Synthesis and Antiinflammatory Activity of 1.5- and 4.5-Disubstituted Imidazoles

Recently it has been demonstrated that selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors retain the antiinflammatory effect but with markedly reduced GI toxicity compared to non selective inhibitors such as traditional NSAIDs. As a consequence, intense efforts have been made to develop selective COX-2 inhibtors during the last decade. Two compounds in this class. celecoxib and rofecoxib. are already in the market and are proved as potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors with much better gastric tolerance. However. there are still strong domands for a COX-2 inhibitor with improved efficacy and safety profiles. Here we report the synthesis and biological profiles of 1.5- and 4.5-disubstituted imidazole analogues as structural equivalents of cefecoxib and refecoxib. The imidazole analogues are overlapped well whth the 3D srructures of celecoxib and rofecoxib.