Imipramine

Miscellaneous. The iminostilbene carbama2epiae [294-46-4] congener of the tricycHc antidepressant, imipramine. 

Trigclic Antidepressants. Imipramine (38) was introduced in the late 1950s as one of the first pharmacotherapies for depression. At that time, chlorproma2ine [50-53-3] was the first effective antipsychotic treatment to be discovered. Researchers looked for similar chemical stmctures and imipramine was found to be effective in the symptomatic treatment of depression. Over the years, other congeners, such as desipramine (39), amitriptyline (40), and dothiepin (41), were synthesized and shown to be clinically efficacious antidepressant dmgs (121). These substances, known under the general mbric of tricycHc antidepressants, share a basic chemical stmcture comprising... 

Tricyclic Antidepressants. Imipramine [50-49-7] (32), which was the first tricycHc antidepressant to be developed, is one of many useful psychoactive compounds derived from systematic molecular modifications of the antihistamine prometha2ine [60-87-7] (see Histamine and histamine antagonists). The sulfur atom of prometha2ine was replaced with an ethylene bridge and the dimethylamino group attached to an / -propyl group, rather than to an isopropyl one, of the side chain. The actual synthesis of (32) is typical of the compounds in this class (37). 

Selected for clinical trials as a compound to calm agitated patients, imipramine was relatively ineffective. However, it was observed to be effective in the treatment of certain depressed patients (38). Early studies on the mechanism of action showed that imipramine potentiates the effects of the catecholamines, primarily norepinephrine. This finding, along with other evidence, led to the hypothesis that the compound exerts its antidepressant effects by elevating norepinephrine levels at central adrenergic synapses. Subsequent studies have shown that the compound is a potent inhibitor of norepinephrine reuptake and, to a lesser extent, the uptake of serotonin, thus fitting the hypothesis that had been developed to explain the antidepressant actions ofMAOIs. 

Research for an antidepressant among non-tricyclic compounds with pharmacological effects qualitatively different from those of the conventional tricyclic compounds led to the preparation and testing of a series of indazole derivatives for reserpine-like activity in mice. l-[3-(Dimethylamino)propyl]-5-methyl-3-phenyl-l//-indazole (FS-32 692) antagonizes reserpine-induced effects and potentiates amphetamine-induced self-stimulation and l-Dopa-induced increase in motor activity. FS-32 produces an anticholinergic action mainly on the central nervous System, while the action of imipramine occurs centrally as well as peripherally (79AF511). 

The widely used tricyclic antidepressant drugs such as imipramine and amitriptyptiline have in common a series of... 

Most of the widely used antidepressants are tricyclics related to imipramine. A 1-phenyltetrahy-droisoquinoline analogue, nomifensine (60), departs from this structural pattern. Hiarmacologi-cally it inhibits the reuptake of catecholamines such as dopamine at neurons. It can be synthesized by alkylation of 2-nitrobenzyl-methylamine with phenacyl bromide followed by catalytic reduction of the nitro group (Pd-C) and then hydride reduction of the keto moiety to give 59. Strong acid treatment leads to cyclodehydration to nomifensine (60) [17]. 

Antidepressant activity is retained when the two carbon bridge in imipramine is replaced by a larger, more complex, function. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution on chloropyridine 31 by means of p-aminobenzophenone (32) gives the bicyclic intermediate 33. Reduction of the nitro group (34), followed by intramolecular Schiff base formation gives the required heterocyclic ring system 35. Alkylation of the anion from 35 with l-dimethylamino-3-chloropropane leads to tampramine 36 [8]. 

Figure 15.3 Separation of tricyclic antidepressants by using multidimensional LC-LC. Peak identification is as follows DOX, doxepin DES, desipramine NOR, noitryptylene IMI, imipramine AMI, amiti yptyline. Adapted from Journal of Chromatography, 507, J. V. Posluszny et al., Optimization of multidimensional high-performance liquid cliromatography for the deterTnination of drugs in plasma by direct injection, micellar cleanup and photodiode array detection , pp. 267 - 276, copyright 1990, with permission from Elsevier Science.

Amitriptylin oxide 3-(Dimethylamino) propyl chloride Amitriptyline HCI Ch/orprothixene Clomipramine Cyclobenzaprine Imipramine HCI Oxetorone fumarate Prothipendyl HCI... 

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