1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLIC ACID-DERIVATIVES - A NEW, GENERAL-SYNTHESIS AND NMDA RECEPTOR COMPLEX BINDING-AFFINITY STUDY

A new synthesis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and of its (E )-and (Z)-2-substituted analogues (R = CH3;i-Pr;C6H5) has been perform ed by means of the ''diazo-addition'' method, starting from phenylmeth ylene)-2,3-dehydro-1-amino-1-carboxylate precursors. The (E)- and (Z)- 2-phenyl and the (Z)-2-methylcyclopropaneamino acids have been obtaine d with high diasfereospecificity. All the cyclopropaneamino acids prep ared were tested for their affinity for some glutamate receptors and r esulted inactive, wich the exception of compounds (E)-1b and (Z)-1c wh ich showed a shallow displacement of [H-3]-glycine binding.