Kelley J L, Linn J A, Bankston D D, Burchall C J, Soroko F E, Cooper B R
Division of Organic Chemistry, Burroughs Wellcome Co., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 22709, USA.
J Med Chem. 1995 Sep 1;38(18):3676-9. doi: 10.1021/jm00018a029.
Eleven substituted 8-amino-3-benzyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a] pyrazines were synthesized and tested for anticonvulsant activity against maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) in rats. The compounds were prepared in four stages from the phenylacetonitriles. I. The intermediate (2,2,2-triethoxyethyl)benzenes III were condensed with 2-chloro-3-hydrazinopyrazine (IV) to provide the 3-benzyl-8-chloro-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazines V. The latter were converted to the 8-amine targets VI with methylamine or ammonia. Several compounds exhibited potent activity against MES; the 3-(2-fluorobenzyl)-8-(methylamino) and 3-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)-8-(methylamino)congeners (4 and 12) exhibited the best anticonvulsant activity with oral ED50S of 3 mg/kg. The 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine ring system serves as a bioisostere of the purine ring for anticonvulsant activity; however, these agents exhibit less propensity to cause emesis.
