The present invention relates to isoindoles having cardiovascular activity, a process for the preparation thereof and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

The compounds of the invention have the following general formula:

wherein:

R, is selected from hydrogen; C,-C ₈ alkyl; benzyl optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxy, C,-C, alkoxy, methylenedioxy; C_-C _R aliphatic acyl; benzoyl optionally substituted with halogen, hydroxy, ^c - ^c ₆ alkoxy, C_-Cg alkanoyl, C ₂ ~ ^C 6 alkanoyloxy, C- -C . alkyl, trifluoromethyl, methylenedioxy;

R_ and R., are selected independently from hydro- gen; halogen; - \-- _A alkyl; trifluoromethyl; hydroxy; nitro; amino; mono or di C.-C. alkylamino; cyano; C,-C ₈ alkoxy; C ₂ -C _β alkoxycarbonyl;

Y is ethylene, or a straight or branched alkylene chain containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. A further object of the invention is provided by the salts of compounds of formula (I) with pharmaceuti¬ cally acceptable acids.

3-Substituted 1-oxo-isoindoles bearing a nitrooxy- alkylene chain as the substituent, whether the chain is

linked to the nitrogen atom or not, are not known from literature, including the patent one. On the contrary, phthalimido derivatives having coronary dilating activity, in which derivatives the nitrogen atom is substituted by a nitrooxyalkylene group, are known from EP-A-171.977. Moreover, phthalimidines substituted at the nitrogen atom by a nitrooxyalkylene chain having antianginal activity, are known from CA. 108, 186566t, page 688. As stated above, the compounds of the invention have cardiovascular activity. Particularly, they were found to have high in vitro vasorelaxing activities and a marked antianginal activity in the laboratory animal. Besides having such favourable biological activities, said compounds have a negligible hypotensive effect, which is known to be an undesired side-effect of the up-to-now known and used nitro-derivatives.

Therefore, the compounds of the invention could be used as antianginal agents. They also proved to have antiarrhytmic activity, which is another favourable feature since angina attacks are often accompanied by more or less marked arrhyt ias.

T*->e compounds of the invention can be prepared ac- cording to the following scheme 1:

SCHEME 1

(II) (IV ⁾

⁽ I) H

wherein X is halogen, whereas Y, R_ and R ₃ are as defi¬ ned above, and R. has the meanings defined for scheme 1.

The starting compound, 2-carboxybenzaldehyde of formula II in which the carboxy group has previously been activated, is reacted with a haloalkylamine (III) to give the product (IV) ; substitution of halogen X with a nitrooxy group by reaction with AgNO^ yields to compounds (la). Compounds (I) in which R. is different from H, can be obtained by acylation or alkylation or benzylation of compounds (la) according to conventional methods .

Step i) is carried out preferably in an inert solvent, such as, for example, an halogenated solvent, in the presence of an acid-binding agent, for example a suitable organic base. The reaction temperature is cora- prised between -10°C and 10°C, preferably between 0°C and 5°C.

Step ii) is carried out in a polar organic sol¬ vent, such as acetonitrile, at the reflux temperature of the solvent. Acylation of (la), according to step iii), can be carried out with acyl chlorides in the presence of a catalyst, such as dimethylaminopyridine, and a proton- binding agent, such as triethylamine; the reaction sol¬ vent is generally a poorly polar solvent, for example an open- or closed-chain ether, such as tetrahydrofu- ran.

Alkylation or benzylation of (la) according to step iii), on the contrary, can be carried out with suitable alkyl or benzyl halides in the presence of a strong base, for example sodium hydride or an alkali metal alkoxide, or by reacting the compound (la) with the selected alkanol or benzyl alcohol in the presence of strong acids.

When compounds of formula (I) are desired in which R and R_ are at the 5- and 6- positions and they are the same, an alternative preparation can be carried out according to the following scheme 2:

SCHEME 2

(VII)

wherein X, Y, R_ and R_ are as defined above. Phthalic anhydride of formula (V) is transformed into the corresponding phthalimide of formula (VI) by reaction with a α'-haloalkylamine of formula (III). Subsequently one of the phthalimide carbonyl groups is reduced to hydroxy by means of a suitable reducing agent, for example sodium bis- (2-methoxyethoxy)alumi- nium hydride (Red-Al 1"l*), in a suitable organic solvent, such as toluene, to obtain the compound of formula

(VII). The latter is then converted into the desired final products of formula (I) as described above. The reactive groups present in the aromatic ring can previously be protected according to conventional methods, with suitable substituents which can easily be removed to obtain the final products. Carboxyaldehydes of formula (II), Aj-haloalkylamines of formula (III) and phthalic anhydrides of formula (V) are commercially available products or they are prepared according to

known methods. Some phthalimides of formula (VI) are also commercial products and therefore they are used as such for the reduction of the above carbonyls.

