Design, synthesis, and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of 1,4- diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones as a new class of highly potent nootropic agents

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm991170t

Several 4-substituted 1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones have been synthesized and tested in vivo on mouse passive avoidance test, to evaluate their nootropic activity. The results show that they represent a new class of nootropic drugs with a pharmacolo

Full text of DOI:10.1021/jm991170t

J . Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 1969-1974
1969
Design , Syn th esis, a n d P r elim in a r y P h a r m a cologica l Eva lu a tion of
1,4-Dia za bicyclo[4.3.0]n on a n -9-on es a s a New Cla ss of High ly P oten t Nootr op ic
Agen ts
Dina Manetti,† Carla Ghelardini, Alessandro Bartolini, Cristina Bellucci,† Silvia Dei,† Nicoletta Galeotti,
Fulvio Gualtieri,*,† Maria Novella Romanelli,† Serena Scapecchi,† and Elisabetta Teodori†
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita` di Firenze, Via G. Capponi 9, I-50121 Firenze, Italy, and Dipartimento di
Farmacologia Preclinica e Clinica, Universita` di Firenze, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Firenze, Italy
Received September 27, 1999
Several 4-substituted 1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones have been synthesized and tested
in vivo on mouse passive avoidance test, to evaluate their nootropic activity. The results show
that they represent a new class of nootropic drugs with a pharmacological profile very similar
to that of piracetam, showing much higher potency with respect to the reference. Among the
compounds studied, 7 (DM 232) shows outstanding potency, being active at the dose of 0.001
mg kg-1 sc.
Ch a r t 1
In tr od u ction
Some 30 years ago the cognition-enhancing properties
of piracetam were reported.1 This discovery stimulated
the design and synthesis of a large number of structur-
ally related molecules (see ref 2 for a review), endowed
with similar pharmacological action, and few have
reached therapeutic utilization, being now on the mar-
ket as nootropics. Some of the most representative and
widely studied compounds of this class are reported in
Chart 1.3-11
The members of this class share the property of
reverting amnesia induced by scopolamine, electrocon-
vulsive shock, and hypoxia, but the mechanism of action
of these protective and cognition-enhancing drugs has
not yet been elucidated.12
As a matter of fact, increased turnover of different
neurotransmitters has been observed and the involve-
ment of a cholinergic mechanism has been particularly
studied.13 In general, however, no affinity for the most
important central receptors has been found and these
drugs, with the exception of nefiracetam, which shows
high affinity for the GABA A receptors,14 do not seem
to act on any well-characterized receptor system.2
Indeed, the effects observed on the cholinergic system
might be of secondary origin.15,16 Modulation of ion
fluxes has also been proposed as the mechanism of
action of at least some piracetam-like compounds,2 as
seems the case for UCB-L059, the (S)-enantiomer of
etiracetam.9 Very recently, modulation of membrane
properties has been proposed as a unique mode of action
for piracetam.17 Altogether, it seems that piracetam-
like nootropic compounds, through an as yet unidenti-
fied mechanism(s) of action, act by increasing neuronal
sensitivity toward stimulation.
lead to a sustained and increased improvement of
cognitive functions in patients with mild to moderate
Alzheimer’s disease, with excellent tolerability and
safety.20
From a medicinal chemistry point of view, the original
structure of piracetam, as can also be seen from the few
examples reported in Chart 1, has undergone consider-
able modifications, and many active compounds lack the
2-oxopyrrolidineacetic acid substructure. However, the
vast majority of the active compounds conserve the
2-oxopyrrolidine ring. This ring has been successfully
substituted in almost every position, but compounds
where the pyrrolidine ring has been condensed with
other rings are rare.21,22
The lack of a clear mechanism of action has been a
major problem in accepting the concept of piracetam-
like nootropic agents. Nevertheless, recent data18,19
suggest that long-term administration of nootropics may
* Corresponding author. Tel: 0039-055-2757295. Fax: 0039-055-
240776. E-mail: fulvio@farmfi.scifarm.unifi.it.
† Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche.
10.1021/jm991170t CCC: $19.00 © 2000 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 04/18/2000

1970 J ournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, Vol. 43, No. 10
Ta ble 1. Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Compounds 2-19
Manetti et al.
eluting
no.
R1
R2
SO2C6H5
SO2C6H4-p-CH3
SO2C6H4-p-OCH3
SO2C6H4-p-NO2
SO2C6H4-p-Cl
SO2C6H4-p-F
COC6H5
COC6H4-p-CH3
COC6H4-p-OCH3
COC6H4-p-NO2
COC6H4-p-Cl
COC6H4-p-F
SO2C6H5
stereo
solventa
mp, °Cb
anal.c
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14a
14b
15a
15b
16a
16b
17a
17b
18
19
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
H
A
F
H
F
136-137
179-180
168-170
238-240
209-210
157-159
134-136
103-105
130-132
96-98
124-126
142-143
115-117
128-130
97-99
125-127
116-118
131-132
142-143
135-137
170-172d
90-92d
C13H16N2O3S
C14H18N2O3S
C14H18N2O4S
C13H15N3O5S
C13H15ClN2O3S
C13H15FN2O3S
C14H16N2O2
C15H18N2O2
C15H18N2O3
C14H15N3O4
C14H15ClN2O2
C14H15FN2O2
C14H18N2O3S
C14H18N2O3S
C14H17FN2O3S
C14H17FN2O3S
C15H18N2O2
F
A
A
F
E
G
E
A
E
B
B
B
E
E
A
A
D
E
exo
endo
exo
endo
exo
endo
exo
SO2C6H5
SO2C6H4-p-F
SO2C6H4-p-F
COC6H5
COC6H5
C15H18N2O2
COC6H4-p-F
COC6H4-p-F
CH2C6H5
C15H17FN2O2
C15H17FN2O2
C14H19ClN2O
C14H18ClFN2O
endo
H
CH2C6H4-p-F
a
Eluting system for column chromatography: A ) CHCl3/MeOH, 90:10; B ) CHCl3/MeOH, 97:3; C ) CHCl3/anh. EtOH/petroleum
ether/NH4OH, 360:65:60:8; D ) cyclohexane/ethyl acetate, 50:50; E ) CHCl3/MeOH, 95:5; F ) CHCl3/MeOH/hexane, 65:5:30; G ) CH2Cl2/
MeOH, 98:2; H ) CH2Cl2/MeOH, 95:5. After crystallization from petroleum ether. c 1H NMR and IR spectra are in accord with the
b
d
proposed structures. As hydrochloride.
Ch a r t 2
Sch em e 1a
a
(a) (C2H5O)2P(O)CH2COOCH3; (b) H2, Pd/C; (c) acyl and
sulfonyl chlorides or benzyl chlorides.
which is connected with nicotinic activity, and at the
same time increasing the lipophilicity of the molecules
and facilitating brain penetration.
In a preceding study, aimed to identify centrally
active nicotinic agonists potentially useful in the treat-
ment of neurodegenerative disorders, we had prepared
a series of 8-methyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-
ones.23 In their structure an oxopyrrolidine ring is
present, here condensed with a piperazine ring, that,
as discussed above, is the constant feature of most
nootropic compounds. We reasoned that proper modi-
fications of this structure could produce compounds
endowed with nootropic activity that, though with
different mechanisms of action, could be used for the
same purpose of controlling neurodegenerative patholo-
gies.
On this basis, we designed the series of compounds
with the general structure shown in Chart 2. The main
modification performed in the new series is the intro-
duction of an aromatic acyl or sulfonyl group on the
basic nitrogen of the piperazine ring. The modification
was aimed at eliminating the basicity of nitrogen 4,
Ch em istr y
In Scheme 1 is reported the synthetic pathway used
to obtain derivatives 2-13. The starting material, 1,4-
dibenzyl-2-piperazincarboxaldehyde,23 was reacted with
the ylide obtained from diethyl [1-(methoxycarbonyl)-
methyl]phosphonate to give 20 as a cis/trans mixture
that was not separated but reduced as such to the
corresponding debenzylated alkane, which spontane-
ously cyclizes to give the 1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-
9-one 1. Compounds 2-13 were obtained by reaction
with the corresponding acyl and sulfonyl chlorides;
compounds 18 and 19 were obtained by reaction of the
corresponding benzyl chlorides.
Compounds 2-13, 18, and 19 (Table 1) are racemic
mixtures that at this stage of the research were not
resolved and have been tested as such. The resolution

A New Class of Highly Potent Nootropic Agents
J ournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, Vol. 43, No. 10 1971
Sch em e 2a
sequence, 20 min before the training session, while the
amnesic drug was injected immediately after termina-
tion of the training session. Scopolamine was used as
amnesic drug and piracetam as the reference drug.
