Resolved 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-3H-benz[e]indol-8-amine: central dopamine and serotonin receptor stimulating properties.

The enantiomers of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-3H-benz[e]indol-8- amine (1a) were prepared and tested for their actions on central dopamine and serotonin (5-HT) receptors. The dopaminergic effects were shown to reside in the (1)-R enantiomer. It was shown that compound 1a and its (+)-R enantiomer possess potent central 5-HT1A receptor stimulating properties.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4,6-diethyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydropyrano[4,3-b]indole-4-acetic acid, an isomer of etodolac.

The synthesis of 4,6-diethyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydropyrano[4,3-b]indole-4-acetic acid, an isomer of the antiinflammatory agent etodolac, is described. The compound was found to have an ED50 of 3 mg/kg po in the rat curative adjuvant arthritis assay, and an IC50 of 50 nM for inhibiting prostaglandin production in cultured chondrocytes.

Computer-assisted design and synthesis of novel aldose reductase inhibitors.

The design and synthesis of phenalene 26 (AY-31,358), an unsubstituted analogue of a tolrestat/ICI-105,552 computer-generated hybrid (7), are reported. Compound 7 was designed by the superimposition of the putative low-energy conformers of tolrestat (1) and ICI-105,552 (6). The more rigid aldose reductase inhibitor sorbinil (2) was used as a template to help discern a common pharmacophore in the three inhibitors.

Structure-activity relationships among analogues of pemedolac, cis-1-ethyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-4-(phenylmethyl)pyrano[3,4-b]indo le-1-a cetic acid, a potent analgesic agent.

The syntheses of analogues of pemedolac (cis-1-ethyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-4-(phenylmethyl)pyrano[3,4-b]indol e-1-acetic acid), a potent analgesic, are described. They were tested for analgesic and antiinflammatory effects in vivo and for inhibition of prostaglandin production in vitro. Analysis of structure-activity relationships shows that analgesic activity in this series is associated with 1S-cis stereochemistry, the presence of a pi-system (allyl or benzyl) at position 4, and a log P value greater than 4.

Etodolac, a novel antiinflammatory agent. The syntheses and biological evaluation of its metabolites.

The syntheses of five metabolites of the antiinflammatory drug etodolac (1,8-diethyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrano-[3,4-b]indole-1-acetic acid) are described, viz. 6-hydroxyetodolac, N-methyletodolac, 4-ureidoetodolac, 8-(1'-hydroxy)etodolac, and 4-oxoetodolac. These syntheses were used to confirm the identities of the metabolites.