H-NMR Spectra were recorded in dimeth lsulfoxide (DMSO-d6) with a VARIAN GEMINI 200 spectrometer. ¹³ C-

NMR Spectra were recorded using a VARIAN GEMINI 200 spectrometer, taking the 39.5 p.p.m. peak of dimethyl- sulfoxide (DMSO-d6) as the reference peak.

The following examples further illustrate the in- vention.

EXAMPLE 1 3-Hydroxy-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-l-oxoisoindolin

A. 3-Hydroxy-2-(2-chloroethyl)-l-oxoisoindolin

9.7 ml (0.101 mole) of ethyl chlorocarbonate were dropwise added to a solution of 15.2 g (0.101 mole) of

2-carboxybenzaldehyde in 500 ml of chloroform and 14.1 ml (0.101 mole) of triethylamine, cooled to 0°C. After

45 minutes, a solution of 11.7 g (0.101 mole) of 2- chloroethylamine hydrochloride in 200 ml of chloroform and 14.1 ml (0.101 mole) of triethylamine was dropwise added thereto. The obtained solution was kept at 0-5°C for 5 hours. After warming to room temperature, the mixture was washed with water, 5% sodium bicarbonate, again with water and finally dried over sodium sulfate. 19 g of a crude product were obtained, which was purified on silica gel column eluting with methylene chloride-acetone 10/1 (v/v) . 7 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 133-134°C (methylene chloride).

B. 3-Hydroxy-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-l-oxoisoindolin To a solution of 5 g (0.023 mole) of the product prepared in 1A in 150 ml of acetonitrile, 7.8 g (0.046

mole) of silver nitrate were added. The mixture was re- fluxed for 3 hours, shielded from light, then it was warmed to room temperature, the salts were filtered off and the solvent was evaporated off. The resulting crude product was taken up into methylene chloride, washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate. 6 g of the title product were obtained; mp=143-145°C (acetonitri¬ le) .

EXAMPLE 2 3-Acetoxy-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-1-oxoisoindolin

A solution of 17 g (0.070 mole) of the compound prepared in IB and 440 mg (0.004 mole) of 4-dimethyla- minopyridine in 6.7 ml (0.071 mole) of acetic anhydride and 9.9 ml (0.071 mole) of triethylamine was kept for 2 hours at room temperature under stirring. The mixture was taken up into methylene chloride, washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, water and finally dried over sodium sulfate. 23 g of crude product were obtained, which was purified on silica gel column eluting with methylene chloride-acetone 97/3 (v/v). 18 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 74-75°C (hexane).

EXAMPLE 3 3-Butoxycarbonyl-2-( -nitrooxyethyl)-1-oxoisoindolin

The compound was prepared as described in example 2, starting from 3.4 g (0.014 mole) of the compound prepared in IB, 170 mg (0.0014 mole) of dimethylami- nopyridine, 1.48 ml (0.014 mole) of n-butanoyl chloride and 1.95 ml (0.014 mole) of triethylamine. 2.27 g of the title product were obtained as an oil having the following characteristics: Elementary analysis:

% C % H % N calculated 54.54 5.23 9.09 found 54.11 5.25 9.00

¹ HNMR (<5ppm, DMSO-d6) 7.80÷7.60 (m, 4H) ; 7.16 (s, 1H) ; 4.88÷4.64 (m, 2H) ; 4.07÷3.94 ( , 1H) ; 3.75÷3.63

(m, 1H) ; 2.78 (t, 2H) 1.61 (m, 1H) 0.92 (t, 3H) . ¹³ CNMR

173.51; 167.60; 141.69; 133.26; 131.10; 130.69; 124.47;

123.30; 81.41; 71.44; 38.01; 35.56; 18.00; 13.61.

EXAMPLE 4 3-Benzoyloxy-2-(5-nitrooxyethyl)-l-oxoisoindolin

The compound was prepared as described in example 2, starting from 2 g (0.008 mole) of the compound prepared in IB, 51 mg (0.0004 mole) of dimethylaminopyridine, 1.14 ml (0.008 mole) of triethylamine and 0.95 ml (0.008 mole) of benzoyl chloride. 2.4 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 65-67 ^β C (hexane) .

EXAMPLE 5 3-Hydroxy-2-(5-nitrooxypentyl)-l-oxoisoindolin A. N-(5-Chloropentyl)phthalimide

A solution of 20.6 g (0.139 mole) of phthalic anhydride, 20 g (0.126 mole) of 5-chloropentylamine hy¬ drochloride and 17.6 ml (0.126 mole) of triethylamine in 250 ml of toluene was heated to 130°C for 4 hours. The obtained mixture was evaporated to dryness. The re¬ sidue was taken up into 200 ml of water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The phases were separated and the organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and evapo¬ rated to dryness. From the crude product, 23 g of the title product were obtained as an oil having the fol¬ lowing characteristics:

Elementary analysis:

% C % H % N % Cl calculate 62.03 5.61 5.56 14.08 found 61.98 5.45 5.31 14.00 ¹ HNMR ( ppm, DMSO-d6) 7.70÷7.61 (m, 4H) ; 3.80÷3.40

(m, 4H); 2.00*fH (m, 6H)

¹³ CNMR (ppm) 162.9; 149.9; 132.2; 129.9; 45.0; 44.9; 32.8; 28.4; 24.5.

B. 3-Hydroxy-2-(5-chloropentyl)-l-oxoisoindolin 22 g (0.087 mole) of the product prepared in 5A were dissolved in 200 ml of toluene and cooled to -20°C. 21.3 g (0.073 mole) of a 70% Red-AP ⁰ " solution in toluene diluted in 100 ml of toluene were dropwise added thereto. The obtained solution was kept at -20°C for 2 hours. The solution was warmed to room temperature, then 300 ml of water were added thereto. The formed salts were filtered off and the phases were separated. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 13 g of the title product; mp = 77-79°C (n-hexane).

C. 3-Hydroxy-2-(5-nitroo.xypentyl)-l-oxoisoindolin

The oroduct was prepared as described in IB, star¬ ting from 10 g (0.039 mole) of the compound prepared in 5B. 5.8 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 70- 72°C (ethyl ether).

EXAMPLE 6 3-Acetoxy-2-(5-nitrooxypentyl)-1-oxoisoindolin

The compound was prepared as described in 2, star¬ ting from 8 g of the product prepared in 5C. 3 g of the title product were obtained as an oil having the fol¬ lowing characteristics:

Elementary analysis:

% C % H % N calculated 54.19 5.85 9.03 found 54.03 5.64 8.98 ¹ HNMR (£ppm, DMS0-d6) 7.76÷7.58 (m, 4H) ; 7.07 (s,

1H) ; 4.52 (t, 2H) ; 3.69÷3.55 (m, 1H) ; 3.35÷3.21 (m, 1H) 2.16 (s, 3H); 1.78÷1.27 (m, 6H)

¹³ CNMR 171.05; 167.23; 141.46; 132.87; 131.64; 130.60; 124.41; 123.08; 81.01; 73.97; 39.83; 27.51; 25.95; 22.74; 21.11.

EXJ-iMPLE 7 3-Hydroxy-2- ( 2-ni trooxyethyl ) -1-oxoisoindolin

A. 3-Hydroxy-2-(2-bromoethyl)-1-oxoisoindolin

The compound was prepared as described in 5B, starting from 250 g (0.098 mole) of N-(2-bromoethyl)- phthalimide (commercial product). 8 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 123-124°C (methylene chloride) .

B. 3-Hydroxy-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-l-oxoisoindolin The compound was prepared as described in IB, starting from 7 g (0.027 mole) of the compound prepared in 7A. 5.3 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 143-145°C (acetonitrile).

EXAMPLE 8 3-(2-Acetoxybenzoyl)-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-1-oxoisoindo- lin

A solution of 6.98 ml (0.050 mole) of triethy¬ lamine in 300 ml of acetonitrile was added with 5 g (0.025 mole) of acetylsalicylic acid chloride dissolved in 30 ml of acetonitrile and 5 g (0.021 mole) of the product prepared in IB dissolved in 240 ml of

acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran 1/1 (v/v) . The solution was left at room temperature for 24 hours. The formed salts were removed and the solvent was evaporated under vacuum. The resulting crude product was purified over silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate-hexane 7-3

(v/v). 4.8 g of the title product were obtained; mp =

81-83°C (ethyl ether).

EXJ.MPLE 9

5-Chloro-3-hydroxy-2- (2-nitrooxyethyl ) -l-oxoisoindolin A. 5-Chloro-3-hydroxy-2- (2-bromoethyl ) -l-oxoisoindo- lin

The compound was prepared as described in example

1A, starting from 2.5 g (0.013 mole) of 4-chloro-2-car- boxybenzaldehyde (II farmaco, Ed. Sci 3_1, 691, 1976) and 2.76 g (0.013 mole) of 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide. 1.05 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 164-168°C (n-hexane).

B. 5-Chloro-3-hydroxy-2-(nitrooxyethyl)-1-oxoisoindo- lin The product was prepared as described in example

IB, starting from 1 g (0.003 mole) of the product pre¬ pared in 9A and 1.19 g (0.007 mole) of silver nitrate.

