4-Alkylsubstituted-3-hydroxy-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione inhibitors of glycolic acid oxidase

Novel 4-alkylsubstituted-3-hydroxy-3-pyrroline-2,5-diones are disclosed which inhibit glycolic acid oxidase and thus are useful in the treatment and prevention of calcium oxalate kidney stone formation. A novel process for their preparation is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Close to 70% of kidney stones in man are composed partially or 
predominantly of calcium oxalate. There is no satisfactory drug specific 
for the treatment of calcium oxalate renal lithiasis, nor for prophylactic 
use by patients prone to recurrent attacks of this disease. 
The most common forms of treatment for renal lithiasis due to calcium 
oxalate consist of surgical removal of stones, control of the diet to 
restrict calcium or oxalate, and ingestion of large quantities of water to 
dilute the urine. Attempts at chemotherapy have included the 
administration of magnesium oxide, calcium carbimide, orthophosphate, 
cellulose phosphate, isocarboxazide, thiazide diuretics allopurinol and 
succinimide. Limited success has been realized by these drug approaches. 
No drug which specifically inhibits the biosynthetic formation of oxalic 
acid has previously been developed for the treatment of calcium oxalate 
renal lithiasis. 
The immediate metabolic precursor of the majority of metabolically derived 
oxalate in the urine of a typical patient is glyoxylic acid. In turn its 
most important precursor is glycolic acid. The enzyme glycolate oxidase is 
able to carry oout the oxidation of glycolic acid, through glyoxylic acid, 
to oxalic acid. Inhibition of this enzyme will, therefore, reduce the 
concentration of oxalic acid in the kidney and bladder, decreasing the 
probability that calcium oxalate crystallization will occur. Thus 
inhibitors of glycolate oxidase provide a specific approach to the 
prevention and treatment of calcium oxalate renal lithiasis. 
Liao, et al, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 154 68-75 (1973) have shown that 
phenyllactic acid and n-heptanoic acid, which are inhibitors of glycolate 
oxidase, inhibit oxalate biosynthesis in isolated perfused rat liver. 
These compounds are not sufficiently potent to be useful as drugs. 
The preparation of 3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione 
##STR1## 
has been described by Harlay, J. Pharm. Chim., 24, 537-48 (1936). 
3-Hydroxy-4-aryl-3-pyrroline-2,5-diones are described in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,340,263 as intermediates in the preparation of antiphlogistic 
substances. A number of 
3-hydroxy-4-substitutedphenyl-3-pyrroline-2,5-diones are reported by G. S. 
Skinner et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 73, 2230 (1951). (In this paper these 
compounds are referred to as pyrrolidine-2,3,5-trione derivatives). 
3-Hydroxy-4-(4-bromo-1-naphthyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione is described by G. 
S. Skinner, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 70, 4011 (1948). 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has now been found that novel compounds of the formula: 
##STR2## 
wherein 
R is straight or branched chain alkyl groups having from 6 to 16 carbon 
atoms, or more particularly R can be CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.n when n=5-15 
or 
##STR3## 
wherein k+e+m=3 to 13 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are 
potent inhibitors of glycolate oxidase. They are, therefore, useful in the 
treatment and prevention of calcium oxalate kidney and bladder stone 
formation. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
About 70% of all renal calculi contain oxalate as the main anion component 
of the matrix. In the majority of patients urinary oxlate is predominantly 
of metabolic origin. With typical stone formers urinary oxlate levels lie 
on the high end of the normal range. The major pathway for biosynthesis of 
oxalate can be represented as follows: 
##STR4## 
Glyoxylate is the most important immediate forerunner of oxalate. An 
inhibitor of glycolate oxidase (G.O.) will inhibit both the conversion of 
glyoxylate to oxalate as well as the production of glyoxylate from 
glycolate. By reducing oxalic acid levels in the urine with the compounds 
of this invention, the formation of oxalate calculi will be reduced or 
prevented. 
Compounds of formula (I) are potent inhibitors of glycolate oxidase and 
thus are useful in restricting oxalate levels in the blood and urine. 
Further, they are useful in the treatment and prevention of renal disease 
due to calcium oxalate stone formation in the kidney and bladder. They may 
also be useful in the treatment of the genetically inherited diseases 
termed Hyperoxaluria types I and II. in which abnormally high levels of 
oxalate are observed. 
Compounds of formula (I) have been unexpectedly found to block the 
contractions of guinea pig ileum induced by Slow Reacting Substance of 
Anaphylaxis (SRS-A). They are ineffective against contractions caused by 
histamine, which demonstrates specificty against SRS-A. SRS-A is 
considered a major mediator in human allergic asthma. Thus the compounds 
of formula (I) are useful in the treatment of allergy, especially allergic 
asthma. 
