Synthesis of ethyl 6-substituted-chroman- and -chromone-2-carboxylates. A comparative structure-activity study employing the 6-phenyl and phenoxy analogs in the triton hyperlipidemic rat model.

To explore the effect of lipophilicity on antilipidemic activity in the Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic rat model we synthesized the 6-cyclohexyl, phenyl, and phenoxy analogs of ethyl chroman-2-carboxylate. Results obtained were analyzed in light of the biological activity observed for the 6-chloro-substituted and unsubstituted chromans, the 6-chlorochroman-4-one ester, and the 6-chloro-, phenyl-, and phenoxychromone esters. The suggestion is made that chromones likely exert their antilipidemic effects by a somewhat different set of mechanisms than do the chromans and clofibrate. Whereas the 6-chlorochromanone ester is inactive, the 6-chlorochromone ester is active in both normal and hyperlipidemic Sprague-Dawley rats. The major differential effect was observed for ethyl 6-cyclohexylchroman-2-carboxylate which did not lower cholesterol levels but returned triglyceride levels to normal in hyperlipidemic rats.