Tetrahydrofuranylmethylamines: An Efficient and Simple One-Step Synthesis and Biological Activities

Abstract

Various tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethylamines have been prepared in good yields by an efficient one-step synthesis utilizing the reaction of tetrahydrofurfurylchloride with different secondary cyclic amines without any catalyst. The compounds were tested for their in vitro affinity for the (α4)2(β2)3 and α7* nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes. Pyrrolidine, piperidine and azepane containing analogs (1a, 1b, 1c) showed Ki values in the lower micromolar range for these neuronal nAChR subtypes in rat brain.