Studies on Antiinflammatory Agents. II.1) Synthesis and Pharmacological Properties of 2’-(Phenylthio)methanesulfonanilides and Related Derivatives

Abstract

The structure of the previously reported new antiinflammatory agent (1, FK3311) was chemically modified in an attempt to find novel compounds with more potent and broader-spectrum activities. Some 2’-(phenylthio) and 2’-(phenylamino)methanesulfonanilides (2 and 3), in particular those bearing an electron-attracting substituent at the 4’-position, potently inhibited adjuvant arthritis in rats as well as collagen-induced arthritis in mice when administered orally. 4‘-Carbamoyl-2’-(2,4-difluorophenylthio)methanesulfonanilide (3b), which was selected as a candidate for further development from among the compounds synthesized herein, exhibited activity in reducing arthritis in a spontaneous autoimmune disease model (MRL/lpr mice) within the dose range of 10—100 mg/kg (p.o.). © 1993, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.