4-Benzylpiperidine

4-Benzylpiperidine is a drug and research chemical used in scientific studies. It acts as a monoamine releasing agent with 20- to 48-fold selectivity for releasing dopamine versus serotonin. It is most efficacious as a releaser of norepinephrine, with an EC50 of 109 nM (DA), 41.4 nM (NE) and 5246 nM (5-HT). It has a fast onset of action and a short duration. It also functions as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) with preference for MAO-A.

Synthesis
4-Cyanopyridine can be reacted with toluene to give 4-benzylpyridine. Catalytic hydrogenation of the pyridine ring then completes the synthesis.

Applications

 * RMI-10608 [35623-04-2] Patent (Ex 2/3): (Ex 3) This analogue of haloperidol was discovered to have utility in treating both psychosis as well as preventing brain damage by virtue of its NMDA antagonist pharmacology.