Tetrazole-substituted ureas as inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT). A novel preparation of ureas from weakly nucleophilic amines

Inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase. 3. Discovery of a novel series of N-alkyl-N-[(fluorophenoxy)benzyl]-N'-arylureas with weak toxicological effects on adrenal glands

A series of N-alkyl-N-[(fluorophenoxy)benzyl]-N'-arylureas were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit intestinal acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase and to inhibit accumulation of cholesteryl esters in macrophages in vitro. In vivo hypocholesterolemic activity was assessed in cholesterol-fed rats by oral administration as a dietary admixture and/or by gavage in a PEG400 vehicle. Modification of the alkyl substituent on the N'-aryl moiety and on the urea nitrogen significantly influenced macrophage assay in vitro. Toxicological study revealed a distinct relationship between macrophage assay and the toxicity observed in adrenal glands of rabbits treated with representatives of this series of compounds. Investigations utilizing the macrophage assay as an indicator for adrenal toxicity led to the identification of compounds 1g (FR190809) and 1k (FR186485, or FR195249 as its hydrochloride salt) as potent, nonadrenotoxic, orally efficacious ACAT inhibitors irrespective of the administration method.

Inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase. 2. Identification and structure-activity relationships of a novel series of N-alkyl-N-(heteroaryl-substituted benzyl)-N'-arylureas

A series of N-alkyl-N-(heteroaryl-substituted benzyl)-N'-arylurea and related derivatives represented by 2 and 3 have been prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase in vitro and to lower plasma cholesterol levels in cholesterol-fed rats in vivo. Among these novel compounds, the type 3 series was superior. A pyrazol-3-yl group on the N-benzyl group of this trisubstituted urea (i.e. 3, Ar1 = pyrazol-3-yl) was identified as a heteroaromatic ring providing a good profile of biological activity. As a result of optimization of the combination with the N-alkyl group (R) and N-aryl group (Ar3), compound 3aq (FR186054) was identified as a new, orally efficacious ACAT inhibitor, which exhibited potent in vitro ACAT inhibitory activity (rabbit intestinal microsomes IC50 = 99 nM) and excellent hypocholesterolemic effects in cholesterol-fed rats, irrespective of administration mode (ED50 = 0.046 mg/kg dosed via the diet, ED50 = 0. 44 mg/kg administered by gavage in PEG400 vehicle). Moreover, a toxicological study revealed compound 3aq to be nontoxic to the adrenal glands of dogs when tested at a single dose of 10 mg/kg po.