Research on durene derivatives. Note I - hypertensive activity of 2-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzyl)imidazoline and related compounds.

A series of substituted 2-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzyl)imidazolines and related compounds have been synthesized to study the steric and hydrophobic effects on the vasoactivity of the introduction of four methyl groups on the phenyl moiety. The 2-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzyl)imidazoline (I) showed a high hypertensive activity, whereas the 2-benzylimidazoline possesses an adrenolytic activity. The 2-(2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenoxy)methylimidazoline (XVII) retained the hypertensive activity, whereas the corresponding thioether (XIX) was inactive. Some structure-activity relationships with regard to the presence of substituents in the 4-position of the phenyl moiety and on the benzylic CH2 are reported.