Substituted pyridine compounds, their production, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) or their salts are nephrovascular tract dilators wherein

Description: This invention provides compounds (I) and salts thereof wherein is and R⁴ is hydrogen or lower alkylsulfonyl and R is hydrogen or halogen. US-A-4282227, EP-A-0040956 and Chem.Abs, vol.107, abstract No.513385q of 17 August 1987 disclose renal vasodilator compounds which differ from those of formula (I) above in that the "A" moiety is thienyl or phenyl. The above definitions apply throughout this specification. These compounds act directly upon dopamine receptor present in renal vascular tracts, and are useful as nephrovascular dilators. The kidney is an important organ which participates in maintaining homeostasis of the circulatory system. If blood circulation insufficiency occurs in this organ, renal functions decrease to disrupt homeostasis of the circulatory system, thus inducing, maintaining or aggravating diseases of circulatory organs, such as hypertension and cardiac insufficiency. Vasodilators and diuretics have been used for the treatment of these diseases, but no known vasodilator particularly dilates renal vascular tracts. It is also known that conventional diuretics tend to upset the balance among electrolytes. Dopamine shows diuretic and nephrovascular dilating effects, but it has unfavorable (vasoconstricting and heart-rate increasing) effects, it cannot be orally administered, and its effect is not well maintained. Thus, there is no drug presently available which is suited for clinical use. We have tried to develop new compounds which act directly upon dopamine receptor in renal vascular tracts, can be orally administered, and maintain their effect over long periods. This invention provides compounds (I) and salts thereof, a process for preparing them and nephrovascular dilators containing them as active ingredient. Compounds (I) form salts; pharmacologically acceptable salts include inorganic salts such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, sulfates, phosphates and nitrates, and organic salts such as maleates, fumarates, benzoates, ascorbates, methanesulfonates and tartrates. In the definitions of the formula (I) compounds, "lower alkyl" means C₁ to C₅ straight or branched chain alkyl, examples being methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, etc. Examples of "halogen" are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. The compounds of this invention have an asymmetric carbon atom in the tetrahydropyridine ring, and sometimes in lower alkyl groups, and all optical isomers based on any asymmetric carbon, individually and in all combinations thereof, are included in this invention. Compounds (I) of this invention may be prepared by the methods described below. Method 1 (wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are hydroxyl groups which may optionally be protected; and R⁵ is hydrogen atom or a protective group for the nitrogen atom; A' is a monovalent version of i.e. (where R⁴ is an amino-protective group or as previously defined). This method comprises cyclization of compound (II), followed by removal of protective group(s) when required. Examples of protective groups for hydroxyls in the starting materials (II) are linear and branched lower alkyls such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl, and aralkyls such as benzyl, benzhydryl and phenethyl. Suitable protective groups for the nitrogen atom(s) include the latter lower alkyls and aralkyls, tri(lower)alkylsilyl groups such as trimethylsilyl and substituted and unsubstituted acyl groups such as formyl, acetyl, propionyl, trifluoroacetyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, methoxyacetyl, methoxypropionyl and benzyloxycarbonyl. Compounds (I) can be prepared by subjecting compound (II) to intramolecular cyclization by the action of cyclizing agent capable of forming carbonium ion from the alcoholic hydroxyl in compound (II), such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid in trifluoroacetic acid, polyphosphoric acid, esters of polyphosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid in dichloromethane, hydrogen bromide, and Lewis acids (e.g., boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride and stannic chloride). There is no specific limitation upon the reaction temperature; the reaction can be performed under ice cooling or under reflux, with the reaction time being set in each case depending on other factors. When the reaction products contain protective groups, these may be removed by catalytic reduction (e.g. catalytic hydrogenation) or by treatment with boron tribromide, hydrobromic acid, aluminum chloride, trimethylsilyl iodide or hydroiodic acid. The protective group on the nitrogen atom may be removed simultaneously with protective groups on hydroxyl groups, or in a separate step (for example, by treatment with cyanogen bromide, hydrochloric acid or ammonia water, hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst, or other suitable methods). Method 2 A'' in formula (III) represents the group Compounds (I) can be prepared by reduction of nitro compound (III), followed by removal of protective groups(s) when required. This reduction may be effected by the use of a sulfur compound, such as sodium sulfate, sodium hydrosulfide, sodium dithionite or ammonium sulfide; by catalytic reduction in the presence of platinum, platinum black, palladium-carbon ( Pt-C ) or Raney nickel, or by reduction using a metal hydride such as lithium aluminum hydride. Any solvents