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James A. Golen

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

14 papers in the library · 243 citations · publishing 2019-2023

Papers

Structure–Activity Relationships for Psilocybin, Baeocystin, Aeruginascin, and Related Analogues to Produce Pharmacological Effects in Mice

ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science November 2, 2022 Eline Pottie, Marilyn Naeem, Vamshikrishna Reddy Sammeta et al. 91 citations

Psilocybin is a prodrug for psilocin, which produces psychedelic effects by activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. This study examined three naturally occurring compounds from psilocybin-containing mushrooms—psilocybin, baeocystin, and aeruginascin—along with their synthetic 4-acetoxy and 4-hydroxy analogues. In cell-based assays, secondary and tertiary tryptamines with 4-acetoxy or 4-hydroxy substitutions showed nanomolar affinity for several human serotonin receptor subtypes, including 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A. In mice, only the tertiary amines psilocin, psilocybin, and psilacetin induced head twitch responses (ED50 0.11–0.29 mg/kg), indicating psychedelic-like activity, which was blocked by a 5-HT2A antagonist.

Active Metabolite of Aeruginascin (4-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine): Synthesis, Structure, and Serotonergic Binding Affinity

ACS Omega July 2, 2020 A.r. Chadeayne, Duyen N. K. Pham, Brian G. Reid et al. 31 citations

Aeruginascin, a naturally occurring tryptamine found in magic mushrooms, is thought to produce its effects through an active metabolite. This metabolite was synthesized and its structure confirmed. Competitive radioligand binding assays showed it binds with high affinity to human serotonin receptors 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2B, but does not bind to the 5-HT3 receptor, contrary to earlier predictions.

Receptor Binding Profiles for Tryptamine Psychedelics and Effects of 4-Propionoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Mice

ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science March 10, 2023 Marilyn Naeem, Grant C. Glatfelter, Duyen N. K. Pham et al. 25 citations

Tryptamine psychedelics structurally related to psilocybin, including those with variations at the 4-position (hydroxy, acetoxy, propionoxy) and N,N-dialkyl substitutions, primarily target multiple serotonin receptors, especially 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A. 4-Acetoxy and 4-propionoxy analogues show somewhat weaker binding affinities but similar target profiles across serotonin receptors. Variations in N,N-dialkyl groups produce differential binding at non-serotonin targets such as alpha and dopamine receptors, histamine receptors, and serotonin transporters. In mice, 4-PrO-DMT produces dose-related psilocybin-like effects: 5-HT2A-mediated head twitch response at 0.3-3 mg/kg and 5-HT1A-mediated hypothermia and reduced locomotion at 3-30 mg/kg. Data indicate that 5-HT2A-mediated head twitch response is attenuated by 5-HT1A agonist activity at high doses.

Bis(4-acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptammonium) fumarate: a new crystalline form of psilacetin, an alternative to psilocybin as a psilocin prodrug

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications May 31, 2019 A.r. Chadeayne, James A. Golen, David R. Manke 20 citations

The crystal structure of psilacetin fumarate, a salt of the psychedelic drug psilacetin, was determined. The asymmetric unit contains one protonated psilacetin cation and half of a fumarate dianion. Hydrogen bonds between the ammonium and indole groups of psilacetin and the fumarate oxygen atoms link the ions into infinite one-dimensional chains along the [111] direction.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Pharmacological Activity of Novel Quaternary Salts of 4-Substituted Tryptamines

ACS Omega July 5, 2022 Grant C. Glatfelter, Duyen N. K. Pham, Donna Walther et al. 14 citations

Quaternary tryptammonium analogues of aeruginascin, a psilocybin-like compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, were synthesized and characterized. None of the compounds showed measurable affinity for the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A), indicating they likely lack psychedelic effects. Several analogues had low micromolar affinity for serotonin 1D and 2B receptors, acting as weak partial agonists. Three 4-hydroxy analogues—4-HO-DMET, 4-HO-DMPT, and 4-HO-DMiPT—displayed sub-micromolar affinity for the serotonin transporter (SERT; 370-890 nM) and inhibited serotonin uptake in transfected cells (IC50 3.3-12.3 μM) and rat brain tissue (IC50 0.31-3.5 μM). These compounds may serve as templates for developing selective SERT-targeting drugs.

Norpsilocin: freebase and fumarate salt

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications March 27, 2020 A.r. Chadeayne, Duyen N. K. Pham, James A. Golen et al. 13 citations

The solid-state structures of norpsilocin (4-HO-NMT), a naturally occurring psychoactive tryptamine, and its fumarate salt are reported. The freebase form has one molecule in the asymmetric unit, linked by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network. Its ethylamine arm shows a two-component disorder with a 0.895 to 0.105 occupancy ratio. The fumarate salt contains a tryptammonium cation and half a fumarate dianion per asymmetric unit, with ions joined by hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional framework and π–π stacking between inversion-related indole six-membered rings.

