Synthesis of coumarin derivatives as inhibitors of platelet aggregation

In a search for the inhibitors of platelet aggregation, certain coumarin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiplatelet activity against thrombin(Thr)-, arachidonic acid(AA)-, collagen(Col)-, and platelet-activating-factor(PAF)-induced aggregation in washed rabbit platelets. These compounds were synthesized from 4-hydroxycoumarin (1) or naphthalen-1-ol via alkylation and Reformatsky-type condensation (Schemes 1-3). Among them, 4-[(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4-methylidene-5-oxo-2-phenylfuran-2-yl)methoxy]-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (6b) showed potent antiplatelet effects on AA- and PAF-induced aggregation with IC50 values of 8.21 and 103.67 mu M, respectively (see Tables 1 and 2). The antiplatelet potency of 6b against PAF-induced aggregation could be further improved by introducing a proper substituent at the 2-phenyl group of the lactone ring.