Synthesis of 2-(4-substituted-1-piperazinyl)benzimidazoles as H1-antihistaminic agents

A series of 2-(4-substituted-1-(homo)piperazinyl)benzimidazoles was prepared and tested for H1-antihistaminic activity in vitro and in vivo. Most of the compounds showed antihistaminic activity and some of the 1-[2-(substituted-oxy)ethyl] derivatives exhibited potent activity. In a structure-activity comparison it was found that the oxygen atom in the 2-(substituted-oxy)ethyl group at the 1-position of the benzimidazole nucleus played an important role for potent antihistaminic activity, especially in vivo. One of the most potent compounds, 1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-2-(4-methyl-1-homopiperazinyl)benzimidazole (69), was 39 times more potent than chlorpheniramine maleate in H1-antihistaminic activity in vivo and was selected for clinical evaluation. The structure of compound 69 is of interest because it provides only a single aromatic unit linked through a chain to a basic nitrogen, while most H1-antihistaminic agents have structures that comprise a double-aromatic unit linked through a chain to a basic tertiary amino group.