Focused library approach for identification of new N-acylphenylalanines as VCAM/VLA-4 antagonists.

A structure-based focused library approach was employed in an effort to identify more lipophilic replacements for the N-benzylpyroglutamyl group of the VCAM/VLA-4 antagonist 2. This effort led to the discovery of two new classes of potent antagonists characterized by the N-(alpha-phenylcyclopentanoyl- and the N-(2,6-dimethylbenzoyl)-derivatives 60 and 64.