Design, synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of novel phthalimide derivatives, structurally related to thalidomide

As part of an ongoing effort to develop new thalidomide analogues as antiinflammatory lead-candidates, this paper describes the synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of novel N-phenyl-phthalimide functionalized derivatives (4a–d, 5a,b, 6a,b). The target compounds were assayed in an acute lung inflammatory model and all compounds were able to inhibit TNF-α production and subsequent neutrophil recruitment in the LPS-acute lung inflammatory model.