3,3-Diphenyl-3-(2-alkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)propylcycloalkylamines, a novel series of antidiarrheal agents

A series of 4-amino-2,2-diarylbutyronitriles (3) prepared for testing as inhibitors of gastrointestinal propulsive activity did not show any enhancement over such existing agents as diphenoxylate and loperamide. However, conversion of the nitrile group to a 2-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-yl function led to compounds 5g and 5j, statistically equipotent to diphenoxylate and loperamide in the mouse and showing a very low order of analgesic activity. Structural modifications determined that the best separation of antipropulsive and analgesic effects was obtained when the amino group was bicyclic and the oxadiazole ring had a 2-methyl substituent. The most potent compounds were and analogues of diphenoxylate and loperamide where the oxadiazole ring was present, but these compounds had marked analgesic activity.