6,7-Dihydroxy-3-chromanamine: synthesis and pharmacological activity of an oxygen isostere of the dopamine agonist 6,7-dihydroxy-2-aminotetralin.

6,7-Dihydroxy-3-chromanamine, the oxygen isostere of 6,7-dihydroxy-2-aminotetralin (6,7-ADTN), has been synthesized and its dopaminergic activity in various test systems determined. Following bilateral injection into the rat nucleus accumbens, a pattern of locomotor activity similar to that produced by 6,7-ADTN was observed. Its ability to displace N-n-propyl[3H]norapomorphine binding to homogenates of rat brain corpus striatum was found to be about 15 times weaker than 6,7-ADTN and apomorphine. Like 6,7-ADTN it failed to influence dopamine metabolism following an intraperitoneal injection. It is suggested that in addition to the 2-aminotetralins, the 3-chromanamines may be a potential source of new dopamine receptor agonists.