Structure-activity relationships in 1,4-benzodioxan-related compounds. Investigation on the role of the dehydrodioxane ring on alpha1-adrenoreceptor blocking activity

Several analogues of 2-[[[2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]methyl]-1,4-benzodioxan (WB 4101, 1) were prepared and evaluated for their blocking activity on alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoreceptors in the isolated rat vas deferens. The results were compared with those obtained for 1 and benoxathian (2). It was shown that the two oxygens at positions 1 and 4 may have a different role in receptor binding. It seems that the oxygen at position 4 as such does not contribute to the binding while it is important in stabilizing an optimal conformation for drug-receptor interaction mechanism. On the other hand, the oxygen at position 1 might interact with a receptor polar pocket of reduced size by way of a donor-acceptor dipolar interaction. Furthermore, it was shown that replacement of the dehydrodioxane ring of 1 by a phenyl or a pyrrole nucleus causes a significant decrease in activity.