A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION CONTAINING AN IMIDAZOLIDINETRIONE DERIVATIVE OR PHARMACEUTICALLY ACCEPTABLE SALT THEREOF

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions contain as an active ingredient oxaluric acid derivatives of the formula (I): wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group or the group and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and metal complexes thereof. The compositions have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic acitivity. Several of the compounds disclosed are novel per se.

Description: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing imidazolidinetrione derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity. An abnormal increase or imbalance of blood glucose or lipids causes various morbid symptoms. Diabetes causes acidosis inducing diabetic coma, microangiopathy such as retiopathy or nephrosis, and promotes arteriosclerosis. Hyperlipidemia is not only a direct cause of arteriosclerosis but also develops various symptoms such as ischemic heart disease, and often results as a complication of diabetes. Oral sulfonylureas and biguanides having a hypoglycemic activity have previously been used for the treatment of diabetes, but they tend to give rise to certain side effects such as excessive hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis. Insulin, a well-known antidiabetic, can only be administered intravenously due to its chemical nature, and therefore, is troublesome and inconvenient to use. It has now been found that certain imidazolidinetrione derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof possess excellent hypoglycemic activity i.e., they lower the abnormally high level of blood glucose to the normal level without excessive hypoglycemia, as well as having low toxicity. It is an object of the present invention is to provide pharmaceutically compositions containing imidazolidinetrione derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as an active ingredient, which are useful as orally administrable drugs to treat and prevent diabetes and/or hyperlipidemia, and also various diseases caused by them. The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one imidazolidinetrione derivative or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by the following formula (I): wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or ; and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group. Each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an alkyl group, preferably a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso -propyl, butyl, iso -butyl, sec -butyl, tert -butyl, pentyl, iso -pentyl, neo -pentyl, tert -pentyl, hexyl, iso -hexyl, dimethylbutyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl or stearyl; a cycloalkyl group, preferably having 3 to 8 carbon atoms such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl or cyclooctyl; or When at least one ofR₁ and R₂ is the other is preferably hydrogen. Each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, halogen, such as floride, chloride or bromide, a lower alkyl group, preferably a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso -propyl, butyl, iso -butyl, sec -butyl, tert -butyl, or a lower alkoxy group, preferably a straight or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, iso -propoxy, butoxy, iso -butoxy, sec -butoxy, tert -butoxy. The imidazolidinetrione derivatives include not only novel compounds but also known compounds. However, it has not been reported that the compounds have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. The compounds which are novel per se are specifically claimed in the appended claims. Preferred compounds of the present invention are indicated as follows: imidazolidinetrione 1-methylimidazolidinetrione 1-ethylimidazolidinetrione 1-butylimidazolidinetrione 1- iso -butylimidazolidinetrione 1- tert -butylimidazolidinetrione 1-hexylimidazolidinetrione 1-(1,3-dimethyl)butylimidazolidinetrione 1-decylimidazolidinetrione 1-cyclopentylimidazolidinetrione 1-cyclohexylimidazolidinetrione 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinetrione 1-cyclopentyl-3-ethylimidazolidinetrione 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazolidinetrione 1-benzylimidazolidinetrione 