ISOGUVACINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Description

This base is isolated, together with Guvacine (q.v.) from the nuts of Areca catechu. It is optically inactive and yields crystalline salts: the hydrochloride, m.p. 231°C; aurich1oride, m.p. 198- 200°C and the p1atinich1oride, m.p. 235°C. The alkaloid is faintly acid to litmus and on methylation gives the N-methyl derivative which, on more vigorous methylation yields the dimethyl compound giving a crystalline platinichloride, m.p. 252°C. The above melting points suggest that the base may be mainly Arecaidine (q.v.) but on distillation with Zn dust, it yields products with the characteristic pyrrole reaction.

Chemical properties

bp 195-197°C

The Uses of ISOGUVACINE HYDROCHLORIDE

A GABAA receptor agonist. Anticonvulsant; antiepileptic.

Definition

ChEBI: Isoguvacine is a tetrahydropyridine.

Biological Activity

Specific GABA A receptor agonist.

References

Jahns., Ber., 21,3404 (1888) Jahns., ibid, 23, 2972 (1890) Jahns., ibid, 24,2615 (1891) Jahns., Arch. Pharrn., 229, 669 (1891) Trier., Zeit. Physiol. Chern., 85,372 (1913)