New 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives combining calcium antagonism and alpha-adrenolytic properties.

A series of twelve 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives incorporating an alpha-adrenergic moiety in one of the ester chains was synthesized. The compounds were evaluated for their calcium antagonist activities by the inhibition of [3H]nitrendipine binding and, in vitro, on pig coronary artery. Their alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenolytic effects were assessed from their inhibition of [3H]prazosin and [3H]yohimbine binding and, in vitro, on rat aorta and guinea pig vas deferens. Compounds 6 and 9-11 displayed strong calcium antagonist activities, identical with that of nicardipine. The moderate alpha-adrenolytic properties observed were attributed to the presence of alpha-adrenergic moieties. The four chiral derivatives 6a (R,R), 6b (S,S), 6c (S,R), and 6d (R,S) with an N-methyl-N-(benzodioxanylmethyl)amino group on the ester chain were prepared and tested as done previously. Some structure-activity relationships are discussed.