DOV-102,677

DOV 102,677 is a psychoactive drug being developed by Merck as an antidepressant and is currently in clinical trials. It is a so-called triple (re)uptake inhibitor (TUI), or serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI).

Instead of being developed for depression, DOV-102,677 is being developed for the treatment of alcoholism.

IC50 values for the SERT, NET and DAT are 129 nM, 103 nM, and 133 nM.



"DOV 102,677 (20 mg/kg IP) increased extracellular levels of DA and 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex to 320 and 280% above baseline 100 min after administration. DA levels were stably increased for the duration (240 min) of the study, but serotonin levels declined to baseline by 200 min after administration. NE levels increased linearly to a maximum of 348% at 240 min post-dosing."

Chemistry
DOV scientists and their collaborators have developed an efficient, asymmetric synthesis of 102,677. This economical and robust new route uses phenylacetonitrile and (R)-epichlorohydrin as starting materials to synthesize 102,677 in 3 steps:
 * 1) Phenylacetonitrile is reacted with (R)-epichlorohydrin in the presence of base to give the cyclopropyl compounds.
 * 2) The nitrile group is then hydrogenated into the amino alcohol compounds.
 * 3) Cyclization is achieved with SOCl2 under acidic conditions.
 * 4) The product is neutralized with base.