1,4-DIHYDROPYRIDINE DERIVATIVES

Abstract: Compounds are described of the formula wherein R₁ and R₄ independently represent a C₁₋₄ alkyl group; R₂ and R₃ independently represent a C₁₋₆ straight or branched alkyl chain or alkoxy group; R₅ represents a straight or branched chain C₁₋₁₃ alkyl group or a C₅₋₈ cycloalkyl group which may be substituted by a C₁₋₃ alkyl substituent; R₆ represents a halogen atom or a straight or branched C₁₋₃ alkyl group. R₇ represents a C₁₋₄ alkyl group [optionally substituted by hydroxy, C₁₋₃ alkoxy or trifluoromethyl or by a group NR₈R₉ where NR₈R₉ forms a saturated 5 to 7 membered ring option­ ally containing an additional heleroatom which is oxygen]; or R₇ represents a phenyl C₁₋₂ alkyl group in which the phenyl portion is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 C₁₋₃ alkyl or C₁₋₃ alkoxy groups or halogen atoms. The compounds represented by formula (I) reduce intra­ cellular calcium ion concentration by limiting trans­ membranal calcium ion influx and thus may be useful for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension.

Description: This invention relates to novel heterocyclic derivatives which have an effect on the transmembranal influx of calcium ions into the cells of cardiac and smooth muscle, to processes for the preparation thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them and to their use in therapeutics. The role of intracellular calcium ions in the control of the contractile system of cardiac and smooth muscle is well known. It has been established that compounds which limit the intracellular calcium ion concentration by preventing or reducing the transmembranal calcium ion influx in cells of the contractile system of cardiac and smooth muscle are useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. We have now found a new group of compounds which reduce intracellular calcium ion concentration by limiting transmembranal calcium ion influx and thus may be useful for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial ischaemia, congestive heart failure, cerebral vascular and peripheral disorders, and for the treatment of diseases characterised by reversible airway obstruction such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. The present invention provides 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives with a phenyl group at the 4-position having a -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ substituent at the ortho position to the point of attachment to the dihydropyridine ring (R₅ and R₆ being as defined below). US-A-3,455,945 discloses 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in which the substituent at the 4-position is a phenyl group substituted by a carboxyl or carboalkoxy group. There is no teaching that the carboalkoxy group attached directly to the phenyl ring could be modified to provide the 4-position substituent of the compounds of the present invention. GB-A-1,425,059 describes 4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in which the phenyl substituent carries the group AXB which can be at any position on the ring. The symbol A designates an oxygen or sulphur atom or the group NH, X is a C₁₋₄alkylene group and B is a carboxy or carboalkoxy group. A typical example of the group AXB is OCH₂CO₂C₂H₅. There is no teaching in this document which equates the group AX to the group CH=CR₆ in the compounds according to the present invention. DE-A-3,207,982 teaches a wide range of 1,4-dihydropyridines in which the substituent at the 4-position may be inter alia a benzene ring. The said benzene ring carries the group XBY. The symbol X may represent a direct bond, oxygen, sulphur or a sulphoxide group, B may be a bond or an alkylene group and Y may represent a large number of groups including an alkenyl group containing at least six carbon atoms and the said Y group may also be substituted by one to three groups selected from a range of substituents including carboalkoxy. There is no teaching of any alkenyl group substituted by any other group, let alone by carboalkoxy. DE-A-2,462,086 describes 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in which the substituent in the 4-position is either a pentahalophenyl group or a phenyl group substituted at the ortho position by a cyclopropyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl group or a group OA in which A is a cyclopropyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, cyclopropyl-lower alkyl, aryl-lower alkenyl, halo-lower alkenyl or lower alkylamino-lower alkyl radical. This document includes no teaching which would suggest the -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ substituent which