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Starting from 2-(2-aminoethyl)-6-methoxy-1-methylcarbazole, ethyl 9-methoxy-5-methyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole-1-carboxylate was obtained through a three-step sequence. This compound and its 6-methyl derivative react with (dialkylamino)alkylamines to provide various 9-methoxy-5-methyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole-1-(N-substituted carboxamides) whose boron tribromide demethylation afforded corresponding 9-hydroxy-1-(N-substituted carbamoyl)-olivacines. The same pathway but starting from 2-(2-aminoethyl)-6-methoxy-1,4-dimethylcarbazole led to ethyl 9-methoxy-5,11-dimethyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole-1-carboxylate which did not normally react with amines. It provided either the recovered starting material at 120 degrees C or 9-methoxyellipticine resulting from an unexpected decarboethylation in a steel vessel at 180 degrees C. Biological testing of the newly obtained 1-carbamoylolivacine derivatives showed that 9-hydroxylated compounds displayed high cytotoxicity for cultured L1210 and colon 38 cells (IC50 range 5-10 nM) and good antitumor activity in vivo in the P388 leukemia and colon 38 models when administered by the iv route. The most active compound in these series is 9-hydroxy-5,6-dimethyl-1-[N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]carbamoyl]-6H- pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole which was selected for further evaluation on murine solid tumors and for toxicological studies.

A series of 3,5-disubstituted N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) methyl]-6-methoxysalicylamides was synthesized, starting from the 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acids, by boron tribromide demethylation of the corresponding 3,5-disubstituted 2,6-dimethoxybenzamides and separation of the two positional isomers. The correct structure assignments were based on selective decoupling studies on their 13C NMR spectra. The salicylamide derivatives were tested for antidopamine activity in vivo by their ability to inhibit the apomorphine syndrome in the rat and in vitro by their ability to displace [3H]spiperone from striatal preparations of the rat brain. The activity seems to reside exclusively in the S enantiomer. Several compounds were considerably more potent than haloperidol, particularly those having an ethyl group in the 3-position and a halogen atom in the 5-position of the aromatic ring. The corresponding 5-alkyl-3-halogen-substituted compounds were much less active. A low acute toxicity was found for the most potent compounds. Some of the salicylamides displayed a 10-20-fold separation between the dose which blocks apomorphine-induced hyperactivity and that which blocks apomorphine-induced stereotypy. One compound, S-(-)-3,5-dichloro-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) methyl]-6-methoxysalicylamide (raclopride, FLA 870) (13) had a stereotypy--hyperactivity separation more than twice that of sulpiride while being 100 times more potent in blocking the apomorphine effects. On this basis, 13 was selected for clinical trials against schizophrenia.

The N-allyl derivative (SK&F 85174) of 6-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-3-benzazepine-7,8-dio l (SK&F 82526) not only retains the exceptional D-1 agonist potency of its parent but also displays reasonably potent D-2 agonist activity, as measured by a dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase test and a rabbit ear artery assay, respectively. Several additional N-substituted compounds were prepared to explore the D-2/D-1 agonist relationship. The N-methyl analogue retained good D-2 agonist potency, but this substitution converted D-1 agonist activity into antagonist activity. Most other N-substituents sharply decreased D-2 agonist potency including the N-n-propyl group. This observation was surprising since the introduction of mono- or di-N-n-propyl substituent(s) is commonly linked with retention or enhancement of D-2 agonist potency in other series of dopamine agonists. The N-(2-hydroxyethyl) analogue retains about one-fourth the D-2 potency of SK&F 85174. Several synthetic methods were used to prepare these compounds. N-Allylation of a trimethoxybenzazepine followed by cleavage of the methyl ethers with boron tribromide was the preferred method. Other methods used were direct alkylation of the trihydroxy secondary amine, i.e., SK&F 82526, and an acylation-amide reduction-cleavage method.

Alkenylidene bisphenols are prepared by condensation of an appropriate phenol with a haloacetaldehyde, followed by base-induced elimination, or by condensation of the corresponding aryl methyl ether, elimination, and deprotection of the phenol with boron tribromide. The resulting compounds may be further elaborated by reactions on the aromatic nucleus. A series of 13 such compounds showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus; the most active was 1,1-dichloro-2-(3-allyl-5-chloro-2-hydroxphenyl)-2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene (16), MIC 0.16 microgram/mL. 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene (6) was similar in its activity and spectrum to hexachlorophene.

