4-(3-Aryloxyaryl)quinoline alcohols are liver X receptor agonists

A series of 4-(3-aryloxyaryl)quinolines with alcohol substituents on the terminal aryl ring was prepared as potential LXR agonists, in which an alcohol group replaced an amide in previously reported amide analogs. High affinity LXR ligands with excellent agonist potency and efficacy in a functional model of LXR activity were identified, demonstrating that alcohols can substitute for amides while retaining LXR activity. The most potent compound was 5b which had an IC₅₀ = 3.3 nM for LXRβ binding and EC₅₀ = 12 nM (122% efficacy relative to T0901317) in an ABCA1 mRNA induction assay in J774 mouse cells.