2-Alkyl-4-arylimidazoles: structurally novel sodium channel modulators

A new more atom-efficient multi-component approach to tetrasubstituted imidazoles: one-pot condensation of nitriles, amines and benzoin

A new more atom-efficient multi-component approach for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles via the one-pot condensation of nitriles, primary amines and benzoin has been described.

Efficient and Practical Synthesis of 4(5)-Aryl-1H-imidazoles and 2,4(5)-Diaryl-1H-imidazoles via Highly Selective Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation Reactions

4(5)-aryl-1H-imidazoles can be efficiently and selectively prepared by PdCl2(dppf)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of commercially available 4(5)-bromo-1H-imidazole with arylboronic acids under phase-transfer conditions. On the other hand, N-unprotected 4(5)-aryl-1H-imidazoles can undergo highly selective Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed and CuI-mediated direct C-2-arylation with a variety of aryl bromides and iodides under base-free and ligandless conditions to produce 2,4(5)-diaryl-1H-imidazoles in modest to good yields. No N-arylation byproducts are observed under the experimental conditions used to prepare 2,4(5)-diaryl-1H-imidazoles.

Butyl 2-(4-[1.1′-biphenyl]-4-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)ethylcarbamate, a potent sodium channel blocker for the treatment of neuropathic pain

A series of 4-arylimidazole carbamates was synthesized and their binding affinities to the site-2 sodium (Na+) channel were determined. SAR studies led to the identification of compound 10, a potent Na+ channel blocker which was efficacious in pain models in vivo.

Blocking sodium channels to treat neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain remains a large unmet medical need. A number of therapeutic options exist, but efficacy and tolerability are less than satisfactory. Based on animal models and limited data from human patients, the pain and hypersensitivity that characterize neuropathic pain are associated with spontaneous discharges of normally quiescent nociceptors. Sodium channel blockers inhibit this spontaneous activity, reverse nerve injury-induced pain behavior in animals and alleviate neuropathic pain in humans. Several sodium channel subtypes are expressed primarily in sensory neurons and may contribute to the efficacy of sodium channel blockers. In this report, the authors review the current understanding of the role of sodium channels and of specific sodium channel subtypes in neuropathic pain signaling.