Nω-nitro-nω'-substituted Guanidines: a Simple Class of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors.

A series of Nω-nitro-Nω'-substituted guanidines has been prepared as potential inhibitors of the human Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) isoforms. The reported utility of aminoguanidine and nitroarginine in iNOS inhibition points to a potential similar utility for analogs of nitro-guanidine. The compound library was tested against the three isoforms of Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS, iNOS and nNOS). Several candidates showed excellent activity and good selectivity for nNOS. One particular compound even demonstrated good selectivity for iNOS. The potential usefulness of such selective inhibitors is discussed.