Squalestatin analogues modified in the C1 side chain were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit rat liver microsomal and Candida squalene synthase (SQS) in vitro. While maintaining the 4,6-dimethyloctenoate or 4,6-dimethyloctanoate ester groups at C6, a number of modifications to the C1 side chain were well tolerated. However, in the absence of the C6 ester group, similar modifications to the C1 side chain caused substantial loss of activity. Compounds were also evaluated for their ability to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in vivo in rats and to reduce serum cholesterol levels in marmosets. These studies revealed that compounds with similar SQS inhibitory activities can possess different in vivo durations of action and lipid-lowering abilities.
A series of 7-[2,3-diaryl-5-(1-methylethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5- dihydroxy-6-heptenoates was prepared and evaluated for its ability to inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase in vitro. Maintaining a 5-(1-methylethyl) substituent found to be optimal in related studies, structure-activity relationships were established for compounds modified at positions 2, 3, and 4 of the pyrrole ring. The 4-fluorophenyl group was preferred at the pyrrole 2-position, while incorporation of a range of substituted phenyl groups and pyridyl substituents at the 3-position provided compounds with equivalent enzyme inhibitory activities and widely different lipophilicities. Pentasubstituted pyrrole 3h was found to have a 10-fold greater potency than lovastatin.
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