Thozalinone


Thozalinone is a psychostimulant that has been used as an antidepressant in Europe. It has also been trialed as an anorectic. Thozalinone is described as a "dopaminergic stimulant", and likely acts via inducing the release of dopamine and to a minimal extent norepinephrine; similar to analogue pemoline, it is reportedly devoid of abuse potential unlike most other dopaminergic psychostimulants.

Synthesis

Sodium hydride is used as a strong base to abstract the alcohol proton in ethyl mandelate ; addition of this alkoxide to dimethylcyanamide gives the intermediate. Intramolecular cyclization then occurs giving Thozalinone.