ALKOXYPHENYLALKYLAMINE DERIVATIVE

Abstract: An alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative represented by general formula (I) and a salt thereof, wherein X¹ and X² may be the same or different from each other and each represents hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, or C₁ to C₅ alkoxy which may be substituted by phenyl; R¹ and R² may be the same or different from each other and each represents hydrogen or C₁ to C₇ alkyl which may be terminated with hydroxyl, carboxyl or alkoxycarbonyl, or alternatively R¹ and R² are combined with the adjacent nitrogen atoms to represent optionally substituted pyrrolidine, piperidino, piperazino, etc.; A represents phenyl which may be substituted by one to three arbitrary substituents selected among halogen, hydroxyl and C₁ to C₅ alkoxy, or similarly substituted thienyl; m represents an integer of 2 to 5; and n represents an integer of 1 to 7. The above compounds are useful in treating schizophrenia without causing extrapyramidal disorder and in treating problematic behaviours accompanying cerebrovascular disorder or senile dementia.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivatives having an antipsychotic action. BACKGROUND ART Antipsychotic drugs are used for treating not only schizophrenia but also troublesome behaviors (for example, aggression, mental excitation, fugue, delirium) accompanying cerebrovascular disorders and senile dementia. However, there is a serious problem that these classical antipsychotic drugs cause extrapyramidal disorders as a side effect. In order to solve this problem, approaches have been made in recent years to develop antipsychotic drugs from a viewpoint which is completely different from the action mechanism of the classical drugs. As an example of these approaches, a sigma receptor antagonist may be cited. It is considered that sigma receptor is a receptor participating in mental abnormality such as hallucination. A compound having a specific affinity for this receptor would exhibit an antipsychotic action without causing any extrapyramidal disorders. Although Rimcazole is known as an example of such a compound, its affinity and specificity for sigma receptor are restricted. There have been known some compounds, for example, N,N-dimethyl-2-(3-benzyloxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)ethylamine described in J. C. S. Perkin I, (1975), page 1140, which are similar to the compound of the present invention in structure. However, these compounds are described merely as a synthesis intermediate. Thus the action of the compound of the present invention has never been reported hitherto. WO 90/11997 discloses alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivatives which differ from the compounds of the present invention in that the alkyl moiety [CH-(CH 3 )] p is branched whereas according to the present invention the alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivatives have a linear -(CH 2 ) n - moiety. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel compound which has an antipsychotic action without causing any extrapyramidal disorders. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have conducted extensive studies on alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivatives. As a result, they have found out a novel alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative which shows a specific and high affinity for sigma receptor, thus completing the present invention. Now the present invention will be described in greater detail. The present invention relates to an alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative represented by the following formula (I): wherein (1) X 1 =4-MeO, X 2 =H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O=3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O). n=2, R 1 =R 2 =n-Pr. (2) X 1 =4-MeO, X 2 =H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O=3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n=3, R 1 =R 2 =n-Pr. (3) X 1 =3-MeO, X 2 =H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O=2-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n=2, R 1 =R 2 =n-Pr. and a salt thereof. The salt of the compound of the present invention means a pharmacologically acceptable salt and examples thereof include salts with a mineral acid such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid and salts with an organic acid such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, trifluoroacetic acid or methanesulfonic acid. The compounds of the present invention are as follows: N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine oxalate. N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine hydrochloride. