Potential antipsychotic agents. Part 8. Antidopaminergic properties of a potent series of 5-substituted (−)-(S)-N-[(1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl]-2,3-dimethoxybcnzaimides. Synthesis via common lithio intermediates

A series of 5-substituted (?)-(S)-N-[(1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl]-2,3-diniethoxybenzanndes were made by reaction of the corresponding benzoyl chlorides with (S)-1-ethylpyrrolidine-2-methylaruine (→ 14–16 , 18–21 ). The acids required were prepared in a regiospecific manner from 5-bromo-2,3-dimethoxybenzoic acid which was protected as dihydrooxazole (→ 4–8 ), metalated, reacted with various electrophiles (MeI, EtI, BuBr, CC1³CCl³ or MeSSMe), and hydrolyzed (→ 9–13 ). Alternatively, (-)-(S)-5-bromo-N-[(1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl]-2,3-di-methoxybenzamide was treated with KH followed by BuLi and an electrophile (I₂ or Me³SiCl) to give the 5-iodo and 5-(trimethylsilyl) derivatives 17 and 22 , respectively. All 5-substituted amides were highly potent inhibitors of [³H]spiperone binding in rat striatal membranes with IC⁵⁰ values of 0.5 to 5 nM (Table 3). Thus, a relatively large steric bulk can be accomodated in the position para to the 2-MeO group. This work also supports the notion that a positive as well as negative electrostatic potential can be located in this position. A selected number of derivatives were also investigated in vivo and found to inhibit apomorphine-induced behavioural responses in the same dose range as haloperidol and raclopride (Table 4). This new group of benzamides is suitable for investigations of dopamine D-2 receptors in labelled or unlabelled form.