Bis(4-hydroxy-N-isopropyl-N-methyltryptammonium) fumarate: a new crystalline form of miprocin

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications March 10, 2020 A.r. Chadeayne, Duyen N. K. Pham, James A. Golen et al. 12 citations

The crystal structure of the 4-HO-MiPT fumarate salt was determined. The compound consists of singly protonated tryptammonium cations and fumarate dianions. These ions form one-dimensional chains held together by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, which include R₄²(20) rings and C₂²(15) and C₄⁴(30) parallel chains along the (110) direction. Additional N—H...π interactions stabilize the structure. Two types of disorder affect the tryptammonium fragment (with a 0.753:0.247 occupancy ratio) and one fumarate oxygen atom (with a 0.73:0.27 ratio).

The fumarate salts of the N-isopropyl-N-methyl derivatives of DMT and psilocin

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications August 15, 2019 A.r. Chadeayne, Duyen N. K. Pham, James A. Golen et al. 10 citations

The solid-state structures of two substituted tryptamine salts—MiPT fumarate and 4-HO-MiPT fumarate monohydrate—were determined. Both salts contain a protonated tryptammonium cation and a hydrogen fumarate anion; the 4-HO-MiPT structure additionally includes a water molecule. The side chains of both cations are disordered over two orientations, with occupancy ratios of 0.630:0.370 for MiPT and 0.775:0.225 for 4-HO-MiPT. In both crystal structures, N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds form infinite two-dimensional networks.

Psilacetin derivatives: fumarate salts of the methyl–ethyl, methyl–allyl and diallyl variants of the psilocin prodrug

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications January 8, 2021 Duyen N. K. Pham, A.r. Chadeayne, James A. Golen et al. 9 citations

The solid-state structures of three psilacetin derivatives—4-AcO-MET, 4-AcO-MALT, and 4-AcO-DALT—were determined as salts with fumaric acid derivatives. Each contains a protonated tryptammonium cation. 4-AcO-MET and 4-AcO-MALT form 1:1 salts with hydrofumarate anions. 4-AcO-DALT crystallizes as a 2:1 tryptammonium-to-fumarate salt co-crystallized with a fumaric acid molecule. All structures are stabilized by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.

2,5-Dimethylbufotenine and 2,5-dimethylbufotenidine: novel derivatives of natural tryptamines found in Bufo alvarius toads

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications January 29, 2021 Duyen N. K. Pham, A.r. Chadeayne, James A. Golen et al. 7 citations

The solid-state structures of three tryptamine derivatives—a bufotenine derivative (5-MeO-2-Me-DMT fumarate), a bufotenidine derivative (5-MeO-2-Me-TMT iodide), and its hydrate—were determined. The fumarate salt forms two-dimensional networks through N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The iodide salt shows N—H...I hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions linking indole dimers. The hydrate exhibits N—H...I and O—H...I hydrogen bonds that couple cations into dimers. These structural details are relevant for understanding the molecular interactions of psychedelic tryptamines.

The crystal structure of baeocystin

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications May 6, 2022 Marilyn Naeem, Alexander M. Sherwood, A.r. Chadeayne et al. 5 citations

The crystal structure of baeocystin, a naturally occurring alkaloid related to psilocybin, was determined. The molecule exists as a zwitterion with an intramolecular hydrogen bond between its ammonium and phosphate groups. In the crystal, these molecules form a three-dimensional network through N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.

5-Methoxy-N,N-di-n-propyltryptamine (5-MeO-DPT): freebase and fumarate

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications April 13, 2021 Duyen N. K. Pham, A.r. Chadeayne, James A. Golen et al. 3 citations

The solid-state structures of the synthetic psychedelic 5-MeO-DPT and its fumarate salt are reported. The freebase forms zigzag chains linked by N—H...N hydrogen bonds along one crystal direction. The fumarate salt contains tryptammonium cations and fumarate dianions held together in one-dimensional chains by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming specific ring and chain patterns.

Synthesis and structure of 4-hydroxy-N-isopropyltryptamine (4-HO-NiPT) and its precursors

Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications March 10, 2023 U. Laban, Marilyn Naeem, A.r. Chadeayne et al. 2 citations

The compound 4-hydroxy-N-isopropyltryptamine (4-HO-NiPT) was synthesized in three steps from 4-benzyloxyindole. The synthesis involved treatment with oxalyl chloride and isopropylamine, reduction, and hydrogenation. Crystal structures of the final compound and all three synthetic precursors are reported.

Bis(4-acetoxy-N-ethyl-N-n-propyltryptammonium) fumarate–fumaric acid (1/1)

IUCrData September 7, 2023 Duyen N. K. Pham, Nathan Sackett, A.r. Chadeayne et al. 1 citation

The crystal structure of a salt formed from a protonated tryptammonium derivative and fumarate was determined using X-ray diffraction. The asymmetric unit contains one singly protonated tryptammonium cation, half of a fumarate dianion, and half of a fumaric acid molecule. In the crystal, these ions and molecules link into infinite chains along the [001] direction through N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.