inert to the reaction may be used, including alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, dioxane, benzene and toluene. The reaction is carried out at a temperature set depending on the type of reducing agent used ( under ice cooling or at elevated temperatures ). Protective groups of the nitrogen atom and hydroxyl groups can be simultaneously removed in this reducing step if the reaction is conducted under appropriate conditions. Method 3 Compounds (I) can be prepared by reduction of carbonyl compound (III), followed by removal of the protective groups(s) when required. The carbonyl compounds (III) used in this reaction may be obtained by subjecting alcohol (IV) to intramolecular cyclization by the action of a cyclizing agent, such as those listed in Method 1. Carbonyl compound (III) thus obtained is treated with a reducing agent, such as borane, diborane, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride plus propionic acid, aluminum hydride diisobutyl or aluminum hydride bis(2-methoxyethoxy)sodium, and protective group(s) are removed as required, giving compound (I) . Any solvents inert to the reaction may be used, for example, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, benzene or dioxane. The reaction is carried out at a temperature set depending on the type of reducing agent used ( under ice cooling or at elevated temperatures ). Protective groups can be removed as in Method 1. Compounds (I) can be isolated and purified in the form of free amine or salt thereof by commonly employed techniques, for example, extraction, crystallization, recrystallization and various types of chromatography. Compounds of this invention are efficiently absorbed when administered orally and are effective for treating diseases of circulatory organs, such as renal insufficiency, cardiac insufficiency and hypertension. In the treatment of hypertension, in particular, these compounds may provide an etiologically effective medicine unlike conventional symptomatic drugs. Compounds of this invention dilate nephrovascular tracts, and this action is exerted through dopamine receptor. The compounds also dilate vascular tracts of other organs, and act directly upon renal tubules, thus showing a diuretic effect. In addition, these compounds may be effective for the prevention of oliguria during and after operation and for the treatment of visceral hyperfunction, edemas, arterioscrelosis and blood coagulation. These pharmacological effects were confirmed by the test described below. Male and female mongrel dogs weighing 11 to 16 kg were anesthetised with pentobarbital ( 30 mg/kg i.v. ), and artificial respiration was started by means of a cannula inserted into the trachea of each dog. Throughout the test, pentobarbital was continuously administered ( 3 to 5 mg/kg/h ) into the vein of the right forelimb to maintain a constant anesthetic condition. A cannula for drug administration was inserted into the vein of the right thigh. The systemic blood pressure was measured by means of a pressure transducer, with a cannula inserted into the artery of the right thigh. The heart rate was measured using a cardiotachometer driven by pulse waveform. Incision was made from the flank to the posterior wall of the peritoneum to expose the kidney, a probe was set to the renal artery, and the rate of renal blood flow was measured with an electromagnetic blood flowmeter. After setting the probe, an injection needle for drug administration connected to a polyethylene tube was inserted at the origin of the renal artery. Each of the compounds tested was quickly injected in the form of a 0.2 ml solution, followed by continuous injection of physiological saline ( 0.5 ml/min to ensure its rapid spreading in the renal artery. All the test values are expressed as percentage change in the rate of blood flow, with the value immediately before administration taken as 100%. Administration of the compounds of this invention into the renal artery of dogs put under anesthesia at doses of 0.3 to 100 µg showed increases in the rate of blood flow proportional to the amounts administered, with an increase of about 35% being observed at the highest dose. Some compounds at doses of 0.3-30µg showed increases with an increase of about 40% being observed at the highest dose (30µg). Preparations containing, as active ingredient, at least one of the compounds of this invention may be manufactured in the form of tablets, powder, beadlets, granules, capsules, pills, injections, suppositories, ointment or poultices by using carriers, excipients and other commonly employed additives, and are orally ( including sublingually) or parenterally administered. The suitable daily dose of the compounds of this invention should be determined according to physical condition, body weight, age, sex and other factors of particular patients, but is normally 50 to 1000 mg for adults ( given all at one time or subdivided into several doses ). Reference Example 1 Zinc iodide ( 0.98 g ) was added to a solution of 6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde ( 5.2 g ) in 55 ml tetrahydrofuran, trimethylsilyl-nitrile ( 4.92 ml ) was further added dropwise with stirring under ice cooling in an argon gas atmosphere, and stirring under ice cooling was continued for two hours. The resulting mixture was then stirred at room temperature for four hours, 4.11 ml methanol was added under ice cooling, and the solvents were distilled off. To the residue were added 50 ml methanol and 0.65 g citric acid, and the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature and