A new series of imidazolyl nitrones spin traps has been synthesized and eva
luated pharmacologically. The salient structural feature of these molecules
is the presence of an imidazole moiety substituted by aromatic or heteroar
omatic cycles. This connectivity imparts to the nitrone superior neuroprote
ctive properties in vivo and in parallel reduced side effects and toxicity.
Thus compound 6a (a 2-phenylimidazolyl nitrone) administered intraperitone
ally protects (80%) mice from lethality induced by an intracerebroventricul
ar administration of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) an oxidant capable of
inducing neurodegenerative processes. Administration of the archetypal nit
rone phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) at an equimolar dose also affords some
protection (60%) in this test. However, this activity is accompanied by hy
pothermia, whereas no such effect is apparent for 6a. Moreover, previously
prepared nonsubstituted or alkyl-substituted imidazolyl nitrones were shown
to be extremely toxic to rats in contrast to the compounds prepared in thi
s study. The observed activities in vivo correlate well with the calculated
partition coefficients (ClogP) and HOMO energy level.