A Method for Designing Conformationally Restricted Analogues Based on Allylic Strain: Synthesis of a Novel Class of Noncompetitive NMDA Receptor Antagonists Having the Acrylamide Structure
A series of conformationally restricted analogues of milnacipran, a weak NMDA receptor antagonist, were designed by a method based on allylic strain. The conformational analysis study showed that the allylic-strain-based conformational restriction indeed occurred and that the affinity for the NMDA receptor was efficiently improved by the conformational restriction.