Tofenacin (INN; Elamol, Tofacine, Tofalin), or tofenacin hydrochloride (USAN), also sometimes called mono-N-desmethylorphenadrine, is an antidepressant drug with a tricyclic-like structure which was developed and marketed in the United Kingdom and Italy in 1971 and 1981, respectively, by Brocades-Stheeman & Pharmacia (now part of Astellas Pharma). It acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and based on its close relation to orphenadrine, may also possess anticholinergic and antihistamine properties. In addition to its use as a pharmaceutical medication, tofenacin is the major active metabolite of orphenadrine and likely plays a role in its beneficial effects against depressive symptoms seen in Parkinson's disease patients.
§Synthesis
According to Lednicer, a second method is to react benzhydrol with ethyl bromoacetate to form α-alkoxyester, saponify, form methylamide, then reduce with LAH.
§See also
- Orphenadrine
- Clemastine