Analogues of 1,3-dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine: enhancement of selectivity at A1-adenosine receptors by aryl substituents.

The effect of a variety of aryl substituents on the potency and selectivity of 19 analogues of 1,3-dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine as antagonists at A1- and A2-adenosine receptors in brain tissue was determined. The 4-sulfamoylphenyl and 4-carbamoylphenyl analogues are potent and somewhat selective for the A1 receptor. None of the dihydroxyphenyl analogues are remarkably potent, but all are selective for the A1 receptor. 1,3-Dipropyl-8-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)xanthine is the most selective A1 antagonist of the analogues with a A1/A2 potency ratio of about 90.