Brief Articles
J ournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2002, Vol. 45, No. 2 539
mL, 1.50 mmol), EtOH (2.0 mL), and trans-4-methyl-â-
nitrostyrene (0.24 g, 1.47 mmol) were treated as described for
5a to provide 5b (0.57 g, 71%): Rf 0.82 (0.5% MeOH/DCM);
mp 243 °C; 1H NMR 7.31 (m, 5H, Ph), 7.10 (m, 4H, ArH), 6.80
(s, 1H, H-2′), 6.61 (d, 1H, J ) 8.1, H-2), 6.54 (d, 1H, J ) 8.1,
H-1), 5.41 (s, 1H, H-5), 5.34 (d, 1H, J ) 15.6, benzylic proton),
5.23 (d, 1H, J ) 15.6, benzylic proton), 3.28 (d, 1H, H-9), 3.14
(d, 1H, J ) 18.5, H-10), 2.80 (dd, 1H, J ) 6.6, 18.5, H-10),
2.65 (m, 2H), 2.42 (m, 2H), 2.25 (m, 6H), 1.65 (m, 1H), 0.88
(m, 1H, H-19), 0.52 (m, 2H, H-20, H-21), 0.15 (m, 2H, H-20,
H-21); 13C NMR 141.77, 139.83, 135.74, 134.46, 129.94, 129.68,
128.53, 128.48, 128.07, 126.37, 126.14, 123.91, 121.72, 119.65,
118.25, 117.46, 85.61, 74.47, 63.57, 60.39, 54.77, 51.44, 44.88,
32.75, 31.87, 23.98, 21.06, 10.17, 4.58, 4.05; EI MS m/z (relative
intensity) 544 (M+, 100%), 91 (70%). Anal. (C36H36N2O3‚2HCl‚
0.25H2O) C, H, N.
1′-Ben zyl-17-cyclop r op ylm eth yl-6,7-d ed ih yd r o-3,14-d i-
h yd r oxy-4,5r-ep oxy-5′-m eth yl-4′-p h en ylp yr r olo[2′,3′:6,7]-
m or p h in a n (5c). Naltrexone (0.80 mg, 2.35 mmol), benzyl-
amine (0.24 mL, 2.40 mmol), EtOH (2.0 mL), and trans-â-
methyl-â-nitrostyrene (0.39 g, 2.35 mmol) were treated as
described for 5a to give 5c (0.63 g, 49%): Rf 0.89 (0.5% MeOH/
DCM); mp 235 °C; 1H NMR 7.28 (m, 5H, Ph), 7.13 (m, 5H,
Ph), 6.60 (d, 1H, J ) 8.0, H-2), 6.52 (d, 1H, J ) 8.0, H-1), 5.47
(s, 1H, H-5), 5.44 (d, 1H, J ) 17.0, benzylic proton), 5.26 (d,
1H, J ) 17.0, benzylic proton), 3.24 (d, 1H, J ) 6.4, H-9), 3.10
(d, 1H, J ) 18.5, H-10), 2.72 (m, 2H), 2.50 (d, 2H, J ) 11.0),
2.40 (m, 2H), 2.24 (m, 2H), 2.04 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.64 (m, 1H),
0.87 (m, 1H, H-19), 0.54 (m, 2H, H-20, H-21), 0.14 (m, 2H,
H-20, H-21); 13C NMR 140.18, 130.76, 129.67, 129.04, 128.85,
128.06, 127.49, 126.36, 124.52, 119.53, 118.18, 86.06, 74.62,
63.55, 60.35, 48.37, 44.91, 32.75, 31.17, 23.96, 10.72, 10.19,
4.56, 4.05; EI MS m/z (relative intensity) 544 (M+, 100%), 91
(70%). Anal. (C36H36N2O3‚2HCl‚0.25H2O) C, H, N.
