Sulfonylurea

Sulfonylureas (UK: sulphonylurea) are a class of organic compounds used in medicine and agriculture. They are antidiabetic drugs widely used in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2. They act by increasing insulin release from the beta cells in the pancreas. A number of sulfonylureas are also used as herbicides ("weedkiller"), because they can interfere with plant biosynthesis of certain amino acids.

Drugs in this class

Structure

All pharmacological sulfonylureas contain a central S-arylsulfonylurea structure with a p- substituent on the phenyl ring (R) and various groups terminating the urea N′ end group (R₂). Chemically, this functionality can be easily installed by reacting aryl sulfonamides (R-C₆H₄-SO₂NH₂) with isocyanates (R₂-NCO).