1-(2-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(3-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(4-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(2-chlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(4-bromobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(3-nitrobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(4-nitrobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(2-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(3-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(4-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(2-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(3-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(4-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione 1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione The imidazolidinetrione derivatives of the present invention include pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the above-mentioned formula (I) with alkali metals such as sodium or potassium, with alkaline earth metals such as calcium, magnesium or barium, with other metals such as aluminium, or with organic bases such as ammonium or organic amines. In addition, the imidazolidinetrione derivatives of the invention include their metal complexes, for example, complex with zinc, iron, etc. These salts can be prepared from free imidazolidinetrione derivatives or other salts of these derivatives by known methods. When optical isomers exist in the compounds of the present invention, the present invention includes any of the dl -, l - and d -isomers. The imidazolidinetrione derivatives of the present invention can be prepared by art-recognized methods. [T. Yonezawa et al, Nippon Kagaku Zasshi, 89 , No. 8, 62-64 (1968), Tad L. Patton, J. Org. Chem., 32 , No. 2, 383-388 (1967), etc.] The compounds employed in the compositions of the present invention may thus be prepared by the two methods set out below: (1) Oxalyl chloride and N-substituted urea, such as N-alkylurea, N-cycloalkylurea, N-benzylurea, N-halogenated bezylurea, N-nitrobenzylurea, N-alkylbenzylurea or N-alkoxybenzylurea, were stirred in an appropriate solvent such as tetrahydrofuran which does not inhibit the reaction in an ice-water bath or at room temperature; or diethyl oxalate and the above-mentioned N-substituted urea were stirred in an appropriate solvent which does not inhibit the reaction in the presence of an organic base such as amine or alkali metal alkoxide at room temperature, if desired, by heating to higher temperature to give the imidazolidinetrione derivatives of the present invention. (2) The compounds of the invention can also be prepared by usual N-alkylation wherein unsubstituted, 1-alkylsubstituted or 1-cycloalkylsubstituted imidazolidinetrione is reacted with halogenated alkyl. The resultant compounds of the present invention are purified by usual methods such as distillation, chromatography and recrystallization. They are characterized by elemental analysis, melting point, IR, NMR, UV and mass spectrum. The following examples, which are illustrative, describe the preparation of the compounds employed in the composition of the present invention. One specific example is set out in detail below for the preparation of 1-methylimidazolidinetrione. All the other compounds of the present invention may be prepared in an analogous manner. Example 1 Preparation of 1-methylimidazolidinetrion 1.0 g of methylurea was added to 30 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran and the suspension was stirred in an ice-water bath. 1.9 g of oxalyl chloride was added dropwise to the suspension, and then was stirred for 30 minutes in an ice-water bath. 30 ml of ethyl acetate and 10 ml of water were added to the reaction mixture to extract the product. The removed water layer was further extracted with 20 ml of ethyl acetate. The obtained organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The crude product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane to give 1.52 g of 1-methylimidazolidinetrione (compound 2) in the form of colorless needle crystals in a 88% yield. Example 1-methylimidazolidinetrione (compound 2) m.p.: 153 - 155 °C IR(KBr): 3210, 1790, 1740, 1718, 1460 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=2.92(s,3H), 11.98(brs,1H) MS (m/z): 128 (M⁺), 100, 56, 44 1-ethylimidazolidinetrione (compound 3) m.p.: 123 - 125 °C IR(KBr): 3200, 2960, 1810, 1785, 1720, 1060 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=1.13(t,3H,J=7Hz), 3.47(q,2H,J=7Hz), 11.96(brs,1H) MS (m/z): 142 (M⁺), 71, 56, 43 1-butylimidazolidinetrione (compound 4) m.p.: 97 - 99 °C