1′-Ben zyl-6,7-d ed ih yd r o-3,14-d ih yd r oxy-4,5r-ep oxy-17-
p r op yl-4′-p h en ylp yr r olo[2′,3′:6,7]m or p h in a n (5d ). 19,20-
Dihydronaloxone (0.92 g, 2.79 mmol), benzylamine (0.34 mL,
2.85 mmol), EtOH (2.0 mL), and trans-â-nitrostyrene (0.42 g,
2.79 mmol) were treated as described for 5a to give 5d (0.83
g, 58%): Rf 0.94 (0.5% MeOH/DCM); mp 241 °C; 1H NMR 7.26
(m, 9H, Ph), 7.06 (m, 1H, Ph), 6.81 (s, 1H, H-2′), 6.62 (d, 1H,
J ) 8.2, H-2), 6.55 (d, 1H, J ) 8.2, H-1), 5.40 (s, 1H, H-5),
5.34 (d, 1H, J ) 15.6, benzylic proton), 5.21 (d, 1H, J ) 15.6,
benzylic proton), 3.14 (d, 1H, J ) 18.6, H-10), 3.05 (d, 1H, J )
6.3, H-9), 2.82 (dd, 1H, J ) 6.3, 18.6, H-10), 2.55 (m, 5H), 2.23
(m, 2H), 1.54 (m, 3H), 0.91 (t, 3H, J ) 7.3, CH3); 13C NMR
142.87, 138.82, 128.58, 128.28, 127.37, 127.32, 126.72, 125.37,
124.50, 122.93, 121.35, 118.76, 85.08, 73.02, 62.95, 56.38,
50.50, 30.61, 23.41, 11.73; EI MS m/z (relative intensity) 518
(M+,80%), 489 (100%), 91 (90%). Anal. (C34H34N2O3‚2HCl‚
0.25H2O) C, H, N.
1′-Ben zyl-6,7-dedih ydr o-4,5r-epoxy-14-h ydr oxy-3-m eth -
oxy-17-m eth yl-4′-p h en ylp yr r olo[2′,3′:6,7]m or p h in a n (5e).
Oxycodone (1.0 g, 3.18 mmol), benzylamine (0.38 mL, 3.20
mmol), EtOH (3. 0 mL), and trans-â-nitrostyrene (0.48 g, 3.18
mmol) were treated as described for 5a to afford 5e (0.97 g,
61%): Rf 0.64 (0.15% MeOH/DCM); mp 218 °C; 1H NMR 7.28
(m, 9H, Ph), 7.08 (m, 1H, Ph), 6.84 (s, 1H, H-2′), 6.73 (d, 1H,
J ) 8.3, H-2), 6.65 (d, 1H, J ) 8.3, H-1), 5.44 (s, 1H, H-5),
5.26 (bs, 2H, benzylic proton), 3.88 (s, 3H, O-CH3), 3.25 (d,
1H, J ) 18.7, H-10), 2.96 (d, 1H, J ) 6.4, H-9), 2.79 (dd, 1H,
J ) 6.4, 18.7, H-10), 2.65 (m, 2H), 2.47 (d, 1H, J ) 7.0), 2.39
(s, 3H, N-CH3), 2.26 (m, 2H), 1.61 (m, 1H); 13C NMR 145.86,
144.68, 139.86, 137.38, 132.69, 129.69, 129.36, 128.51, 128.46,
128.21, 127.82, 126.39, 126.27, 124.16, 122.14, 119.82, 117.54,
116.03, 85.74, 74.69, 66.14, 57.32, 51.42, 46.38, 43.18, 32.52,
32.00, 23.40; EI MS m/z (relative intensity) 504 (M+, 100%),
91 (40%). Anal. (C33H32N2O3‚2HCl) C, H, N.
was unexpected since the potency of BNTI (1b) was only
half that of NTI (1a ).14 It was also surprising that 5a
displayed slow kinetics in MVD, requiring 2 h incuba-
tion to achieve high δ antagonist potency. BNTI attained
high potency in MVD after only 15 min pretreatment
of the tissue. The lead compound of this series (5a ) was
also a good δ antagonist of the selective δ agonist SNC80
in the mouse writhing assay with nearly half the
potency of NTI. This in vivo activity was not slow in
onset in contrast to the antagonist activity in MVD and
to the slow onset of the δ2-antagonism of BNTI after
icv administration.14
In summary, a series of pyrrolomorphinans has been
synthesized by a procedure that gave much higher yields
than those previously reported for this class. The pyrrole
N-benzyl group had marked effects on the opioid recep-
tor profiles of the new ligands. In particular, the
1′-benzyl-4′-phenyl derivative (5a ) was a much more
potent and selective δ antagonist than its 1′-H parent
(2d ) and had in vivo antagonist activity comparable to
NTI.
Exp er im en ta l Section
Ch em istr y. Solvents and reagents were purchased from
either Aldrich or Lancaster and used as supplied. All TLC data
(Rf values) were determined with aluminum sheets coated with
silica gel 60 F254 (Merck) and eluted with 20% MeOH/DCM.
