PMID: 19217286

Authors:

Barf T, Lehmann F, Hammer K, Haile S, Axen E, Medina C, Uppenberg J, Svensson S, Rondahl L, Lundback T

Title:

N-Benzyl-indolo carboxylic acids: Design and synthesis of potent and selective adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (A-FABP) inhibitors.

Journal:

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2009 Mar 15;19(6):1745-8. Epub 2009 Jan 30.

Abstract:

Small molecule inhibitors of adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (A-FABP) have gained renewed interest following the recent publication of pharmacologically beneficial effects of such inhibitors. Despite the potential utility of selective A-FABP inhibitors within the fields of metabolic disease, inflammation and atherosclerosis, there are few examples of useful A-FABP inhibitors in the public domain. Herein, we describe the optimization of N-benzyl-tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives through the use of co-crystal structure guided medicinal chemistry efforts. This led to the identification of a potent and selective class of A-FABP inhibitors as illustrated by N-benzyl-hexahydrocyclohepta[b]indole 30.