Synthesis and evaluation of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran analogs of the hallucinogen 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane: drug discrimination studies in rats

Abstract

Two analogues, 6-(2-aminopropyl)-5-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran and 6-(2-aminopropyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, of the hallucinogenic agent 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) were synthesized and tested in the two-lever drug discrimination paradigm. In rats trained to discriminate saline from LSD tartrate (0.08 mg/kg), stimulus generalization occurred to both of the 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran analogues but at doses more than 10-fold higher than for DOM. A possible explanation for this dramatic attenuation of LSD-like activity could involve a highly directional electrophilic binding site on the receptor that cannot accept the orientation of the unshared electron pairs on the heterocyclic oxygen atom in the benzofurans.