IR(KBr): 3200, 2950, 1800, 1785, 1718, 1445 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=0.88(t,3H,J=7Hz), 1.29(qt,2H,J₁=7Hz,J₂=7Hz), 1.52(tt,2H,J₁=7Hz,J₂=7Hz), 3.43(t,2H,J=7Hz), 11.97(brs,1H) MS (m./z): 170 (M⁺), 128, 115, 99, 70, 56, 41 1- iso -butylimidazolidinetrione (compound 5) m.p.: 145 - 147 °C IR(KBr): 3170, 2950, 2860, 1800, 1730, 1710 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=0.85(d,6H,J=6.4Hz), 1.90(m,1H), 3.23(d,2H,J=6.8Hz), 11.98(s,1H) MS (m/z): 170 (M⁺), 128, 115, 56, 43, 41, 27 1- tert -butylimidazolidinetrione (compound 6) m.p.: 121 - 124 °C IR(KBr): 3170, 1798, 1701, 1366, 1322 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=1.51(s,9H), 11.84(brs,1H) MS (m/z): 170 (M⁺), 155, 114, 84, 57, 41 1-hexylimidazolidinetrione (compound 7) m.p.: 99 - 101 °C IR(KBr): 3200, 2950, 2920, 2850, 1810, 1790, 1720 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=0.85(t,3H,J=6.8Hz), 1.24(s,6H), 1.50(tt,2H,J₁=6.8Hz,J₂=6.8Hz), 3.40(t,2H,J=6.8Hz), 11.95(s,1H) MS (m/z): 198 (M⁺), 128, 116, 115, 84, 56, 55, 43, 41,27 1-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 8) m.p.: 61 - 65 °C IR(KBr): 3300, 2950, 2860, 1800, 1720 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=0.82(d,3H,J=6.4Hz), 0.83(d,3H,J=6.4Hz), 1.29(d,3H,J=6.8Hz), 1.36(m,1H), 1.51(m,1H), 1.83(m,1H), 4.12(m,1H), 11.94(s,1H) MS (m/z): 198 (M⁺), 183, 141, 116, 115, 84, 83, 70, 69, 57, 43, 41, 27 1-decylimidazolidinetrione (compound 9) m.p.: 110 - 112 °C IR(KBr): 3200, 2950, 2920, 2850, 1820, 1790, 1730, 1710 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=0.84(t,3H,J=7.2Hz), 1.23(s,14H), 1.51(m,2H), 3.40(t,2H,J=7.2Hz), 11.95(s,1H) MS (m/z): 254 (M⁺), 142, 128, 116, 83, 69, 55, 43, 41, 27 1-cyclopentylimidazolidinetrione (compound 10) m.p.: 98 - 100 °C IR(KBr): 3540, 3250, 2945, 2700, 1760, 1725, 1420, 1100 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=1,4-1.6(m,2H), 1.6-2.0(m,6H), 4.34(tt,1H,J₁=7.4Hz,J₂=7.4Hz), 11.90(brs,1H) MS (m/z): 182 (M⁺), 141, 116, 67, 41, 1-cyclohexylimidazolidinetrione (compound 11) m.p.: 190 - 191 °C IR(KBr): 3180, 2920, 1795, 1730, 1410 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=1.0-1.4(m,4H), 1.5-2.0(m,6H), 3.7-3.9(m,1H), 11.93(brs,1H) MS (m/z): 196 (M⁺), 128, 116, 82, 67, 55, 41 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinetrione (compound 12) m.p.: 152 - 153 °C IR(KBr): 2940, 1760, 1730,1705, 1468, 1300 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=2.97(s,6H) MS (m/z): 142 (M⁺), 114, 86, 70, 58 1-cyclopentyl-3-ethylimidazolidinetrione (compound 13) m.p.: 54 - 56 °C IR(KBr): 2940, 2855, 1770, 1715, 1448, 1120, 558 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=1.12(t,3H,J=7.4Hz), 1.4-1.6(m,2H), 1.6-2.0(m,6H), 3.48(q,2H,J=7.4Hz), 4.37(tt,1H,J₁=8.0Hz,J₂=8.0Hz) MS (m/z): 210 (M⁺), 144, 115, 68, 41 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazolidinetrione (compound 14) m.p.: 176 - 178 °C IR(KBr): 2925, 2850, 1760, 1728, 1410, 758 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=1.0-1.2(m,2H), 1.2-1.4(m,4H), 1.4-2.0(m,14H), 3.81(tt,2H,J₁=3.7Hz,J₂=12.5Hz) MS (m/z): 278 (M⁺), 197, 115, 83, 67, 55, 41 1-benzylimidazolidinetrione (compound 15) m.p.: 169 - 170 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3200, 1790, 1735 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.62(s,2H), 7.24-7.33(m,5H), 12.08(s,1H) MS (m/z): 204 (M⁺), 176, 147, 133, 91, 77, 65, 51 1-(2-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 16) m.p.: 196 - 197 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3200, 3070, 1795, 1730, 1590 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.66(s,2H), 7.14-7.46(m,4H), 12.11(s,1H) MS (m/z): 222 (M⁺), 165, 151, 123, 109, 83, 70, 63, 51, 50, 43 1-(3-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 17) m.p.: 166 - 167 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3200, 1790, 1735, 1590 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆):δ=4.65(s,2H), 7.07-7.40(m,4H), 12.08(s,1H) MS (m/z): 222 (M⁺), 165, 151, 122, 109, 83, 70,63, 51, 50, 43 1-(4-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 18) m.p.: 182 - 183 °C IR(KBr): 3440, 3200, 3070, 1790, 1730, 1600 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.61(s,2H), 7.12-7.40(m,4H), 12.06(s,1H) MS (m/z): 222 (M⁺), 165, 151, 122, 109, 95, 83, 70, 63, 51, 50, 43 1-(2-chlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 19) m.p.: 192 - 193 °C IR(KBr): 3180, 3100, 1780, 1730 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.68(s,2H), 