Methyl-Selective α-Oxygenation of Tertiary Amines to Formamides by Employing Copper/Moderately Hindered Nitroxyl Radical (DMN-AZADO or 1-Me-AZADO).

Methyl-selective α-oxygenation of tertiary amines is a highly attractive approach for synthesizing formamides while preserving the amine substrate skeletons. Therefore, the development of efficient catalysts that can advance regioselective α-oxygenation at the N-methyl positions using molecular oxygen (O2 ) as the terminal oxidant is an important subject. In this study, we successfully developed a highly regioselective and efficient aerobic methyl-selective α-oxygenation of tertiary amines by employing a Cu/nitroxyl radical catalyst system. The use of moderately hindered nitroxyl radicals, such as 1,5-dimethyl-9-azanoradamantane N-oxyl (DMN-AZADO) and 1-methyl-2-azaadamanane N-oxyl (1-Me-AZADO), was very important to promote the oxygenation effectively mainly because these N-oxyls have longer life-times than less hindered N-oxyls. Various types of tertiary N-methylamines were selectively converted to the corresponding formamides. A plausible reaction mechanism is also discussed on the basis of experimental evidence, together with DFT calculations. The high regioselectivity of this catalyst system stems from steric restriction of the amine-N-oxyl interactions.

The effect of aripiprazole on prepulse inhibition of the startle response in normal and hyperdopaminergic states in rats.

This study compared the D(2) partial agonists, aripiprazole, (R(+)-terguride; S(-)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine [S(-)-3-PPP]; 7-[3-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperazinyl]propoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone [OPC-4392]) and D(2) antagonists (haloperidol, olanzapine, clozapine, risperidone, and quetiapine) on prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response, and the ability to reverse apomorphine-induced deficits in the PPI response. Aripiprazole did not essentially affect PPI in naïve rats but dose-dependently restored apomorphine-induced PPI disruption. R(+)-terguride restored PPI disruption but suppressed PPI significantly in naïve rats, S(-)-3-PPP partially restored whereas OPC-4392 did not restore PPI disruption. Haloperidol and risperidone restored PPI disruption whereas olanzapine and quetiapine partially restored PPI disruption and clozapine had no restorative effect. In conclusion, aripiprazole, unlike other antipsychotic agents, failed to suppress PPI significantly and restored PPI disruption.

Ultrastructure of goblet-cell metaplasia from Clara cell in the allergic asthmatic airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma in vivo.

Mucus overproduction from goblet cells, a characteristic feature of the allergic asthmatic inflammation induced by ovalbumin (OVA) in mice, was examined morphologically. In OVA-untreated (normal) mice, there were no goblet cells in intrapulmonary bronchus and bronchiole. However, goblet cells with or without hyperplasia in the mucosa of inflamed bronchus-bronchiole were recognized in the allergic asthmatic mice. The non-ciliated epithelium containing electron lucent granules (mucus) showed many similarities to Clara cells, which have characteristic secretory granules and many mitochondria, except for the less-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum seen in normal mice. Ciliated Clara cells with or without mucus were rarely recognized. In addition, mucus was found in neither ciliated nor basal epithelium. The present study suggests that goblet-cell metaplasia in the bronchus and bronchiole of inflamed mucosa may be derived, at least in part, from Clara cells.

Diminished catalepsy and dopamine metabolism distinguish aripiprazole from haloperidol or risperidone.

Catalepsy and changes in striatal and limbic dopamine metabolism were investigated in mice after oral administration of aripiprazole, haloperidol, and risperidone. Catalepsy duration decreased with chronic (21 day) aripiprazole compared with acute (single dose) treatment across a wide dose range, whereas catalepsy duration persisted with chronic haloperidol treatment. At the time of maximal catalepsy, acute aripiprazole did not alter neostriatal dopamine metabolite/dopamine ratios or homovanillic acid (HVA) levels, and produced small increases in dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Effects were similar in the olfactory tubercle. Dopamine metabolism was essentially unchanged in both regions after chronic aripiprazole. Acute treatments with haloperidol or risperidone elevated DOPAC, HVA, and metabolite/dopamine ratios in both brain areas and these remained elevated with chronic treatment. The subtle effects of aripiprazole on striatal and limbic dopamine metabolism, and the decrease in catalepsy with chronic administration, illustrate fundamental differences in dopamine neurochemical actions and behavioral sequelae of aripiprazole compared to haloperidol or risperidone.