The synthesis and biological evaluation of a range of novel functionalised benzopyrans as potential potassium channel activators

A range of novel benzopyrans have been synthesised and biologically evaluated for KATP channel activity employing cromakalim 1 as a benchmark KATP channel opener. Although the compounds that were evaluated demonstrated a reduced ability to relax phenylephrine stimulated rat thoracic tissue, we provide evidence that benzopyrans 7a–h may be operating via an alternative mechanism than ATP-sensitive K+ channel activity.