Synthesis and characterization of biotinylated and photoactivatable neuroleptics. Novel bifunctional probes for dopamine receptors

Abstract We have synthesized and characterized a series of novel derivatives of established antagonists of the neurotransmitter dopamine, i.e. butyrophenones, hexahydrocarbolines and phenothiazenes. All derivatives were biotinylated, some of them carried an additional (photoactivatable) azido group. In the case of butyrophenones, the structural modifications were introduced at the aliphatic keto group and/or the heterocyclic ring system, both modifications resulting in significant decreases in binding affinity to dopamine D 2 and dopamine D 1 receptor subtypes. Biotinylation of hexahydrocarbolines significantly increased their binding affinity to D 1 receptors, with the affinity for D 2 rec…