Rational drug design and synthesis of a highly selective nonpeptide delta-opioid agonist, (4aS*,12aR*)-4a-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl- 1,2,3,4,4a,5,12,12a-octahydropyrido[3,4-b]acridine (TAN-67).

We designed highly selective non-peptide agonists for the delta-opioid receptor. On the basis of the "message-address" concept in this field and the accessory site hypothesis, a novel class of heterocycle-fused octahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized. One of these compounds [(4aS*,12aR*)-4a-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,12,12a-octahydropyrido[3,4-b]acridine, TAN-67 (2)] showed high selectivity for the delta-opioid receptor (K-i=1.12 nM) in guinea-pig cerebrum with a 2070-fold lower affinity for the mu-opioid receptor and a 1600-fold lower affinity for the kappa-opioid receptor. TAN-67 was a potent delta-opioid receptor agonist with an IC,, value of 6.61 nM in the mouse vas deferens assay that was reversed by naltrindole (NTI) (K-e=0.21). Moreover, TAN-67,vas shown to have antinociceptive activity following subcutaneous administration in the mouse acetic acid abdominal constriction assay that was antagonized by NTI (delta(1)- and delta(2)-antagonist) and 7-benzylidinenaltrexone (delta(1)-antagonist), but not by naltriben (delta(2)-antagonist). This systemically applicable non-peptide agonist will be useful for elucidating the pharmacological properties of the delta-opioid receptor.