Synthesis and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-antagonistic activities of 1,4-disubstituted piperazine derivatives.

2- or 3-Substituted 1-(2, 3-dimethoxy-6, 7-dihydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-8-ylcarbonyl)-4-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzoyl)- and 4-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzyl)piperazines (2a-s, 3a, b) were prepared and evaluated for antagonistic activities against platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation and blood pressure reduction. The 2-methoxymethyl derivative (2f) showed the most potent activities in this series. The enantiomers (R)-(+)-2f and (S)-(-)-2f were synthesized from carbobenzoxy-O-benzyl-L- and D-serine in several steps. In the binding experiment, (S)-(-)-2f showed thirty times greater affinity than the R isomer for the PAF receptor.