Synthesis and preliminary biological profile of new NO-donor tolbutamide analogues

We describe a new class of NO-donor hypoglycemic products obtained by joining tolbutamide, a typical
hypoglycemic sulfonylurea, with a NO-donor moiety through a hard link. As NO-donors we chose either
furoxan (1,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxide) derivatives or the classical nitrooxy function. A preliminary biological
characterization of these compounds, including stimulation of insulin release from cultured rat
pancreatic b-cells and in vitro vasodilator and anti-aggregatory activities, is reported.