Discovery of micromolar PDE IV inhibitors that exhibit much reduced affinity for the [3H]rolipram binding site: 3-norbornyloxy-4-methoxyphenylmethylene oxindoles

The synthesis and the in vitro properties of a novel series of potent and selective phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE IV) inhibitors is described. Despite bearing structural similarity to rolipram, several of these compounds have much reduced affinity for the [3H]rolipram binding site.