Mecamylamine hydrochloride Property

Melting point:

>240°C (dec.)

storage temp. 

2-8°C

solubility 

ethanol: 122 mg/mL

pka

pKa 11.2(H2O,t undefined,I=0.1) (Uncertain)

form 

Solid

color 

White to off-white

Stability:

Hygroscopic

CAS DataBase Reference

826-39-1(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-amine, N,2,3,3-tetramethyl-, hydrochloride (1:1) (826-39-1)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

Xn

Risk Statements 

22-36/37/38

Safety Statements 

36/37/39

RIDADR 

UN 2811 6.1/PG 3

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

RB6900000

HazardClass 

6.1

HS Code 

2921300000

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H301Toxic if swalloed

Mecamylamine hydrochloride Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Description

Mecamylamine hydrochloride is a non-competitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist with preferential activity at the α3β4 subtype (IC50 = 90-640 nM) compared to α4β2, α3β2, and α7 subtypes (IC50 range from 1-7 μM), previously used to treat hypertension.Displays antidepressant-like effects in mice.
Mecamylamine HCl is supplied as tablets for oral use, each containing 2.5 mg mecamylamine HCl. Inactive ingredients are calcium phosphate, D&C Yellow 10, FD&C Yellow 6, lactose, magnesium stearate, cornstarch, and talc.

Chemical Properties

Mecamylamine hydrochloride is a white, odorless, or practically odorless, crystalline powder, is highly stable, soluble in water and has a molecular weight of 203.75.

Originator

Inversine ,MSD ,US ,1956

Uses

Mecamylamine hydrochloride has been used as an additive in extracellular saline during current-clamp recordings to reduce synaptic input. It has also been used as a non-selective nicotinic acetyl choline receptor blocker in aortic body neurons and in MLO-Y4 cells.

Uses

Mecamylamine is a noncompetitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist with preferential activity at the α3β4 subtype (IC50 = 90-640 nM) compared to α4β2, α3β2, and α7 subtypes (IC50s range from 1-7 μM). Mecamylamine is widely used as a broad-spectrum antagonist of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in basic nicotine research. It has been reported to be effective as an aid to smoking cessation and may also be of use in various nicotine-responsive, neuropsychiatric disorders.[Cayman Chemical]

Uses

A noncompetitive nicotinic AChR inhibitor.

Uses

Currently, mecamylamine is the only ganglioblocker used for general hypertension; however, the need has declined because of the possibility of addiction and the introduction of many other antihypertensive drugs into medical practice.

Definition

ChEBI: Mecamylamine hydrochloride is a monoterpenoid.

