Synthesis and ocular antihypertensive activity of new imidazolidine derivatives containing a beta-blocking side chain

The syntheses of new phenylimidazolidine derivatives (3-6)1 containing a propanolamine oxime or an oxypropanolamine moiety attached either to the aromatic or to the imidazolidine ring are described. These compounds were evaluated for potential ocular antihypertensive activity in alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertension in rabbits. These compounds represent a unique series of effective ocular antihypertensive agents that despite possessing structural characteristics of beta-blockers and of imidazolidine derivatives, exhibit weak alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist and antagonist activities. These findings may be of significant therapeutic importance in the medical management of glaucoma.