(2-Aryl-5-methylimidazol-4-ylcarbonyl)guanidines and (2-aryl-5-methyloxazol-4-ylcarbonyl)guanidines as NHE-1 inhibitors.

A series of (2-aryl-5-methylimidazol-4-ylcarbonyl)guanidines and (2-aryl-5-methyloxazol-4-ylcarbonyl)guanidines were synthesized and evaluated as NHE-1 inhibitors. The structure-activity relationships well matched those of furan derivatives, which were previously investigated. The (2,5-disubstituted)phenyl compounds showed better activities than the other analogues in both imidazole and oxazole compounds. Especially, 2-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)imidazole 52, and 2-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl)imidazole 54 compounds exhibited potent cardioprotective efficacy both in vitro and in vivo as well as high NHE-1 inhibitory activities.