Manufacturing Process

Preparation of 2-(N-Formylamino)Isocamphane: Into a 5-liter 3-necked round bottom flask equipped with stirrer, dropping funnel and thermometer, was added 325 ml of glacial acetic acid. Then, portionwise, a total of 133 g of sodium cyanide (granular, 2.6 mols) was added with stirring while holding the temperature at 15°C. To the thick white slurry was added dropwise a previously prepared cold mixture of 325 ml glacial acetic acid and 360 ml concentrated sulfuric acid.
After addition of a few milliliters at 15°C, the thick slurry thins slowly and the remainder of the sulfuric-glacial acetic acid mixture was added at 0° to 2°C. A total of about 2 hours was required for the addition. After addition, stirring was continued for 15 minutes, Then dropwise, over an hour, a solution of 178 g (1.3 mold of dl-camphene in 50 ml of glacial acetic acid was added while keeping the temperature at about 0°C (±3°C).
Stirring was continued for two hours at 0°C during which time a slight pinkish-yellow color developed in the reaction mixture. The cooling bath was removed and the temperature allowed to rise to 15° to 20°C in about 2 to 3 hours. The ice bath was then re placed and while holding the temperature at about 20°C, the mixture was gradually diluted with 3 liters of water while stirring vigorously. After an hour or two of good agitation at room temperature, the oily product was extracted with 2 x 500 ml and 1 x 200 ml of chloroform and the combined extracts washed with 2 x 500 ml of water. The chloroform extract was then rendered neutral by stirring with 500 ml water and gradually adding solid sodium bicarbonate to the mixture until the aqueous phase had a pH of about 7; required, approximately 88 g of NaHCO3.
After separation the chloroform layer was washed with 2 x 500 ml water, dried over calcium chloride, and after filtration the solvent was removed in vacuo on the steam bath. A solid somewhat sticky residue of 231.2 g was obtained. After removal of last traces of chloroform by repeated swishing with petroleum ether, the cake was finally refluxed with about 500 ml petroleum ether (BP 30° to 60°C) until a thick crystalline slurry was obtained. After refrigeration for a day, the white crystalline mass was filtered by suction, washed with petroleum ether (2 x 125 ml), then n-heptane (2 x 125 ml) and again with petroleum ether (2 x 125 ml). After air drying at room temperature to constant weight, 180.6 g of the dl-2-(N-formylamino)isocamphane melting at 160° to 165°C was obtained.
The combined petroleum ether and n-heptane washes were concentrated under diminished pressure and the residual oil dissolved in a minimum amount of hot petroleum ether (about 75 ml). The resulting solution was placed in the refrigerator for two days. The precipitated dl-2-(N-formylamino) isocamphane was then recovered by filtration and washed with petroleum ether and n-heptane as described above. Obtained, 12.6 g of product having a MP of 158° to 164°C.
The dl-2-(N-formylamino)isocamphane (193 g) was dissolved in 1.9 liters nheptane by heating on a steam bath, After clarifying the solution by filtration, the clear filtrate was allowed to stand at room temperature until crystallization was complete. The crystalline product is filtered by suction, washed with a little cold n-heptane and air dried. The dl-2-(N-formylamino)isocamphane melted at 169° to 174°C.
Preparation of 2-(N-Methylamino)Isocamphane: To 4.23 liters of anhydrous ether in a 12-liter 3-necked flask fitted with a stirrer, reflux condenser and dropping funnel was quickly added 78 g (2.05 mols) of lithium aluminum hydride. The mixture was gently refluxed with stirring until all hydride had dissolved which required several hours.
A solution of 168 g (0.92 mol) of dl-2-(N-formylamino)isocamphane, prepared as described above, in 1.81 liters of anhydrous ether was then added during a period of about one hour with stirring. After addition, the mixture was refluxed for about 6 hours after which it was cooled slightly and 347 ml of water added with stirring, hydrogen gas being evolved during the addition, Stirring was continued until the precipitate changed to a powder, which was filtered by suction and washed with ether (a total of about 2 liters).
The combined filtrate and washes were concentrated to 1.6 liters and the concentrate containing the dl-2-(N-methylamino)isocamphane washed once with about 350 cc water, and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The dried ether concentrate was then cooled in an ice bath and with stirring a cold saturated ethereal-hydrogen chloride solution was added slowly until acid to Congo red; required, about 440 ml anhydrous ether saturated (at 0°C) with HCl gas, After precipitation was complete, the white crystalline dl-2-(Nmethylamino)isocamphane hydrochloride was filtered, and washed with anhydrous ether (about 1 liter) until the washes were neutral. The dl-2-(Nmethylamino)isocamphane hydrochloride was air dried at room temperature. Obtained, 156.5 g of product melting with decomposition at 249°C.

Therapeutic Function

Antihypertensive

General Description

The secondary aminemecamylamine hydrochloride, N,2,3,3-tetramethyl-2-norbornanaminehydrochloride (Inversine), has a powerful ganglionicblocking effect that is almost identical to that ofhexamethonium. It has an advantage over most of the ganglionicblocking agents in being absorbed readily andsmoothly from the GI tract. It is rarely used, however, forthe treatment of moderate-to-severe hypertension becausesevere orthostatic hypotension occurs when the drug blockssympathetic ganglia.

Biological Activity

Non-competitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Displays antidepressant-like effects in mice.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Noncompetitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist; preferentially blocks nicotinic receptors at autonomic ganglia; crosses blood-brain barrier.

Synthesis

Mecamylamine, N,2,3,3-tetramethylnorbornan-2-ylamine (14.2.2), is synthesized from 2,3,3-trimethylnorbornen-2, which is reacted in a Ritter reaction conditions with hydrogen cyanide in concentrated sulfuric acid, giving 2,3,3-trimethylnorbornan-2-ylformylamine (14.2.1), the reduction of which by lithium aluminum hydride leads to mecamylamine (14.2.2) [32,33].

Metabolism

Mecamylamine hydrochloride (Inversine) is a secondary amine and can therefore easily penetrate cell membranes. Its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is more complete than that of the quaternary ammonium compounds. Mecamylamine is well absorbed orally and crosses both the blood-brain and placental barriers; its distribution is not confined to the extracellular space. High concentrations of the drug accumulate in the liver and kidney, and it is excreted unchanged by the kidney. In contrast to most of the highly ionized ganglionic blocking agents, mecamylamine can produce central nervous system effects, including tremors, mental confusion, seizures, mania, and depression.The mechanism by which these central effects are produced is unclear.Mecamylamine is rarely used today as an antihypertensive drug because it blocks both parasympathetic and sympathetic ganglia.