^7c, —OC(═O)R^7c, —C(═S)NR^8aR^8b, —C(═O)NR^8aR^8b, or —NR⁸C(═O)R^7c; R^12cis H, D, F, Cl, Br, I, —CN, —NO₂, —OH, —NH₂, —COOH, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, n-butyl, trifluoromethyl, 1-chloroethyl, difluoromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, hydroxymethyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, dihydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3,3,3-trihydroxypropyl; and R^13cis —C(═O)NR^8aR^8b, or —NR⁸C(═O)R^7b.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the compound is a compound represented by Formula (II-1-A-a), (II-1-A-b), (II-1-B-a), (II-1-B-b), (II-1-C-a), or (II-1-C-b), or the compound is a stereoisomer, geometric isomer, tautomer, nitrogen oxide, hydrate, solvate, metabolite, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or prodrug of the compound represented by Formula (II-1-A-a), (II-1-A-b), (II-1-B-a), (II-1-B-b), (II-1-C-a), or (II-1-C-b),

[Image Omitted]

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the compound is a compound having one of the following structures, or the compound is a stereoisomer, geometric isomer, tautomer, nitrogen oxide, hydrate, solvate, metabolite, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or prodrug of the compound having one of the following structures:

[Image Omitted]

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition including the aforementioned compound.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pharmaceutical composition may further have at least one of the following additional technical features.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pharmaceutical composition further includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, diluent, adjuvant, vehicle, or any combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pharmaceutical composition further includes an additional therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the additional therapeutic agent is a medicament for treatment of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the additional therapeutic agent is a medicament for treatment of glioblastoma, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoporosis, or a combination thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the medicament for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome is atorvastatin, gemfibrozil, acipimox, Eicosapentaenoic acid, metformin, glimepiride, repaglinide, empagliflozin, or any combination thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the medicament for the treatment of glioblastoma, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoporosis is temozolomide, fotemustine, statin, fibrate, trihexyphenidyl, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicament, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the statin is lovastatin or simvastatin; the fibrate is clofibrate, lifibrate or bezafibrate; and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicament is diclofenac, nabumetone, or meloxicam.

In a third aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides use of the above-mentioned compound or the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition in manufacture of a medicament or kit for regulating liver X receptors, for use in scientific researches. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the medicament or kit is used to inversely activate liver X receptors or used to activate liver X receptors.

In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides use of the above-mentioned compound or the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition in manufacture of a medicament. The medicament is used for treatment or prevention of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome, or for targeting at tumor energy metabolism; or the medicament is used for treatment or prevention of glioblastoma, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis drugs or a combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a lipid-lowering activity of Compound 2a-1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in HepG2 cells and a mechanism thereof;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a lipid-lowering activity of Compound 2a-1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in 3T3L1 cells and a mechanism thereof; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a lipid-lowering activity of Compound 2a-1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in mice with hyperlipidemia induced by Triton WR-1339.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are illustrative, which aims to explain the present disclosure, but should not be interpreted as limiting the present disclosure.

The term “include” or “comprise” is an open-ended expression, i.e., including the content specified in the present disclosure but not excluding the content in other aspects.

“Stereoisomers” refer to compounds that have the same chemical structure but differ in the spatial arrangement of atoms or moieties. Stereoisomers include enantiomers, diastereomers, conformational isomers (rotamers), geometric isomers (cis/trans isomers), atropisomers, etc.

“Chirality” refers to a molecule that cannot overlap with its mirror image. “Achirality” refers to a molecule that can overlap with its mirror image.

“Enantiomers” refer to two isomers of a compound that are each a mirror image of the other one but cannot overlap with each other.

“Diastereomers” refer to stereoisomers that have two or more chiral centers and molecules of which are not mirror images of each other. Diastereomers have different physical properties such as melting point, boiling point, spectral properties and reactivity. A mixture of diastereomers can be separated by high-resolution analytical operations, for example, electrophoresis, and chromatography such as HPLC.

The definitions and rules of stereochemistry used in the present disclosure generally follow “McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Chemical Terms (1984)”, S. P. Parker, Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York; and “Stereochemistry of Organic Compounds”, Eliel, E. and Wilen, S., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1994.

Many organic compounds exist in optically active forms, i.e., they are capable of rotating a plane of plane-polarized light. When describing optically active compounds, the prefixes D and L, or R and S are used to denote the absolute configurations of the molecule with respect to one or more chiral centers. The prefixes d and 1, or (+) and (−) are symbols used to specify a rotation of plane-polarized light caused by a compound, where (−) or 1 indicates that the compound is levorotatory, and the prefix (+) or d indicates that the compound is dextrorotatory. When specific stereoisomers are enantiomers, and a mixture of such isomers is called an enantiomeric mixture. A mixture of enantiomers in 50:50 is called a racemic mixture or a racemate, which may occur when there is no stereoselectivity or stereospecificity in a chemical reaction or process.

Any asymmetric atom (for example, carbon, etc.) of the compound of the present disclosure can be present in a racemate- or enantiomer-enriched form, for example, present in (R)-, (S)-, or (R, S)-configuration. In some embodiments, in terms of (R)- or (S)-configuration, each asymmetric atom has an enantiomeric excess of at least 50%, an enantiomeric excess of at least 60%, an enantiomeric excess of at least 70%, an enantiomeric excess of at least 80%, an enantiomeric excess of at least 90%, an enantiomeric excess of at least 95%, or an enantiomeric excess of at least 99%.

In accordance with the selection of starting materials and methods, the compounds of the present disclosure may be present as one of the possible isomers or a mixture thereof, such as a racemate and a mixture of diastereomers, depending on the number of asymmetric carbon atoms. The optically active (R)- or (S)-isomers can be prepared using chiral synthons or chiral reagents, or resolved using conventional techniques. If the compound contains a double bond, the substituent may be in the E or Z configuration; and if the compound contains disubstituted cycloalkyl, the substituent of the cycloalkyl may have a cis or trans configuration.

