title: Cardiotonic agents. 7. Prodrug derivatives of 4-ethyl-1,3-dihydro- 5-[4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzoyl]-2H-imidazol-2-one.
abstract: The cardiotonic agent 4-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-5-4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzoyl]-2H- imidazol-2-one (1) was found to have low bioavailability when administered orally to rats and dogs. A series of N-acyl derivatives, an underutilized prodrug of acidic NH compounds, has been synthesized and tested for their ability to improve the oral bioavailability of 1. Reaction of the monosodium salt of 1 with various anhydrides afforded the N-1 monoacylimidazolones with surprisingly high regioselectivity. In addition to the prodrugs, acylation of 1 with propionic or phenylacetic anhydride led to the novel 3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-3,5(2H)-diones 6. The prodrugs showed a significant increase in the partition coefficients with a minor decrease in the aqueous solubility. The benzoyl derivative 4b exhibited the highest stability in both pH 1.5 and 7.4 buffer solutions. Further evaluation of 4b showed rapid conversion to 1 in canine plasma (t1/2 = 38 min), and human plasma (t1/2 = 10 min). Oral studies indicated that the bioavailability of 4b was increased to greater than 75% (compared to less than 20% for 1), and hemodynamic studies demonstrated that the selective inotropic profile of 1 was retained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Berlex Laboratories, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey 07927.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Erhardt
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hagedorn
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pease
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ingebretsen
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wiggins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004285:Dogs; D004355:Drug Stability; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D011355:Prodrugs; C074026:CK 2130