Description
3-Chloropropiophenone is a chiral compound that is used as an antidepressant drug. It was first synthesized in the 1950s and has been studied extensively for its pharmacological effects. It is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers, one of which is active and the other inactive. The active enantiomer binds to serotonin receptors and inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, which leads to an increase in serotonin levels. The inactive enantiomer does not bind to serotonin receptors and does not inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. 3-Chloropropiophenone has been shown to be effective when administered at an optimum concentration of 5 milligrams per kilogram body weight.
Chemical Properties
faintly yellow to tan crystalline powder
Uses
3-Chloropropiophenone is an Impurity of Fluoxetine (F597100).
Synthesis
Adding 3' -chlorobenzene acetone and levorotatory prolinol into 95% ethanol and stirring; cooling after the reaction liquid is wholly dissolved; adding potassium borohydride into the reaction solution in batches, and preserving heat after adding; heating the reaction solution for reflux reaction, and concentrating the reaction solution under reduced pressure; adding n-hexane into the reaction solution, heating, and adding active carbon for heat preservation and decoloration; filtering the reaction solution, leaching a filter cake by using normal hexane, and collecting filtrate; crystallizing and filtering the filtrate, leaching the filter cake once with n-hexane, and drying in vacuum to obtain 3-Chloropropiophenone.
References
[1] Synlett, 2016, vol. 27, # 5, p. 789 - 793
[2] Journal of Organic Chemistry USSR (English Translation), 1969, vol. 5, p. 323 - 326
[3] Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, 1969, vol. 5, # 2, p. 337 - 340
