N-Nicotinoyl-3,4-dinicotinoyloxy-L-phenylalanine and derivatives pharmaceutical compositions and methods containing same

Abstract

There is provided, novel, transient pro-drug forms of L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine), having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an acyl group, a ##STR2## group, a --CO-pyridyl group, and a --CO--R.sub.3 group, wherein R.sub.3 represents the residue of any N,N-C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 dialkylamino acid or a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 cycloalkylamino acid ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a --OM group, wherein M is an alkali metal (Na, K, etc.) or an ammonium ion; and wherein R.sub.2 represents a member selected from the group consisting of a ##STR4## group, a --CO-pyridyl group, and a --CO--R.sub.3 group, wherein R.sub.3 represents the residue of any N,N-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)-dialkylamino acid or a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkylamino acid ##STR5## wherein R represents an acyl group; wherein R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom; and wherein R.sub.1 represents a --NHCH(R.sub.4)COOR.sub.5 group, wherein R.sub.4 represents the residue of any naturally occurring amino acid, and wherein R.sub.5 represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl group (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl), and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkylaryl group (e.g., --CH.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.5, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.5, etc.), and the HX salts thereof, wherein X is a conventional pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt anion (e.g. chloride, bromide, perchlorate, methanesulfonate, succinate, etc.). These compounds are all useful in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.