Comparison of the latency times of saline-treated
animals with those of mice that received both scopola-
mine and the investigated drug gives a measure of the
cognition activity of the compounds tested.
All compounds elicited their antiamnesic effect with-
out changing either gross behavior or motor coordina-
tion, as revealed by the rotarod test (data not shown).
None of the drugs, at the active doses, increased the
number of falls from the rotating rod in comparison with
saline-treated mice. The number of falls in the rotarod
test progressively decreased, since mice learned how to
balance on the rotating rod. The spontaneous motility
and inspection activity of mice was unmodified by the
administration of the studied compounds, as revealed
by the hole-board test in comparison with saline-treated
mice (data not shown).
a
(a) H2, Pd/C; (b) acyl and sulfonyl chlorides. In the same way,
the endo isomers 14b-17b were obtained starting from the endo-
N-benzyl derivative.
of the most interesting racemates is under way and will
be reported in due time.
8-Methyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones (14-17)
have been synthesized as shown in Scheme 2. They have
two stereogenic centers and occur as four optical iso-
mers; unlike their N-substituted analogues,23 8-methyl-
1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-one (21) diastereoisomers
cannot be separated by chromatography. Therefore, the
two diastereoisomers 21a (exo) and 21b (endo) were
synthesized by reduction of the previously described23
exo and endo diastereoisomers of 4-benzyl-8-methyl-1,4-
diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-one. As observed for the
other members of the series,23 even in this case the
bridge-carbon protons of the a (exo) series resonate at
lower field with respect to the b (endo) series (multiplets
at δ ) 3.47-3.56 and 3.32-3.50 ppm for 21a and 21b,
respectively). In addition, in the 13C NMR spectra, the
CH2 carbon of the pirrolidinone ring is found at higher
field in the exo isomer (21a , 32.51 ppm) than in the endo
one (21b, 34.25 ppm); this rightward shift is more
Resu lts
The results obtained by screening the compounds
studied on scopolamine-induced amnesia are reported
in Table 2. The minimal effective dose for each com-
pound is reported, compared with that of the reference
compound, piracetam. Most of the compounds synthe-
sized are active in preventing amnesia. Among them,
compound 7 shows an outstanding potency, as it is able
to prevent amnesia at doses as low as 0.001 mg kg-1
sc, being some 1000 times more potent than the refer-
ence compound piracetam. In the same test, piracetam
shows a minimum active dose of 30 mg kg-1 ip and is
totally inactive at the dose of 10 mg kg-1 ip. Several
other compounds of the series are also active at mini-
mum effective doses below 1 mg kg-1 sc, showing that
this series represents a new, very potent class of
nootropic drugs. In addition to scopolamine (antimus-
carinic), the compounds were also able to revert amnesia
induced by mecamylamine (nicotinic antagonist), ba-
clofen (GABAB agonist), and clonidine (R2 agonist), with
a potency pattern similar to that reported for scopola-
mine (data not shown).
1
evident in the H NMR spectra, where a multiplet for
2H is found at 1.70-1.78 ppm in the spectrum of 21a
but at lower fields (>2) in that of 21b. These features
of 13C NMR and1H NMR spectra are common to all the
compounds of this series. Compouds 14a ,b-17a ,b were
obtained by reaction with the corresponding acyl and
sulfonyl chlorides (Scheme 2). Even in this case, at this
stage of the research, racemates were not resolved and
were tested as such. The resolution of the most interest-
ing racemates is under way and will be reported in due
time.
P h a r m a cology
At higher doses, all compounds maintain their anti-
amnesic activity without any effect on behavior (data
not shown). As a matter of fact, rotarod and hole-board
tests did not evidence any effect on motor coordination,
spontaneous motility, and curiosity of the animal treated.
Moreover, the compounds did not elicit any collateral
symptoms when injected at a dose a 1000-fold higher
than the minimal effective dose preventing amnesia.
