Perhydroquinolylbenzamides as novel inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1

High-throughput screening identified 5 as a weak inhibitor of 11 beta-HSD1. Optimization of the structure led to a series of perhydroquinolylbenzamides, some with low nanomolar inhibitory potency. A tertiary benzamide is required for biological activity and substitution of the terminal benzamide with either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups is tolerated. The majority of the compounds show selectivity of > 20 to > 700-fold over 11 beta-HSD2. Analogues which showed >50% inhibition of 11 beta-HSD1 at 1 mu M in an cellular assay were screened in an ADX mouse model. A maximal response of > 70% reduction of liver corticosterone levels was observed for three compounds; 9m, 25 and 49.