Characterization of the solution degradation products of etintidine, an H2-receptor antagonist

The primary solution degradation products of the antiulcer drug etintidine (1, N"-cyano-N-[2-[[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl]thio]ethyl]- N'-2-propynylguanidine) were determined to be the guanyl urea 2, the guanidine 3, the amine 4a, and the cyanoamine 4b. These products resulted from nitrile hydrolysis and/or intramolecular cyclization of the guanidino and propargyl groups. The amine 4a was found to be a predominant degradation product in aqueous media of pH 4-7 at 70 +/- 0.2 degrees C.