7,28-7.50(m,4H), 12.17(s,1H) MS (m/z): 238 (M⁺), 203, 167, 132, 125, 89, 77, 70, 63, 51, 50, 43 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 20) m.p.: 177 - 178 °C IR(KBr): 3240, 3075, 1780, 1730 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.62(s,2H), 7.35-7.40(m,4H), 12.08(s,1H) MS (m/z): 238 (M⁺), 181, 167, 132, 125, 89, 77, 70, 63, 51, 50, 43 1-(4-bromobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 21) m.p.: 192 - 193 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3130, 3050, 1795, 1720 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.60(s,2H), 7.52(dt,2H,J₁=2.0Hz,J₂=8.4Hz), 7.30(dt,2H,J₁=2.0Hz,J₂=8.4Hz), 12.07(s,1H) MS (m/z): 282 (M⁺), 225, 211, 169, 132, 90, 77, 70, 63, 51, 50, 43 1-(3-nitrobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 22) m.p.: 139 - 140 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3230, 1790, 1730, 1535 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.78(s,2H), 7.63(t,1H,J=8.0Hz), 7.82(d,1H,J=8.0Hz), 8.13-8.14(m,1H), 8.24(t,1H,J=2.0Hz), 12.08(s,1H) MS (m/z): 249 (M⁺), 232, 178, 161, 136, 132, 125, 89, 77, 70, 63, 51, 50, 43 1-(4-nitrobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 23) m.p.: 202 - 204 °C IR(KBr): 3440, 3230, 1780, 1730, 1515 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.78(s,2H), 7.65(d,2H,J=8.8Hz), 8.18(dt,2H,J₁=2.0Hz,J₂=8.8Hz), 12.12(s,1H) MS (m/z): 249 (M⁺), 219, 178, 132, 106, 89, 78, 77, 70, 63, 51, 50 1.(2-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 24) m.p.: 195 - 196 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3170, 3080, 1770, 1730 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=2.32(s,3H), 4.59(s,2H), 7.10-7.27(m,4H), 12.09(s,1H) MS (m/z): 218 (M⁺), 147, 104, 91, 77, 65, 51, 43 1-(3-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 25) m.p.: 149 - 150 °C IR(KBr): 3220, 1780, 1760, 1725, 1600 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=2.27(s,3H), 4.58(s,2H), 7.07-7.22(m,4H), 12.07(s,1H) MS (m/z): 218 (M⁺), 147, 132, 105, 91, 77, 65, 51, 43 1-(4-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 26) m.p.: 177 - 178 °C IR(KBr): 3450, 3180, 1800, 1725 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ-2.26(s,3H), 4.57(s,2H), 7.12(d,2H,J=8.0Hz), 7.20(d,2H,J=8.0Hz), 12.07(s,1H) MS (m/z): 218 (M⁺), 161, 147, 132, 105, 91, 77, 65, 51 1-(2-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 27) m.p.: 171 - 172 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3200, 1805, 1790, 1720, 1600 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=3.80(s,3H), 4.57(s,2H), 6.87(dt,1H,J₁,=0.8Hz,J₂=7.6Hz), 6.99(d,1H,J=8.0Hz), 7.23-7.28(m,2H) MS (m/z): 234 (M⁺), 163, 148, 134, 121, 91, 77, 65, 51, 43 1-(3-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 28) m.p.: 142 - 143 °C IR(KBr): 3210, 2940, 1790, 1735, 1595 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=3.72(s,3H), 4.59(s,2H), 6.82-7.25(m,4H), 12.07(s,1H) MS (m/z): 234 (M⁺), 167, 148, 121, 91, 77, 65, 51, 43 1-(4-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 29) m.p.: 172 - 173 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3190, 2850, 1790, 1730, 1585 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=3.72(s,3H), 4.55(s,2H), 6.87(dt,2H,J₁=2.4Hz,J₂=8.8Hz), 7.25(dt,2H,J₁=2.4Hz,J₂=8.8Hz), 12.05(s,1H) MS (m/z): 234 (M⁺), 177, 163, 148, 121, 91, 77, 65, 51, 43 1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 30) m.p.: 171 - 174 °C IR(KBr): 3420, 3250, 2950, 2840, 1780, 1740, 1590 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=3.71(s,3H), 3.72(s,3H), 4.54(s,2H), 6.82-6.89(m,3H),12.03(s,1H) MS (m/z): 264 (M⁺), 234, 178, 151, 121, 107, 91, 77, 65, 51 1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione (compound 31) m.p.: 172 - 173 °C IR(KBr): 3430, 3200, 1790, 1735 cm⁻¹ NMR(DMSO-d₆): δ=4.64(s,2H), 7.35(dd,1H,J₁=2.0Hz,J₂=8.0Hz), 7.59(d,1H,J=8.0Hz), 7.66(d,1H,J=2.0Hz), 12.06(s,1H) MS (m/z): 272 (M⁺), 215, 201, 166, 159, 123, 89, 70, 43 The compound of the present invention may be produced by each of the above-mentioned preparations, however, these examples do not limit the preparations of the compounds of the present invention. The following description serves to illustrative pharmaceutical studies of the compounds of the present invention. (1) Acute toxicity test The test compounds of the present invention suspended in 0.5% aqueous solution of carboxymethylcellulose (C.M.C.) were orally administered to groups of 4 to 6 ddY-strain