Novel 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) receptor antagonists. II. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-benzimidazole derivatives.

A novel series of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-benzimidazole derivatives 4,5,6 and 7 was prepared and evaluated for activities as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) receptor antagonists which may be useful for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as well as nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. These compounds were designed by modifying the aromatic-carbonyl part of N-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-5-benzimidazolylcarboxamide 3, leaving the imidazole moiety unchanged as the amine part. The indole derivatives 7d, g, h and indolizine derivatives 7k, l were found to be highly potent on the von Bezold-Jarisch (B.J.) reflex test with ID50 values of below 0.1 microgram/kg, and the indoline derivative 6c, indole derivatives 7a, d, g, benzofurane derivative 7j and indolizine derivative 7k were observed to be very potent on the colonic contraction with IC50 values of below 0.1 microM. In particular, 7l was the most potent on the B.J. reflex (ID50 = 0.018 microgram/kg), approximately 200 and 50 times more potent than ondansetron 1 and granisetron 2, and 7k was the most potent on the colonic contraction (IC50 = 0.011 microM), approximately 70 and 6 times more potent than 1 and 2, respectively.