Any obtained mixture of stereoisomers can be separated into pure or substantially pure stereoisomers, enantiomers, diastereomers according to the differences in physical and chemical properties of components, for example, by chromatography and/or fractional crystallization process.

The racemate of the obtained end-product or intermediate can be resolved into optical enantiomers by methods known to those skilled in the art, for example, by separating the obtained diastereomeric salts. Racemic products can also be separated by chiral chromatography, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using chiral adsorbents. Particularly, the enantiomers can be prepared by asymmetric synthesis, for example, referring to “Enantiomers, Racemates and Resolutions”, Jacques, et al., Wiley Interscience, New York, 1981; “Principles of Asymmetric Synthesis”, 2^ndEd. Robert E. Gawley, Jeffrey Aubé, Elsevier, Oxford, U K, 2012; “Stereochemistry of Carbon Compounds”, Eliel, E. L., McGraw-Hill, N Y, 1962; “Tables of Resolving Agents and Optical Resolutions”, p. 268, Wilen, S. H., E. L. Eliel, Ed., Univ. of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, in 1972; and “Chiral Separation Techniques: A Practical Approach”, Subramanian, G. Ed., Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, 2007.

The term “tautomer” or “tautomeric form” refers to structural isomers that have different energies and can be interconverted by crossing a low energy barrier. If tautomerism is possible (for example, in solution), a chemical equilibrium of tautomers can be reached. For example, protontautomer (also known as prototropic tautomer) includes interconversion through proton migration, such as ketone-enol isomerization and imine-enamine isomerization. Valence tautomer includes interconversion through recombination of some bonding electrons. A specific example of ketone-enol tautomerization is interconversion of 2,4-pentanedione and 4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one tautomeric isomers. Another example of tautomerism is phenol-ketone tautomerization. A specific example of phenol-ketone tautomerization is interconversion of 4-hydroxypyridine and pyridin-4(1H)-one tautomeric isomers. Unless otherwise indicated, all tautomeric forms of the compound of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

In each part of the present specification, the substituents of the compounds disclosed in the present disclosure are disclosed according to the group types or ranges. In particular, the present disclosure includes each independent sub-combination of respective members within these group types and ranges. For example, the term “C₁-C₆alkyl” specifically refers to independently disclosed methyl, ethyl, C₃alkyl, C₄alkyl, C₅alkyl, and C₆alkyl.

In each part of the present disclosure, linking substituents are described. When the structure clearly requires a linking group, the Markush variables listed for the group should be understood as the linking group. For example, if the structure requires a linking group and the Markush group definition of the variable recites “alkyl” or “aryl”, it should be understood that the “alkyl” or “aryl” respectively represents the linking alkylene group or arylene group.

As described in the present disclosure, the compounds of the present disclosure can be optionally substituted with one or more substituents, such as the compounds represented by the above general formulas, or particular examples, subclasses, and a type of compounds included in the present disclosure. It should be understood that the term “optionally substituted” and the term “substituted or unsubstituted” are interchangeably used. Generally speaking, the term “optionally”, whether it precedes the term “substituted”, means that one or more hydrogen atoms in a given structure may be substituted or unsubstituted by specific substituents. Unless otherwise indicated, an optionally substituted group may have a substituent substituted at each substitutable position of the group. When more than one position in the given structural formula can be substituted by one or more substituents selected from specific groups, the substituents substituted at the respective positions can be the same or different from each other.

The term “alkyl” used in the present disclosure includes linear or branched saturated monovalent hydrocarbyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms, where the alkyl can be independently and optionally substituted with one or more substituents described in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the alkyl group contains 1-10 carbon atoms; in some other embodiments, the alkyl group contains 1-8 carbon atoms; in some other embodiments, the alkyl group contains 1-6 carbon atoms; in some other embodiments, the alkyl group contains 1˜4 carbon atoms; in some other embodiments, the alkyl group contains 1-3 carbon atoms; and in some other embodiments, the alkyl group contains 2-6 carbon atoms. Further examples of the alkyl group include, but are not limited to, methyl (Me, —CH₃), ethyl (Et, —CH₂CH₃), n-propyl (n-Pr, —CH₂CH₂CH₃), isopropyl (i-Pr, —CH(CH₃)₂), n-butyl (n-Bu, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), 2-methylpropyl or isobutyl (i-Bu, —CH₂CH(CH₃)₂), 1-methylpropyl or sec-butyl (s-Bu, —CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃), tert-butyl (t-Bu, —C(CH₃)₃), n-pentyl (—CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), 2-pentyl (—CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₂CH₃), 3-pentyl(-CH(CH₂CH₃)₂), 2-methyl-2-butyl(-C(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₃), 3-methyl-2-butyl(-CH(CH₃)CH(CH₃)₂), 3-methyl-1-butyl (—CH₂CH₂CH(CH₃)₂), 2-methyl-1-butyl (—CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃), n-hexyl (—CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), 2-hexyl (—CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), 3-hexyl (—CH(CH₂CH₃)(CH₂CH₂CH₃)), 2-methyl-2-pentyl (—C(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), 3-methyl-2-pentyl (—CH(CH₃)CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃), 4-methyl-2-pentyl (—CH(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂), 3-methyl-3-pentyl (—C(CH₃)(CH₂CH₃)₂), 2-methyl-3-pentyl (—CH(CH₂CH₃)CH(CH₃)₂), 2, 3-dimethyl-2-butyl (—C(CH₃)₂CH(CH₃)₂), 3, 3-dimethyl-2-butyl (—CH(CH₃)C(CH₃)₃), n-heptyl, n-octyl, etc. The term “alkane group” and its prefix “alkane” used herein both include straight and branched saturated carbon chains.

