Structure-activity relationship of trihexyphenidyl analogs with respect to the dopamine transporter in the on going search for a cocaine inhibitor.

A series of trihexyphenidyl (THP) analogs were used to search for a derivative that could serve as a cocaine inhibitor. A compound that blocks binding of the cocaine analog carboxyfluorotropane (CFT), allows dopamine uptake and exhibits low side effects could serve as a good candidate for that purpose. All analogs were tested for the extent to which they inhibit CFT binding, dopamine uptake and n-methyl scopolamine (NMS) binding. Several structure-function relationships emerged. Methylation/halogenation of THP's benzene ring enhanced the compound's ability to block CFT binding in comparison to its ability to block dopamine uptake (5a-e). Replacement of the cyclohexyl ring with a benzene ring tended to create compounds that had lower affinities to the dopamine transporter (7b compared to THP, 7d compared to 5h, 7c compared to 8c) and modification of THP's piperidine ring tended to enhance affinity to the dopamine transporter (5f-h, 8a, 8c). One analog (5f) that showed little muscarinic activity indicating that it would probably have few side effects was investigated for its effects as an in vivo cocaine inhibitor. However, it showed few antagonistic effects in vivo. Nevertheless, this work greatly elucidates the structure-function relationships required for potential cocaine inhibitors and so lays out promising directions for future research.

Reduction of permanganate by thioanisole: lewis acid catalysis

The oxidation of sulfides and sulfoxides by permanganate in anhydrous acetone solutions is catalyzed by Lewis acids such as iron(III) chloride, zinc chloride, and mercury(II) chloride. The reaction kinetics unequivocally confirm that the function of these catalysts is to activate the oxidant by forming permanganate/Lewis acid complexes analogous to the protonation of Mn by Bronsted acids. A Hammett analysis of the rate constants for the oxidation of a series of substituted thioanisoles gives a negative rho value (-1. 11) indicative of an electron deficient transition state. No secondary kinetic isotope effect is observed when the hydrogens of the methyl group are replaced by deuterium. Despite previous observations that sulfoxides are preferentially oxidized in competitive experiments, sulfides are oxidized more rapidly when individual rates are measured. All of these observations are most consistent with a mechanism in which the reductant reacts with the oxidant via initial ligation.