1,4-bis(3-oxo-2,3-dihydropyridazin-6-yl)benzene analogues: potent phosphodiesterase inhibitors and inodilators.

1,4-Bis(3-oxo-2,3-dihydropyridazin-6-yl)benzene and a series of related bis(azinone) compounds were synthesized. These novel compounds were evaluated for inhibition of the low Km, cAMP-selective, cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE III) derived from cat heart and hemodynamic activity in the ganglion- and beta-blocked anesthetized cat. The most potent PDE III inhibitor of the series was 6-[4-(5-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridazin-6-yl)-phenyl]p yridazin- 3(2H)-one (IC50 = 0.07 microM), which also retained the greatest inotrope and vasodilator (inodilator) potency (ED50 for first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dLVP/dt(max)) = 0.02 mumol/kg, ED15 for 15% fall in perfusion pressure = 0.01 mumol/kg). The structure-activity relationships observed within the bis(azinone) series were consistent with those reported for formally analogous 6-(4-substituted-phenyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one-based PDE III-inhibiting inodilators with less-extended phenyl substituents (see e.g. Sircar et al. J. Med. Chem. 1987, 30, 1955, Moos et al. J. Med. Chem. 1987, 30, 1963). PDE III inhibitory potency is associated with overall planar topology of the phenylpyridazinone moiety and the presence of two critically separated electronegative centers. A methyl group at the 5-position of a dihydropyridazinone ring leads to enhanced potency. However, the generally higher levels of PDE III inhibitory potency shown by compounds in the bis(azinone) series relative to earlier 6-(4-substituted-phenyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one derivatives appears to derive from a closer to optimal separation of two interacting points in the inhibitor molecule achieved through the more extended bis(azinone) structure. Correlation between the pharmacological and PDE III inhibitory activities of compounds in the bis(azinone) series provides additional evidence for PDE III being an important mediator of inodilator action.

Selective thyromimetics. Cardiac-sparing thyroid hormone analogues containing 3'-arylmethyl substituents.

Introduction of specific arylmethyl groups at the 3'-position of the thyroid hormone 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), and its known hormonally active derivatives, gives liver-selective, cardiac-sparing thyromimetics, with potential utility as plasma cholesterol lowering agents. Selectivity-conferring 3'-substituents include substituted benzyl, e.g. p-hydroxybenzyl, and heterocyclic methyl, e.g. 2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrid-5-ylmethyl and 6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-ylmethyl. Correlations between in vivo and in vitro receptor binding affinities show that liver/heart selectivity does not depend on receptor recognition but on penetration or access to receptors in vivo. QSAR studies of the binding data of a series of 20 3'-arylmethyl T3 analogues show that electronegative groups at the para position increase both receptor binding and selectivity in vivo. However, increasing 3'-arylmethyl hydrophobicity increases receptor binding but reduces selectivity. Substitution at ortho and meta positions reduces both binding and selectivity. Replacement of the 3,5-iodo groups by halogen or methyl maintains selectivity, with 3,5-dibromo analogues in particular having increased potency combined with oral bioavailability. Diphenyl thioether derivatives also have improved potency but are less orally active. At the 1-position, the D enantiomer retains selectivity, but removal of the alpha-amino group to give a propionic acid results in loss of selective thyromimetic activity.

Dipole moment in relation to H2 receptor histamine antagonist activity for cimetidine analogues.

The activities of a series of H2 receptor histamine antagonists structurally related to cimetidine (1) have been compared to investigate the effect of replacing the cyanoguanidine moiety by other neutral, dipolar groups. Antagonist activity, as measured in vitro on the histamine-stimulated guinea pig right atrium, was found to be very sensitive to relatively minor structural changes. Differences in H2 antagonist activity are accounted for by dipole moment orientation and lipophilicity and are rationalized in terms of an optimum requirement for alignment of a hydrogen-bonding moiety in the antagonist with respect to the receptor and desolvation effects at the receptor. The most active compound in the series is the 2-amino-3-nitropyrrole derivative 5, which combines a near-optimal dipole orientation with high lipophilicity.

Cyanoguanidine-thiourea equivalence in the development of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine.

In the histamine H2-receptor antagonist metiamide (2a) isosteric replacement of thione sulfur (=S) by carbonyl oxygen (=O) or imino nitrogen (=NH) affords the urea 2c and guanidine 2d which are antagonists of decreased potency. The guanidine is very basic and at physiological pH is completely protonated. However, introduction of strongly electronegative substituents into the guanidine group reduces basicity and gives potent H2-receptor antagonists, viz. the cyanoguanidine 2b (cimetidine, "Tagamet") and nitroguanidine 2e. A correspondence between the activity of thioureas and cyanoguanidines is demonstrated for a series of structures 1-4. The close correspondence between cyanoguanidine and thiourea in many physicochemical properties and the pharmacological equivalence of these groups in H2-receptor antagonists leads to the description of cyanoguanidine and thiourea as bioisosteres. Acid hydrolysis of the cyanoguanidine 2b yields the carbamoylguanidine 2f at ambient temperatures and the guanidine 2d at elevated temperatures. Cimetidine is slightly more active than metiamide in vivo as an inhibitor of histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion and has clinical use in the treatment of peptic ulcer and associated gastrointestinal disorders.