Compounds of Formula (I) can be prepared according to the following novel 
route: 
##STR5## 
wherein R is as previously defined. 
Thus an alkyl cyanide I is reacted with a diethyl oxalate III to form an 
intermediate 3-cyano-2-keto alkanoic acid ethyl ester IV which is then 
converted to the desired product I by an acid catalyzed hydrolysis and 
ring closure reaction. (Compound IV can also exist in the enolic form, 
while compound I can exist as the tantomeric pyrrolidine-2,3,5-trione. The 
preference of I is for the 4-substituted-3-hydroxy-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione 
form). 
The reaction for the preparation of the intermediate compound IV is carried 
out in the presence of a base such as for example potassium t-butoxide in 
an organic solvent, particularly an alcoholic or aprotic solvent such as, 
for example, dimethylformamide at room temperature to 60.degree. C. for a 
sufficient time (4 to 24 hours) to form the desired intermediate II. 
Generally an equal molar ratio of the starting materials II and III and a 
slight molar excess of base are used. The intermediate IV is isolated from 
the reaction mixture by methods known in the art such as by acidification 
followed by extraction of the intermediate into an organic solvent and 
concentration of the solvent. 
To prepare the desired product I, the 3-cyano-2-ketoalkanoic acid ethyl 
ester IV is subjected to an acid catalyzed hydrolysis and ring closure 
reaction by initially reacting said intermediate IV with a strong acid 
such as methanesulfonic acid followed by addition of an alcohol water 
mixture such as an ethanol water mixture. This reaction in strong acid is 
run for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours and at a temperature from room 
temperature to 60.degree. C. after which time the alcohol-water is added. 
The desired product I is isolated from the reaction mixture by known 
methods such as by evaporation of the alcohol followed by extracting the 
desired product I into chloform and concentrating the chloroform to 
dryness, followed by recrystallization.

EXAMPLE 1 
3-Hydroxy-4-(n-decyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione 
0.5 Moles of n-undecyl cyanide and 0.5 moles of diethyl oxalate are mixed 
in 1,000 ml of dimethylformamide. To this solution is added with ice 
cooling 0.52 moles of potassium t-butoxide. The mixture is allowed to stir 
overnight at room temperature. Following evaporation (rotary evaporator 
under vacuum) of most of the dimethylformamide the residue is mixed with 3 
liters of diethyl ether followed by the addition of 1 liter water. The 
mixture is acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid to a pH of 3 and 
then the ether phase is separated. After washing the ether with water and 
drying the ether over magnesium sulfate evaporation of the ether affords 
3-cyano-2-oxotridecanoic acid ethyl ester. Recrystallization from 
petroleum ether at 30.degree.-60.degree. C. provides pure material. 
1 G. of the 3-cyano-2-oxotridecanoic acid ethyl ester is dissolved in 5 ml 
of methanesulfonic acid and the mixture allowed to stand overnight at room 
temperature. The reaction mixture is worked up by first pouring into 
ethanol-water (20 ml ethanol--5 ml water). After standing for several 
hours, the ethanol is removed by evaporation. The aqueous acidic residue 
is diluted further with water and then extracted with chloroform. The 
chloroform solution is then washed well with water, dried and evaporated 
to give the desired 3-hydroxy-4-(n-decyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione. 
Recrystallization from hexane or cyclohexane provides pure 
3-hydroxy-4-(n-decyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione, mp 109.degree.-111.degree. C. 
Following the above procedure and using corresponding amounts of reactants 
except using n-octylcyanide in place of n-undecyl cyanide there is formed 
3-cyano-2-oxodecanoic acid ethyl ester as an intermediate and 
3-hydroxy-4-n-heptyl-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione as a final product. 
EXAMPLE 2 
Following the above procedure and using corresponding amounts of reactants 
except using n-heptadecylcyanide in place of n-undecylcyanide there is 
formed 3-cyano-2-oxononadecanoic acid ethyl ester as an intermediate and 
3-hydroxy-4-n-hexadecyl-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione as a final product. 