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. The compound of the formula (I) of the present invention can be produced by the following methods. (In the following reaction formulae, R 3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; X represents an arbitrary halogen atom; Z represents a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and R 1 , R 2 , X 1 , X 2 , A, m and n are as defined above.) Step a: A hydroxybenzaldehyde or hydroxybenzoate of the formula (1) is reacted with a halide of the formula (2) in an inert solvent in the presence or absence of a phase-transfer catalyst and in the presence of a base to give a compound of the formula (3). As examples of the phase-transfer catalyst usable in the present invention, a quaternary ammonium salt such as benzyltriethylammonium chloride, tetrabutylammonium bromide or trioctylmethylammonium chloride may be used. As the base, an inorganic base such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium fluoride or sodium hydride and an organic base such as triethylamine or pyridine may be used. As the inert solvent, an organic solvent such as N,N-dimethylformaldehyde, acetonitrile, dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, methanol or ethanol, or a mixture of one of these organic solvents with water may be used. The reaction is carried out at from room temperature to 150°C under stirring for 3 to 48 hours, preferably at from room temperature to 70°C under stirring for 5 to 24 hours. Step b: The aldehyde or ester of the formula (3) is reduced with a reducing agent in an inert solvent and then halogenated with a halogenating agent to give a compound of the formula (4). As examples of the solvent usable in the reduction, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene, methanol and ethanol may be used. As the reducing agent, an aluminum-series reducing agent such as aluminum lithium hydride and a boron-series reducing agent such as sodium borohydride may be used. This reaction is carried out at 0 to 100°C under stirring for 1 to 10 hours, preferably at 0°C to room temperature under stirring for 1 to 5 hours.As examples of the halogenating agent usable in the halogenation, thionyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride, phosphorus oxybromide, phosphorus pentachloride, conc. hydrochloric acid, a solution of hydrogen bromide in acetic acid and hydroiodic acid may be used. The reaction may be performed without using any solvent. Alternately, solvents such as dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, benzene, toluene, N,N-dimethylformamide or hexamethylphosphorictriamide may be used therefor either alone or in the form of a mixture thereof. This reaction is carried out at 0 to 130°C under stirring for 1 to 24 hours, preferably at room temperature to 100°C under stirring for 2 to 10 hours. Step c: The compound of the formula (4) is reacted with an amine of the formula (5) in the presence of a base to give a compound of the formula (6). As examples of the base usable in this reaction, an inorganic base such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, a tertiary amine such as triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, N-methylmorpholine or N,N-dimethylaniline and the amine of the formula (5) may be used. As the solvent, acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, toluene, benzene, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and N,N-dimethylformamide may be used. This reaction is carried out at 50 to 150°C for 5 to 48 hours, preferably at 50 to 100°C for 8 to 48 hours, under stirring. Step d: The compound of the formula (4) obtained by the route 1 is subjected successively to cyanation and hydrolysis to give a carboxylic acid of the formula (7). In the cyanation of this step, a cyanation agent such as potassium cyanide, sodium cyanide or copper cyanide is used in the absence or presence of a catalyst. The catalyst usable herein is a phase-transfer catalyst, for example, crown ethers such as 18-crown-6, tetrabutylammonium bromide, trioctylmethylammonium chloride or benzyltriethylammonium chloride. As the solvent, acetonitrile, benzene, toluene, chloroform, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone may be used either alone or in the form of a mixture of one of these solvents with water. This reaction is carried out at room temperature to 150°C under stirring for 3 to 24 hours.The hydrolysis is performed with the use of a base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide and an acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or acetic acid. Examples of the solvent usable herein are a mixture of water and an organic solvent, for example, alcohols such as ethanol, ethers such as dioxane or 1,2-dimethoxyethane and N,N-dimethylformamide. This reaction is carried out under refluxing for 5 to 24 hours with stirring. Step e: Next, the carboxylic acid of the formula (7) is converted into a mixed acid anhydride or an acid halide to activate the carboxyl group. Then the product is converted into an amide by reacting with the amine of the formula (5). After further reducing, the compound of the present invention of the formula (8) can be obtained. In the above step, the compound of the formula (7) may be converted into a mixed acid anhydride by reacting it with, for example, ethyl chlorocarbonate, isobutyl chlorocarbonate, acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride in a solvent in the presence of a base (for example, triethylamine or N-methylmorpholine). Examples of the solvent usable herein include tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, N,N-dimethylformamide, toluene and benzene. On the other hand, the compound of the formula (7) may be converted into an acid halide by reacting with thionyl chloride or thionyl bromide in a solvent such as benzene, toluene, dichloromethane, chloroform or N,N-dimethylformamide, or without using any solvent.In the reduction, a reducing agent such as aluminum lithium hydride, sodium bis(methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride or borane·tetrahydrofuran complex and a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane or toluene are used. This reaction is carried out at 0 to 150°C under stirring for 1 to 24 hours, preferably at room temperature to 80°C