Synthesis of trans-2-[N-(2-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-yl)]iminothiazolidine and related compounds - a new class of antidepressants

Abstract

Antiparasitic and antidepressant activities exhibited by tetramisole (I) and its enantiomers prompted the study of its structural analogs trans-2-[N-(2-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene/indane-1-yl)]iminothiazolidine (VIII/IX) and 2,3,4a,5,6,10b-hexahydronaphtho[1',2':4,5]-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (XII), 2,3,4a,5-tetrahydro-9bH-indeno[1',2':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (XIII), and 2,3,4a,5-tetrahydro-9bH-indeno[1',2':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (XVI), and a homolog 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-7-phenyl-2H-imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3-thiazine (XX). While none of these compounds showed any noteworthy antiparasitic activity, the trans-2-[N-(2-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-yl)]iminothiazolidine (VIII) has shown marked antidepressant activity, better than imipramine in the tests used, and provides a new structural lead for antidepressants.