Possible biologically active metabolites of 5-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-di-n-propylaminotetralin

5-Hydroxy-6-methyl-2-di-n- propylaminotetralin 1b exhibits prominent peripheral presynaptic and central dopaminergic effects, and pharmacological test data suggest that this compound is metabolically activated in vivo. It was speculated that the 6-methyl group is oxidized. To evaluate this possibility and as a prelude to a metabolism study, 5-hydroxy-6-formyl 5 and 5-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-2-di-n- propylaminotetralin 2b were synthesized. Both compounds exhibited marked potency/activity in a cat cardioaccelerator nerve preparation. The biological data on these compounds are consistent with the possibility of their being pharmacologically active metabolites of compound 1b.