The synthesis, biological, and pharmacological evaluations of 14beta-O-phenylpropyl-substituted morphinan-6-ones are described. The most striking finding of this study was that all of the compounds from the novel series of differently N-substituted 14beta-O-phenylpropylmorphinans acted as powerful opioid agonists. Even with N-substituents such as cyclopropylmethyl and allyl, which are usually associated with distinct antagonist properties, only agonists were obtained. Compared to morphine, the N-cyclopropylmethyl derivative 15 showed considerably increased potency in the in vivo assays in mice (600-fold in the tail-flick assay, 60-fold in the paraphenylquinone writhing test, and 400-fold in the hot-plate assay). Remarkably, most of the new ligands were nonselective and exhibited binding affinities in the subnanomolar range at opioid receptors (mu, kappa, delta), with the N-propyl derivative 19 displaying the highest affinity for the mu-receptor (K(i) = 0.09 nM).
Novel 14-alkoxy-substituted (e.g. allyloxy, benzyloxy, naphthylmethoxy) morphinan-6-one derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated. Compounds 6-9 and 11 displayed affinities in the subnanomolar range to mu opioid receptors which were comparable to 14-O-methyloxymorphone (1) and 14-methoxymetopon (3), and higher than oxymorphone (2). Opioid binding affinity was sensitive to the character and length of the substituent in position 14. In smooth muscle preparations they behaved as potent agonists. Antinociceptive potencies of compounds 6-11 in the hot-plate test after sc administration in mice were considerably greater than the potency of morphine. In the colonic propulsion test, the most potent analgesic compound 7 showed negligible constipating activity at the analgesic dose. These findings provide further evidence that the nature of the substituent at position 14 has a major impact on the abilities of morphinans to interact with opioid receptors. Introduction of a 5-methyl group has no significant effect on in vitro biological activities, but resulted in decreased antinociceptive potency.
A series of cyprodime-related compounds (2, 4-12, and 26) has been synthesized and evaluated for opioid agonist and antagonist activity with the mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum preparations. None of the changes to cyprodime, including the introduction of a 3-OMe group, increasing and decreasing the size of or completely removing the substituent in position 4, replacing the N-cyclopropylmethyl group with an N-allyl group, or replacing the 14-OMe with an 14-OEt substituent, resulted in an improved mu antagonist profile and most were detrimental either in terms of mu selectivity and potency or increased agonist activity. Increasing the length of the substituent in position 4 resulted in a compound (6a) with a very similar profile to that of cyprodime.
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