A series of substituted 6-methoxysalicylamides were synthesized from their corresponding 2,6-dimethoxybenzamides by demethylation of one methoxy group with boron tribromide. Substituted 6-methoxysalicylamides having a lipophilic aromatic substituent in the 3-position para with respect to the methoxy group, e.g. a bromo or an iodo atom or an ethyl or a propyl group, and having an (S)-N-(1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl moiety as the side chain were found to be potent blockers of [3H]spiperone binding in vitro and potent inhibitors of the apomorphine syndrome in the rat. Similar to remoxipride but in contrast to haloperidol, some of the substituted salicylamides show a 10-20-fold separation between the dose that inhibits hyperactivity and that which inhibits stereotypy. It was concluded that, besides the requirement of a lipophilic substituent in the position para to the methoxy group for antidopamine activity in vivo, the formation of a coplanar six-membered pseudoring involving the amide moiety and the methoxy group is a structural requirement for activity in vitro.

The synthesis of 6'-hydroxycinchonine [8R,9S)-cinchonan-6',9-diol] was achieved by demethylating quinidine with boron tribromide in dichloromethane at -75 degrees C. The antiarrhythmic activities of 6'-hydroxycinchonine and quinidine were compared following the infusion of aconitine into the tail veins of mice to induce arrhythmias. Comparative ED50 and LD50 studies for quinidine and 6'-hydroxycinchonine revealed equivalent antiarrhythmic potencies for the two drugs but a smaller acute toxicity for 6'-hydroxycinchonine.

(+/-)-2-(5,6-Dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl)imidazoline has been resolved into its (+) and (-) enantiomers, and the absolute configuration was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The more active isomer has been assigned the R absolute configuration. Cleavage of the respective (+)- and (-)-dimethyl ethers with boron tribromide provided the corresponding (+)- and (-)-2-(5,6-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthl)imidazoline hydrobromides and these were pharmacologically characterized. In various preparations, the R enantiomer has been shown to be an extremely potent alpha agonist with preferential activity at the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor.

Codeine is converted to 7,8-dihydro-14-hydroxynorcodeinone (noroxycodone) in six steps and 52% overall yield of the noroxymorphone in seven steps and 43% overall yield. N-Demethylation and oxidation of codeine afford N-(ethoxycarbonyl)norcodeinone, which is converted to its dienol acetate derivative and oxidized with singlet oxygen to give N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-14-hydroxynorcodeinone in the key step. Hydrogenation of the latter affords N-(ethoxycarbonyl)noroxycodone, which upon acid hydrolysis yields noroxycodone. Alternatively, O-demethylation of N-(ethoxycarbonyl)noroxycodone with boron tribromide and subsequent acid hydrolysis gives noroxymorphone. The results of the singlet oxygen oxidation of the pyrrolidine dienamine derived from N-(ethoxycarbonyl)norcodeinone are also described.

Brief treatment of codeine (1) in chloroform with boron tribromide has consiste-tly given morphine (2) in 90-91% yield after a simple isolation procedure. The yield and simplicity of operation in this method are vastly superior to those previously reported for this transformation.

2-Fluoro-, 5-fluoro- and 6-fluorodimethoxybenzaldehydes were prepared by photochemical decomposition of the corresponding diazonium fluoroborates. The aldehydes were converted to the cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers, which, in turn, were reduced to the dimethoxyphenethanolamines. Boron tribromide demethylation afforded the racemic ring-fluorinated norepinephrines. An alternate route, using the dibenzyloxyfluoroaldehyde, was also used to prepare 6-fluoronorepinephrine. The fluorine substituent markedly increases the phenolic acidities of these analogues. The biological properties conferred upon norepinephrine by the fluorine substituents in peripheral and central adrenergically responsive systems clearly demonstrate that 2-fluoronorepinephrine is a nearly a pure beta-adrenergic agonist, while 6-fluoronorepinephrine is an alpha-adrenergic agonist. 5-Fluoronorepinephrine retains both beta- and alpha-adrenergic agonist properties. Receptor-binding studies with specific radiolabeled ligands indicate that the specificity conferred by the site of fluorine substituents results from a change in the affinity of these analogues for the alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors.