Synthesis and structure–activity relationships of amide derivatives of (4,4-difluoro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1-benzazepin-5-ylidene)acetic acid as selective arginine vasopressin V2 receptor agonists

A series of (4,4-difluoro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5H-1-benzazepin-5-ylidene)acetamide derivatives was synthesized, and their structure–activity relationships were examined in order to identify potent and selective arginine vasopressin V2 receptor agonists. Attempts to substitute other chemical groups in place of the 2-pyridilmethyl moiety of 1a led to the discovery that potent V2 binding affinity could be obtained with a wide range of functional groups. This structural tolerance allowed for the manipulation of other attributes, such as selectivity against V1a receptor affinity or avoidance of the undesirable inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP), without losing potent affinity for the V2 receptor. Some representative compounds obtained in this study were also found to decrease urine volume in awake rats.

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