Synthesis and pharmacology of N-alkylated derivatives of the excitotoxin ibotenic acid

Three amino-alkylated derivatives of the naturally occurring excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor agonist ibotenic acid (Ibo) have been synthesized and tested pharmacologically. N-Methyl-Ibo (1a) and N-ethyl-Ibo (1b) were shown to be agonists at NMDA receptors (EC50 = 140 and 320 μM, respectively), though with activities considerably lower than Ibo (EC50 = 9.6 μM). N-Benzyl-Ibo (1c) was inactive at ionotropic EAA receptors and all three compounds were, in contrast to Ibo, inactive at metabotropic EAA receptors. Molecular mechanics calculations have been performed on Ibo, 1a-c and the potent NMDA agonist 2-amino-2-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl)acetic acid (AMAA) in order to elucidate the observed structure-activity data.