Where does carvedilol come from?

A scientist named James Black built on the work of a previously discovered drug called dichloroisoproterenol and derived two nonselective beta blockers, pronethalol and propranolol.¹ Beta blockers are synthesized from various organic chemicals, most derived from substituted phenols and amines.²

Carvedilol is an alpha-/beta-adrenergic blocking agent.^3,4 It is also known as (±) 1-(9H-carbazol-4-yloxy)-3-[2(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethylamino]propan-2-ol. It is a synthetic derivative of methoxyphenoxy-2-propanol⁵ and was first synthesized by opening the oxirane ring of 4-(oxiran-2-yl methoxy)-9H-carbazole with 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy) ethanamine.⁶

^References

1. Frishman, WH. A historical perspective on the development of β-adrenergic–blockers. J Clin Hypertens. 2007;9(4):19-27.
2. O'Donnell JP, Parekh S, Borgman RJ, Gorczynski RJ. Synthesis and pharmacology of potential beta-blockers. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 1979;68(10):1236-1238.
3. Coreg [package insert]. Ciales, PR: GK Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Operations; 2008.
4. Coreg CR [package insert]. Ciales, PR: GK Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Operations; 2008.
5. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Carvedilol. PubChem Compound Database. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2585. Accessed August 9, 2018.
6. Anadkumar B, Reddy R, Gangaiah L, Madhusudhan G, Khagga M. A new and alternate synthesis of carvedilol. De Pharma Chemica. 2011;3(6):620-626.