The term “halogenated alkyl” refers to that alkyl may be substituted with one or more identical or different halogen atoms, which are F, Cl, Br, or I. Herein, the alkyl group has the meaning as described in the present disclosure, and examples thereof include, but are not limited to, trifluoromethyl, 1-chloroethyl, difluoromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, etc.

The term “hydroxyl-substituted alkyl” refers to that alkyl may be substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups. Herein, the alkyl group has the meaning as described in the present disclosure, and examples thereof include, but are not limited to, hydroxymethyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, dihydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3,3,3-trihydroxypropyl, etc.

The term “amino” refers to —NH₂.

The term “alkoxy” used in the present disclosure involves alkyl, as defined in the present disclosure, connected to a main carbon chain through an oxygen atom. Such examples include, but are not limited to, methoxyl, ethoxy, propoxy, and the like.

The term “cycloalkyl” refers to a monovalent or multivalent saturated monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring system containing 3-12 carbon atoms. The bicyclic or tricyclic ring system may include fused rings, bridged rings, and spiro rings. In an embodiment, cycloalkyl contains 3-10 carbon atoms; in another embodiment, cycloalkyl contains 3-8 carbon atoms; in another embodiment, cycloalkyl contains 3-6 carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like. The cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents described in the present disclosure.

The term “aryl” refers to a monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic carbon ring system containing 6-14 ring atoms, or 6-12 ring atoms, or 6-10 ring atoms, at least one ring of which is aromatic. The aryl group is usually, but not necessarily, connected to the core moiety through the aromatic ring of the aryl group. The term “aryl” can be used interchangeably with the term “aromatic ring”. Examples of the aryl may include phenyl, naphthyl, and anthracyl. The aryl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents described in the present disclosure.

The term “heteroaromatic ring” refers to a monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic ring system containing 5-12 ring atoms, or 5-10 ring atoms, or 5-6 ring atoms, at least one ring of which is aromatic and at least one ring of which contains one or more heteroatoms. The heteroaromatic ring is usually, but not necessarily, connected to the core moiety through the aromatic ring of the heteroaromatic ring. The term “heteroaryl” can be used interchangeably with the term “heteroaromatic ring”, “aromatic heterocyclic ring”, or “heteroaromatic compound”. The heteroaryl group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents described in the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the heteroaryl group, consisting of 5 to 10 atoms, contains 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, or N.

Examples of the heteroaryl include, but are not limited to, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, N-imidazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, 5-imidazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, N-pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidinyl, 4-pyrimidinyl, 5-pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl (such as 3-pyridazinyl), 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, tetrazolyl (such as 5-tetrazolyl), triazolyl (such as 2-triazolyl and 5-triazolyl), 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, pyrazolyl (such as 2-pyrazolyl), isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,3-thiodiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiodiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiodiazolyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl. Examples of heteroaryl further include, but not limited to, the following bicyclic rings: benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, indolyl (such as 2-indolyl), purinyl, quinolinyl (such as 2-quinolinyl, 3-quinolinyl, 4-quinolinyl), isoquinolinyl (such as 1-isoquinolinyl, 3-isoquinolinyl or 4-isoquinolinyl), imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridyl, pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinyl, imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazinyl, [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazinyl, [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinyl, [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridyl, etc.

As described in the present disclosure, a ring system with a substituent R′ connected to a core ring of the ring system through one bond represents that the substituent R′ can be substituted at any substitutable or any suitable position on the ring. For example, formula a represents that any substitutable position on the B′ ring can be substituted with R′, e.g., shown in formula b, formula c and formula d.

[Image Omitted]

In addition, it should be noted that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the expressions used throughout the present disclosure such as “each of . . . and . . . is independently”, “ . . . and . . . are each independently” and “ . . . and . . . are respectively independently” are interchangeable and should be understood in a broad sense. They mean that in different groups, the specific options expressed by the same symbols do not affect each other; or in the same group, the specific options expressed by the same symbols do not affect each other. For example, in Formula (I), among m1 (R⁴)s, the specific options of R⁴can be identical or different; for instance, in Formula (I), the specific options of respective R⁴, R⁵or R⁶can be identical or different, and the substituents represented by R⁴, R⁵and R⁶may be identical or different.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to molecular entities and compositions that are physiologically tolerable when administered to humans and generally do not produce allergies or similar inappropriate reactions, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, dizziness, and the like. Preferably, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein refers to those approved by a federal regulatory agency or a national government or recorded in the US Pharmacopoeia or other generally recognized pharmacopoeia for use in animals, more particularly in humans.

The term “carrier” refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient or matrix that is administered together with the compound. These pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids such as water and oils, including those derived from petroleum, animals, plants, or synthetic sources, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil, and the like. Water, aqueous saline solution, aqueous dextrose, and glycerite are preferably used as carriers, especially for injectable solutions. Suitable carriers of medicaments are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences”, by E. W. Martin.

The “hydrate” of the present disclosure refers to the compound or its salt provided by the present disclosure with chemical or non-chemical equivalent water bonded thereto by non-covalent intermolecular force, i.e., an associated complex formed when the solvent molecule is water.

The “solvate” of the present disclosure refers to an associated complex formed by one or more solvent molecules and the compound of the present disclosure. The solvents for forming the solvate include, but are not limited to, water, isopropanol, ethanol, methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and aminoethanol.

The “ester” in the present disclosure refers to esters that are formed by the compounds represented by Formula (I) to Formula (IV) containing hydroxyl and can be hydrolyzed in vivo. Such esters are, for example, pharmaceutically acceptable esters that are hydrolyzable in the human or animal body to produce alcohols. The in vivo hydrolyzable esters of the compounds represented by Formula (I) to Formula (IV) containing hydroxyl include, but are not limited to, phosphate group, acetyloxymethoxyl, 2,2-dimethyl acetyloxymethoxyl, alkanoyl, benzoyl, benzylacetyl, alkoxycarbonyl, dialkylcarbamoyl, and N-(dialkylaminoethyl)-N-alkylcarbamoyl, etc.

