Ligands for metabotropic glutamate receptors and inhibitors of NAALADase
The present invention relates to novel compounds and formulations thereof which compounds are ligands, e.g., agonists or antagonists, for a metabotropic glutamate receptor or a NAALADase enzyme or both. The present invention also relates to methods of modulating the activity of a metabotropic glutamate receptor or a NAALADase enzyme or both, e.g., in a subject in need thereof, using a compound or formulation of the present invention. The present invention also relates to methods of treating a subject suffering from a chronic or acute disease, malady or condition due at least in part to an abnormality in the activity of an endogenous metabotropic glutamate receptor or a NAALADase enzyme or both, using a compound or formulation of the present invention.
1. A compound of the formula:
wherein
Bn is benzyl;
R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, and amino;
and wherein the stereochemical configuration at any stereocenter of the compound is R or S or a mixture thereof.
2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is hydrogen.
3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is a single stereoisomer.
4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.