By reducing the 2-nitrophenylhydrazone of cyclohexanone with sodium dithionite, an unexpected yellow compound was obtained instead of the corresponding colorless amino derivative. Many years later, the structure of this compound, namely, cyclohexane-3-spiro-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazine, was demonstrated. From that time, the reduction of 2-nitrophenylhydrazones of different kinds of ketones, followed by air oxidation of the initially formed amino compounds, has represented a general way to synthesize a variety of 3,3-disubstituted 3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazines. Many derivatives have been obtained so far by a single research group, and most of them have demonstrated interesting pharmacological activities, mainly antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects and other activities with lower diffusion. Moreover, 3,3-disubstituted 3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazines represent a novel class of ligands for sigma receptors, with nanomolar affinity to the σ1 subtype. This property might promote the development of agents for cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and proliferative pathologies. The present commentary, by collecting compounds and biological results obtained so far, intends to celebrate the centennial of the discovery of the first member of this class of compounds and to promote further investigation in the field.
Keywords: 2-nitro-phenylhydrazone reduction; 3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-benzotriazines; anti-inflammatory activity; antihypertensive activity; antiproliferative activity; diuretic activity; sigma receptor ligands.