A Novel Series of 2,6,7-Substituted 2,3-Dihydro-1,4-Benzodioxin and 2,6,7-Substituted 1,4-Benzodioxin Derivatives as Lipid Peroxidation Inhibitors. Structure−Activity Relationships for High Inhibition of Human Low-Density Lipoprotein Peroxidation

A series of 6- or 7-substituted 2-carboxamido- or 2-(aminomethyl)-1,4-benzodioxin and -2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated to determine the necessary structural requirements for a high inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein copper-induced peroxidation. The most active compounds (21, 25, 28, 36, and 37) were found between 5 and >45 times more active than probucol itself. Due to both their potency and their structural features, compounds 25 and 36 were selected with others for complementary in vitro and in vivo investigations. Both of them exhibit calcium antagonist properties in the same range of potency as flunarizine itself. Compound 36 was also found to have significant hypolipaemic activity in mice at 100 and 300 mg/kg po, while compound 25 proved to be clearly active in a normobar hypoxia test.