Selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase by derivatives of acetamidine.

A new series of phenyl- and heteryl acetamidines were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases (NOS). While the N-substitution of the acetamidine moiety with different heterocycles appears to completely destroy the activity, linking the phenyl core preserves it. Moreover, it was observed a strong dependence of the phenylacetamidines potency of action from the length of the alkyl chain that connects the aromatic ring to the acetamidine moiety.