Inhibitors of glycolic acid oxidase. 4-Substituted 3-hydroxy-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione derivatives.

An extensive series of novel 4-substituted 3-hydroxy-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione derivatives has been prepared and studied as inhibitors of glycolic acid oxidase (GAO). Compounds possessing large lipophilic 4-substituents are, in general, potent, competitive inhibitors of porcine liver GAO in vitro. Methylation of the nitrogen or the 3-hydroxy substituent reduced potency dramatically, indicating the requirement for the two acidic functions on the 1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione nucleus. In rat liver perfusion studies, with three representative compounds, concentration-dependent inhibition of the conversion of [1-14C]glycolate to [14C]oxalate was observed. Chronic oral administration to ethylene glycol fed rats of the 4-(4'-bromo[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl) derivative (83) was shown to effect a significant reduction in urinary oxalate levels over a 58-day period.