under stirring for 2 to 10 hours. Step f: The carboxylic acid (7) obtained by the route 2 is reduced with a reducing agent and then subjected to a halogenation similar to that of the step b to obtain a halide of the formula (9). As examples of the reducing agent usable herein, aluminum lithium hydride, sodium bis(methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride and borane·tetrahydrofuran complex may be used. As examples of the solvent, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, ether, toluene or benzene may be used. This reaction is carried out at 0 to 70°C under stirring for 1 to 8 hours.By reacting the halide of the formula (9) with the amine of the formula (5) in the same manner as that of the step c, the compound of the formula (8) of the present invention can be obtained.Subsequently, the halide of the formula (9) is subjected to the cyanation and hydrolysis of the step d and the reduction and halogenation of the step f. Then the halide thus obtained is reacted with the amine similar to the step c. Thus the compound of the formula (I) of the present invention, wherein the carbon atom number [represented by n in the formula (I)] has been successively increased, can be obtained. Step g: The aldehyde (Z=H) of the formula (3) obtained by the route 1 is reacted with a phosphorus ylide to give a cinnamate compound of the formula (10). Examples of the phosphorus ylide to be used herein include an ethyl diethylphosphonoacetate anion and methyl triphenylphosphoranilideneacetate. As examples of the reaction solvent usable herein, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene, toluene and N,N-dimethylformamide may be used. This reaction is carried out at -78 to 100°C under stirring for 1 to 24 hours, preferably at -30 to 50°C under stirring for 2 to 15 hours. Step h: The cinnamate compound of the formula (10) is subjected to the reduction of the double bond thereof and then hydrolysis of ester. Thus it is converted into the carboxylic acid of the formula (11). The "reduction" as performed herein means hydrogenation and a catalyst such as palladium/carbon or platinum and a solvent such as ethyl acetate, benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol or dichloromethane are used therefor. This reaction is carried out at 0 to 60°C under stirring for 1 to 24 hours, preferably at room temperature under stirring for 1 to 10 hours.The hydrolysis is performed by stirring the compound in an organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, or a mixture of such an organic solvent with water by using, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or acetic acid at room temperature to 100°C for 1 to 36 hours, preferably at room temperature for 2 to 12 hours.Next, the carboxylic acid of the formula (11) can be converted into the compound of the formula (12) of the present invention by treating in the same manner as that of the step e or the steps f and c.Subsequently, the compound of the formula (I), wherein n is an arbitrary integer, can be synthesized by subjecting the carboxylic acid of the formula (11) successively to the steps f, c, d and e. Step i: From a benzyloxy compound of the formula (13), the benzyloxy group is removed by reduction to give a compound of the formula (14). The "reduction" as performed herein means hydrogenation with the use of, for example, a catalyst such as palladium/carbon or palladium hydroxide/carbon and a solvent such as ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate or benzene, or Birch reduction with the use of, for example, sodium/liquid ammonia. Next, the phenol compound of the formula (14) can be converted into the compound of the present invention of formula (I) through the reaction with the compound of the formula (2) similar to that of the step a. A carboxylic acid of the formula (15) is converted into the compound of the present invention of the formula (16) through Curtius rearrangement [described in, for example, J.A.C.S., 94 , 6203 (1972); J. Praktische Chemie, 50 , 275 (1894)] which is commonly employed in the art. Also, a nitrile of the formula (17) obtained by the methods of the steps f and d is converted into the compound of the formula (16) of the present invention through reduction. The "reduction" as performed herein means hydrogenation with the use of a catalyst such as palladium/carbon or platinum dioxide and a solvent such as ethanol, ethyl acetate or benzene, or reduction with the use of a reducing agent such as aluminum lithium hydride, sodium bis(methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride, borane·tetrahydrofuran or sodium trifluoroacetyloxyboron hydride and a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, ether, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, toluene or benzene. This reaction is carried out at 0 to 150°C under stirring for 1 to 24 hours, preferably at room temperature to 80°C under stirring for 2 to 10 hours. The primary amine represented by the formula (16) is reacted with a halide represented by the formula R 1 -X in the presence of a base to give the compound of the present invention represented by the formula (18). The compound of the formula (18) can be obtained by using the base and 2 equivalents or more of the halide represented by the formula R 1 -X. Examples of the base to be used herein include organic bases such as pyridine, triethylamine or N-methylmorpholine and inorganic bases such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. This reaction is