All the compounds were purified by gravity-elution column
chromatography using flash silica gel (Fluka; silica gel 60,
mesh 220-240). Yields are of purified compounds and were
not optimized. The 1H (300 MHz) and 13C (75 MHz) NMR
spectra were recorded on a J EOL J NM -GX FT 300 spectrom-
eter at ambient temperature in CD3OD, and chemical shifts
are reported as δ in ppm relative to tetramethylsilane (TMS).
J values are reported in hertz. Mass spectra were obtained
on a Fission Autospectrometer with electron impact ionization
(70 eV). Compounds for pharmacological analysis were con-
verted into their hydrochloride salts by dissolving in methanol
and adding methanolic HCl. Melting points (of hydrochloride
salts) were determined in capillary tubes with a Reichert hot-
stage cap melting point apparatus and are uncorrected.
Elemental analyses were obtained from a Carlo Erba EA 1108
analyzer, and the results were within (0.4 of theoretical
values.
1′-Ben zyl-17-cyclop r op ylm eth yl-6,7-d ed ih yd r o-3,14-d i-
h yd r oxy-4,5r-ep oxy-4′-p h en ylp yr r olo[2′,3′:6,7]m or p h i-
n a n (5a ). Benzylamine (0.18 mL, 1.51 mmol) and p-toluene-
sulfonic acid monohydrate (1 mg) were added to a solution of
naltrexone (0.50 g, 1.47 mmol) in dry EtOH (1.5 mL) and
refluxed in the presence of molecular sieves (4 Å) under
nitrogen for 3 h. trans-â-Nitrostyrene (0.22 g, 1.47 mmol) was
added, and the resulting solution was further allowed to reflux
for 8 h. It was then cooled and filtered. The EtOH was removed
under reduced pressure, and the solid obtained was washed
with hexane. Purification of the crude product by column
chromatography using 1% MeOH/DCM gave 5a (0.47 g,
60%): Rf 0.70; mp 255 °C; 1H NMR 7.26 (m, 9H, Ph), 7.07 (m,
1H, Ph), 6.81 (s, 1H, H-2′), 6.62 (d, 1H, J ) 8.0, H-2), 6.55 (d,
1H, J ) 8.0, H-1), 5.41 (s, 1H, H-5), 5.33 (d, 1H, J ) 15.7,
benzylic proton), 5.21 (d, 1H, J ) 15.7, benzylic proton), 3.31
(d, 1H, H-9), 3.11 (d, 1H, J ) 18.7, H-10), 2.80 (dd, 1H, J )
6.6, 18.7, H-10), 2.66 (m, 3H), 2.42 (d, 2H, J ) 6.6), 2.49 (m,
2H), 1.62 (m, 1H), 0.85 (m, 1H, H-19), 0.50 (m, 2H, H-20, H-21),
0.13 (m, 2H, H-20, H-21); 13C NMR 142.91, 138.77, 128.58,
128.30, 127.38, 127.33, 126.77, 125.38, 122.95, 121.36, 118.79,
85.01, 72.99, 62.19, 59.32, 50.50, 30.90, 30.68, 4.31, 3.75; EI
MS m/z (relative intensity) 530 (M+, 100%), 91 (90%). Anal.
(C35H34N2O3‚2HCl‚1.25H2O) C, H, N.
1′-Ben zyl-6,7-d ed ih yd r o-4,5r-ep oxy-3,14-h yd r oxy-17-
m eth yl-4′-p h en ylp yr r olo[2′,3′:6,7]m or p h in a n (5f). Oxy-
morphone (0.71 g, 2.36 mmol), benzylamine (0.29 mL, 2.4
mmol), EtOH (3.0 mL), and trans-â-nitrostyrene (0.35 g, 2.36
mmol) were treated as described for 5a to give 5f (0.67 g,
1′-Ben zyl-17-cyclop r op ylm eth yl-6,7-d ed ih yd r o-3,14-d i-
h yd r oxy-4,5r-ep oxy-4′-p -t olylp yr r olo[2′,3′:6,7]m or p h i-
n a n (5b). Naltrexone (0.50 g, 1.47 mmol), benzylamine (0.15
1
58%): Rf 0.72 (0.5% MeOH/DCM); mp 239 °C; H NMR 7.24