Molecular conformations of aminophenylimidazoles exhibiting antiulcer activities

To experimentally clarify a possible stereostructure-activity relationship proposed for H2-receptor antagonists, three 5-aminophenylimidazoles (1, 2 and 3), in which respective amino groups are located on the ortho, meta and para positions of the benzene ring, were synthesized and examined for their conformational characteristics using X-ray diffraction and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) methods, and for antiulcer activities on rats and H2-receptor antagonist activities in guinea pig. The ortho isomer 1, which preferentially formed an intramolecular N-H (amino)...N (imidazole) hydrogen bond, showed the highest antiulcer activity with half the efficacy of cimetidine. On the other hand, none of 1, 2 and 3 showed significant H2-receptor antagonist activity. Based on these results, the conformational characteristic for the exhibition of antiulcer activity has been discussed.