N-(3-AZIDOPHENYL)-N-METHYL-N'-([4-H-1]-1-NAPHTHYL)GUANIDINE AND [4-H-3]-1-NAPHTHYL)GUANIDINE - A POTENT AND SELECTIVE LIGAND DESIGNED AS A PHOTOAFFINITY LABEL FOR THE PHENCYCLIDINE SITE OF THE N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE RECEPTOR

A novel radiolabeled photoaffinity ligand has been synthesized for the phencyclidine (PCP) site of the N-methyl-D-asparatate (NMDA) receptor. N-(3-Azidophenyl)-N-methyl-N'-([4-3H]-1-naphthyl)guanidine (13) was prepared with a specific activity of 25 Ci/mmol by diazotization of N-(3-aminophenyl)N-methyl-N'-([4-H-3]-1-naphthyl)guanidine (12) followed by treatment with sodium azide. Guanidine 12 was obtained by catalytictritiation of N-(4-bromo-1-naphthyl)-N'-methyl-N-(3-nitrophenyl)guanidine (11). The nontritiated analog 5 of 13 was prepared beginning with N-methyl-N'-1-naphthyl-N-(3-nitrophenyl)guanidine (9). The guanidines 9 and 11 were prepared in moderate yield by the aluminum chloride-catalyzed reaction of N-methyl-3-nitroaniline hydrochloride with 1-naphthylcyanamide and 4-bromo-1-naphthylcyanamide, respectively. Azide 5 showed high selectivity and affinity (IC50 = 100 nM vs [H-3]MK801; 3000 nM vs [H-3]ditolylguanidine) for the PCP site of the NMDA receptor in guinea pig brain homogenate. Photolabeling experiments with 13, however, failed to radiolabel a significant amount of receptor polypeptide.