Since the mechanism of action of piracetam-like
cognition enhancers is still under investigation, the
search for new drugs in this class generally relies on
behavioral tests. Among them, the reversal of scopola-
mine-induced amnesia in passive avoidance test has
been widely used. Therefore, our compounds were tested
as cognition enhancers in the mouse passive avoidance
test of J arvik and Kopp, slightly modified by us (see the
Experimental Section).24 In short, mice receive a pun-
ishment when entering a dark room in the training
session and remember it in the session of the following
day, unless their memory is impaired by the amnesic
drug. The parameter measured is the entry latency time
(expressed in seconds) occurring between the time the
mouse is placed in the light and the time it enters the
dark room. On the first day there is the training session,
while on the second day the mice are placed again in
the light and the new latency time is measured on
animals treated or untreated with the nootropic drug.
Investigated drugs were injected, in a one to 10 dilution
Discu ssion
In the following discussion it must be kept in mind
that in vivo tests such as passive avoidance, while
obviously speeding up the selection of the compounds
with the most promising clinical properties, do not
always allow sound structure-activity relationships to
be established. In fact, the resulting activity is the
consequence of both pharmacokinetic and pharmacody-
namic properties that may be differently affected by
structural modifications.
Although unsubstituted benzoyl and phenylsulfonyl
groups were already able to afford, in both desmethyl-

1972 J ournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, Vol. 43, No. 10
Manetti et al.
Ta ble 2. Nootropic Effect of 1,4-Diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones on Mouse Passive-Avoidance Test, Using Scopolamine (S) as
Amnesizing Drug
entry latency (s)
druga
(no. of animals)
minimal effective
dose, mg kg-1 (sc)
1st day
2nd day
∆
saline (13)
vehicle§ (10)b
vehicle (11)c
scopolamine (6)
2 (11)b§
3 (9)
4 (10)
5 (10)
6 (10)
7 (12)
15.0 ( 5.9
20.3 ( 5.3
15.7 ( 3.3
16.6 ( 4.7
95.6 ( 8.8
108.5 ( 10.5
101.4 ( 9.6
44.5 ( 8.3°
80.6
88.2
85.7
27.9
1.5d
>10e
1.0
15.1 ( 4.5
14.8 ( 5.3
13.8 ( 4.0
95.6 ( 9.4*
118.3 ( 10.7*
89.2 ( 9.7**
80.5
103.5
75.4
0.1
10
>0.1e
0.001
1.0
19.7 ( 5.8
16.8 ( 3.7
15.6 ( 4.8
104.4 ( 10.6*
102.0 ( 11.3*
100.1 ( 13.5*
93.8
85.2
84.5
8 (8)
9 (10)
1.0
10 (14)c
11 (10)c
12 (10)
>1.0e
10
18.0 ( 6.1
18.3 ( 5.0
11.7 ( 5.4
18.3 ( 4.5
13.6 ( 5.1
16.9 ( 6.1
21.9 ( 4.7
14.3 ( 4.2
17.7 ( 4.4
21.8 ( 4.8
24.0 ( 7.1
14.2 ( 4.5
96.2 ( 11.1*
103.7 ( 13.3*
88.9 ( 9.7*
78.2
85.4
77.2
73.0
78.5
78.0
96.5
85.2
65.8
85.6
80.0
63.2
10
10
10
1.0
0.1
0.1
1.0
1.0
13 (11)
14a (8)
91.3 ( 9.6*
14b (10)
15a (14)
15b (11)
16a (9)
16b (12)
17a (9)
17b (9)
18 (10)
19 (12)
piracetam (34)
94.8 ( 10.2*
94.9 ( 11.2*
118.4 ( 10.2*
99.5 ( 9.2*
83.5 ( 8.6**
107.4 ( 10.7*
104.0 ( 8.6*
77.4 ( 8.5**
0.1
0.1
1.0
>10
30d
17.6 ( 3.6
108.8 ( 10.4*
91.2
a
b
All compounds dissolved in saline unless differently stated. DMSO/H2O 1:3 used as vehicle, due to insolubility in saline. c DMSO/
H2O 1:2 used as vehicle due to insolubility in saline. Intraperitoneally dosed. e Dose limited by solubility problems. °P < 0.01 with
respect to mice treated with saline. *P < 0.01; **P < 0.05 with respect to mice treated with scopolamine.
d
and 8-methyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-one series,
nootropic compounds with higher potency with respect
to the reference (2, 8, 14, 16), we extended the synthesis
to p-substituted compounds to evaluate the importance
of substituents with different electronic properties on
activity. The more readily available 1,4-diazabicyclo-
[4.3.0]nonan-9-one nucleus was chosen for this study
(desmethyl series).
