norFEN, respectively. In vivo, ETAI and TAI were less neurotoxic than FEN or norFEN; decreases in the number of [3H]paroxetine-labeled 5-HT uptake sites were 50% less than the decreases produced by FEN or norFEN. Rats treated with ETAI. TAI, FEN, and norFEN lost 10-15% of their pretreatment body weight over a 4-day period, while saline-treated control animals gained 8%. In two-lever drug discrimination (DD) assays in rats, TAI fully substituted for the 5-HT releaser/uptake inhibitor, (+)-MBDB [(+)-N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-aminobutane]. ETAI produced only partial substitution in this test. Neither TAI nor ETAI mimicked (+)-amphetamine in the DD assay. These studies demonstrate that incorporation of the side-chain of phenylisopropylamines into the five-membered ring of a 2-aminoindan changes both the molecular pharmacology and the neurotoxic profile of FEN and norFEN, but does not diminish the drugs' ability to reduce body weight.

In vitro and in vivo effects of the anorectic agent dexfenfluramine on the central serotoninergic neuronal systems of non-human primates. A comparison with the rat.

The effects of repeated subcutaneous (s.c) injections of dexfenfluramine (d-F; 10 mg/kg, twice daily, for 4 days) on the contents of serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the brain were assessed in primates (cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys) and compared with the regional brain concentrations of unchanged drug and its active metabolite, dexnorfenfluramine (d-NF). This four-day, high-dose, regimen caused a large depletion of 5-HT (more than 95%) and of 5-HIAA (80-90%) in all brain areas studied (cortex, hippocampus, putamen, caudate nucleus and hypothalamus) 2 h after the last injection of d-F. Analysis of the plasma and brain contents of d-F and d-NF confirmed that both compounds were concentrated as in other species, in regions of the primate brain. However, d-NF was concentrated to a greater extent than d-F, and there were differences between the two primate species. Unlike in the rat brain, concentrations of d-NF greatly exceeded those of d-F in the primate brain suggesting that in these primates the d-NF may play a major role in the overall neurochemical response. The effects of d-F and d-NF on different in vitro parameters of serotoninergic neuronal function did not show appreciable differences between cynomolgus or rhesus monkeys when compared to rats, the ability of the two compounds to inhibit 5-HT reuptake, to enhance its release, and to affect the binding of [3H] -d-F or of [3H] -mesulergine (a ligand for 5-HT2C receptors) being similar. Kinetic differences in the disposition of d-F appear to have more relevance than biochemical effects in providing an explanation for the more marked brain depletion induced by d-F in primates than in rodents.

Pharmacological evaluation of 2-amino-6(7)- and 9-amino-6-trifluoromethylbenzonorbornenes, the conformationally rigid analogues of norfenfluramine in mice.

1. The possible role of conformational requirements which fenfluramine and norfenfluramine must satisfy to elicit its observed pharmacological activities was investigated in mice with the use of four conformationally-rigid norfenfluramine analogues. 2. In this study, both the syn-9-amino and endo-2-amino isomers, which structurally resemble the gauche conformation of norfenfluramine, were found to have little or no effect on spontaneous locomotor activity. 3. On the other hand, the isomers (i.e. the anti-9-amino and exo-2-amino isomers) that mimic the anti conformation of norfenfluramine were capable of causing a decrease in spontaneous motor activity similar to that of norfenfluramine. 4. The analgesic activities of these rigid analogues were also assessed and all of the isomers were found to be weakly analgesic. 5. Only the exo-2-amino isomer exhibited analgesic potency similar to that of fenfluramine. Furthermore all of these compounds were capable of enhancing the analgesic activity of morphine.

Binding orientation of amphetamine and norfenfluramine analogues in the benzonorbornene and benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring systems at the active site of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)

In a continuation of studies directed at characterizing the conformational basis of binding beta-phenylethylamines at the active site of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), anti-10-amino- (12) and syn-10-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,8-methano-9H-benzocycloheptene (13) were prepared and evaluated as substrates and inhibitors for PNMT. These conformationally defined amphetamine analogues mimic a low energy half-chair form of 2-aminotetralin (2AT). Further, in order to determine the active site binding orientation of beta-phenylethylamines bearing aryl lipophilic substituents, the aryl trifluoromethyl-substituted derivatives of 12 and 13 (20-27), as well as anti-9-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)-(18) and anti-9-amino-6-(trifluoromethyl) benzonorbornene (19), were prepared and evaluated. The competitive inhibition displayed by the fully extended analogue 12 coupled with the uncompetitive kinetics exhibited by the folded isomer 13 supports previous findings that a fully extended side chain conformation is optimal for binding to the active site of PNMT. In addition, the fact that 12 displayed enhanced affinity as an inhibitor over its beta-phenylethylamine counterparts in the benzonorbornene and 1,4-ethanonaphthalene ring systems suggests that a half-chair conformation is preferred when 2AT analogues interact at the active site of the enzyme. This would be consistent with previous results that PNMT preferentially binds molecules with a more coplanar relationship between the aromatic ring and the amino nitrogen. The lack of activity as a substrate in 12 indicates that the negative steric interactions of the ethano bridging unit prohibits it from binding in a manner consistent with the known PNMT substrates exo-2-amino- (6) and anti-9-aminobenzonorbornene (8). Given the emergence of activity as a substrate in 20 and 21 (the 1-trifluoromethyl- and the 2-trifluoromethyl-substituted derivatives of 12), it appears that the positive interaction of the trifluoromethyl group orients these analogues in a manner in which the ethano bridge lies in regions of steric bulk tolerance. This would suggest that the region of steric intolerance has a degree of directionality. Finally, although the aromatic ring binding region of the active site of PNMT contains a large degree of lipophilic character, only specific spatial orientations between the trifluoromethyl group and the amino nitrogen of aryl trifluoromethyl-substituted beta-phenylethylamines allow both to interact simultaneously in a manner that allows the amine to bind in a region of the active site in which methylation can occur.