Design and synthesis of potent carboxylic acid DGAT1 inhibitors with high cell permeability.

A series of potent carboxylic acid DGAT1 inhibitors with high permeability were developed from a virtual screening hit. Strategies were employed to reduce Pgp substrate recognition and increase passive permeability, resulting in the discovery of a series showing good inhibition of cellular triglyceride synthesis. The mutagenic potential of prospective metabolites was evaluated in the Ames assay, and one aniline was shown to be devoid of mutagenicity.