0.86 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 116-

118°C (toluene). EXA.MPLE 10

5,6-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-1-oxoisoin- dolin

A. 4,5-Dichloro-N-(2-chloroethyl)-phthalimide

The compound was prepared as described in example 5A, starting from 14 g (0.065 mole) of 4,5-dichlo- rophthalic anhydride (Beilstein 4 Ed. vol. 17 System

No 6143) and 7.51 g (0.065 mole) of 2-chloroethylamine monohydrochloride. 10.5 g of the title product were ob¬ tained; mp = 144-145°C (ethyl acetate)

B. 5, 6-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-2-(2-chloroethyl)-1-oxoiso- indolin

The compound was prepared as described in example 5B, starting from 9 g (0.032 mole) of the product pre¬ pared in 10A. 6.2 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 147-149°C (hexane) . C. 5, 6-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-2-(2-nitrooxyethyl)-1-oxoi- soindolin

The compound was prepared as described in example 5C, starting from 58 g (0.021 mole) of the product pre¬ pared in 10B. 2.2 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 145-147°C (acetonitrile).

EXAMPLE 11 3-Hydroxy-2-(3-nitrooxypropyl)-l-oxoisoindolin

A. 3-Hydroxy-2- (3-bromopropyl ) -l-oxoisoindolin

The compound was prepared as described in 5B, starting from 25 g (0.093 mole) of N-(3-bromopropyl)- phthalimide (commercial product). 24.3 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 79°C (methylene chloride).

B. 3-Hydroxy-2-(3-nitrooxypropyl)-1-oxoisoindolin

The compound was prepared as described in IB, starting from 10 g (0.037 mole) of the product prepared in 11A. 3 g of the title product were obtained; mp = 72-74°C (hexane/ether 8/2).

The following products were prepared according to the procedures described in the above Examples.

-Y-ONO, R, R.

2-nitrooxyethyl hydrogen 7-trifluoro hydrogen methyl acetyl 5-fluoro 7-fluoro

5-chloro 4-methyl

5-methoxy 6-methoxy

" hydrogen 5-nitro hydrogen " hexanoyl 7-chloro 5-nitro

3-nitrooxypropyl hydrogen 5-cyano hydrogen

II It 5-chloro 7-chloro

4-nitrooxybutyl acetyl 6-methyl 4-fluoro

" hydrogen 5-nitro hydrogen " benzoyl 5-ethyl

The activity of the compounds of the invention on the cardiocirculatory system was evidenced in the following tests. In vitro vasorelaxing activity

The vasorelaxing activity of the compounds of the invention was determined on rabbit aorta which had been contracted with noradrenaline, according to the method described in Eur. J. Pharmacol, 141, 195 (1987). The values are reported in the following table 1.

IC,- _n = concentration of active substance, expressed in mole/litre, able to inhibit by 50% the contraction of the aorta "strip" induced by noradrenaline. In vivo antianginal activity The in vivo antianginal activity was evidenced on Sprague Dawley anaesthetized rats, weighing 350-400 g, operating according to the procedure of M. Leitold et al., Arzneim. Forsch. 3_6, 1454, 1986. The test was car¬ ried out administering the animal intravenously with 1 I.U./kg, equivalent to 3 mg/kg of Arg-vasopressin, which induces a coronary spasm which can be reproduced and evidenced electrocardiographycally with an increase in the amplitude of the T wave. The compounds of the invention were administered by gastric gavage at a dose of 3 mg/kg, 1 hour before administration of Arg- vasopressin. The antianginal effect was expressed as percent inhibition of the T wave increase versus controIs.

The obtained results for some representative com- pounds of the invention are reported in Table 2.

T.ABLE 2

Vasopressine angina in the anaesthetized rat

Effect (%) -56.1 -55.2 -34.5

The compounds of the invention, besides having the above reported favourable properties, also show a low toxicity: the LD_ _Ω values, determined according to the method of ichtfield and Wilcoxon, J. Pharm. Expt. Ther. 9_6, 99, 1949, are in fact higher than 500 mg/kg i.p. in the mouse and 800 mg/kg per os in the rat. The- refore, the present invention also relates to the use of the compounds of the invention as antianginal agents, as well as to all the industrial aspects con¬ nected to said use, including the pharmaceutical compo¬ sitions containing the compounds of the invention. Examples of said compositions are tablets, dragees, syrups and vials, the latter being suitable for both the oral and the intramuscular or intravenous administrations. Said compositions will contain the active ingredient alone or in admixture with conventional carriers and excipients.

The dosages of the active ingredient can vary within a wide range, depending on the used compounds as well as the severity of the condition to be treated and the age and weight of the patient, as to obtain the best effect during 24 hours.