This structure-activity relationship study has led to
the discovery of 7, which shows an outstanding potency
as a nootropic. It belongs to the desmethyl series and
bears a p-F substituent on the phenylsulfonyl group.
However, the same substitution on the benzoyl moiety
(13) is definitely detrimental for the activity of 8. On
the contrary, p-fluoro substitution, on both benzoyl and
phenysulfonyl groups, gives good results in the 8-methyl
series (see compounds 15 versus 14 and compounds 17
versus 16).
In general, there are no clear-cut relationships be-
tween the nature of the phenyl substituent and noot-
ropic activity. Also the presence of the methyl in position
8 of the 1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-one nucleus does
not seem to be critical, as in some cases it increases
(compare compounds 13 and 17) and in other ones
decreases activity (compare compounds 7 and 15). As
mentioned above this lack of structure-activity rela-
tionships is most likely due to the in vivo experiments
that suffer the influence of pharmacokinetics.
C(6)/C(8) relative stereochemistry does not apparently
play an important role in nootropic action, as the
diastereoisomers of 15 (15a and 15b), 16 (16a and 16b),
and 17 (17a and 17b) show similar potencies, and only
in the case of 14, the exo diastereoisomer 14a is some
10 times more potent than 14b. Nothing can be said
about enantioselectivity, as the racemates of both the
desmethyl and 8-methyl series have not yet been
resolved. To clarify this aspect of structure-activity
relationships, the resolution of 7 is under way.
To verify the importance of carbonyl and sulfonyl
functions, 4-benzyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-one
(18) and 4-(p-F-benzyl)-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-
one (19) were also synthesized and tested. The results
do not give a consistent indication, as the compounds
maintain a potency comparable to that of the corre-
sponding 2, 8, 13, while there is a definite reduction of
potency with respect to 7. Again, the changes introduced
into the chemicophysical properties of compounds 18
and 19 (where the 4-nitrogen is basic) may influence
pharmacokinetic properties and obscure structure-
activity relationships.
For sounder structure-activity relationships, it will
be necessary to identify the biological target(s) of our
compounds. This will allow in vitro testing and make a
reliable study of the pharmacophore possible. Yet, this
does not appear to be an easy task, since, as discussed
in the Introduction, the mechanism of action of pirac-
etam-like nootropic drugs is still elusive12 and several,
so far inconclusive, different targets have been proposed
for them. Notwithstanding the uncertainty on their
mechanism of action, pharmacophores for piracetam-
like compounds have been proposed.25,26 It is hoped that
the high potency of our compounds will facilitate this
search and contribute to elucidating the mechanism of
action of piracetam-like nootropic drugs.
Preliminary exploration of the mechanism of action
of the compounds reported in the present work shows

A New Class of Highly Potent Nootropic Agents
J ournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, Vol. 43, No. 10 1973
2.34-2.42 (m, 2H, CH2CO), 2.80-2.99 (m, 3H, CHN), 3.54 (dd,
J ) 13.2 Hz, 2H, CH2Ph), 3.59-3.68 (m, 1H, CHN), 3.94-4.02
(m, 1H, CHN), 7.25-7.38 (m, 5H, aromatics) ppm; 13C NMR
(CDCl3) δ 24.10 (t), 32.30 (t), 41.60 (t), 55.10 (d), 57.67 (t), 61.83
(t), 64.75 (t), 129.31 (d), 130.35 (d), 131.04 (d), 139.65 (s), 175.27
(s) ppm. Anal. (C14H19ClN2O) C, H, N.
that they do not present affinity for muscarinic or
nicotinic receptors, nor do they release acetylcholine in
the rat brain at 1.0 mg/kg ip (tested on 7).
In conclusion, our results indicate that 4-substituted
1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-9-ones represent a new
class of nootropic drugs with an in vivo pharmacological
profile very similar to that of piracetam, showing much
higher potency with respect to the reference. Among the
compounds studied, 7 (DM 232) shows outstanding
potency, being active at the dose of 0.001 mg kg-1 sc.
Moreover, this compound, as well as its analogues, did
not show any impairment of motor coordination and
spontaneous activity, at doses a 1000-fold higher than
that active in the passive avoidance test.
The oily compound obtained was transformed into the
hydrochloride; its chemical and physical characteristics are
reported in Table 1.
