C. Strohmann, S. Bauerecker, H. K. Cammenga, P. G. Jones, E. Mutschler, G. Lambrecht, Reinhold Tacke

• The enantiomers of the antimuscarinic agent 1-cyclohexyl-1- (4-fluorophenyl)-4-piperidino-1-butanol [(R)- and (S)-p-fluorohexahydro- difenidol] ((R)- and (S)-2a] and their methiodides (R)- 3 and (S)-3 were prepared with high enantiomeric purity. (R)- 2a and (S)-2a (isolated as hydrochlorides) were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation (Pd/C contact) of the corresponding enantiomers of 1-cyclohexyl-1-( 4-fl uorophen yl)-4-piperidino- 2-butyn-1-ol [(R)- and (S)-4]. Reaction of (R)-2a and (S)-2a with rnethyl iodide led to (R)-3 and (S)-3,The enantiomers of the antimuscarinic agent 1-cyclohexyl-1- (4-fluorophenyl)-4-piperidino-1-butanol [(R)- and (S)-p-fluorohexahydro- difenidol] ((R)- and (S)-2a] and their methiodides (R)- 3 and (S)-3 were prepared with high enantiomeric purity. (R)- 2a and (S)-2a (isolated as hydrochlorides) were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation (Pd/C contact) of the corresponding enantiomers of 1-cyclohexyl-1-( 4-fl uorophen yl)-4-piperidino- 2-butyn-1-ol [(R)- and (S)-4]. Reaction of (R)-2a and (S)-2a with rnethyl iodide led to (R)-3 and (S)-3, respectively. The unsaturated precursors (R)- and (S}-4 (enantiorneric purity ~ 99.80 and ~99.94% e.e.; calorimetric analysis) were prepared by res-sepaolution of rac-4 [available from 4-FC\(_6\)H\(_4\)C(O)C\(_6\)H\(_{11}\) by reaction with LiC ~ CCH\(_2\)NC\(_5\)H\(_{10}\)] using (R)- and (S)-mandelic acid as resolving agents. The absolute configurations of the (R) and (S) enantiomers of 2a, 3, and 4 were determined by an X-ray crystal-structure analysis of (S)-5, the methiodide of (S)-4. (R)- 2a and (R)-3 exhibit a higher affinity for muscarinic M1, M2, M3, and M4 receptors (by up to two orders of magnitude) than their corresponding antipodes (S)-2a and (S)-3, the degree of stereoselectivity depending on the receptor subtype involved. (R)-2a represents a useful tool for rnuscarinic receptor research (affinity profile: M1 ~ M3 ~ M4 > M2).…