A series of 2-(2-aminoethoxy)-1-phenylethanols having a variety of N- and phenyl-substitution patterns as well as 5- and 6-membered heteroaryl counterparts of our prototype compound 1 (2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-1-phenylethanol) have been prepared and evaluated for antiamnestic and antihypoxic activities. Compound 3b, the 3-methylphenyl analogue of 1, proved to be significantly more potent than 1 in reversing eelctroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia as well as CO2-induced learning-impairment in mice. It exhibited low acute toxicity in mice and afforded a greater brain/serum concentration ratio than 1 after oral administration to rats.
chromiun(III) porphyrin catalyst to afford phenanthrenes. The reaction is considered to be triggered by activation of the oxirane moiety through coordination to the Lewis acidic cationic chromium to give aldehyde via 1,2-hydride shift, which reacts with arene through intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution and subsequent dehydration. The reaction allows constructing a variety of polycyclic