Heterocyclic compounds for treating or preventing disorers caused by reduced neurotransmission of serotonin, norephnephrine or dopamine

Abstract

A heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (1) or a salt thereof:wherein m, I, and n respectively represent an integer of 1 or 2; X represents —O— or —CH2—;R1 represents hydrogen, a lower alkyl group, a hydroxy-lower alkyl group, a protecting group, or a tri-lower alkylsilyloxy-lower alkyl group;R2 and R3, which are the same or different, each independently represent hydrogen or a lower alkyl group; or R2 and R3 are bonded to form a cyclo-C3-C8 alkyl group; andR4 represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group, whereinthe aromatic or heterocyclic group may have one or more arbitrary substituent(s).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a novel heterocyclic compound.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Three monoamines known as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine function as neurotransmitters in vivo. Therefore, drugs having inhibitory effects on the reuptake of these monoamines have been used widely as therapeutic drugs for diseases associated with the central or peripheral nervous system.[0003]Most of drugs previously used in the treatment of depression selectively inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine or serotonin. Examples of such drugs include imipramine (first-generation antidepressant), maprotiline (second-generation antidepressant), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, third-generation antidepressants) typified by fluoxetine, and serotonin and / or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs, fourth-generation antidepressants) typified by venlafaxine (S. Miura, Japanese Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2000, 3: 311-318).[0004]However, all of these drug...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a new drug that has a wide therapeutic spectrum and can exert sufficient therapeutic effects in a short period compared to existing antidepressants. The drug can be labeled with different isotopes of atoms such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc., which can be easily prepared and detectable. The labeled compounds can be used for analyzing the distribution of drugs and substrates in tissues. The drug has excellent bioavailability, weak inhibitory activity on metabolic enzymes, and excellent safety. It has good transfer into the brain and can treat various disorders associated with reduced neurotransmission of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine by inhibiting their reuptake.

Problems solved by technology

However, all of these drugs require a period as long as 3 weeks or longer for exerting their therapeutic effects and, in addition, fail to exert sufficient therapeutic effects on approximately 30% of patients with depression (Phil Skolnick, European Journal of Pharmacology, 1999, 375: 31-40).

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