Syntheses, calcium channel agonist-antagonist modulation effects, and nitric oxide release studies of [3-(Benzenesulfonyl)furoxan-4-yloxy]alkyl 1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl, benzofurazan-4-yl, 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylates

• Published in: Drug development research 2002-05, Vol.56 (1), p.1-16
• Main Authors: Vo, Dean, Nguyen, Jeffrey-Tri, McEwen, Carol-Anne, Shan, Rudong, Knaus, Edward E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,4‐dihydropyridines; 4-dihydropyridines; Biological and medical sciences; calcium channels; furoxans; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Muscle; nitric oxide release; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemical properties. Structure-activity relationships; positive inotropes; smooth muscle relaxation
• ISSN: 0272-4391; 1098-2299
• DOI: 10.1002/ddr.10050

A group of racemic 1,4‐dihydro‐2,6‐dimethyl‐5‐nitro‐3‐pyridinecarboxylates possessing either a C‐4 2‐trifluoromethylphenyl (22–24), benzofurazan‐4‐yl (42–44), 2‐pyridyl (45–47), 3‐pyridyl (48–50), or 4‐pyridyl (51–53), substituent in conjunction with a nitric oxide donor C‐3 ester [3‐(benzenesulfonyl)furoxan‐4‐yloxy]alkyl substituent were synthesized using modified Hantzsch reactions. Compounds 45–53 having a C‐4 2‐, 3‐, or 4‐pyridyl substituent exhibited more potent in vitro calcium channel antagonist activity (IC50's in the 0.46 to 5.23 μM range) on guinea pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle (GPILSM) than related analogs having a C‐4 2‐trilfuoromethylphenyl (22–24) or benzofurazan‐4‐yl (42, 44) substituent (IC50 ≥ 29.91 mM). The point of attachment of the pyridyl ring (2‐, 3‐, or 4‐), and the length of the C‐3 ester alkyl spacer [‐CH2(CH2)n, n=1–3], were not determinants of smooth muscle calcium channel antagonist activity. Replacement of the C‐3 ester methyl substituent of Bay K 8644, or the ester isopropyl substituent of the 4‐(pyridyl) isomers 4a‐c by a [3‐(benzensulfonyl)furoxan‐4‐yloxy]alkyl moiety retained the desired calcium channel agonist (positive inotropic) effect on guinea pig left atrium (GPLA). Compounds having C‐4 3‐pyridyl (48–50), or 4‐pyridyl (51–53), substituents were the most potent cardiac positive inotropes (EC50's in the 3.02 to 19.74 μM range) relative to the reference drug Bay K 8644 IC50=0.77 μM). The % nitric oxide released in vitro in the presence of L‐cysteine for this group of compounds was higher (36–74% range) than for the reference drug glycerol trinitrate (20%). A quantitative structure‐activity analysis showed an inverse correlation between a molecular weight (MW) descriptor and % nitric oxide released. Model hybrid (calcium channel modulation, nitric oxide donor) compounds that show dual cardioselective agonist (positive inotropic)/smooth muscle selective antagonist activities constitute a novel type of 1,4‐dihydropyridine calcium channel modulator that provides a potential drug design concept targeted toward the treatment of congestive heart failure, and is a useful probe to study the structure‐function relationship of calcium channels. Drug. Dev. Res. 56:1–16, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.