Preparation and pharmacological profile of 2-trifluoramethyl-benzo(8,9)-1,3-diaza-spiro (4,6)-undeca-2,8-diene and its enantiomers as new anti-obesity agents

Obesity affects a large population of industrialised countries in which occ urrence may reach 20 %. The multifactorial aspect of the pathology prompted us to develop new entities associating favourable effects on both eating b ehaviour and metabolic parameters The 2-trifluoromethyl-benzocyloheptene moiety has been combined with an imi dazoline ring for synthesising a new anti-obesity agent. Preparation of the already known 3-trifluoromethyl-5-H-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-benzocyclohepten-7- one as a key intermediate has been significantly improved, and an enantiose lective procedure has been developed for imidazoline construction. The synt heses and pharmacological profiles of the compounds are presented here, par ticularly the effects on eating behaviour and body weight, and the putative involvement of the L-enantiomer in the treatment of metabolic diseases.