The synthesis of novel GABA uptake inhibitors. 1. Elucidation of the structure-activity studies leading to the choice of (R)-1-[4,4-bis(3-methyl-2-thienyl)-3-butenyl]-3-piperidinecarboxylic acid (tiagabine) as an anticonvulsant drug candidate.

A series of different synthetic approaches to novel GABA uptake inhibitors are described, leading to examples which are derivatives of nipecotic acid and guvacine, substituted at nitrogen by 4,4-diaryl-3-butenyl or 2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl moieties. The in vitro value for inhibition of [3H]-GABA uptake in rat synaptosomes was determined for each compound. It was found that the most potent examples are those having a substituent in an "ortho" position in one or both aromatic/heteroaromatic groups. The majority of the compounds described are structurally related to tiagabine, (R)-1-[4,4-bis(3-methyl-2-thienyl)-3-butenyl]-3- piperidinecarboxylic acid hydrochloride (NNC 05-0328) and some of the reasoning behind the selection of this compound as a drug candidate is summarized.