A group of racemic 3-isopropyl 5-[2-piperazin-1-yl)ethyl] 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(pyridyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylates (12a-c), 3-isopropyl 5-{2-[4-nitrosopiperazinyl]ethyl] 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(pyridyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylates (14a-c) and 3-isopropyl 5-{2-[(O-2-acetoxymethyldiazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate)(N,N-dialkylamino or 4-piperazin-1-yl)]ethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6dimethyl-4-(pyridyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylates (22-30) were prepared using modified Hantzsch reactions. This group of compounds (12a-c, 14a-c, and 22-30) exhibited less potent calcium channel antagonist activity (IC50 = 0.11 to 3.35 PM range) than the reference drug nifedipine (IC50 = 0.01 muM). The point of attachment of the isomeric C-4 substituent was a determinant of calcium channel antagonist activity providing the potency profile 2-pyridyl greater than or equal to 3-pyridyl greater than or equal to 4-pyridyl. The N-nitrosopiperazinyl compounds (14a-c) did not release nitric oxide. The prodrugs 22-30 that have a C-5 2[(O-2-acetoxymethyldiazen-1-ium-1,2diolate)(N,N-dialkylamino or 4-piperazin-1-yl)]ethyl ester substituent, upon incubation with guinea pig serum, undergo consecutive cleavage of the O-2-acetoxymethyl moiety to give a nitric oxide donor diazenium-1-ium-1,2-diolate species that subsequently releases nitric oxide. The extent of nitric oxide released from the diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate group is dependent upon the nature of the amino functionality attached directly to the diazen-1-ium N-1 position where the nitric oxide release profile is 1,4-piperazinyl > N-Et > N(n-Bu) much greater than N-Me upon exposure to guinea pig serum esterase(s). The results from this study suggest this class of hybrid calcium channel antagonist/nitric oxide donor prodrugs should release the vasodilator nitric oxide in vivo, preferentially in the vascular endothelium, to enhance the smooth muscle calcium channel antagonist effect to produce a combined synergistic antihypertensive effect. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