carried out in a solvent such as dichloromethane, benzene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide or ethanol at a temperature of 0 to 100°C for 2 hours to 4 days, preferably at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, under stirring. To use the compound of the present invention as a drug, the compound of the present invention is mixed with solid or liquid carriers and formulated into a drug preparation suitable for oral or parenteral administration. Examples of the drug preparation include solid preparations such as tablets, pills, capsules or granules, liquid preparations such as injections, syrups or emulsions and preparations for external use such as ointments or suppositories. These preparations can be produced by the conventional techniques. The above-mentioned preparations may further contain additives commonly employed in the art, for example, fillers, binders, lubricants, stabilizers, humectants or emulsifiers. For example, an injection may contain a solvent such as distilled water for injection, physiological saline or Ringer solution and a preservative such as methyl parahydroxybenzoate or propyl parahydroxybenzoate. A syrup and an emulsion may contain, for example, sorbitol syrup, methylcellulose, glucose, sucrose syrup, hydroxyethylcellulose, edible oil, glycerol, ethanol or water as well as an emulsifier such as gum arabic or lecithin, or a surfactant such as Tween or Span. A solid preparation may contain a filler such as crystalline cellulose, lactose, corn starch or mannitol, a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or talc, a binder such as hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or poly(vinylpyrrolidone), a disintegrating agent such as calcium carboxymethylcellulose, and a flowability improver such as light anhydrous silicic acid. The dose of the compound of the present invention for a patient to be treated therewith may vary depending on the age, disease and conditions of the patient. In general, it may be administered to an adult in a dose of from 0.1 to 20 mg/day once to several times. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION To further illustrate the present invention in greater detail, the following Examples and Test Examples will be given. EXAMPLE 1 Production of 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde 66.02 g of 5-bromosalicylaldehyde was dissolved in 260 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide. Then 113.35 g of anhydrous potassium carbonate and 111.71 ml of (2-bromoethyl)benzene were added thereto and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 38 hours. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, ethyl acetate and water were added to the residue and the mixture was separated. The organic layer was collected and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the residue was recrystallized from isopropanol to give 82.62 g of 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde. m.p. 79 - 80°C. By using the corresponding starting materials, the following compounds were obtained by the same method as described above. 3-Methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde. NMR (DMSO) δ (ppm); 3.05 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.87 (3H, s), 4.38 (2H, dt, J = 7.5 Hz), 7.12 - 7.39 (8H, m), 9.99 (1H, s). MS m/e; 256 (M + ). 4-Methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde. NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ (ppm); 3.18 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.95 (3H, s), 4.28 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 6.96 (1H, d, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.18 - 7.35 (5H, m), 7.40 (1H, dd, J = 1.5 Hz), 7.45 (1H, dd, J = 1.5, 8.5 Hz), 9.83 (1H, s). MS m/e; 256 (M + ). EXAMPLE 2 Production of 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylacetic acid To a suspension of 0.249 g of aluminum lithium hydride in tetrahydrofuran, was slowly added 20 ml of a solution of 1.67 g of the 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde obtained above in tetrahydrofuran under stirring and ice-cooling. The obtained mixture was further stirred for 2 hours. Then a saturated solution of sodium sulfate was added to the reaction mixture under stirring. After the completion of the gas evolution, the reaction mixture was dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered under sucking, followed by evaporation of the filtrate under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran and 2 ml of hexamethylphosphoric triamide. After adding 0.48 ml of thionyl chloride, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. Then the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, successively washed with water and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, followed by evaporation of the solvent. The residue was dissolved in 15 ml of acetonitrile and 0.582 g of potassium cyanide and 0.123 g of 18-crown-6-ether were added thereto. The obtained mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. After adding ethyl acetate, the reaction mixture was successively washed with water and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated under reduced pressure. To the residue, were added 30 ml of ethanol and 10 ml of a 6N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and the mixture was heated under reflux for 5 hours. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in water, washed with ether, acidified with conc. hydrochloric acid and then extracted with ethyl acetate. After drying over anhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 1.47 g of 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylacetic acid. NMR (DMSO) δ (ppm); 2.99 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.47 (2H, s), 4.25 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 6.93 (1H, d, J = 10.0 Hz), 7.13 - 7.41 (7H, m), 12.20 (1H, brs, exchangeable with D 2 O). MS m/e; 336 (M + + 2), 274 (M + ). The compounds obtained in Example 1 were treated in the same manner as that of Example 2 to thereby give the following compounds. 3-Methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylacetic acid. m.p. 88 - 89°C (crystallized by acidifying aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid). 4-Methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylacetic acid. m.p. 88 - 89°C (crystallized by acidifying aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid). EXAMPLE 3 Production of 3-[5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propionic acid Under a nitrogen gas stream, 9.1 ml of ethyl diethylphosphonoacetate was dissolved in 60 ml of tetrahydrofuran and then 3.875 g of potassium-t-butoxide dissolved in 30 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added thereto under ice-cooling. The obtained mixture was stirred for 40 minutes. To this reaction mixture, was added 20 ml of a solution of 7 g of 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde in tetrahydrofuran and the obtained mixture was stirred for 18 hours while returning to room temperature. A saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate was added to the reaction mixture. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and successively washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate and water. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The product thus obtained was not purified but used in the subsequent reaction as such. The above-mentioned product was dissolved in 30 ml of ethyl acetate. After adding 0.55 g of platinum dioxide, the mixture was stirred under a hydrogen gas stream at room temperature for 36 hours. The platinum dioxide was filtered through Celite and the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure. To the obtained residue, were added 40 ml of a 6N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, 50 ml of methanol and 50 ml of dioxane and the resulting mixture was stirred for 3 hours. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in water, acidified with conc. hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate to give 2.88 g of oily 3-[5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propionic acid. NMR (DMSO) δ (ppm); 2.35 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 2.70 (2H, t, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.03 (2H, t, J = 6.3 Hz), 4.18 (2H, t, J = 6.3 Hz), 6.88 - 7.38 (8H, m), 12.09 (1H, brs, exchangeable with D 2 O). MS m/e; 350 (M + + 2), 348 (M + ). The above procedure was repeated except for replacing the 5-bromo-2-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde by 4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)benzaldehyde to give the following compounds. 3-[4-Methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propionic acid m.p. 77.5 - 78.5°C (recrystallized from n-hexane/toluene). EXAMPLE 4 Production of N,N-di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylethylamine oxalate 0.4 ml of thionyl chloride was added to 0.77 g of 4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylacetic acid in 5 ml of toluene and stirred at 90°C for 4 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and 5 ml of toluene was added thereto again. Then 0.83 g of di-n-propylamine was added dropwise thereto under ice-cooling and stirring and the resulting mixture was further stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was washed successively with water, dilute hydrochloric acid, a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered followed by evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure. A solution of the above residue in 2 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise to a suspension of 0.21 g of aluminum lithium hydride in 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran at room temperature under stirring. After stirring and heating at reflux for additional 3 hours, the mixture was ice-cooled and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium sulfate was added dropwise thereto until no hydrogen gas evolved any more. The solid matters thus precipitated were filtered and the residue was subjected to silica gel chromatography (developing solvent; n-hexane : ethyl acetate = 3 : 1). From the target fraction, the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in ethanol. 0.15 g of oxalic acid was added thereto and dissolved under heating. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, ether was added for crystallization to give 0.61 g of N,N-di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. m.p. 80 - 81°C. By using the corresponding starting materials, the above procedure was repeated and thus the following compounds were obtained. (In the case of a hydrochloride, a 4N solution of hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate or conc. hydrochloric acid was used in place of the oxalic acid.) N,N-di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. m.p. 99 - 100°C (recrystallized from ethyl acetate). N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. m.p. 135 - 137°C (recrystallized from ethanol). N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. m.p. 105 - 107°C (recrystallized from ethyl acetate/isopropyl ether). N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine oxalate. m.p. 104 - 105°C (recrystallized from ethyl acetate). N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine hydrochloride. m.p. 83 - 84°C (recrystallized from ethyl acetate). EXAMPLE 5 Production of 2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride 1.50 g of 2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propionic acid, 1.65 g of diphenylphosphoryl azide and 0.61 g of triethylamine were heated under reflux in t-butanol for 3 hours. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, successively washed with water, a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and filtered, followed by evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure. To the residue thus obtained, was added 20 ml of a 4M solution of hydrogen chloride in ethyl acetate and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. After evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the remaining crystals were recrystallized from isopropanol to give 650 mg of 2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. m.p. 114 - 115°C. EXAMPLE 6 Production of 2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride 2.04 ml of trifluoroacetic acid was added dropwise to a suspension of 3.60 g of crude 4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylacetonitrile obtained in the same manner as that of Example 4 and 1.00 g of sodium boron hydride in 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran under stirring. Then the resulting mixture was heated under reflux for 1 hour. After cooling the reaction mixture to room temperature, 1.00 ml of water and 4.00 ml of conc. hydrochloric acid were successively added dropwise thereto and the mixture was heated under reflux for 1 hour again. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was made alkaline with a 10N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, extracted with dichloromethane, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and filtered. Then 1.65 ml of conc. hydrochloric acid was added to the filtrate and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The remaining crystals were recrystallized from isopropanol to give 2.61 g of 2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. m.p. 114 - 115°C. TEST EXAMPLE 1 [Receptor binding experiment] As test animals, male Wistar rats were used. As a [ 3 H]-labeled ligand, (+)[ 3 H]3-PPP [3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine] was used for sigma receptor, while (-)[ 3 H] sulpiride was used for D 2 receptor. Binding reactions with the use of these [ 3 H]-labeled ligands were performed respectively in accordance with the following methods (1) and (2) described in Molecular Pharmacology, 32 , p. 772 (1987) and Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 32 , p. 820 (1987). (1) (+) [ 3 H] 3-PPP binding: A membrane preparation obtained from the whole brain of rat, (+) [ 3 H] 3-PPP and a test drug were reacted in a 50 mM Tris hydrochloride buffer (pH 8.0) at 21°C for 90 minutes. (2) (-) [ 3 H] sulpiride binding: A membrane preparation obtained from the corpus striatum of rat, (-) [ 3 H] sulpiride and a test drug were reacted in a 50 mM Tris hydrochloride buffer (pH 7.7) at 37°C for 10 minutes. After the completion of each reaction, the reaction mixture was filtered under sucking onto a glass filter (GF/B) and the radioactivity of the filter paper was measured with a liquid scintillation spectrometer. The data obtained by reacting in the presence of 10 µM (+) 3-PPP and 10 µM (-) thiapride were regarded respectively as the nonspecific binding of (+) [ 3 H] 3-PPP and (-) [ 3 H] sulpiride. Then the difference between the total binding and the nonspecific binding was referred to as the specific binding. The [ 3 H]-labeled ligand at a definite concentration and the test drug at various concentrations were reacted under the conditions as specified in the above (1) or (2) to thereby give an inhibition curve. From this inhibition curve, the 50% inhibitory concentration of the test drug on each binding (IC 50 ) was determined. Table 1 shows the results. Test drug Sigma (nM) D 2 (nM) I 1.29 >1000 J 0.984 950 T 2.71 >10000 3-PPP 24.3 - Rimcazole 1640 86000 AA 94.4 40800 (Note 1) I; N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. J; N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine oxalate. T; N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. (Note 2) Regarding Rimcazole, the data given in European Journal of Pharmacology, 155 , p. 345 (1988) are quoted. The data of D 2 receptor are expressed as the value obtained from spiperone binding. AA means N,N-dimethyl-2-(4-methoxy-3-benzyloxyphenyl)ethylamine hydrochloride (m.p. 154 - 155°C, recrystallized from isopropanol) which was synthesized by the method described in J.C.S. Perkin I. (1975), p. 1140 and converted into hydrochloride by treating with hydrogen chloride in isopropanol. TEST EXAMPLE 2 [Examination on antagonism against (+) SKF 10047-induced abnormal behaviors] (1) Dose: The present compounds I, J and T were orally administered each in doses of 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg. Preparations were formulated by dissolving 10 mg of each test drug in 1 ml of dimethylsulfoxide, diluting with physiological saline to a concentration of 0.1 