concentrated. The residue was treated with chloroform and water, and the chloroform layer was collected and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off, and the residue was recrystallized from chloroform/n-hexane, affording 3.28 g of pure α-(cyano)-6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol, m.p. 112-114 o C. Reference Example 2 To a suspension of 3.24 g α-(cyano)-6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol obtained in Reference Example 1 in 20 ml tetrahydrofuran, was added dropwise 33 ml of 1M solution of borane in tetrahydrofuran with stirring in a methanol/ice bath under an argon gas atmosphere, and the resulting solution was heated under reflux for three hours. After cooling the reaction mixture in an ice bath, methanol was added until gas evolution was no longer observed, the resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for one hour, and hydrogen chloride gas was introduced until the pH fell below 1. The crystals which separated out were collected, affording 3.34 g of α-(aminomethyl)-6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol hydrochloride, m.p. 223-226 o C. Reference Example 3 α-(Aminomethyl)-6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol hydrochloride ( 1.35 g ) obtained in Reference Example 2 and 2-acetamido-4-formyl-thiazole ( 1.0 g ) were suspended in 6.75 ml methanol, and 0.78 ml triethylamine was added dropwise to this suspension with stirring. The resulting solution was heated under reflux for 30 minutes, and 0.30 g sodium borohydride was added in small portions with stirring under ice cooling. The crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, washed with water and methanol in that order and vacuum-dried, giving 1.22 g of α-[[[(2-acetamido-4-thiazolyl)methyl]amino]methyl]-6-fluoro-3,4-di methoxybenzyl alcohol, m.p. 173-175 o C. Reference Example 4 α-(Aminomethyl)-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol hydrochloride ( 2.88 g ) and 2-acetamido-4-formyl-thiazole ( 2.1 g ) were suspended in 14 ml methanol, and 1.8 ml triethylamine was added dropwise to this suspension with stirring. The resulting solution was heated under reflux for 30 minutes, and 0.70 g sodium borohydride was added in small portions with stirring under ice cooling. The crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, washed with water and methanol in that order and vaccum-dried, giving 3.55 g of α-[[[(2-acetamido-4-thiazolyl)methyl]amino]methyl]-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol, m.p. 204-206 o C. Example 1 (1) A solution of 1.50 g α-[[[(2-acetamido-4-thiazolyl)methyl]amino]methyl]-6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol obtained in Reference Example 3 in 30 ml 6N-HCl was held at 60 o C overnight, the reaction mixture was cooled, and the crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, dissolved in 7.5 ml water and basified by addition of saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate. The crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, washed with a small amount of acetonitrile and vacuum-dried, affording 590 mg of 2-amino-7-(6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine, m.p. > 240 o C ( dec. ). (2) 2-Amino-7-(6-fluoro-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine ( 590 mg ) obtained above was dissolved in 12 ml of 48% hydrobromic acid, and the solution was heated under reflux for three hours. The crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, affording 750 mg of 2-amino-7-(6-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine dihydrobromide. (i) Elemental analysis ( as C₁₂H₁₄N₃O₂SBr₂F ): C(%) H(%) N(%) S(%) Br(%) F(%) Calcd. 32.53 3.18 9.48 7.24 36.06 4.29 Found 32.26 3.23 9.39 7.37 35.90 4.13 (ii) Melting point: >240 o C ( dec. ) (iii) Mass spectrometry ( FAB ): 282 ( M⁺ + 1 ) (iv) NMR spectrum ( d₆-DMSO; internal standard: TMS ): (ppm) 4.25 ( br-s, 2H ), 4.56 ( m, 1H ) 6.63 ( d, 1H ), 6.65 ( d, 1H ) Example 2 (1) A solution of 1.72 g α-[[[(2-acetamido-4-thiazolyl)methyl]amino]methl]-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol obtained in Reference Example 4 in 34 ml 6N-HCl was held at 60 o C overnight, the reaction mixture was cooled, and the crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, dissolved in 8.5 ml water and basified by addition of saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate. The crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, washed with a small amount of acetonitrile and vacuum-dried, affording 510 mg of 2-amino-7-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine, m.p. > 240 o C ( dec. ). (2) 2-Amino-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine ( 480 mg ) obtained above was dissolved in 9.6 ml of 48% hydrobromic acid, and the solution was heated under reflux for three hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, the crystals which separated out were collected by filtration, affording 620 mg of 2-amino-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine dihydrobromide monohydrate. (i) Elemental analysis ( as C₁₂H₁₅N₃O₂SBR ): C(%) H(%) N(%) S(%) Br(%) Calcd. 32.52 3.87 9.48 7.24 36.06 Found 32.27 3.71 9.43 7.25 36.34 (ii) Melting point: >250 o C ( dec. ) (iii) Mass spectrometry ( FAB ): 264 ( M⁺ + 1 ) (iv) NMR spectrum ( d₆-DMSO; internal standard: TMS ): (ppm) 6.56 ( dd, 1H ), 6.68 ( d, 1H ) 6.76 ( d, 1H )