male mice (weighing about 19g) which had fasted for 20 hours. The lethal dose was determined by the number of deaths for 7 days thereafter. An example of the results is shown in Table 1. Table 1 (2) Hypoglycemic effect Groups of 7 Wistar-strain male rats (weighing about 200 g) which were fasted for 18 hours were used for measurement of hypoglycemic effect according to the modified method by Dulin et al. [Dulin, W. L. et al., Proc. Soc. Expl. Med., 107 , 245 (1961)]. That is, 0.5 ml/100 g of 20% aqueous solution of glucose was subcutaneously administered to the backs of rats to prevent a decrease in blood glucose level because of the fasting. Immediately thereafter the test drug suspended in 0.5% aqueous C.M.C. solution was orally given, and 2 hours later, the animals underwent laparotomy under pentobarbital anesthesia, then blood was drawn from vena cava. The obtained blood sample was allowed to stand for 30 minutes to complete the coagulation and was centrifuged to obtain the serum. Blood sugar level was measured according to the mutalotase GOD method [Trinder, Ann. Clin. Biochem., 6 , 24 (1979)]. Asterisk indicate significant difference (*: p<0.05, **: p<0.01, ***: p<0.001) from control. Results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. (3) Hypolipidemic effect The test drugs suspended in 0.5% aqueous C.M.C. solution were orally administered to groups of 8 Wistar-strain male rats (weighing about 185 g) which were fasted for 18 to 20 hours. 2 hours later, the serum was obtained in the same manner described in (2). Serum triglyceride was measured according to the GPO-p-chlorophenol colorimetric determination [Richard W. Spayd et al., Clinical Chemistry, 24 , 1343 (1978)], serum free fatty acid was measured according to the Acyl CoA Synthetase - Acyl CoA Oxidase method [Shimizu S. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 91 , 108 (1979)], free fatty acid was measured according to the enzymatic method [Charles C. Allain et al., Clin. Chem., 20 , No 4, 470 (1974)] and total cholesterol was measured according to the enzymatic method [Takayama M. et al., Clinica Chimica Acta, 79 , 93 (1977)]. Asterisk indicate significant difference (*: p<0.05, **: p<00.01, ***: p<0.001) from control. Results are shown in Tables 4 to 7. As shown by the above-mentioned results, the imidazolidinetrione derivatives of the present invention have excellent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity. The relationship between doses of compound 2 and decrease of blood glucose level show that the compounds of the invention are extremely useful as drugs to counteract severe hyperglycemia, since even at high doses, they maintain the blood sugar at nearly normal levels, without excessive hypoglycemia caused by Tolubutamide. Therefore, the compounds are not only useful as antidiabetics but also as drugs for various diseases caused by diabetes, e.g. diabetic angiopathy, such as diabetic arteriosclerosis, diabetic retinitis, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neurosis and diabetic microangiopathy. Since the compounds of the invention are drugs of a different type from insulin as mentioned above, they are especially useful as drugs for noninsulin-dependent (type-II) diabetes mellitus. The compounds of the invention also have hypolipidemic activity which makes them useful in treating hyperlipidemia, and in the treatment or the prevention of various diseases caused by hyperlipidemia, such as arteriosclerosis, nephrosis, hypertension, diabetes or obesity. Since an increase of blood lipids is induced by an abnormal metabolism of glucose or a lowering of lipoprotein-lipase activity caused by diabetes, hyperlipidemia is often caused together with diabetes. Therefore, the compositions of the present invention having both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects are useful as drugs for such complications. The compositions of the present invention have low toxicity and great safety, so that their long-term administration including oral administration is feasible. