The synthesis and evaluation of fluoro-, trifluoromethyl, and iodomuscimols as GABA agonists

Abstract

Halogenated analogues of the neurotoxic alkaloid muscimol were prepared with fluorine, iodine or trifluoromethyl at the 4 position of the isoxazole ring system. These compounds were investigated as agonists for GABAA receptors. Only the C-4 fluorine containing analogue proved to be an active compound in these assays. The fluoro analogue was less active than muscimol, however it showed differential activity between synaptic (α1β2γ2) and extrasynaptic (α4β2γ) GABAA receptors, having a similar potency to the neurotransmitter GABA for the extrasynaptic (α4β2γ) receptor.