Synthesis and SAR of 8-arylquinolines as potent corticotropin-releasing factor1 (CRF1) receptor antagonists

A series of 4-substituted 8-aryl-2-methylquinolines 4 was designed and synthesized as highly potent antagonists for the human CRF1 receptor. This series of compounds displayed parallel SAR to other bicyclic systems such as pyrazolo[l,5-a]pyrimidines, with several compounds possessing low nanomolar binding affinity. In addition to the high potency, the basicity of this 4-aminoquinoline core may offer CRF1 antagonists with lower lipophilicity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.