82248-59-7

Biological Activity

Potent and selective noradrenalin re-uptake inhibitor (K i values are 5, 77 and 1451 nM for inhibition of radioligand binding to human NET, SERT and DAT respectively). Displays minimal affinity for a range of other neurotransmitter receptors and transporters (K i > 1 μ M). Antidepressant.

Synthesis

The 3-aryloxy substituent was introduced utilizing a chiral alcohol by either the Mitsunobu reaction or by nucleophilic aromatic displacement. Because of the expense and difficulty of the Mitsunobu reaction on large scale, the commercial process adopts the nucleophilic aromatic substitution method. 3- Chloropropiophenone (37) was asymmetrically reduced with borane and catalytic amount of (S)-oxazaborolidine (8) in THF at 0°C to give chiral alcohol 38 in 99% yield and 94% e.e. The chiral alcohol was further purified by recrystallization to greater than 99% e.e.. Subsequent treatment of chloride 38 with excess dimethylamine (40% in water) in ethanol gave dimethylamine alcohol 39 in 90% yield. Alcohol 39 was then subjected to nucleophilic aromatic displacement in the presence of NaH in DMSO with 1- fluoro-2-(t-butylimino)benzene (41), which was prepared in high yield from 2-fluorobenzaldehyde (40). The displacement product 42 was obtained in 98% yield, and the imine 42 was subsequently hydrolyzed with acetic acid in water at low temperature to give the corresponding aldehyde 43 in 96% yield. Sodium borohydride was employed to reduce aldehyde 43 to alcohol in cold methanol and the intermediate alcohol was converted to chloride 44 with thionyl chloride. Chloride 44 was then reduced with zinc metal under acidic conditions to give methyl adduct 45 in 95% yield and 94% e.e. Finally, phenyl chloroformate and triethylamine was used to transform dimethylamine 45 to monomethyl amine, which was subsequently treated with HCl in EtOAc under reflux to give atomoxetin hydrochloride (IV) in 98% yield and 99% e.e. from 45.

Definition

ChEBI: The hydrochloride salt of atomoxetine.

Brand name

Strattera (Lilly).

General Description

Atomoxetine hydrochloride is a nonstimulant used in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults.