Cromakalim (

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) is a

potassium channel Potassium channels are the most widely distributed type of ion channel found in virtually all organisms. They form potassium-selective pores that span cell membranes. Potassium channels are found in most cell types and control a wide variety of c ...

-opening vasodilator. The active isomer is levcromakalim. It acts on ATP-sensitive potassium channels and so causes membrane hyperpolarization. It can be used to treat hypertension as it will relax vascular smooth muscle to lower blood pressure. Hyperpolarisation of smooth muscle cell membranes pulls their membrane potential away from the threshold, so making it more difficult to excite them and thereby cause relaxation.

Synthesis

Reaction of 4-cyanophenol (4-Hydroxybenzonitrile) with 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-butyne under PTC probably proceeds to initial formation of a propargyl carbocation. The course of the reaction can be envisaged by assuming that this then attacks the aromatic ring; the resulting allylic cation can then capture the adjacent phenol oxygen and thus form the observed product (3). Treatment of that product with aqueous NBS leads to the addition of the elements of

hypobromous acid Hypobromous acid is a weak, unstable acid with chemical formula of HOBr. It is mainly produced and handled in an aqueous solution. It is generated both biologically and commercially as a disinfectant. Salts of hypobromite are rarely isolated a ...

and formation of the bromohydrin (4) as a mixture of the ''trans'' enantiomers. This cyclizes to the epoxide 5 in the presence of sodium hydroxide (5). Ring opening of the oxirane with ammonia gives a mixture of the ''trans'' amino alcohols (6). These are probably resolved at this stage and the 3''S'',4''R''-enantiomer used in the next stage. That isomer is next acylated with 4-Chlorobutyryl chloride to give the chloroamide (7). The anion from reaction of the amide with

sodium hydride Sodium hydride is the chemical compound with the empirical formula Na H. This alkali metal hydride is primarily used as a strong yet combustible base in organic synthesis. NaH is a saline (salt-like) hydride, composed of Na+ and H− ions, in co ...

then displaces the chlorine on the end of the chain to form the pyrrolidine ring. There is thus obtained levcromakalim (8).

References

Vasodilators Nitriles Pyrrolidones Chromanes Potassium channel openers {{cardiovascular-drug-stub