Synthesis and antidepressant activity of arylalkanol-piperidine derivatives as triple reuptake inhibitors.

A series of arylalkanol-piperidine derivatives was synthesized, and their triple reuptake inhibition and in vivo activities have been evaluated. Among them, compounds 2a, 2j, 2k, 2m and 2n exhibited high potency for 5-HT, NA and DA transporters. Optimized compounds 2j and 2m showed significant reduction of immobility time compared to that of vehicle in the mouse tail suspension test (TST) test at doses ranging from 10 to 50 mg/kg po, and were not generally motor stimulants at 50 mg/kg dose. In addition, compounds 2j and 2m displayed desirable pharmacokinetic properties in SD rats.