Oral hypoglycemic agents. Discovery and structure-activity relationships of phenacylimidazolium halides.

Blood glucose levels in viable, yellow, obese, diabetic mice are reduced following oral administration of phenacylimidazolium halides. Compounds 2 and 3 produced reductions of ca. 40% 2 h after doses of 100 mg/kg po. Since these mice do not respond to sulfonylureas, the glucose-lowering activity of phenacylimidazolium salts in this model suggests a mechanism other than that of stimulating insulin secretion. Only phenacylimidazolium halides with electron-donating groups were active; other azolium salts or variations in the phenacyl portion (alterations in the keto function; chain lengthening or extensive branching) produced inactive compounds.