Phenylalkylamines with potential psychotherapeutic utility. 2. Nuclear substituted 2-amino-1-phenylbutanes.

A series of 2-amino-1-(4-substituted-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)butanes (Table V) was prepared as analogues of (R)-2-amino-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)butane (1a). 1-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(N-phthalimido)butane (7) was utilized as a synthetic intermediate common to many of the target compounds. Animal data are presented indicating that most of these analogues have low hallucinogenic potential. Selected compounds were compared with 1a in an avoidance-response acquisition model which differentiates between 1a and the human hallucinogens DOM (2a) and DOET (2b). Structure-activity relationships of these analogues are discussed.