mg/kg, and further diluting the obtained solution to 0.01 and 0.001 mg/kg (administration dose: 0.1 ml per 10 g body weight of mouse). The invention compound A, the comparative drug AA and Rimcazole were each orally administered in doses of 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg. Preparations were formulated by suspending in a 5% solution of acacia. (+) SKF10047 [(+)-N-allylnormetazocine hydrochloride; manufactured by Sigma] was intraperitoneally administered in a dose of 30 mg/kg. The preparation was formulated by dissolving in physiological saline. (2) Test method: As test animals, ICR male mice (Nippon Charles River) aged 4 to 5 weeks were used. Each group had 10 animals. Each animal was introduced into a transparent acrylic resin cage (24 cm in length × 17.5 cm in width × 12 cm in height) and allowed to fully adapt to the environment. 35 minutes after the administration of a preparation of a test drug, (+) SKF10047 was administered. From 10 minutes thereafter, the stereotypy scores [listed in Table 2, Synapse, 2 , p. 240 (1988)] were evaluated for 40 minutes at intervals of 5 minutes and the ED 25 (mg/kg) was determined. Table 3 shows the results. Score Stereotypy 0 Normal behavior. 1 Sniffing, grooming, standing up. 2 Losing the balance, falling over immediately after standing up, sniffing more strongly than 1. 3 Spinning round, walking backward. 4 Continuously spinning round, rolling, walking backward. 5 Bending the limbs, head and neck, while stretching the body. Test drug ED 25 (mg/kg) I 0.0008 J 0.00263 T 0.0017 AA 23.6 Rimcazole 37.0 (Note 1) I; N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. J; N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine oxalate. T; N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. (Note 2) AA means N,N-dimethyl-2-(4-methoxy-3-benzyloxyphenyl)ethylamine hydrochloride (m.p. 154 - 155°C, recrystallized from isopropanol) which was synthesized by the method described in J.C.S. Perkin I. (1975), p. 1140 and converted into hydrochloride by treating with hydrogen chloride in isopropanol. As Rimcazole, a product of Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. was used. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The compound of the present invention shows a specific and high affinity for sigma receptor. Therefore, the compound of the present invention, which exhibits a antipsychotic actin without causing any extrapyramidal disorders, is useful as a remedy for schizophrenia as well as a remedy for abnormal behaviors accompanying cerebrovascular disorders and senile dementia.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, FR, GB, IE, IT, LI, LU, MC, NL, SE An alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative represented by the following formula (I): wherein (1) X 1 =4-MeO, X 2 =H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O=3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n=2, R 1 =R 2 =n-Pr. (2) X 1 =4-MeO, X 2 =H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O=3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n=3, R 1 =R 2 =n-Pr. (3) X 1 =3-MeO, X 2 =H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O=2-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n=2, R 1 =R 2 =n-Pr. and a salt thereof. An alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said salt is a salt with sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, trifluoroacetic acid or methanesulfonic acid. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine oxalate. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine oxalate. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. N,N-Di-n-propyl-2-[3-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride. N,N-Di-n-propyl-3-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]propylamine hydrochloride. Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR A process for the production of an alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivate represented by the following formula (8): wherein (1) X 1 = 4-MeO, X 2 = H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O = 3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), R 1 = R 2 = n-Pr, (2) X 1 = 3-MeO, X 2 = H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O = 2-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), R 1 = R 2 = n-Pr, and a salt thereof comprising the following steps: (i) reacting a hydroxybenzaldehyde (Z = H) or hydroxybenzoate of the formula (1): wherein X 1 and X 2 are as defined above with a halide of the formula (2): X-(CH 2 ) m -A wherein X represents a halogen atom and A and m are as defined above in an inert solvent in the presence of a base to give a compound of the formula (3): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as above; (ii) reducing the aldehyde or ester of the formula (3) with a reducing agent in an inert solvent and then halogenating it with a halogenating agent to give a compound of the formula (4): wherein X, X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as above; (iii)subjecting the compound of the formula (4) successively to cyanation and hydrolysis to give a carboxylic acid of the formula (7): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as above; (iv) converting the carboxylic acid of the formula (7) into a mixed acid, anhydride or an acid halide to activate the carboxyl group and converting the product into an amide by reacting it with the amine of the formula (5): wherein R 1 and R 2 are defined as above, reducing it to obtain the