Toloxatone

Toloxatone (Humoryl) is an antidepressant launched in 1984 in France by Sanofi Aventis for the treatment of depression. It was discontinued in 2002. It acts as a selective reversible inhibitor of MAO-A (RIMA).

Synthesis

 * Toloxatone synthesis.svg

The reaction between glycidol (1) and m-toluidine (2) gives 3-m-toluidinopropane-1,2-diol (3). Treatment with diethyl carbonate (4) in the presence of sodium methoxide leads to an intermolecular cycloaddition to give tomoxatone.