It is established that dopamine (DA) neurotransmission plays a critical role in the behavioral (e.g. discriminative stimulus) effects of cocaine in rodents. Nonetheless, research has also demonstrated that reciprocal signaling between DA and monoamine neurotransmitters, i.e. serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) has important implication for understanding the actions of cocaine. The present ...

A regioselective high yielding monochloro substitution (chlorohydrin formation) via Mitsunobu reaction is reported. In carbohydrates and sterically hindered non-sugars, only the primary hydroxyl group is chlorinated, whereas in the non-sugar 1,2- and 1,3-alcohols, predominantly the secondary chloride substitution occurs. The versatile methodology provides indirect access to epoxides with the re...

With the aim of developing a new SPECT imaging agent for the noradrenaline transporter, a twelve-step stereoselective synthesis of iodinated analogues of (2S,3R)- and (2R,3S)-reboxetine has been achieved from 4-bromobenzaldehyde. The key steps involve a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation to establish the stereogenic centres and a copper catalysed aromatic halogen exchange reaction to introduce th...

There is now some evidence that depressed mood is associated with activation of the immune system. First, we evaluated, within a cross-sectional design, NKCA (in vitro) in 49 subjects meeting inclusion criteria either for a major depressive episode, for dysthymia, or for "double depression". We found that recent and long depressive episodes (dysthymia) are associated with a lower immunodepressi...