| abstract |
A class of acetamidine derivatives of general formula (I)wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-6 hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by halo, halo, nitro, cyano or a group XR3 wherein X is oxygen, C(O)m wherein m is 1 or 2, S(O)n wherein n is 0, 1 or 2, or a group NR4 wherein R4 is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; and R3 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, or a group NR5R6 wherein R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl, provided that R3 is not NR5R6 when X is oxygen or S(O)n; R1a and R1b are independently selected from hydrogen and halo; R2 is a C1-14 hydrocarbyl group which may optionally contain one or two heteroatoms, the group R2 being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halo; N3; nitro; CF3; ZR7 wherein Z is oxygen, C(O)m' wherein m' is 1 or 2, S(O)n' wherein n' is 0, 1 or 2, or a group NR8 wherein R8 is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl and R7 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl or a group NR9R10 wherein R9 and R10 are independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; or R2is substituted by a group (a)wherein R11 has a definition the same as for R1;with the proviso that when R1 is a C1-6 alkyl group and R2 is a C1-14 hydrocarbyl substituted by two groups ZR7 wherein one group ZR7 is CO2H, the other group ZR7 is not NH2;and salts thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, and therapies, particularly inhibtion of nitric oxide synthase, is disclosed. |