The “nitrogen oxide” of the present disclosure means that, when the compound contains several amine functional groups, one or more nitrogen atoms can be oxidized to form N-oxide. Specific examples of N-oxides are N-oxides of tertiary amines or N-oxides of the nitrogen atom of nitrogen heterocycle. An oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide or peracid (such as peroxycarboxylic acid) can be used to process a corresponding amine to form N-oxide (see Advanced Organic Chemistry, Wiley Interscience, 4th edition, Jerry March, pages). In particular, N-oxides can be prepared by the method by L. W. Deady (Syn. Comm. 1977, 7, 509-514), in which, for example, the amine compound reacts with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) in an inert solvent such as dichloromethane.

The term “prodrug” used in the present disclosure indicates a compound that is converted into a compound represented by formula (I) in vivo. Such conversion is affected by a prodrug hydrolysis in blood or an enzymatic conversion into a parent structure in blood or tissues. The prodrug compounds of the present disclosure may be esters. In the present disclosure, the esters serving as prodrugs include phenyl esters, aliphatic (C_1-24) esters, acyloxymethyl esters, carbonate esters, carbamate esters and amino acid esters. For example, a compound in the present disclosure contains hydroxyl, which can be acylated to obtain a compound in the form of a prodrug. Other forms of the prodrug include phosphate esters, for example, the phosphate ester compounds obtained by phosphorylation of the hydroxyl group on the parent structure. For a full discussion of prodrugs, please refer to the following literatures: T. Higuchi and V. Stella, Pro-drugs as Novel Delivery Systems, Vol. 14 of the A.C.S. Symposium Series, Edward B. Roche, ed., Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design, American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press, 1987, J. Rautio et al., Prodrugs: Design and Clinical Applications, Nature Review Drug Discovery, 2008, 7, 255-270, and S. J. Hecker et al., Prodrugs of Phosphates and Phosphonates, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2008, 51, 2328-2345.

All tautomeric forms of the compounds of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure, unless otherwise indicated.

In addition, the structural formulas of the compounds described in the present disclosure include enriched isotopes of one or more different atoms, unless otherwise indicated. The present disclosure includes isotopically-labeled compounds, which are equivalent to the compounds represented by formula (I) to formula (II), but one or more atoms thereof are replaced by atoms with atomic mass or mass number different from the common atomic mass or mass number in nature. Examples of isotopes that can be introduced in the compounds of the present disclosure include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, fluorine, and chlorine, such as ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹¹C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ³¹P, ³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F and, ³⁶Cl. The compounds of the present disclosure containing the above isotopes and/or other isotopes of other atoms, prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds or the prodrugs all fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The isotopically-labeled compounds of formula (I) to formula (II) of the present disclosure and their prodrugs can generally be prepared in this way: when performing the following procedures and/or the processes disclosed in the examples and preparation examples, the non-isotopically labeled reagents are replaced by the isotopically-labeled reagents that are easily available.

“Metabolite” refers to a product obtained by metabolizing a specific compound or its salt in vivo. The metabolite of one compound can be identified by techniques well known in the art, and its activity can be characterized by assays as described in the present disclosure. Such a product may be obtained through oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, amidation, deamidation, esterification, degreasing, or enzyme cleavage of the administrated compound, or the like. Accordingly, the present disclosure includes the metabolites of the compound, including metabolites produced by fully contacting the compound of the present disclosure with a mammal for a period of time.

Various pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms of the compounds of the present disclosure are useful. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to the salt forms that are apparent to pharmaceutical chemists, that is, they are substantially non-toxic and can provide the desired pharmacokinetic properties, palatability, absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion. Other factors, which are more practical in terms of properties and are also important in terms of selection, include: the cost of raw materials, ease of crystallization, yield, stability, hygroscopicity, and fluidity of the resulting crude drugs. In brief, the pharmaceutical composition can be prepared from an active component and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

As used herein, a “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to an organic or inorganic salt of the compound of the present disclosure. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art, as described in the literature: S. M. Berge et al., describe pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 66: 1-19, 1977. Salts formed by pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids include, but are not limited to, inorganic acid salts formed by reacting with amino groups, including hydrochloride, hydrobromide, phosphate, sulfate, perchlorate, nitrate, etc; and organic acid salts such as acetate, propionate, glycollate, oxalate, maleate, malonate, succinate, fumarate, tartrate, citrate, benzoate, mandelate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, tosylate, sulfosalicylate, etc., or the salts obtained through other methods such as ion exchange described in book literatures.

Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts include adipate, malate, 2-hydroxypropionic acid, alginate, ascorbate, aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, cyclopentylpropionate, digluconate, dodecyl sulfate, esilate, formate, fumarate, gluceptate, glycerophosphate, gluconate, hemisulphate, enanthate, caproate, hydriodate, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionic acid salt, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, palmitate, pamoate, pectate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, thiocyanate, p-toluene sulfonate, undecanoate, valerate, etc. Salts obtained from suitable bases include salts of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, and N⁺(C_1-4alkyl)₄.

