N.sup.6 -substituted 9-methyladenines: a new class of adenosine receptor

Abstract

Novel compounds and a method of using them to antagonize adenosine receptors are provided wherein the compounds are selected from the group of racemic mixtures or optically active compounds represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyl radicals having from 3 to 8, preferably 3 to 7, ring carbon atoms, alkyl radicals having from 1 to 10, carbon atoms, aralkyl radicals having from 7 to 14, preferably 7 to 10, carbon atoms, and heteroatom- and halogen-substituted derivatives thereof wherein said heteroatom may be selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and oxygen; R.sub.1 may be hydrogen or R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, amine, carboxy, thio, sufonate, sulfonamide, sulfone, sulfoxamide, phenyl, alkyl-substituted amine, cycloalkyl-substituted amine, alkyl radicals having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and cycloalkyl radicals having from 3 to 8, preferably 5 to 6, ring carbon atoms. R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, phenyl, and alkyl groups comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein said alkyl group can be substituted with oxygen, for example ethers and alcohols. R.sub.5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; hydroxy; sulfonate; halogen; alkoxy and cycloalkoxy groups comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein said alkoxy and cycloalkoxy groups can be substituted with phenyl; and amine, wherein said amine can be substituted with alkyl, cycloalkyl, or phenyl. Optically active compounds are especially active as antagonists of A.sub.1 adenosine receptors.