Synthesis,Characterization, and Metabolism Studies of Fluspidine Enantiomers

The enantiomers of the potent σ₁ ligand fluspidine ( 1 ) were prepared by using chiral preparative HPLC. Synthesis of racemic tosylate 2 and subsequent separation of enantiomers yielded (R)‐ 2 and (S)‐ 2 in excellent enantiomeric purities. The fluspidine enantiomers (R)‐ 1 and (S)‐ 1 were synthesized from (R)‐ 2 and (S)‐ 2 by nucleophilic substitution with tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride, affording (R)‐ 1 with 99.6 % ee and (S)‐ 1 with 96.4 % ee. Tosylates (R)‐ 2 and (S)‐ 2 can also serve as precursors for the radiosynthesis of enantiomerically pure radiotracers ¹⁸F](R)‐ 1 and ¹⁸F](S)‐ 1 . The absolute configuration of the pure enantiomers was elucidated by comparison of their CD spectra with a calculated CD spectrum of a simplified model compound. In receptor binding studies, both enantiomers displayed very high σ₁ receptor affinity and selectivity against the σ₂ receptor. (R)‐Fluspidine ((R)‐ 1 ) is the eutomer, with a K_i value of 0.57 nM and a eudysmic ratio of 4. Incubation of (R)‐ 1 and (S)‐ 1 with rat liver microsomes led to the identification of seven and eight metabolites, respectively. Although the S‐configured enantiomer formed additional metabolite (S)‐ 1‐3 , it is metabolically more stable than (R)‐ 1 .