The present disclosure also contemplates quaternary ammonium salts formed by any compound with a group containing N. Water-soluble or oil-soluble or dispersed products can be obtained by quaternization. The salts of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal include sodium salts, lithium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, magnesium salts, iron salts, zinc salts, copper salts, manganese salts, aluminum salts, etc. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts further include suitable and non-toxic ammoniums, quaternary ammonium salts and amine cations formed by counterions, such as halides, hydroxides, carboxylates, hydrosulfates, phosphates, nitrates, C_1-8sulfonates and aromatic sulfonates. The ammonium salts, such as but not limited to N, N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, ammonia, diethanolamine and other hydroxyalkylamines, ethylenediamine, N-methyl glucosamine, procaine, N-benzylphenethylamine, 1-p-chlorobenzyl-2-pyrrolidine-1′-ylmethyl-benzimidazole, diethylamine and other alkylamines, piperazine, and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; alkaline earth metal salts, such as but not limited to barium, calcium and magnesium; transition metal salts, for example, including, but not limited to zinc.

In this specification, the structure shall prevail if the chemical name is different from the chemical structure.

Unless otherwise specified, the abbreviations of any amino acids and other compounds used in the present disclosure are the commonly used and recognized abbreviations, or refer to IUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (see Biochem. 1972, 11: 942-944).

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a new compound having a significant regulatory activity for liver X receptors.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a new compound that has significant therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, and can target at tumor energy metabolism.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for preparing the liver X receptor regulator.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides use of the compound in treatment of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome and in targeting at tumor energy metabolism.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing the 2′-isopropyl-spiro (3,3′-pyrrolidine oxindole) liver X receptor regulator. The method includes the following steps: dissolving tryptamine and isobutyraldehyde in dichloromethane and performing a Pictet-Spengler reaction in an acidic environment to obtain an intermediate 1a; dissolving the intermediate 1a in tetrahydrofuran for rearrangement under the presence of N-bromosuccinimide, so as to obtain an intermediate 1b; dissolving the intermediate 1b in dichloromethane, and adding triethylamine to react with di-tert-butyl decarbonate, so as to obtain an intermediate 1c; dissolving the intermediate 1c in toluene, and adding cuprous iodide, N,N-dimethylethylenediamine, and potassium carbonate to react with m-chloroiodobenzene to obtain an intermediate 1d; dissolving the intermediate 1d in 2,4-dioxane, and adding bis(dibenzylideneacetone) palladium, bis(pinacolato)diboron, and potassium acetate to react in a nitrogen atmosphere, so as to obtain an intermediate 1e; performing a Suzuki coupling reaction with the intermediate 1e and a bromo-substituted R1 fragment to obtain an intermediate 1f; removing protecting groups from the intermediate 1f under an acidic condition, and reacting with an acid anhydride and acyl chloride containing R2 to obtain the 2′-isopropyl-spiro (3,3′-pyrrolidine oxindole) liver X receptor regulator.

The compound provided by the present disclosure has a significant regulatory activity for the liver X receptor and lipid-lowering activity, and thus it can be used as a lead compound for treatment of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome and for targeting at tumor energy metabolism.

Further, by using a reporter gene method on HEK293T cells, liver X receptor regulators are screened from the compounds provided by the present disclosure. The lipid-lowering activities of the compounds in hepatocytes and adipocytes are tested on HepG2 cells and 3T3-L1 cells. It was found that compound 2a-1 has the best regulatory activity for the liver X receptor and lipid-lowering activity, and the lipid-lowering mechanism thereof has been investigated. The results indicate that this compound exerts the lipid-lowering effect by down-regulating liver X receptor downstream genes SREBP-1c, ACC, FAS, SCD-1. At the same time, compound 2a-1 also has lipid-lowering activity in a mice hyperlipidemia model induced by Triton WR-1339.

Compared with the prior art, the present disclosure has the following beneficial effects:

The compounds provided by the present disclosure require raw materials that are easily available, can be easily prepared, and have the significant regulatory activity for liver X receptor and lipid-lowering activity. The 2′-isopropyl-spiro (3,3′-pyrrolidine oxindole) liver X receptor regulator exerts the lipid-lowering effect by down-regulating the liver X receptor downstream genes SREBP-1c, ACC, FAS, and SCD-1. Accordingly, the compounds of the present disclosure have great application prospects in the preparation of drugs for prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and tumors.

The present application is further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments and drawings, which should not be understood as limitations of the present disclosure. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present disclosure, simple modifications or substitutions made to the methods, steps or conditions of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure; unless otherwise specified, the technical means used in the embodiments are those well-known and conventional for those skilled in the art.

Example 1: Synthesis of Compounds

Using tryptamine as the starting material, a 2′-isopropyl-spiro (3,3′-pyrrolidine oxindole) compound is obtained through six or seven steps of reaction. The reaction scheme is as follows:

[Image Omitted]

Specific steps are described as below.

1. Tryptamine (20 mmol) was dissolved in 50 mL of dichloromethane, isobutyraldehyde (20 mmol, 1 eq.) was added, then trifluoroacetic acid (40 mmol, 2 eq.) was slowly added, and the mixture was stirred overnight for reaction. Then, the reaction solution was added with petroleum ether and filtrated to obtain a white solid, i.e., an intermediate 1a.

2. The intermediate 1a (18 mmol) was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran/water solution, and N-bromosuccinimide (18 mmol, 1 eq.) was added at 0° C. and reacted for 4 hours. The reaction solution was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with a saturated aqueous sodium of bicarbonate, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Then, the solvent was removed by rotatory drying to obtain a crude intermediate 1b.

3. The intermediate 1b was dissolved in 50 mL of dichloromethane, triethylamine (20 mmol, 1.1 eq.) was added, and di-tert-butyl decarbonate was slowly added. After reacting for 2 hours, the reaction solution was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed by rotatory drying to obtain a crude intermediate 1c, which was then recrystallized by adding 30 mL of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (v/v: 5/1) to obtain an intermediate 1c.

