4,5-Disubstituted-1,3-oxazolidin-2-imine derivatives: a new class of orally bioavailable nitric oxide synthase inhibitor

In our search for a novel class of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitors, 1,3-oxazolidin-2-imine was found to weakly inhibit iNOS. Further modifications of this compound resulted in a remarkable increase in both the in vivo and in vitro inhibitory activity and selectivity for iNOS.