Novel 1,2-Diarylcyclobutenes: Selective and Orally Active COX-2 Inhibitors.

A series of novel 2,3-diaryl-2-cyclobuten-l-ones have been synthesized and have been evaluated with respect to their ability to inhibit the isozymes of cyclooxygenase, COX-1 and COX-2. 4,4-Dimethyl-2- phenyl-3-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)cyclobutenone 22 was found to be highly selective for inhibition of COX-2 and was orally active (EDs0 = 2.4 mg/kg) in the rat paw edema model. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd