Synthesis of a Series of Novel 3,9-Disubstituted Phenanthrenes as Analogues of Known N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor Allosteric Modulators

Abstract

9-Substituted phenanthrene-3-carboxylic acids have been reported to have allosteric modulatory activity at the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. This receptor is activated by the excitatory neurotransmitter l-glutamate and has been implicated in a range of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, epilepsy and chronic pain, and in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Herein, the convenient synthesis of a wide range of novel 3,9-disubstituted phenanthrene derivatives starting from a few common intermediates is described. These new phenanthrene derivatives will help to clarify the structural requirements for allosteric modulation of the NMDA receptor.

Key words

phenanthrenes - NMDA receptor - allosteric modulators - palladium coupling - Wittig reaction

• References

• 1 Contributed equally as either first or senior author.
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