Chirality of azelastine and flezelastine: Investigation of their enantiomers

The racemic phthalazinone derivatives azelastine and flezelastine were resolved via formation of diastereomeric salts and fractional crystallization thereof. The optical purity of the enantiomers was checked by HPLC. Pharmacological investigations in vitro and in vivo related to antiallergic/antiasthmatic activity revealed some stereospecific differences. However, chiral discrimination could not be observed with regard to overall activity of azelastine and flezelastine. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.