Isopentyl Groups Research Articles

Insulin-Like Partial Effects of Agmatine Derivatives in Adipocytes

In previous investigations, we described insulin-like effects of agmatine [(4-aminobutyl)guanidine] in vitro. In the present work we have examined whether these effects of agmatine can be enhanced by variation in chain length (C3 and C5 forms) and by alkylation. Propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, isobutyl and isopentyl groups were introduced into C4- and C5-agmatine by hydrogenation of the corresponding azomethines. Alkylation of C3-agmatine was carried out by addition of alkylamines to acrylonitrile, followed by hydrogenation and amidination. For the biological assays, isolated fat cells from rat epididymic adipose tissue were used. N4-Butyl- and N4-pentyl-C4-agmatines lead to a two-fold, N4-hexyl-C4-agmatine to a three-fold enhancement of glucose oxidation in adipocytes. Alkylated C4- and C5-agmatines induce a three-fold increase in lipogenesis compared to agmatine. Alkylation of C3-agmatine does not increase its potency in this test. In our test system, insulin decreases adrenalin-induced lipolysis to 40% of the control value (100%). Agmatine and alkylated C4-agmatines yield very similar values (37% and 27-44% respectively). The alkylated C3-agmatines also exert strongly antilipolytic effects (25-35%), while the effects of the alkylated C5-agmatines are weaker. The synthesized agmatine derivatives were injected intraperitoneally into mice. Tolerable doses do not cause any significant reduction in blood glucose levels.

The local anaesthetic properties of esters of N-substituted alpha-aminophenylacetic acids.

Abstract The local anaesthetic properties of a series of esters of N-substituted α-aminophenylacetic acids are described. Compounds with an ethyl ester group showed little activity, but replacing this group by an isopentyl group produced local anaesthetic action. The cyclohexyl and 3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl esters induced a prolonged surface and infiltration anaesthesia; this was more pronounced in those compounds in which the central amino-group was tertiary. The relationship between structure and activity is discussed.