Abstract
Twenty kinds of oxazole derivatives having various substituents at the C-2 and C-5 positions were synthesized and tested in vitro for inhibition of rabbit lens aldose reductase (Ia and Ib), the enzyme that initiates cataract formation in diabetes. Compounds possessing bulky groups at C-2 and C-5 of the oxazole skeleton were found to be potent inhibitors. Benzyl 5-phenyl-2-oxazolecarbamate (12) inhibited aldose reductases Ia and Ib by 50% at about 15μM. N-Phenyl-N'-(5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl) urea also exhibited inhibitory activity comparable to that of compound 12. The structure-inhibitory activity relationships are discussed.
