Trifluoromethoxyl Substituted Phenylethylene Diamines as High Affinity σ Receptor Ligands with Potent Anti-Cocaine Actions

The phenylethylene diamines are a class of σ receptor ligands with excellent selectivity over other biological systems and with anti-cocaine actions that involve antagonism of σ1 receptors. In order to increase the potency of the aromatic methoxyl substituted analogues, trifluoromethoxyl groups were introduced to prevent metabolic demethylation. The para-substituted trifluoromethoxyl substituted analogues were shown to have increased σ receptor affinity and represent the most potent anti-cocaine phenylethylene diamines yet described.