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : DE, CH, LI, GB, BE, FR, AT, IT, LU, NL, SE A compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof : wherein is and R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₅ alkylsulfonyl group and R is hydrogen or halogen. A compound according to claim 1 which is : 2-amino-7-(6-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine; or 2-amino-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo-[4,5-c]pyridine; or a salt of either of these. A pharmaceutical composition containing a pharmacologically acceptable compound according to claim 1 or 2. A process for preparing a compound of formula I, or a salt thereof : wherein is and R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₅ alkylsulfonyl group and R is hydrogen or halogen, the process comprising a) intramolecular cyclization of compound II followed by removal of protective group(s) when required, or b) reduction of compound V followed by removal of protective group(s) when required, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are hydroxyl groups which may optionally be protected, R⁵ is a hydrogen atom or a protective group for the nitrogen atom, and A' is in which R⁴ is an amino-protective group or as previously defined. A process according to claim 4 wherein in (a) the cyclizing agent is chosen from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid in trifluoroacetic acid, polyphosphoric acid, esters of polyphosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid in dichloromethane, hydrogen bromide, and Lewis acids including boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride and stannic chloride; or wherein in (b) the reducing agent is chosen from borane, diborane, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride plus propionic acid, aluminum hydride diisobutyl and aluminum hydride bis(2-methoxyethoxy)sodium. A process for preparing a compound according to claim 1, which comprises reduction of nitro compound III followed by removal of protective group(s) when required, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are hydroxyl groups which may optionally be protected, R⁵ is a hydrogen atom or a protective group for the nitrogen atom, and A'' is The use of a compound according to claim 1 or 2 for the preparation of a medicament for nephrovascular dilation. Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR A process for preparing a compound of formula I, or a salt thereof : wherein is and R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₅ alkylsulfonyl group and R is hydrogen or halogen, the process comprising intramolecular cyclization of compound II followed by removal of protective group(s) when required, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are hydroxyl groups which may optionally be protected, R⁵ is a hydrogen atom or a protective group for the nitrogen atom, and A' is in which R⁴ is an amino-protective group or as previously defined. A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cyclizing agent is chosen from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid in trifluoroactic acid, polyphosphoric acid, esters of, polyphosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid in dichloromethane, hydrogen bromide, and Lewis acids including boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride and stannic chloride. A process for preparing a compound of formula I as defined in claim 1 or a salt thereof, which comprises reduction of nitro compound III followed by removal of protective group(s) when required, wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are hydroxyl groups which may optionally be protected, R⁵ is a hydrogen atom or a protective group for the nitrogen atom, and A'' is A process for preparing a compound of formula I, or a salt thereof : wherein is and R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₅ alkylsulfonyl group and R is hydrogen or halogen, the process comprising reduction of compound V followed by removal of protective group(s) when required; wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are hydroxyl groups which may optionally be protected and R⁵ is hydrogen atom or a protective group for the nitrogen atom. A process according to claim 5 wherein the reducing agent is chosen from borane, diborane, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride plus propionic acid, aluminum hydride diisobutyl and aluminum hydride bis(2-methoxyethoxy)sodium. A method of forming a pharmaceutical composition which comprises combining with pharmaceutical carrier a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof : wherein is and R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₅ alkylsulfonyl group and R is hydrogen or halogen. A method according to claim 7 wherein the carrier is mixed with 2-amino-7-(6-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine; or 2-amino-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine; or a salt of either of these. The use, for the preparation of a medicament for nephrovascular dilation, of a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof wherein is and R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or C₁-C₅ alkylsulfonyl group and R is hydrogen or halogen. The use, for the preparation of a medicament for nephrovascular dilation, of 2-amino-7-(6-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine; or 2-amino-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine; or a salt of either of these.

Inventors: FUJIKURA TAKASHI, TANAKA AKIHIRO, TSUZUKI RYUJI, YATSU TAKEYUKI, YOKOTA MASAKI, FUJIKURA, TAKASHI, TANAKA, AKIHIRO, TSUZUKI, RYUJI, YATSU, TAKEYUKI, YOKOTA, MASAKI
Applicants: YAMANOUCHI PHARMA CO LTD, YAMANOUCHI PHARMACEUTICAL CO. LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C07D513
IPC codes: C07D495, C07D513