In the same way (()-4-(p-flu or oben zyl)-1,4-d ia za bicyclo-
[4.3.0]n on a n -9-on e (19) was obtained, using p-fluorobenzyl
bromide. Its chemical and physical characteristics are reported
in Table 1.
exo-(()-8-Met h yl-1,4-d ia za b icyclo[4.3.0]n on a n -9-on e
(21a ). exo-(()-4-Benzyl-8-methyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-
9-one23 (notice that in the cited paper the structures of the
two isomers have been accidentally inverted; the actual
structures are those shown by the X-ray crystallography,
reported in the same paper) (0.110 g, 0.45 mmol) was hydro-
genated over Pd/C 10% (0.06 g) in absolute ethanol at 47 psi
for 12 h. After filtration, the solvent was removed under
vacuum to give 21a (98% yield) as an oil: IR (neat) ν 3300-
3500 (NH), 1670 (CdO) cm-1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.13 (d, 3H,
CH3), 1.70-1.78 (m, 2H, CH), 2.24-2.58 (m, 3H, CH), 2.47 (bs,
1H, NH), 2.71-3.08 (m, 3H, CH), 3.47-3.56 (m, 1H, bridge
CH), 3.89-3.97 (m, 1H, CH) ppm; 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 19.26
(q), 32.51 (t), 37.95 (d), 42.81 (t), 46.92 (t), 54.39 (t), 56.74 (d),
178.21 (s) ppm. Anal. (C8H14N2O) C, H, N.
Work is in progress to collect more information on the
molecular mechanism of action of this class of com-
pounds and to evaluate the effect of other modifications
of their chemical structure.
Exp er im en ta l Section
Ch em istr y. All melting points were taken on a Bu¨chi
apparatus and are uncorrected. Infrared spectra were recorded
with a Perkin-Elmer 681 spectrophotometer in a Nujol mull
for solids and neat for liquids. Unless otherwise stated, NMR
spectra were recorded on a Gemini 200 spectrometer. Chro-
matographic separations were performed on a silica gel column
by gravity chromatography (Kieselgel 40, 0.063-0.200 mm,
Merck) or flash chromatography (Kieselgel 40, 0.040-0.063
mm, Merck). Yields are given after purification, unless oth-
erwise stated. Where analyses are indicated by symbols, the
analytical results are within (0.4% of the theoretical values.
Meth yl 1,4-Diben zyl-2-p ip er a zin -3-a cr yla te (20). Di-
ethyl [1-(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]phosphonate27 (0.39 g, 1.85
mmol) was added to NaH (45 mg, 1.85 mmol), washed three
times with anhydrous hexane, and then suspended in anhy-
drous 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME, 4.6 mL); 1 h later, a solution
of 1,4-dibenzyl-2-piperazincarboxaldehyde23 (0.54 g, 1.85 mmol)
in 5 mL of anhydrous DME was added. After 1 h at room
temperature, the mixture was washed with water and ex-
tracted with Et2O. Removal of the solvent and purification of
the residue by Al2O3 column chromatography (cyclohexane/
ethyl acetate 50:50) gave the title compound 20 as an oily
diasteroisomeric mixture (yield 60%): IR (neat) ν 1720
e n d o-(()-8-Me t h yl-1,4-d ia za b icyclo[4.3.0]n on a n -9-
on e (21b). endo-(()-4-Benzyl-8-methyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]-
nonan-9-one23 was hydrogenated under the same conditions
described for 21a , to give 21b, as an oil, in 95% yield: IR (neat)
ν 3300-3500 (NH), 1670 (CdO) cm-1; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.11
(d, 3H, CH3), 2.18 (bs, 1H, NH), 2.23-2.56 (m, 4H, CH), 2.57-
2.67 (m, 1H, CH), 2.74-2.92 (m, 1H, CH), 2.98-3.09 (m, 1H,
CH), 3.15-3.23 (m, 1H, CH), 3.32-3.50 (m, 1H, bridge CH),
3.85-4.04 (m, 1H, CH) ppm; 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 18.71 (q),
34.25 (t), 37.85 (d), 42.57 (t), 46.72 (t), 55.27 (t), 56.28 (d),
177.78 (s) ppm. Anal. (C8H14N2O) C, H, N.
