Synthesis and biological activity of 4-(diphenylmethyl)-alpha-[(4-quinolinyloxy)methyl]-1-piperazineethanol and related compounds.

A series of 4-(diphenylmethyl)-alpha-[(4-quinolinyloxy)methyl]-1-piperazineethanol and closely related compounds was synthesized and evaluated for cardiac and vascular activity in isolated perfused rat and guinea pig hearts. Compound 1 produced greater inotropic effects in rat hearts than in guinea pig hearts, a phenomenon which was also observed with the prototype agent DPI 201-106. Compound 15 produced an inotropic effect with one-tenth the potency of compound 1. Both compounds 1 and 15 demonstrated direct inotropic and vasodilatory effects when administered iv in anesthetized dogs, although the vasodilatory activity was more pronounced with compound 15 than 1 and DPI compound. Compound 1 lacks the CN moiety which is a key structural requirement in DPI for positive inotropic activity. The synthesis, in vitro, and in vivo evaluations of these agents, and comparative data with DPI-201-106 (compound 17) are reported.