4. The intermediate 1c (15 mmol) was dissolved in toluene, and then potassium carbonate (15 mmol, 1 eq.), m-chloroiodobenzene (15 mmol, 1 eq.), N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (0.15 mmol, 0.01 eq.), and cuprous iodide (0.75 mmol, 0.05 eq.) were added. After reacting at 85° C. for 10 hours under nitrogen protection; the reaction solution was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with saturated ammonium chloride and sodium chloride aqueous solution, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was then removed by rotatory drying to obtain a crude intermediate 1d, which was recrystallized by adding 30 mL of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (v/v: 5/1) to obtain an intermediate 1d.

5. The intermediate 1d (10 mmol) was dissolved in 2,4-dioxane, and then potassium acetate (10 mmol, 1 eq.), bis(pinacolato)diboron (11 mmol, 1.1 eq.), bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium (0.5 mmol, 0.05 eq.), 4,5-bisdiphenylphosphine-9,9-dimethylxanthene (0.5 mmol, 0.05 eq.) were added. After reacting at 85° C. for 10 hours under nitrogen protection, the reaction solution was washed with saturated ammonium chloride and sodium chloride aqueous solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed by rotatory drying to obtain a crude intermediate 1e, which was purified through silica gel column chromatography to obtain a pure product.

6. The intermediate 1e (8 mmol) was dissolved in 2,4-dioxane, and then sodium carbonate (9.6 mmol, 1.2 eq.), a bromo-substituted W derivative (9.6 mmol, 1.2 eq.), and [1, 1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]palladium dichloride (0.4 mmol, 0.05 eq.) were added. After reacting at 85° C. for 10 hours under nitrogen protection, the reaction solution was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with saturated ammonium chloride and sodium chloride aqueous solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed by rotatory drying to obtain a crude product, which was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain compounds 2a, 3a, 4a.

7. Compound 2a, 3a, or 4a was dissolved in dichloromethane, and then trifluoroacetic acid (5 eq.) was added to react for 1 hour. The reaction solution was dried through rotatory drying under reduced pressure, and then a next reaction step was directly performed. The crude intermediate was dissolved in dichloromethane/pyridine (v/v: 5/1), and acid anhydride or acid chloride containing R^bwas added to react overnight. The reaction solution was diluted with dichloromethane, washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride aqueous solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed by rotatory drying to obtain a crude product, which was purified through silica gel column chromatography to obtain the target compounds 2b to 2e, 3b to 3f, 4b to 4c.

The structure, appearance, and NMR spectrum data of the final products 1a to 4e are shown below.

[Image Omitted]

Product 1a: white solid (92%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Methanol-d₄) δ 7.48 (dd, J=7.95, 1.04 Hz, 1H), 7.37 (dt, J=8.21, 0.93 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (ddd, J=8.23, 7.04, 1.18 Hz, 1H), 7.06 (ddd, J=8.01, 7.05, 1.01 Hz, 1H), 4.67 (dd, J=4.02, 2.06 Hz, 1H), 3.75 (ddd, J=12.51, 5.50, 3.28 Hz, 1H), 3.45 (ddd, J=12.70, 9.70, 5.71 Hz, 1H), 3.18-3.00 (m, 2H), 2.64 (pd, J=7.10, 4.00 Hz, 1H), 1.25 (d, J=7.06 Hz, 3H), 0.97 (d, J=7.07 Hz, 3H). m/z (ESI-MS): 215.3 [M+H]⁺.

[Image Omitted]

Product 1c: white solid (81%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Methanol-d₄) δ 9.45 (s, 1H), 7.24-7.18 (m, 1H), 7.15 (td, J=7.73, 1.16 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (td, J=7.61, 1.05 Hz, 1H), 6.86 (d, J=7.72 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (dt, J=11.02, 7.85 Hz, 1H), 3.91 (d, J=6.05 Hz, 1H), 3.43 (ddd, J=11.13, 7.42, 5.83 Hz, 1H), 2.20-2.10 (m, 2H), 2.00-1.86 (m, 1H), 1.42 (s, 9H), 0.94 (d, J=6.78 Hz, 3H), 0.62 (d, J=6.68 Hz, 3H). m/z (ESI-MS): 231.2[M+H]⁺

[Image Omitted]

Product 1d: white solid (58%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.37-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.28 (m, 1H), 7.23 (m, 2H), 7.14 (td, J=7.74, 1.16 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (t, J=7.53 Hz, 1H), 6.75 (d, J=7.86 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (m, 2H), 3.46 (dt, J=11.18, 6.74 Hz, 1H), 2.21 (dd, J=8.41, 5.45 Hz, 2H), 2.00 (h, J=6.66 Hz, 1H), 1.39 (s, 9H), 0.94 (d, J=6.78 Hz, 3H), 0.63 (d, J=6.68 Hz, 3H). m/z (ESI-MS): 441.3[M+H]⁺

[Image Omitted]

Product 1e: white solid (63%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.76 (d, J=7.22 Hz, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=2.00 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (t, J=7.56 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (d, J=8.44 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (d, J=7.42 Hz, 1H), 7.13 (t, J=7.71 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (t, J=7.50 Hz, 1H), 6.69 (d, J=7.88 Hz, 1H), 4.08-3.95 (m, 2H), 3.48 (dt, J=11.24, 6.71 Hz, 1H), 2.23 (m, 2H), 2.02 (q, J=6.66 Hz, 1H), 1.40 (s, 9H), 1.26 (s, 12H), 0.96 (d, J=6.81 Hz, 3H), 0.66 (d, J=6.65 Hz, 3H).

