Structure-activity studies on triazolothienodiazepine derivatives as platelet-activating factor antagonists

A series of triazolodiazepines was synthesized and evaluated for anti-platelet activating factor (PAF) activities. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on this series revealed that the introduction of a methyl group into the 8-position of the thienodiazepine nucleus can lead to a lengthening of the duration of action. Introduction of a methyl group produced an asymmetric center and the enantiomers so formed were separated with an optical resolving column. In the in vitro assay system, the (+)-isomers displayed 50-200 times more potent anti-PAF activity than the (-)-isomers. After comparison of toxicology and pharmacokinetics, (+)-6-(2-chlorophenyl)-3- cyclopropanecarbonyl-8,11-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-8H-pyrido[4' ,3':4,5]thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine (35(+)-isomer, E6123) was selected from among the compounds synthesized as a candidate for clinical study.