is characteristic of the compounds according to the present invention. EP-A-0,071,819 describes a very wide range of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives. The substituent at the 4-position may represent an aryl radical substituted by an alkenyl group or a group COOR v wherein R v may be an alkyl group, or the substituent at the 4-position may represent an aryl radical substituted by an alkyl group which in turn may be substituted by the group COOR v . There is no suggestion to extend this very wide definition even further to include 4-substituents in which the phenyl group is substituted by an alkenyl group carrying a carboalkoxy group. Prog. Pharmacol., 5 , 25 (1982) is a review article relating to structure activity relationships in the calcium antagonist field. There is no suggestion of the group -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ as a substituent at the 2-position of the phenyl ring in 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives. The invention thus provides compounds of the general formula (I) wherein R₁ and R₄ independently represent a C₁₋₄ alkyl group; R₂ and R₃ independently represent a C₁₋₆ straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group; R₅ represents a C₂₋₉ straight or branched chain alkyl group; R₆ represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a straight or branched c₁₋₃ alkyl group; and R₇ represents a C₁₋₄ alkyl group [optionally substituted by hydroxy, C₁₋₃ alkoxy or trifluoromethyl or by a group -NR₈R₉ where NR₈R₉ forms a saturated 5 to 7 membered ring optionally containing one additional heteroatom which is oxygen]; or R7 represents a phenyl C₁₋₂ alkyl group in which the phenyl portion is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 C₁₋₃alkyl or C1-3alkoxy groups or halogen atoms. The compounds represents by formula (I) can exist in more than on isomeric and/or enantiomeric form and the invention includes all such isomers, enantiomers and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable groups for R₁ and R₄ independently include methyl and ethyl. Examples of suitable groups for R₂ and R₃ independently include C₁₋₄ alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, isobutyl or tertiary butyl or C1-4 alkyl (such as ethyl) substituted by C₁₋₃alkoxy (e.g. methoxy or propoxy). The qroup R₅ may for example be an ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptyl or octyl group. When the group R₆ represent a C₁₋₃ alkyl group this may for example be a methyl, ethyl or n-propyl group, and is preferably a methyl or ethyl group. When the group R₆ represents a halogen atom this may be for example a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom and is preferably a bromine atom. Examples of suitable groups for R₇ include methyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, hydroxyethyl, phenethyl, N-pyrrolidinoethyl and N-morpholinoethyl. The group -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ in the compounds of formula (I) can exist in the (Z) or the (E) configuration and preferred compounds are those in which the hydrogen atom and the group R₆ are trans with respect to each other. Preferably R₁ and R₄ represent methyl groups. R₂ and R₃ preferably independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl e.g. methyl or ethyl, more preferably ethyl. R₅ more preferably represents tert butyl. R₆ preferably represents a methyl or ethyl group or more preferably a hydrogen atom. R₇ preferably represents methyl or N-morpholinoethyl. Particularly preferred compounds according to the invention are 4-[2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl) phenyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester 4-[2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl) phenyl]-1,4- dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-[2(1-morpholino)-ethyl]-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester and more particularly the E isomers thereof. The ability of compounds of the invention to limit or inhibit the effect of calcium ions on the tone of vascular smooth muscle may be determined using a depolarised rabbit ear artery prepared according to the method of Towart. R. et al Br. J. Pharmacol. 