EXAMPLE 3 
3-Hydroxy-4-(n-dodecyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione 
0.5 Moles of n-tridecyl cyanide and 0.5 moles of diethyl oxalate are mixed 
in 1,000 ml of dimethylformamide. To this solution is added with ice 
cooling 0.52 moles of potassium t-butoxide. The mixture is allowed to stir 
overnight at room temperature. Following evaporation (rotary evaporator 
under vacuum) of most of the dimethylformamide the residue is mixed with 3 
liters of diethyl ether followed by the addition of 1 liter water. The 
mixture is acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid to a pH of 3 and 
then the ether phase is separated. After washing the ether with water and 
drying the ether over magnesium sulfate evaporation of the ether affords 
3-cyano-2-oxopentadecanoic acid ethyl ester. Recrystallization from 
petroleum ether at 30.degree.-60.degree. C. provides pure material. 
1 G. of the 3-cyano-2-oxopentadecanoic acid ethyl ester is dissolved in 5 
ml of methanesulfonic acid and the mixture allowed to stand overnight at 
room temperature. The reaction mixture is worked up by first pouring into 
ethanol-water (20 ml ethanol--5 ml water). After standing for several 
hours, the ethanol is removed by evaporation. The aqueous acidic residue 
is diluted further with water and then extracted with chloroform. The 
chloroform solution is then washed well with water, dried and evaporated 
to give the desired 3-hydroxy-4-(n-dodecyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione. 
Recrystallization from hexane or cyclohexane provides pure 
3-hydroxy-4-(n-dodecyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione, mp 108.degree.-109.degree. 
C. 
Following the above procedure and using corresponding amounts of reactants 
except using 4-ethylhexylcyanide in place of n-tridecyl cyanide there is 
formed 3-cyano-2-oxo-6-ethyloctanoic acid ethyl ester as an intermediate 
and 3-hydroxy-4-(3-ethyl-1-pentyl)-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione as a final 
product. 
EXAMPLE 4 
Following the above procedure and using corresponding amounts of reactants 
except using 5-propyloctyl-cyanide in place of n-tridecylcyanide there is 
formed 3-cyano-2-oxo-7-propyldecanoic acid ethyl ester as an intermediate 
and 3-hydroxy-4-[4-(n-propyl)-1-heptyl]-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione as a final 
product. 
Included within the scope of the invention are the pharmaceutically 
acceptable salts of formula (I) compounds. The compounds of formula (I) 
are organic acids with pKa's in the range 3-5. These salts are readily 
formed with the usual inorganic cations such as sodium, potassium and 
ammonium. Salts with organic amines such as trimethylamine, triethylamine, 
n-butylamine and the like are also stable. The neutralization can be 
carried out by a variety of procedures known to the art to be generally 
useful for the preparation of such salts. The choice of the most suitable 
procedure will depend on a variety of factors including convenience of 
operation, economic considerations, and particularly the solubility 
characteristics of the particular free base, the acid, and the acid 
addition salt. 
The compounds of formula (I) are utilized for the stated utilities by 
formulating them in a composition such as tablet, capsule or elixir for 
oral administration. Sterile solutions or suspensions can be used for 
parenteral administration. About 10 to 200 mg of a compound of formula (I) 
or a physiologically acceptable salt is compounded with a physiologically 
acceptable vehicle, carrier, excipient, binder, preservative, stabilizer, 
flavor, etc., in a unit dosage form as called for by accepted 
pharmaceutical practice. The amount of active substance in the composition 
is such that dosage in the range indicated is obtained. The total daily 
dose in humans will be in the 30 to 2000 mg range with the preferred 
dosage range being 50 to 1000 mg. 
Illustrative of the adjuvants which may be incorporated in tablets, 
capsules and the like are the following: a binder such as gum tragacanth, 
acacia, corn starch or gelatin; an excipient such as dicalcium phosphate; 
a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid 
and the like; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; a sweetening agent 
such as sucrose or lactose; a flavoring agent such as peppermint, oil of 
wintergreen or cherry. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it may 
contain in addition to materials of the above type a liquid carrier such 
as a fatty oil. Various other materials may be present as coating or to 
otherwise enhance the pharmaceutical elegance of the preparation. For 
instance, tablets may be coated with shellac, sugar or the like. A syrup 
or elixir may contain the active compound, sucrose as a sweetening agent, 
methyl and propyl parabens as preservatives, a dye and a flavoring such as 
cherry or orange flavor. 
Sterile compositions for injection can be formulated according to 
conventional pharmaceutical practice by dissolving or suspending the 
active substance in a conventional vehicle such as water for injection, a 
naturally occurring vegetable oil like sesame oil, coconut oil, peanut 
oil, cottonseed oil, etc., or a synthetic fatty vehicle like ethyl oleate 
or the like. Buffers, preservatives, antioxidants and the like can be 
incorporated as required.