compound of the formula (8) and (v) optionally converting the compound of the formula (8) into its salt. A process for the production of an alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative of the formula (8): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A, R 1 , R 2 and m are defined as in claim 1 or a salt thereof comprising the following steps: (i) reducing the carboxylic acid (7) of the following formula: wherein X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as in claim 1 with a reducing agent and then halogenating it with a halogenting agent to obtain a halide of the formula (9): wherein X 1 , X 2 , X, A and m are defined as in claim 1; (ii) reacting the halide of formula (9) with the amine of the formula (5): wherein R 1 and R 2 are defined as in claim 1 in the presence of a base; (iii)optionally converting the compound of the formula (8) into its salt. A process for the production of an alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative of the following formula (12): wherein X 1 = 4-MeO, X 2 = H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O = 3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), R 1 = R 2 = n-Pr, comprising the following steps: (i) reacting the aldehyde wherein Z = H of the formula (3): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as above with a phosphorous ylide to give a cinnamate compound of the formula (10): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as above and CO 2 R 3 represents an ester group; (ii) subjecting the cinnamate compound of the formula (10) to the reduction of the double bond thereof and then to hydrolysis of ester and converting the product into the carboxylic acid of the formula (11) wherein X 1 , X 2 , A and m are defined as above; (iii) converting the carboxylic acid of the formula (11) into the compound of the formula (12) by converting it into a mixed acid anhydride or an acid halide to activate the carboxyl group followed by converting the activated product into an amide by reacting with the amine of the formula (5): wherein R 1 and R 2 are defined as above and subsequent reduction of the reaction product; or by reducing the carboxylic acid (11) with a reducing agent and then subjecting it to a halogenation similar to that of step (ii) as defined in claim 1 to obtain a halide and reacting said halide with an amine of the formula (5): wherein R 1 and R 2 are defined as above in the presence of a base and optionally (iv) converting the alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative (12) into its salt. A process for the production of an alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative of the formula (I): wherein (1) X 1 = 4-MeO, X 2 = H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O = 3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n = 2, R 1 = R 2 = n-Pr, (2) X 1 = 4-MeO, X 2 = H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O = 3-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n = 3, R 1 = R 2 = n-Pr, (3) X 1 = 3-MeO, X 2 = H, A-(CH 2 ) m -O = 2-(2-Ph-(CH 2 ) 2 -O), n = 2, R 1 = R 2 = n-Pr, comprising the following steps: (i) removing a benzyloxy group from a benzyloxy compound of the formula (13): wherein X 1 , X 2 , R 1 , R 2 and n are as defined above by reduction to give a phenol compound of the formula (14): wherein X 1 , X 2 , R 1 , R 2 and n are as defined above; (ii) converting the phenol compound of formula (14) into the compound of the formula (I) by reacting it with a compound of the formula (2): X-(CH 2 ) m -A wherein X, A and m are as defined above in an inert solvent in the presence of a base and optionally (iii) converting the alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative (I) into its salt. A process for the production of an alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivative of the formula (18): wherein X 1 , X 2 , R 1 , A, m and n are defined as in claim 4 or a salt thereof which comprises the following steps: (i) converting a carboxylic acid of the formula (15): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A, m and n are as defined above into the primary amine of the formula (16): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A, m and n are defined as above through Curtius rearragement or converting a nitrile of the fomula (17): wherein X 1 , X 2 , A, m and n are as defined above into the primary amine of the formula (16) through reduction; (ii) reacting the primary amine represented by the formula (16) with a halide represented by the formula R 1 -X wherein R 1 is defined as above and X represents a halogen atom in the presence of a base and optionally (ii) converting the alkoxyphenylalkylamine derivate (18) into its salt.

Inventors: HATAYAMA KATSUO, KAWASHIMA YUTAKA, NAKAZATO ATSURO, OHTA KOUMEI, SEKIGUCHI YOSHINORI, HATAYAMA, KATSUO, KAWASHIMA, YUTAKA, NAKAZATO, ATSURO, OHTA, KOUMEI, SEKIGUCHI, YOSHINORI, HATAYAMA, KATSUO TAISHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD., KAWASHIMA, YUTAKA TAISHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO. LTD., NAKAZATO, ATSURO TAISHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD., OHTA, KOUMEI TAISHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD., SEKIGUCHI, YOSHINORI TAISHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,
Applicants: TAISHO PHARMA CO LTD, TAISHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO. LTD
Application year: 1992
Main classification: C07C217
IPC codes: C07C229, C07D213, C07D295, C07C217, C07D333, C07D239