Imiloxan is a drug which is used in
scientific research. It acts as a selective
antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist.
Etymology
The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
for the
α2B adrenergic receptor
The adrenergic receptors or adrenoceptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are targets of many catecholamines like norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline) produced by the body, but also many medications like beta ...
,
and has been useful for distinguishing the actions of the different α
2 adrenergic subtypes.
Synthesis
![Imiloxan synthesis](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Imiloxan_synthesis.svg)
The
imidazole
Imidazole (ImH) is an organic compound with the formula C3N2H4. It is a white or colourless solid that is soluble in water, producing a mildly alkaline solution. In chemistry, it is an aromatic heterocycle, classified as a diazole Diazole refers ...
portion of imiloxan is prepared by the reaction of an
imidate
Carboximidates (or more general imidates) are organic compounds, which can be thought of as esters formed between a carboximidic acid (R-C(=NR')OH) and an alcohol, with the general formula R-C(=NR')OR".
They are also known as imino ethers, sin ...
with the diethyl acetal of
aminoacetaldehyde
Aminoacetaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula OHCCH2NH2. Under the usual laboratory conditions, it is unstable, tending instead to undergo self-condensation. Aminoacetaldehyde diethylacetal is a stable surrogate.
In nature, aminoac ...
. ''N''-Alkylation of the imidazole with
ethyl iodide gives imiloxan.
References
External links
*
Imidazolines
Alpha blockers
Benzodioxans
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