Substituted 2H-isoquinolin-1-ones as potent Rho-kinase inhibitors: Part 3, aryl substituted pyrrolidines

The discovery and SAR of a series of beta-aryl substituted pyrrolidine 2H-isoquinolin-1-one inhibitors of Rho-kinase (ROCK) derived from 2 is herein described. SAR studies have shown that aryl groups in the beta-position are optimal for potency. Our efforts focused on improving the ROCK potency of this isoquinolone class of inhibitors which led to the identification of pyrrolidine 32 which demonstrated a 10-fold improvement in aortic ring (AR) potency over 2. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. NH