Fluorescent substrates for monoamine transporters as optical false neurotransmitters

Abstract

The present invention relates to compounds of the general structure: wherein Y is O, X is O, bond α is absent and bond β is present, or Y is H, X is CH, bond α is present, and bond β is absent; atom Z is a carbon and bonds χ, δ and γ are present, or is a nitrogen and bonds χ, δ and γ are absent; Ris —H, —OH, —O—R, —N(H)—R, —N(H)—(CH)—NH, —N(R)(R), or a piperazine cation; Ris either covalently bound to R, or is —H, or is covalently bound to Rso as to form a substituted or unsubstituted pyrrole or Ris covalently bound to Ror Ror R; or Rand Rare covalently joined to form an aromatic ring; Ris either covalently bound to Rso as to form a pyrrole, or is, inter alia, —H, —OH, alkyl, or when Z is nitrogen Ris ═O; Ris, inter alia, —H, —OH, or —RNH; Ris, inter alia, —H, —OH, or —RNH, and Ris either is covalently bound to Ror is —H, or Ris covalently bound to Ror Ror R. This invention also provides processes for making the compounds as well as methods for monitoring activity of monoamine transporters or treating monoamine transporter-associated diseases by employing the compounds.