1982, 75 , 1508. The antihypertensive activity of compounds of the invention was demonstrated by intravenous and/or oral administration of the compound to male spontaneously hypertensive rats. The compounds of the invention are thus of interest in the treatment of hypertension and diseases characterised by reversible airways obstruction such as asthma end chronic bronchitis. They are also potentially useful for the treatment of other cardiovascular disorders including angina pectoris, myocardial ischaemia, congestive heart failure, cerebral vascular and peripheral disorders. The compounds of the invention may be formulated in a conventional manner for use with one or more pharmaceutical carriers or excipients. Thus a further aspect of the invention includes pharmaceutical compositions the compounds of formula (I) and/or physiologically acceptable addition salts thereof formulated for oral, sub lingual, transdermal, parenteral or rectal administration, or for administration by inhalation or insufflation. For oral administration the pharmaceutical composition may take the form of for example tablets, which may be film or sugar coated, capsules, powders, granules, solutions including syrups, or suspensions prepared by conventional means with acceptable excipients. For sub lingual administration the composition may take the form of tablets or lozenges formulated in the conventional manner. A proposed daily dosage of active compound of the invention for the treatment of man is in the range of 0.03mg to 100mg, which may conveniently be administered in one or more doses. The precise dose employed will depend on the age and condition of the patient as well as the route of administration. For oral use the compounds of the invention are conveniently administered to the human patient at a dose in the range 0.3 to 100mg per day. For parenteral use the compounds of the invention are conveniently administered at a dose in the range of 0.03-30mg per day. For administration by inhalation use the compounds of the invention are conveniently administered to the human patient at a dose in the range of 0.1mg to 10mg per day. For oral use the compound is preferably administered twice or more particularly once a day. Methods for preparing the compounds of formula (I) are described below and for the intermediates described below R₁-R₇ have the meanings defined above for compounds of formula (I) or are such groupings in a protected form unless otherwise stated. Thus according to one general process (I) the compounds of formula (I) may be prepared by reaction the α,β-unsaturated ketone (II) with the aminoester (III). The reaction is conveniently carried out in a solvent such as an alkanol, e.g. ethanol or isopropanol and preferably with heating e.g. 40-150°C. The α,β-unsaturated ketone (II) may be prepared by reacting the aldehyde (IV) with the ketoester (V), in a solvent such as an alkanol e.g. ethanol or isopropanol, preferably with heating e.g. 40-150°C. Conveniently this reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst such as piperidine acetate. In a modification of this process for preparing compounds of formula (I), the aldehyde (IV) may be reacted with a mixture of the aminoester (III) and the ketoester (V) under the conditions previously described for the reaction of the α,β-unsaturated ketone (II) with the aminoester (III). Compounds of formula (I) and in particular the E isomers thereof in which R₁ and R₄ are the same and R₂ and R₃ are the same may be prepared by reacting the aldehyde (IV) with the aminoester (III) in the presence of a suitable acid catalyst. Examples of suitable acid catalysts include organic acids such as oxalic acid, alkanoic acids e.g. acetic acid or haloalkanoic acids such as trichloroacetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid or pyridinium salts thereof, or a sulphonic acid such as an alkanesulphonic acid e.g. methanesulphonic acid or an arylsulphonic acid e.g. benzenesulphonic acid or p-toluenesulphonic acid or a tetrahaloboric acid such as tetrafluoroboric acid. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a solvent and at a temperature within the range of -70° to 30°C preferably -30° to 10°C. Suitable solvents for the reaction include aprotic solvents such as hydrocarbons, e.g. hexane or cyclohexane, acetonitrile or ethers such as tertiary butyl methyl ether, dioxan or tetrahydrofuran, or protic solvents such as an alkanol e.g. methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol. Compounds of formula (I) and more particularly the E isomers thereof in which R₁ and R₄ are the same and R₂ and R₃ are the same may also be prepared by reacting the aldehyde (IV) with the ketoester (V) and an amine R₇NH₂ (VI) or a salt thereof, e.g. the hydrochloride. This reaction is conveniently carried out in a solvent such as pyridine with heating at 50- 120°C, conveniently at reflux. Compounds of formula (IV) may be prepared by reacting the bis aldehyde (VII) with the triphenylphosphorane (VIII) in solvent such as methylene chloride or toluene. Compounds of formula (IV) may also be prepared by reacting a 2-halobenzaldehyde (IX) (where Hal represents a bromine or iodine atom) with an acrylic ester CH₂=CR₆CO₂R₅ (X), in the presence of a catalytic amount of a palladium salt such as palladium acetate, in the presence of a suitable organic base such as a trialkylamine e.g. triethylamine or tri-n-butylamine. The reaction is also preferably carried out in the presence of a triarylphosphine such as tri-o-tolyphosphine, or more preferably, triphenylphosphine. The reaction is conveniently carried out in a suitable solvent such as xylene or t-butyl acetate, or more conveniently in dimethylformamide or in a mixture of solvents e.g. xylene/dimethylformamide, preferably with heating. The reaction mixture is preferably heated within the temperature range of 80°C to 150°C, more preferably at 100°C to 110°C. The compounds of formulae (III), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX) and (X) are either known compounds or may be made by analogous processes to those used for known compounds. According to another general process (2) the compounds of formula (I) may be prepared from compounds of formula (I) in which R₇ represents hydrogen by standard alkylation procedures using an alkylhalide R₇Hal (XI) (where Hal represents a halogen atom e.g. iodine). The reaction is carried out in a solvent such as an amide e.g. dimethylformamide in the presence of an alkali metal hydride (e.g. sodium hydride) or an alkali metal alkoxide. The compounds of formula (I) in which R₇ represents hydrogen may be prepared according to the method of general process (I) using a compound of formula (III) in which R₇ is a hydrogen atom. The compounds of formula (XI) are either known compounds or may be made by analogous methods to those used for known compounds. According to another general process (3) compounds of formula (I) in which the hydrogen atom and the group R₆ in the moiety -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ are trans with respect to each other may prepared from compounds of formula (XII) (where Hal represents bromine or iodine) by reaction with an acrylic ester The reaction takes place in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium salt such as palladium acetate in the presence of a suitable organic base such as trialkylamine e.g. triethylamine or tri-n-butylamine. The reaction is also preferably carried out in the presence of a triaryphosphine such as tri-o-tolyphosphine or triphenylphosphine. The reaction is conveniently carried out in the suitable solvent such as xylene or t-butyl acetate, or more conveniently in dimethylformamide or in a mixture of solvents e.g. xylene/dimethylformamide, preferably with heating. The reaction mixture is preferably heated within the range of 60° to 150°C, more preferably at 80° to 110°C. Compounds of formula (XII) in which R₇ is as defined in formula (I) may be prepared by alkylating the corresponding compounds of formula (XII) in which R₇ represent a hydrogen atom according to the method of general process (2). The compound of formula (XII) in which R₇ represents a hydrogen atom or a group as defined in formula (I) may be prepared by reacting the 2-halobenzaldehyde (IX) with the aminoester (III) (where R₇ is a hydrogen atom or a group as defined in formula (I)) and/or the ketoester (V) according to the conditions described above for the reaction between the compounds of formula (IV) and the aminoester (III) and/or the ketoester (V). The following examples illustrate the invention. Temperatures are in °C. Intermediate 1 4-(2-Bromophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-pyridinecarboxylic acid, diethyl ester Intermediate 2 (E)-4-(2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl)phenyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester Intermediate 3 4-(2-Bromophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-[2-(1-morpholinyl)]ethyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethyl ester A suspension of sodium hydride (80% in mineral oil) (0.65g) in DMF (5ml) was cooled to 0° and a solution of Intermediate (1) (3g) in DMF was added dropwise over 30 min, keeping the temperature at 15° or less. After the addition was complete, N-(2-chloroethyl) morpholine hydrochloride (2.7g) was added in portions over 25min, keeping the temperature at approximately 15°. The mixture was heated at 80° for 3 h and after cooling to room temperature the reaction mixture was poured in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and filtered. Evaporation of the solvent and crystallisation from ethyl acetate gave the title compound (1.2g) as a white solid. M.p. 130-135°. T.l.c. (ethyl acetate/diethyl ether 1:1) Rf 0.4. Example 1 4-(E)-[2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl)phenyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester A suspension of sodium hydride (80% in mineral oil) (0.15g) in dimethylformamide (3ml) was cooled to 0° and a solution of Intermediate (2) (1.5g) in DMF was added dropwise over 30 mins, keeping the temperature at 15° or less. After the addition was complete, methyl iodide (0.31ml) in DMF was added dropwise, keeping the temperature at approximately 15°. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 min and then poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ and filtered. Evaporation of the solvent and crystallization from ethyl acetate yielded the title compound (0.7g) as white crystals. M.p. 149-151°. T.l.c. (petrol/ethyl acetate 6:4) Rf 0.5 Example 2 4-(E)-[2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl)phenyl]-1,4- dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-[2-(1-morpholino)ethyl]-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester A mixture of Intermediate 3 (i) (1g), tertiary butylacrylate (0.4ml), palladium acetate (4mg), triphenylphosphine (20mg), tri-butylamine (0.57ml) and DMF (2ml) was heated in a capped bottle at 100°C for 24 h. The cooled solid reaction mixture was poured in ethyl acetate, filtered off and the clear solution obtained was evaporated to dryness to leave a brown oil. Flash chromatography of the oil eluting with ethyl acetate/petroleum ether 8:2 gave the title compound (640mg) as white solid. M.p. 175-177°. T.l.c. (ethyl acetate) Rf 0.3

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, LI, LU, NL, SE Compound of the general formula (I) in which R₁ and R₄ independently represent a C₁₋₄ alkyl group; R₂ and R₃ independently represent a C₁₋₆ straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group; R₅ represents a C₂-₉ straight or branched chain alkyl group; R₆ representsd a hydrogen or halogen atom or a straight or branched C₁₋₃ alkyl group; and R₇ represents a C₁₋₄ alkyl group optionally substituted by hydroxy, C₁₋₃ alkoxy or trifluoromethyl or by a group -NR₈R₉ where NR₈R₉ forms a saturated 5 to 7 membered ring optionally containing one additional heteroatom which is oxygen; or R₇ represents a phenyl C₁₋₂ alkyl group in which the phenyl portion is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 C₁₋₃ alkyl or C₁₋₃ alkoxy groups or halogen atoms. Compounds as claimed in Claim 1 in which R₁ and R₄ represent methyl groups. Compounds as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which R₂ and R₃ independently represent a methyl or ethyl group. Compounds as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 in which R₂ and R₃ each represent an ethyl group. Compounds as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which R₅ represents tert butyl. Compounds as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 in which R₆ represents a hydrogen atom. Compounds as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which R₇ represents methyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, hydroxyethyl, phenethyl, N-pyrrolidinoethyl or N-morpholinoethyl. Compounds as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 in which R₇ represents methyl or N-morpholinoethyl. A compound selected from 4-[2-(3-(1,1-dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl) phenyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester 4-[2-(3-(1,1-dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl) phenyl]-1,4- dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-[2-(1-morpholino)ethyl]-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester. Compounds as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 in which the hydrogen atom and the group R₆ in the moiety -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ are trans with respect to each other. A process for the preparation of a compound of general formula (I) as defined in any of Claims 1 to 10 which comprises: (a) reacting a compound of formula (II) in which R₁, R₂, R₅ and R₆ have the meanings defined in Claim 1 with the aminoester (III) in which R₃ , R₄ and R₇ have the meanings defined in Claim 1 (b) reacting the aldehyde of formula (IV) with an aminoester of formula (III) and the ketoester of formula (V), in which the respective groups R₆, R₅, R / , R₄, R₃, R₂ and R₁ have the meanings defined in Claim 1 (c) the preparation of compounds of formula (I) in which R₁ and R₄ are the same and R₂ and R₃ are the same by reacting the aldehyde (IV) with (I) the aminoester of formula (III) or (2) a ketoester of formula (V) in the presence of an amine R₇NH₂ (VI) (d) alkylating the corresponding compound formula (I) in which R₇ represent hydrogen (e) the preparation of