Discovery of pyrrole-based hepatoselective ligands as potent inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase

Bioorg Med Chem. 2007 Aug 15;15(16):5576-89. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.05.031. Epub 2007 May 17.

Abstract

In an effort to identify hepatoselective inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, two series of pyrroles were synthesized and evaluated. Efforts were made to modify (3R,5R)-7-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-isopropyl-4-phenyl-5-phenylcarbamoyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid sodium salt 30 in order to reduce its lipophilicity and therefore increase hepatoselectivity. Two strategies that were explored were replacement of the lipophilic 3-phenyl substituent with either a polar function (pyridyl series) or with lower alkyl substituents (lower alkyl series) and attachment of additional polar moieties at the 2-position of the pyrrole ring. One compound was identified to be both highly hepatoselective and active in vivo. We report the discovery, synthesis, and optimization of substituted pyrrole-based hepatoselective ligands as potent inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase for reducing low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Ligands
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / enzymology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Ligands
  • Pyrroles
  • Cholesterol
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases