3-(Hydroxy or hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone and cardiotonic use thereof

Abstract

3-(Hydroxy or hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone or pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof is useful as a cardiotonic agent. 3-Hydroxy-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone is prepared by autoclaving a mixture of a sodium or potassium lower-alkoxide, a lower-alkanol and 3-(chloro or bromo)-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone and acidifying the reaction mixture. 3-Hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone is prepared by reacting 6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone with excess formaldehyde at an acidic pH. Said 3-(hydroxy or hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone or pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salt thereof is disclosed as the active ingredient in cardiotonic compositions for increasing cardiac contractility and in the method for increasing cardiac contractility in a patient requiring such treatment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.