N-Benzyl-indolo carboxylic acids: Design and synthesis of potent and selective adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (A-FABP) inhibitors.
Barf, T., Lehmann, F., Hammer, K., Haile, S., Axen, E., Medina, C., Uppenberg, J., Svensson, S., Rondahl, L., Lundback, T.(2009) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 19: 1745-1748
- PubMed: 19217286 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.01.084
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3FR2, 3FR4, 3FR5 - PubMed 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.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biovitrum AB, Research, 112 76 Stockholm, Sweden.