Deprenyl, also known by its developmental code name E-250 and as N-propargylmethamphetamine, is the racemic mixture of <small>D</small>-deprenyl and <small>L</small>-deprenyl (selegiline). It was discovered in 1961 in Hungary at Chinoin Pharmaceutical Company by Zoltan Ecseri and József Knoll, was patented in 1962, and was first described in the literature in 1964 or 1965. Deprenyl was studied clinically at high doses of 50 to 100mg/day and was described as a psychostimulant and antidepressant.
Subsequent to its synthesis, the stereoisomers of deprenyl were separated.
Similarly to selegiline, deprenyl is a catecholaminergic activity enhancer (CAE). Both enantiomers of deprenyl, <small>D</small>-deprenyl and selegiline, are active in this respect, but selegiline is slightly more potent than <small>D</small>-deprenyl.
See also
- Substituted amphetamine
- 4-Fluorodeprenyl
- AGN-1135 (racemic rasagiline)
- SU-11739 (racemic N-methylated rasagiline)