PREFERRED CONFORMATION OF NORADRENALINE AND A CONSIDERATION OF ALPHA-ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR

The preferred conformation of noradrenaline has been calculated using extended Hückel molecular orbital theory. The conformation was found to be identical to the previously calculated conformation of (—)‐ephedrine in respect to the relation of the quaternary and hydroxyl groups and the phenyl ring. These findings reinforce the previous hypothesis of the nature of the α‐adrenergic receptor and also support the view that these molecules function at the receptor in their preferred conformations. 1969 Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain