Mesoionic isoxazolo[2,3-a]pyrimidinediones and 1,3,4-oxadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinediones as potential adenosine antagonists

Several derivatives of two novel mesoionic ring systems, i.e., isoxazolo2,3-a]pyrimidinedione and 1,3,4-oxadiazolo3,2-a]pyrimidinedione, were prepared for evaluation as adenosine antagonists. Whereas both ring systems are relatively stable when the 6-position (i.e., that position corresponding to the purine 1-position) is substituted by an alkyl group, neither ring system is stable when this position is unsubstituted. An example of a 6-unsubstituted non-mesoionic isoxazolopyrimidinedione exhibited similar behavior. As adenosine antagonists, the mesoionic compounds were found to be less potent than their previously evaluated mesoionic thiadiazolo3,2-a]pyrimidinedione counterparts.