Theophylline still occupies a dominant place in asthma therapy. Unfortunatly ita adverse central nervous system (CNS) stimulant effects can dramatically limit ita use, and adjustments in the dosage are often needed. We have synthesized a new series of imidazo [l, aa] pyrazine derivatives which are much more potent bronchodilators than theophylline in vivo and do not exhibit the CNS stimulatory profile. In vitro studies on isolated rat uterus ...