compounds of formula (I) in which the hydrogen atom and the group R₆ in the moiety -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ are trans with respect to each other by reacting a compound of formula (XII) in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄ and R₇ have the meanings defined in Claim 1 and Hal represents bromine or iodine with an acrylic ester CH₂=CR₆CO₂R₅ in the presence of a palladium salt and an organic base Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10 in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in Claim 12 in a form suitable for oral, sub lingual, transdermal, parenteral or rectal administration, or for administration by inhalation or insufflation. A compound as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10 or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof for use as an active therapeutic agent. Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, ES, GR A process for preparing compounds of the general formula (I) in which R₁ and R₄ independently represent a C₁₋₄ alkyl group; R₂ and R₃ independently represent a C₁₋₆ straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group; R₅ represents a C₂₋₉ straight or branched chain alkyl group; R₆ representsd a hydrogen or halogen atom or a straight or branched C₁-₃ alkyl group; and R₇ represents a C₁-₄ alkyl group optionally substituted by hydroxy, C₁-₃ alkoxy or trifluoromethyl or by a group -NR₈R₉ where NR₈R₉ forms a saturated 5 to 7 membered ring optionally containing one additional heteroatom which is oxygen; or R₇ represents a phenyl C₁₋₂ alkyl group in which the phenyl portion is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 C₁₋₃ alkyl or C₁₋₃ alkoxy groups or halogen atoms which comprises : (a) reacting a compound of formula (II) in which R₁, R₂, R₅ and R₆ have the meanings defined for formula (I) with the aminoester (III) in which R₃, R₄ and R₇ have the meanings defined for formula (I) (b) reacting the aldehyde of formula (IV) with an aminoester of formula (III) and the ketoester of formula (V), in which the respective groups R₆, R₅, R₇, R₄, R₃, R₂ and R₁ have the meanings defined for formula (I) (c) the preparation of compounds of formula (I) in which R₁ and R₄ are the same and R₂ and R₃ are the same by reacting the aldehyde (IV) with (I) the aminoester of formula (III) or (2) a ketoester of formula (V) in the presence of an amine R₇NH₂ (VI) (d) alkylating the corresponding compound formula (I) in which R₇ represent hydrogen (e) the preparation of compounds of formula (I) in which the hydrogen atom and the group R₆ in the moiety -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ are trans with respect to each other by reacting a compound of formula (XII) in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄ and R₇ have the meanings defined for formula (I) and Hal represents bromine or iodine, with an acrylic ester CH₂=CR₆CO₂R₅ in the presence of a palladium salt and an organic base A process as claimed in Claim 1 for preparing compounds in which R₁ and R₄ represent methyl groups. A process as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 for preparing compounds in which R₂ and R₃ independently represent a methyl or ethyl group. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 for preparing compounds in which R₂ and R₃ each represent an ethyl group. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 for preparing compounds in which R₅ represents tert butyl. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 for preparing compounds in which R₆ represents a hydrogen atom. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 for preparing compounds in which R₇ represents methyl or N-morpholinoethyl. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 for preparing compounds in which R₇ represents methyl or N-morpholinoethyl. A process as claimed in Claim 1 for preparing a compound selected from 4-[2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl) phenyl]-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester 4-[2-(3-(1,1-Dimethylethoxy)-3-oxo-1-propenyl) phenyl]-1,4- dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-1-[2-(1-morpholino)ethyl]-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid diethylester. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 for preparing compounds in which the hydrogen atom and the group R₆ in the moiety -CH=CR₆CO₂R₅ are trans with respect to each other.

Inventors: BORTHWICK, ALAN DAVID, GAVIRAGHI, GIOVANNI, MICHELI, DINO, PIERACCIOLI, DANIELE, SEMERARO, CLAUDIO
Applicants: GLAXO S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C07D211
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P9, C07D211