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may include appropriate medicial carriers or diluents, and may be formulated into preparations in solid, semisolid, liquid or gaseous form such as tablets, capsules, powders, granules, ointments, solutions, suppositories, injections, inhalants, aerosols and cataplasms in usual ways for oral or parenteral administrations. In pharmaceutical dosage forms, the compositions of the present invention may contain compounds in the form of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, either alone or in appropriate association, and may also include other pharmaceutically active components. In case of oral preparations, the compositions may contain appropriate additives to make tablets, powders, granules or capsules, e.g. with conventional additives such as lactose, mannitol, corn starch or potato starch; with binders such as crystalline cellulose, cellulose derivatives, acacia, corn starch or gelatins; with disintegrators such as corn starch, potato starch or sodium carboxymethylcellulose; with lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate; and if desired, with diluents, buffering agents, moistening agents, preservatives and flavoring agents. Furthermore, they may be made into suppositories by mixing with a variety of bases such as emulsifying bases or water-soluble bases. The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into preparations for injections by dissolving, suspending or emulsifying them in aqueous or non-aqueous solvent, such as vegetable oil, synthetic aliphatic acid glycerides, esters of higher aliphatic acids or propylene glycol; and if desired, with conventional additives such as solubilizers, isotonic agents, suspending agents, emulsifying agents, stabilizers and preservatives. In case of inhalations or aerosol preparations, the compositions of the invention in the form of a liquid or minute powder may be filled up in aerosol containers with gas or liquid propellants, and if desired, with conventional adjuvants such as humidifying agents. They may also be administered in non-pressurized preparations such as in nebulizers or atomizers. Cataplasms may be prepared by formulating the compositions with mentha oil, concentrated glycerin, kaolin or other suitable additives. The preferred dosage of the imidazolidinetrione derivatives in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention varies with the subject, drug form, method and period of administration. However, in order to obtain desirable effects. it is generally recommended to administer orally 1 to 1000 mg/kg, preferably 5 to 600 mg/kg of active ingredient daily. Unitary dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention may be administered one to several times daily. In case of parenteral administrations e.g. injections, doses of the compositions of the order of one tenth to one third of the above dose of the active ingredient are preferable as daily doses. Some examples of pharmaceutical compositions are shown below as examples:

Claims: 1. A pharmaceutical composition containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid derivative of the general formula (I): wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group or the group and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and metal complexes thereof. 2. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid derivative according to claim 1, wherein one of R₁ and R₂ represents hydrogen. 3. a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of R₃ and R₄ represent hydrogen. 4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of R₁, and R₂, which may the same or different, represents a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms. 5. A pharmaceutical composition according to any one of the preceding claims containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid derivative wherein one of R₁ and R₂ represents and the other represents hydrogen. 6. A pharmaceutical composition according to any one of the preceding claims containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid derivative according to claim 3 wherein one of R₃ and R₄, represents hydrogen and the other represents a halogen atom. 7. A pharmaceutical composition containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of R₁ and R₂ represents a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 8. A pharmaceutical composition according to any one of the preceding claims containing as an active ingredient at least one oxaluric acid as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein R₁ and/or R₂ represents methyl, ethyl, propyl iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert.-butyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, iso-propoxy, butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy or tert-butoxy. 