Aromatic amino acid hydroxylase inhibitors. 4. 3-Substituted alpha-methyltyrosines.

In the present study a series of 3-alkenyl-alpha-methyltyrosines and their corresponding 3-alkyl-and dihydrobenzofuran analogs was synthesized for potential tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) inhibitory activity. The appropriately substituted hydantoins IIIa and IIIb, which were prepared from the corresponding allyloxybenzylhydantoins IIa and IIb through Claisen rearrangement, served as intermediates for the synthesis of these amino acids. TH inhibition was reduced upon either saturation of the double bond in the side chain or cyclization to form the dihydrobenzofuran analogs. Formation of the epoxide had a similar effect. The inhibitory activity of these compounds against aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) was also investigated. Unsaturation, in both cases, decreases the inhibitory activity; however, the presence of a free phenolic group appears to be essential for AACD inhibitory activity.