Gen er a l P r oced u r e for th e Syn th esis of Acyl a n d
Su lfon yl Der iva t ives (2-17). Acyl or sulfonyl chlorides
(1 mmol) and N(C2H5)3 (1.5 mmol) were added to the proper
amine (1, 21a , 21b) dissolved in a few milliliters of anhydrous
CH3CN. After 2 h at room temperature, 50 mL of ether were
added and the solution washed with H2O. Evaporation under
reduced pressure of the dried solvent gave solids that were
purified by flash chromatography and crystallization from
petroleum ether. Yields range from 60 to 95%. Chemical and
physical characteristics of the compounds obtained are re-
1
(CdO), 1620 (CdC) cm-1; H NMR (CDCl3) δ 2.10-2.23 (m,
2H, CH), 2.61-2.75 (m, 3H, CH), 3.05-3.15 (m, 2H, CH),
3.45-3.53 (m, 1H, CHPh), 3.49 (s, 3H, CH3O), 3.73 (s, 2H,
CH2Ph), 3.85-3.94 (m, 1H, CHPh), 5.99-6.07 (m, 1H, CHd),
6.91-7.03 (m, 1H, CHd), 7.20-7.28 (m, 10H, aromatics) ppm.
Anal. (C22H26N2O2) C, H, N.
1
ported in Table 1. Their IR and H NMR spectra are consistent
with the proposed structures.
P h a r m a cology. An tia m n esic Test (p a ssive-a void a n ce
test). The test was performed according to the step-through
method described by J arvik and Kopp.24 The apparatus
consists of a two-compartment acrylic box with a lighted
compartment connected to a darkened one by a guillotine door.
In the original method, mice received a punishing electrical
shock as soon as they entered the dark compartment, while
in our modified method, after entry into the dark compart-
ment, mice receive a nonpainful punishment consisting of a
fall (from 40 cm) into a cold water bath (10 °C). For this
purpose the dark chamber was constructed with a pitfall floor.
The latency times for entering the dark compartment were
measured in the training test (first day) and after 24 h in the
retention test (second day). Mice who did not enter after 60 s
latency were excluded from the experiment. For memory
disruption, mice were ip injected with the amnesic drugs
(scopolamine, mecamylamine, baclofen, and clonidine). All
investigated drugs were injected 20 min before the training
session, while amnesic drugs were injected immediately after
termination of the training session. The maximum entry
latency allowed in the retention session was 120 s. The
memory degree of received punishment (fall into cold water)
(()-1,4-Dia za bicyclo[4.3.0]n on a n -9-on e (1). Compound
20 (0.38 g, 1.10 mmol) was hydrogenated over Pd/C 10% (0.19
g) in absolute ethanol at 50 psi for 8 h. After filtration, the
solvent was removed under vacuum to give a residue that was
purified by Al2O3 column chromatography, using CHCl3/
MeOH/hexane 72:8:20 as eluting system, to give 1 (72% yield)
as an oil: IR (neat) ν 3200-3500 (NH); 1670 (CdO) cm -1; 1H
NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.49-1.65 (m, 1H, CH), 1.78 (bs, 1H, NH),
2.05-2.27 (m, 1H, CH), 2.29-2.40 (m, 3H, CH,CH2), 2.50-
2.63 (m, 1H, CH), 2.72-2.89 (m, 1H, CH), 2.95-3.02 (m, 1H,
CH), 3.10-3.18 (m, 1H, CH), 3.41-3.59 (m, 1H, CH), 3.95-
4.02 (m, 1H, CH) ppm; 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 24.19 (t), 32.29 (t),
42.20 (t), 46.46 (t), 54.44 (t), 57.93 (d), 175.32 (s) ppm. Anal.
(C7H12N2O) C, H, N.
(()-4-Ben zyl-1,4-d ia za bicyclo[4.3.0]n on a n -9-on e (18).
Benzyl bromide (1 mmol) was added to a solution of 1 (1 mmol)
in a few milliliters of CHCl3. After 2 h at room temperature
the mixture was made alkaline with NaHCO3, extracted with
CHCl3, and dried. Removal of the solvent gave a mixture that
was purified by column chromatography using the eluent
1
reported in Table 1: IR (neat) ν 1670 (CdO) cm -1; H NMR
(CDCl3) δ 1.51-1.72 (m, 2H, CH), 1.92-2.20 (m, 2H, CH),

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retention latencies.
Ack n ow led gm en t. This research was financed with
funds from Italian Ministry of University and Scientific
and Technological Research (MURST). The authors
thank Dr. Katia Varani (University of Ferrara) for
having performed binding experiments on nicotinic
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spectra of compounds 2-17 and 19. This material is available
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