9. A pharmaceutical composition according to any one of the preceding claims containing as an active ingredient imidazolidinetrione, 1-methylimidazolidinetrione, 1-ethylimidazolidinetrione, 1-butylimidazolidinetrione, 1-iso-butylimidazolidinetrione, 1-tert.-imidazolidinetrione, 1-hexylimidazolidinetrione, 1-(1,3-dimethyl)butylimidazolidinetrione, 1-decylimidazolidinetrione, 1-cyclopentylimidazolidinetrione, 1-cyclohexylimidazolidinetrione, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinetrione, 1-cyclopentyl-3-ethylimidazolidinetrione, 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazolidinetrione, 1-benzylimidazolidinetrione, 1-(2-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(3-fluorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(4-fluorobenzyl) imidazolidinetrione, 1-(2-chlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(4-bromobenzyl) imidazolidinetrione, 1-(3-nitrobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(4-nitrobenzyl) imidazolidinetrione, 1-(2-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(3-methylbenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(4-methylbenzyl) imidazolidinetrione, 1-(2-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(3-methoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione, 1-(4-methoxybenzyl) imidazolidinetrione, 1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)imidazolidinetrione or 1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)imidazolidinetrione as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or metal complex thereof. 10. The use of an oxaluric acid derivative of the general formula (I) wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group or the group and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and metal complexes thereof, for the manufacture of hypoglycemic or hypolipidemic agents. 11. The use as claimed in claim 10 wherein the oxaluric acid derivative is a compound as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9. 12. A method for the treatment of mammals suffering from diabetes, hyperlipidemia or oedema which comprises treating said mammal with an oxaluric acid derivative of the general formula (I) wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group or the group and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy groups or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt and metal complex thereof. 13. A process for the preparation of oxaluric acid derivatives of the general formula (I) wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group or the group and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and pharmaceutically accpetable salts and metal complexes thereof according to methods known per se such as methods described in the foregoing specification. 14. Processes for the preparation of oxaluric acid derivatives of the general formula (I) wherein each of R₁ and R₂, which may be the same or different, represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group or the group and each of R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, represents hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and metal complexes thereof by reaction between an oxalyl halide such as the chloride and an N-substituted urea. 15. A process for the preparation of oxaluric acid derivatives according to claim 14 whereby the N-substituted urea is an N-alkylurea, N-cycloalkylurea, N-benzylurea, N-halogenatedurea, N-nitrobenzylurea, N-alkylbenzylurea or N-alkoxybenzylurea. 16. A process for the preparation of compounds of the formula (I) as defined in any one of the preceding claims by an N-alkylation method wherein an unsubstituted, 1-alkyl substituted or 1-cycloalkyl substituted imidazolidinetrione is reacted with a halogenated alkyl. 17. As novel compounds the compounds numbers 7 to 9, 13, 16 to 19, 21 to 27 and 29 to 31 as defined herein as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and metal complexes thereof. 18. Compounds of formula I as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 as well as salts and metal complexes thereof in sterile form suitable for formulation into pharmeceutical compositions. 19. Each and every novel feature of the invention hereinbefore disclosed in the foregoing specification.

Inventors: IENAGA, KAZUHARU INSTITUTE OF BIO-ACTIVE SCIENCE, ISHII, AKIRA INSTITUTE OF BIO-ACTIVE SCIENCE, NAKAMURA, KO INSTITUTE OF BIO-ACTIVE SCIENCE
Applicants: NIPPON ZOKI PHARMACEUTICAL CO. LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07D233
IPC codes: C07D233, A61K31