Xylamidine is an amidine which serves as a serotonin inhibitor. This agent is prepared by alkylation of 3-methoxyphenol (m-methoxyphenol) with α-chloropropionitrile, KI and potassium carbonate in MEK to give #, which is in turn reduced with lithium aluminium hydride to give the primary amine #. When # is treated with m-tolylacetonitrile in the presence of anhydrous HCl, the synthesis is completed. Alternately, one can react primary amine # with m-tolylacetamidine under acid catalysis to produce xylamidine.
^Glennon RA, Westkaemper RB (1992). "Serotonin Receptors, 5-th Ligands and Receptor Modeling". Pharmacochemistry Library. Vol. 18. Elsevier. p. 185–207. doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-88931-7.50017-7. ISBN978-0-444-88931-7. Various polycyclic agents such as butaclamol, mianserin, cyproheptadine, pizotyline bind at 5-HT2 receptors with high affinity. These agents are not selective and bind with comparable affinty either at other populations of 5-HT receptors or at other neurotransmitter receptors. Other, structurally unique agents have also been investigated including cinanserin and xylamidine. The latter compound has seen application as a peripheral 5-HT2 antagonist in that it does not readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier; however, xylamidine binds equally well at 5-HTIC and 5-HT2 receptors. See references 3 and 5 for additional information on these types of agents.
^Dave KD, Quinn JL, Harvey JA, Aloyo VJ (March 2004). "Role of central 5-HT2 receptors in mediating head bobs and body shakes in the rabbit". Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 77 (3): 623–629. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2003.12.017. PMID15006475. Systemic administration of the peripheral 5-HT2A/2C antagonist xylamidine [...] First, systemic injections of the peripherally acting 5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist xylamidine were employed to study its effects on head bobs and body shakes produced by systemic injections of DOI.
^Fuller RW, Kurz KD, Mason NR, Cohen ML (June 1986). "Antagonism of a peripheral vascular but not an apparently central serotonergic response by xylamidine and BW 501C67". European Journal of Pharmacology. 125 (1): 71–7. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(86)90084-1. PMID3732393.
^Dedeoğlu A, Fisher LA (December 1991). "Central and peripheral injections of the 5-HT2 agonist, 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane, modify cardiovascular function through different mechanisms". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 259 (3): 1027–34. PMID1762059.
^Baker BJ, Duggan JP, Barber DJ, Booth DA (May 1988). "Effects of dl-fenfluramine and xylamidine on gastric emptying of maintenance diet in freely feeding rats". European Journal of Pharmacology. 150 (1–2): 137–42. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(88)90759-5. PMID3402534.
^Dave KD, Quinn JL, Harvey JA, Aloyo VJ (March 2004). "Role of central 5-HT2 receptors in mediating head bobs and body shakes in the rabbit". Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. 77 (3): 623–9. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2003.12.017. PMID15006475. S2CID25205829.