6-CAT

6-Chloro-2-aminotetralin (6-CAT) is a drug which acts as a selective serotonin releasing agent (SSRA) and is a putative entactogen in humans.^[1][2] It is a rigid analogue of para-chloroamphetamine (PCA).^[1]

6-CAT

Clinical data
Routes of administration	Oral
Legal status
Legal status	In general: uncontrolled
Identifiers
IUPAC name 6-Chloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtalen-2-amine
CAS Number	60480-00-4
PubChem CID	16244336
ChemSpider	11269876 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID20585667
Chemical and physical data
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES C1CC2=C(CC1N)C=CC(=C2)Cl
InChI InChI=1S/C10H12ClN/c11-9-3-1-8-6-10(12)4-2-7(8)5-9/h1,3,5,10H,2,4,6,12H2 Y Key:CJRJTCMSQLEPFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
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According to Nichols et al.,^[3] 6-CAT is a non-neurotoxic analog of PCA.

Other related compounds that are creditworthy of mention include 6,7-DCAT^[4] & 5,6-DCAT [57915-89-6].^[4] These compounds were invented by Bryan Molloy (the inventor of Prozac). These can be thought to be rigid analogs of 3,4-Dichloroamphetamine and might be predicted to be similarly non-neurotoxic. A positional isomer of the aforementioned two compounds is also known to exist in the literature with a 5,8-dichloro substitution pattern (PC9954388).^[5] The compound depicted in the latter case is with the spirodecanone pharmacophore.

Synthesis

Although more modern discussions on chemical synthesis are possible, Bryan Molloy lays the groundwork to a preliminary drug discovery phase of development.

The catalytic hydrogenation of 3,4-Dichlorocinnamic acid [1202-39-7] [7312-27-8] (1) gave 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)Propanoic acid [25173-68-6] (2). The reduction of the acid with diborane led to 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)propanol [39960-05-9] (3). Treatment with mesyl chloride gave 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)propyl methanesulfonate, PC131855432 (4). FGI to the nitrile gave 4-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)Butanenitrile [39960-06-0] (5). This was then hydrolyzed in aqueous base giving 4-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)Butanoic Acid [25157-66-8] (6). Cyclization was effected in the presence of PPA giving 6,7-Dichloro-1-tetralone [25095-57-2] (7). Sodium borohydride reduction of the ketone into an alcohol gave 6,7-dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol, PC82027291 (8). Dehydration of the alcohol to an olefin by refluxing in tosic acid provided (9). Treatment with peroxy acid formed the oxirane (10). Rearrangement of the epoxide occurred upon treatment with boron trifluoride to give 6,7-Dichloro-2-Tetralone [17556-22-8] (11). Reductive amination completed the practical (12).

The Free-radical halogenation of 1,2-Dichloro-3-methylbenzene [32768-54-0] (1) gives 2,3-Dichlorobenzyl Bromide [57915-78-3] (2). Base induced alkylation with ethyl cyanoacetate [105-56-6] (3) gives ethyl 3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-2-cyanopropionate [39959-98-3] (4). Acid induced saponification of the ester, hydrolysis of the nitrile and subsequent decarboxylation arrives at 3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)propionic acid [57915-79-4] (5). Diborane reduction of the acid gives 3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)propanol [57915-80-7] (6). FGI to the mesylate gives (7). Displacement of the leaving group by cyanide gives 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)butanenitrile, PC53434490 (8). Acid hydrolysis of the nitrile to the acid gives 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)butanoic acid, PC14976589 (9). PPA intramolecular cyclization gives 5,6-Dichloro-1-tetralone [57915-84-1] (10). Sodium borohydride reduction of the keto group gives 5,6-Dichloro-1-tetralol (11). The dehydration of the alcohol occurs in the presence of acid to leave 5,6-Dichloro-1-tetralene (12). Peroxyacid oxidation of the olefin to the oxirane gives 5,6-Dichloro-1,2-epoxy-tetralin, PC154248247 (13). Rearrangement of the epoxide to the 2-tetralone in the presence of boron trifluoride gives 5,6-Dichloro-2-tetralone [57915-88-5] (14). Reductive amination with ammonium acetate and sodium cyanoborohydride completed the synthesis of the title compound (15).

Also notice a related agent called SKF-64139 & LY-134046.

See also

• 2-Aminotetralin