Difference between revisions of "4-NEMD"

Latest revision as of 12:13, 20 September 2010

4-NEMD is a potent sedative drug which acts as a selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. It is closely related to dexmedetomidine but is several times more potent.^[1] Like other alpha-2 agonists, it produces sedative and muscle relaxant effects but without producing respiratory depression. It is not currently used in medicine but has been researched as the basis for a potential new generation of alpha-2 agonist drugs,^[2][3] which may have selectivity for the different subtypes of the alpha-2 receptor.^[4] It has two isomers, with the (S) isomer being the more potent, as with medetomidine.^[5] 4-NEMD was also investigated by the United States military as an anaesthetic agent, most likely for use in surgery but possibly also for use as a non-lethal incapacitating agent.^[6]

References

1. ↑ Hong SS, Romstedt KJ, Feller DR, Hsu FL, Cupps TL, Lyon RA, Miller DD. A structure-activity relationship study of benzylic modifications of 4-[1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazoles on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 1994 Jul 22;37(15):2328-33. PMID 7914537
2. ↑ Zhang X, Yao XT, Dalton JT, Shams G, Lei L, Patil PN, Feller DR, Hsu FL, George C, Miller DD. Medetomidine analogs as alpha 2-adrenergic ligands. 2. Design, synthesis, and biological activity of conformationally restricted naphthalene derivatives of medetomidine. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 1996 Jul 19;39(15):3001-13. PMID 8709134
3. ↑ Zhang X, De Los Angeles JE, He MY, Dalton JT, Shams G, Lei L, Patil PN, Feller DR, Miller DD, Hsu FL. Medetomidine analogs as alpha 2-adrenergic ligands. 3. Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of medetomidine analogs and their potential binding interactions with alpha 2-adrenoceptors involving a "methyl pocket". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 1997 Sep 12;40(19):3014-24. PMID 9301663
4. ↑ Lalchandani SG, Zhang X, Hong SS, Liggett SB, Li W, Moore BM 2nd, Miller DD, Feller DR. Medetomidine analogs as selective agonists for the human alpha2-adrenoceptors. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2004 Jan 1;67(1):87-96. PMID 14667931
5. ↑ Hong SS, Romstedt KJ, Feller DR, Hsu FL, George C, Cupps TL, Lyon RA, Miller DD. Resolution and adrenergic activities of the optical isomers of 4-[1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]- 1H- imidazole. Chirality. 1992;4(7):432-8. PMID 1361151
6. ↑ Fu-Lian Hsu and William P. Ashman. 4-(1-(1-naphthalenyl)ethyl)- 1H- imidazole, method of making and use as an anesthetic agent. US patent 5151526.