Claims for Patent: 5,236,952

Summary for Patent: 5,236,952

Title:	Catechol derivatives
Abstract:	Catechol derivatives of the formula Ia wherein Ra, Rb and Rc have the significance given herein, the ester and ether derivatives thereof which are hydrolyzable under physiological conditions and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are described and possess valuable pharmacological properties. In particular, they inhibit the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a soluble, magnesium-dependent enzyme which catalyses the transference of the methyl group of S-adensoylmethionine to a catechol substrate, whereby the corresponding methyl ethers are formed. Suitable substrates which can be O-methylated by COMT and which can thus be deactivated are, for example, extraneuornal catecholamines and exogeneously-administered therapeutically active substances having a catechol structure. Formula Ia above embraces not only compounds which form part of the invention, but also known compounds; the compounds which form part of the invention can be prepared according to known methods.
Inventor(s):	Karl Bernauer, Janos Borgulya, Hans Bruderer, Mose DaPrada, Gerhard Zurcher
Assignee:	Inovail Singapore Pte Ltd
Application Number:	US07/686,210
Patent Claims: