Nitroimipramines - synthesis and pharmacological effects of potent long-acting inhibitors of [3H] serotonin uptake and [3H] imipramine binding.

A series of nitro derivatives of imipramine have been prepared by nitration of imipramine. Several of the products, especially 2-nitroimipramine (2) and 2,8-dinitro-imipramine (4) were found to be very potent inhibitors of [3H] serotonin uptake and high affinity [3H]imipramine binding in human platelets. In contrast to the parent antidepressant, imipramine, the inhibition of platelet [3H] serotonin uptake and [3H] imipramine binding by the nitro derivatives of imipramine was long-acting and essentially irreversible at low temperatures. These compounds should prove to be valuable tools for subsequent studies on the purification and characterization of the transport protein(s) involved in serotonin uptake and may have novel behavioral and clinical effects.