Synthesis and evaluation of novel phenoxypropanolamine derivatives containing acetanilides as potent and selective β3-adrenergic receptor agonists

In the search for potent and selective human β3-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists as potential drugs for the treatment of obesity and noninsulin-dependent (type II) diabetes, a novel series of phenoxypropanolamine derivatives containing acetanilides were prepared and their biological activities were evaluated at the human β3-, β2-, and β1-ARs. Several of the analogues (21a, 21b, and 27a) exhibited potent agonistic activity at the β3-AR. Among the compounds described herein, the N-methyl-1-benzylimidazol-2-ylacetanilide derivative (21b) was found to be the most potent and selective β3-AR agonist, with an EC50 value of 0.28 μM and no agonistic activity for either the β1- or β2-AR. In addition, 21b showed significant hypoglycemic activity in a rodent diabetic model.

Among a novel series of phenoxypropanolamine derivatives containing acetanilide synthesized and evaluated for agonistic activities at the human β-ARs, compound 21b was found to be the most potent and selective β3-AR agonist.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide