Hypolipidemic activity of phthalimide derivatives V: Reduced and hydrolytic products of simple cyclic imides.

A series of cyclic imides and related compounds have previously been shown to possess hypolipidemic activity at the low dose level of 20 mg/kg/d. Hydrolytic and reduced products of the cyclic imides were synthesized and examined to discern if possible metabolic products were the active chemical species of these hypolipidemic agents. Phthalimide proved to be the most active cyclic imide tested. Unfortunately, the new products did not, in general, improve hypolipidemic activity in rodents. The exceptions were piperidine which demonstrated improved hypotriglyceridemic activity, and 3,4,5,6-dibenzohomopiperidin-2-one, which demonstrated improved hypocholesterolemic activity compared to phthalimide.