Protective effect of imidazolopyrazinone antioxidants on ischemia/reperfusion injury.

A series of 2-substituted 3,7-dihydroimidazolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-3-ones has been synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant activity. Compounds 1-8 are inhibitors of AAPH-induced lipid peroxidation (in vitro) and excellent protectors against microvascular damages in ischemia/reperfusion (in vivo). Hence, the bicyclic structure typical of coelenterazine (luciferin) could be considered as a useful lead in medicinal chemistry.