[Image Omitted]

Product 2a: white solid (58%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 8.14 (d, J=1.94 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (dd, J=7.92, 1.96 Hz, 1H), 7.59 (d, J=7.97 Hz, 1H), 7.57-7.47 (m, 3H), 7.34 (t, J=6.53 Hz, 2H), 7.16 (t, J=7.72 Hz, 1H), 7.02 (t, J=7.53 Hz, 1H), 6.77 (d, J=7.92 Hz, 1H), 4.90 (d, J=6.03 Hz, 2H), 4.11-3.86 (m, 2H), 3.63 (t, J=6.34 Hz, 1H), 3.48 (dt, J=11.17, 6.69 Hz, 1H), 3.09 (s, 3H), 2.39-2.20 (m, 2H), 2.04 (q, J=6.62 Hz, 1H), 1.37 (s, 10H), 0.97 (d, J=6.78 Hz, 3H), 0.68 (d, J=6.67 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.63, 155.20, 142.50, 139.39, 139.36, 138.68, 137.77, 134.10, 131.45, 130.71, 129.36, 127.49, 127.35, 127.15, 125.75, 125.43, 124.33, 124.30, 121.89, 108.43, 78.74, 66.99, 61.10, 55.24, 44.82, 43.96, 34.42, 29.76, 27.43, 20.74.17.91. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=591.2520, calcd for C₃₃H₃₈N₂O₆S, 591.2523.

[Image Omitted]

Product 2b: white solid (70%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 8.17 (d, J=3.11 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J=6.34 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (m, 4H), 7.36 (d, J=7.56 Hz, 2H), 7.25-7.20 (m, 1H), 7.08 (d, J=6.54 Hz, 1H), 6.81 (d, J=7.07 Hz, 1H), 4.91 (d, J=7.16 Hz, 1H), 4.42 (t, J=4.50 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (q, J=9.36 Hz, 1H), 3.88-3.79 (m, 1H), 3.63 (t, J=5.63 Hz, 1H), 3.13 (d, J=3.15 Hz, 3H), 3.12-3.05 (m, 2H), 2.49 (dd, J=8.73, 3.47 Hz, 1H), 2.44 (dd, J=8.65, 4.13 Hz, 1H), 2.18 (q, J=7.37, 6.89 Hz, 1H), 0.99 (d, J=5.84 Hz, 3H), 0.75 (d, J=6.63 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 178.00, 157.75 (q), 143.80, 140.77, 140.49, 139.41, 139.13, 134.78, 132.68, 132.19, 130.51, 129.18, 128.49, 127.08, 126.71, 126.51, 125.41, 125.31, 123.19, 116.55 (q), 109.85, 68.44, 62.65, 54.50, 45.17, 45.04, 34.38, 30.35, 22.02, 18.58. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=587.1819, calcd for C₃₀H₂₉F₃N₂O₅S, 587.1822.

[Image Omitted]

Product 2c: white solid (84%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 8.15 (d, J=1.84 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (dd, J=7.90, 1.90 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (dd, J=13.86, 5.20 Hz, 5H), 7.39-7.27 (m, 2H), 7.24-7.11 (m, 1H), 7.04 (t, J=7.55 Hz, 1H), 6.78 (d, J=7.87 Hz, 1H), 4.91 (s, 2H), 4.42 (d, J=6.03 Hz, 1H), 4.03 (q, J=8.81 Hz, 1H), 3.66 (td, J=9.58, 3.28 Hz, 1H), 3.39 (d, J=12.98 Hz, 1H), 3.12 (s, 3H), 2.45 (dt, J=13.30, 8.69 Hz, 1H), 2.40-2.32 (m, 1H), 2.19 (d, J=14.27 Hz, 1H), 2.08 (q, J=6.63 Hz, 1H), 1.02 (s, 8H), 0.97 (d, J=6.88 Hz, 3H), 0.72 (d, J=6.63 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.50, 171.70, 142.77, 139.65, 139.37, 138.51, 137.97, 134.06, 131.58, 131.09, 131.00, 129.34, 127.66, 127.58, 127.46, 127.32, 126.64, 125.81, 125.54, 124.45, 124.25, 121.82, 108.49, 65.36, 61.42, 53.97, 45.75, 45.43, 44.09, 33.34, 30.36, 29.68, 29.09, 21.35, 18.06. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=589.2734, calcd for C₃₄H₄₀N₂O₅S, 589.2731.

[Image Omitted]

Product 2d: white solid (78%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 8.15 (d, J=1.84 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (dd, J=7.86, 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (d, J=7.87 Hz, 1H), 7.57-7.49 (m, 3H), 7.35 (dd, J=7.61, 3.15 Hz, 2H), 7.23-7.14 (m, 1H), 7.04 (t, J=7.54 Hz, 1H), 6.76 (d, J=7.86 Hz, 1H), 4.90 (s, 2H), 4.56 (d, J=6.76 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (dt, J=10.47, 7.49 Hz, 1H), 3.77 (dt, J=10.44, 7.05 Hz, 1H), 3.40 (s, 1H), 3.12 (s, 3H), 2.40 (t, J=7.20 Hz, 2H), 2.07 (h, J=6.79 Hz, 1H), 1.26 (s, 9H), 0.90 (d, J=6.81 Hz, 3H), 0.65 (d, J=6.59 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.67, 177.11, 142.79, 139.65, 139.39, 138.47, 137.93, 134.13, 131.59, 131.00, 129.40, 127.57, 127.32, 127.12, 125.86, 125.70, 124.54, 124.14, 121.74, 108.46, 67.08, 61.42, 53.33, 45.32, 44.07, 38.44, 34.42, 29.30, 27.00, 20.88, 17.68. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=575.2541, calcd for C₃₃H₃₈N₂O₅S, 575.2574.

