Hydroxyacetophenone-derived antagonists of the peptidoleukotrienes

Considerations of the possible similarities between leukotriene D4 and its prototypical antagonist, FPL 55712, led to the development of a new series of leukotriene antagonists incorporating a hydroxyacetophenone group (e.g., the toluic acids 16 and 18). Although considerable attention has focused on FPL 55712-derived analogues, only limited investigations into alternatives for the standard 4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-propylphenoxy moiety have been reported. Therefore, an extensive study of modifications to the hydroxyacetophenone portion of toluic acid 18 was undertaken. Although no viable alternative to the 3-hydroxy moiety was discovered, replacements for the 2-propyl group (34, 37) and the 4-acetyl functionality (56, 59) yielded potent antagonists. A number of compounds exhibited longer duration of action in vivo than FPL 55712.