3-alkylaryl aspartate compounds and their use for selective enhancement of synaptic transmission

The present invention provides an L-aspartate derivative compound represented by the following structure wherein Ar represents an aromatic group; L represents a linking moiety; R represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; and indicates that the stereochemistry at the 3-position can be R or S. The compounds of the invention are useful for selectively inhibiting EAAT3 and for enhancing synaptic transmission. Additionally, the inventive compounds can be used to treat a patient suffering from Alzheimers disease or a neuropathy or a neurodegenerative disease in which L-glutamate transporter activity is involved in the onset of the disease.