Studies on antidiabetic agents. IX. A new aldose reductase inhibitor, AD-5467, and related 1,4-benzoxazine and 1,4-benzothiazine derivatives: synthesis and biological activity

N-Acetic acid derivatives (I) of 2-substituted 1,4-benzoxazines and benzothiazines were designed and synthesized for evaluation as new aldose reductase inhibitors. In general, 3-thioxo derivatives were more potent inhibitors of aldose reductase from human palcenta in vitro than the corresponding 3-oxo derivatives. While many compounds (I) were not very effective in inhibiting sorbitol accumulation in the rat sciatic nerve in vivo, the 3-thioxo compounds bearing an isopropyl group at the 2-position showed highly potent activity in the in vivo assay. Compound 46 (AD-5467) was selected from this series as a candidate for further development.