10.1016/S0960-894X(00)00209-2
The study focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of a series of tropane-derived compounds, specifically 4-[(8-alkyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octyl-3-yl)-3-arylanilino]-N,N-diethylbenzamides (denoted as 5a-d), which were designed to have high affinity and selectivity for the delta opioid receptor. These compounds are structurally similar to the piperidine-based compound 3 and were synthesized to test the hypothesis that limiting conformational flexibility could elicit antagonist activity in nitrogen-transposed compounds similar to 3. The chemicals used in the study include 3-tropanone, 3-methoxyaniline, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) ester of 4-fluorobenzoic acid, sodium methoxide, and various reagents for coupling and conversion reactions. The purpose of these chemicals was to synthesize the target compounds and assess their potential as selective ligands for the delta opioid receptor, with the aim of understanding the factors important to antagonist activity and potentially developing new opioid ligands with reduced side effects.