Synthesis and antihypertensive activity of 6,7-disubstituted trans-4-amino-3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3-ols

A series of novel 6,7-disubstituted trans-3,4-dihydro-2, 2-dimethyl-4-pyrrolidino-(or piperidino)-2H-1-benzopyran-3-ols was prepared and tested for antihypertensive activity in the conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and compared with certain of their monosubstituted analogues. The potent blood pressure lowering activity of the 6-monosubstituted compounds was enhanced by incorporation of an acetylamino or amino group at C(7) and that of the 7-nitro-substituted compound by incorporation of an amino (but not an acetylamino group) at C(6). The combination of 6-nitro or 6-cyano with 7-(acetylamino) or 7-amino groups and 6-amino with 7-nitro groups in trans-4-pyrrolidino- or -4-piperidino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyranols conferred superior antihypertensive activity to hydralazine and to the calcium antagonist, nifedipine, in SHR. The synthetic route to these compounds involves the conversion of 2H-1-benzopyrans to bromohydrins that were treated with pyrrolidine or piperidine. Preparation of the 6-cyano-7-amino analogue was accomplished when 6-cyano-7-[(trifluoroacetyl)amino]-2,2-dimethylbenzopyran was used as starting material.