Molecular Pharmacology, Vol 13, 133-141, Copyright © 1977 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Stereochemical Properties and Teratogenic Activity of Some Tetrahydrophthalimides

¹ Pharmaceutical Institute, Mineralogical Institute, and Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, D-5300 Bonn , Federal Republic of Germany

The embryotoxic and teratogenic activities of three thalidomide analogues containing nonplanar tetrahydrophthalimide moieties, of the corresponding three imides, and of their N-methyl derivatives were tested in SWS mice. The molecular structures of three imides were established simultaneously by X-ray diffraction analysis. One of the three nonplanar thalidomide analogues is teratogenic and therefore does not support the intercalation hypothesis of the thalidomide action. The tendency of the three sulfur-containing compounds for complex formation is discussed.