Phenylalkylamines with potential psychotherapeutic utility. 2. Nuclear substituted 2-amino-1-phenylbutanes

Abstract
A series of 2-amino-1-(4-substituted-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)butanes was prepared as analogs of (R)-2-amino-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)butane (1a) [dimoxamine, BL-3912A]. 1-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(N-phthalimido)butane was used as a synthetic intermediate common to many target compounds. Animal [cat and rat] data indicate that most analogs have low hallucinogenic potential. Selected compounds were compared with 1a in an avoidance-response acquisition model which differentiates between 1a and the human hallucinogens DOM [4-methyl-2,5-dimethyoxy-.alpha.-methylphenethylamine] and DOET [2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine]. Structure-activity relationships of these analogs are discussed.