Use of halogenated heterocyclic compounds in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular disease

#The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in males and females (including but not limited to erectile dysfunction in males) and, more particularly, to the use of halogenated flosequinan derivatives (and enantiomers of the same) in treatment of said sexual dysfunction. The present invention also relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

#A. Sexual Dysfunction

#Impotence or erectile insufficiency is a widespread disorder that is thought to affect about twelve percent of adult men under age forty-five, about twenty percent of men at age sixty, and about fifty-five percent of men at age seventy-five.

#FIG. 1 depicts a one-step chemical synthesis of racemic monochloroflosequinan. Racemic flosequinan is chlorinated as described to produce monochloroflosequinan.

#FIG. 2 depicts the first step in a three step protocol for the synthesis of racemic monochloroflosequinan. Triphenylphosphine reduction of flosequinan to 7-fluoro-1-methyl-3-methylthio-4-quinolone (desoxyflosequinan) is depicted.

#FIG. 3 depicts the second step in a three step protocol for the synthesis of racemic monochloroflosequinan. The chlorination of desoxyflosequinan with N-chlorosuccinimide to yield 3-chloromethylthio-7-fluoro-1-methyl-4-quinolone is depicted.

#Definitions

#As used herein, “R and S” are used to denote the absolute configuration of the molecule about its chiral center(s).

#As used herein, the prefixes “(+) and (−)” are employed to designate the sign of rotation of plane-polarized light by the compound, with (−) meaning that the compound is levorotatory (rotates to the left). A compound prefixed with (+) is dextrorotatory (rotates to the right).