[Image Omitted]

Product 2e: white solid (63%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.67-7.55 (m, 5H), 7.47 (d, J=7.79 Hz, 2H), 7.43 (d, J=7.61 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=7.46, 1.73 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (d, J=7.84 Hz, 1H), 7.12 (t, J=7.54 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (d, J=7.91 Hz, 1H), 4.77 (s, 2H), 4.13 (d, J=7.06 Hz, 2H), 3.60 (dt, J=12.04, 6.78 Hz, 1H), 2.38 (td, J=19.24, 16.22, 9.53 Hz, 2H), 2.14 (h, J=6.62 Hz, 1H), 1.51 (d, J=1.52 Hz, 9H), 1.07 (dd, J=6.92, 1.48 Hz, 3H), 0.76 (d, J=6.64 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 178.51, 156.16, 143.79, 142.50, 140.49, 139.48, 134.89, 130.00, 128.79, 128.37, 127.48, 127.39, 126.71, 125.45, 125.24, 122.66, 109.52, 79.79, 64.99, 56.23, 46.06, 35.76, 30.80, 29.70, 28.48, 21.49, 19.00. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=513.2724, calcd for C₃₂H₃₆N₂O₄, 513.2748.

[Image Omitted]

Product 3a: white solid (76%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.62 (s, 1H), 7.61-7.56 (m, 3H), 7.54 (d, J=8.00 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (t, J=6.97 Hz, 2H), 7.36 (d, J=7.91 Hz, 1H), 7.24 (t, J=7.80 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (t, J=7.55 Hz, 1H), 6.87 (d, J=7.92 Hz, 1H), 4.09 (q, J=7.12 Hz, 2H), 3.56 (dt, J=12.24, 6.81 Hz, 1H), 3.14 (s, 3H), 2.90 (s, 3H), 2.40-2.26 (m, 2H), 2.10 (q, J=6.67 Hz, 1H), 1.47 (s, 9H), 1.04 (d, J=6.75 Hz, 3H), 0.74 (d, J=6.62 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 178.51, 168.16, 156.11, 143.51, 142.24, 140.67, 135.45, 135.11, 130.86, 130.24, 128.55, 128.45, 128.27, 128.14, 126.63, 126.20, 126.07, 125.35, 125.30, 122.84, 109.41, 79.62, 74.81, 68.13, 60.33, 56.23, 45.92, 38.11, 34.68, 30.77, 28.47, 21.62. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=588.2617, calcd for C₃₄H₃₈ClN₃O₄, 588.2624.

[Image Omitted]

Product 3b: white solid (77%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.64-7.57 (m, 1H), 7.55 (d, J=1.59 Hz, 1H), 7.51 (t, J=6.62 Hz, 2H), 7.47 (dd, J=7.87, 1.60 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (td, J=7.72, 2.71 Hz, 1H), 7.34 (dd, J=7.02, 2.26 Hz, 2H), 7.30 (d, J=7.90 Hz, 1H), 7.22-7.15 (m, 1H), 7.04 (t, J=7.53 Hz, 1H), 4.57 (d, J=6.78 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (dt, J=10.47, 7.41 Hz, 1H), 3.77 (dt, J=10.45, 6.99 Hz, 1H), 3.09 (s, 3H), 2.85 (s, 3H), 2.38 (t, J=7.21 Hz, 2H), 2.07 (h, J=6.80 Hz, 1H), 1.28 (s, 9H), 0.91 (d, J=6.80 Hz, 3H), 0.64 (d, J=6.60 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.57, 177.00, 167.22, 142.81, 141.25, 139.76, 134.38, 134.04, 129.27, 127.53, 127.51, 127.23, 127.21, 127.19, 125.76, 125.50, 125.11, 124.49, 124.13, 121.66, 108.43, 67.10, 53.33, 45.32, 38.44, 37.14, 34.45, 33.69, 29.30, 27.01, 20.82, 17.68. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=572.2659, calcd for C₃₄H₃₈ClN₃O₃, 572.2674.

[Image Omitted]

Product 3c: white solid (49%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.64 (m, 3H), 7.58-7.53 (m, 1H), 7.45 (s, 1H), 7.40 (d, J=2.49 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (t, J=3.51 Hz, 1H), 7.29 (d, J=2.83 Hz, 1H), 7.28-7.23 (m, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=7.39 Hz, 1H), 6.91 (d, J=8.02 Hz, 1H), 4.80 (d, J=7.01 Hz, 1H), 4.33 (q, J=8.46 Hz, 1H), 3.41-3.37 (m, 1H), 3.75 (td, J=9.55, 3.82 Hz, 1H), 3.17 (s, 3H), 2.93 (s, 3H), 2.56-2.47 (m, 1H), 2.39-2.27 (m, 1H), 2.05 (brs, 3H), 1.58 (s, 6H), 0.83 (d, J=6.66 Hz, 3H), 0.60 (d, J=6.52 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 179.80, 176.78, 167.20, 142.65, 141.58, 139.71, 134.45, 133.95, 131.22, 129.87, 129.23, 127.77, 127.26, 127.17, 126.61, 125.70, 125.06, 124.33, 124.03, 122.08, 108.53, 73.91, 68.21, 55.48, 54.79, 53.15, 47.12, 44.25, 40.02, 37.12, 33.69, 28.26. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=604.2557, calcd for C₃₄H₃₉ClN₄O₂S, 604.2555.

[Image Omitted]

Product 3d: white solid (43%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.68-7.61 (m, 3H), 7.59 (d, J=2.13 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (dd, J=7.86, 1.63 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (t, J=7.62 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (d, J=7.92 Hz, 1H), 7.32 (t, J=7.75 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (t, J=7.51 Hz, 1H), 6.96 (d, J=7.92 Hz, 1H), 4.45 (dd, J=11.03, 8.60 Hz, 1H), 4.10 (d, J=8.34 Hz, 1H), 3.36 (td, J=11.63, 5.60 Hz, 1H), 3.18 (s, 3H), 2.94 (s, 3H), 2.47 (td, J=11.99, 8.65 Hz, 1H), 2.03-1.93 (m, 2H), 1.97 (d, J=7.21 Hz, 1H), 1.92 (s, 6H), 1.09 (d, J=6.70 Hz, 3H), 0.60 (d, J=6.76 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 176.48, 168.18, 142.56, 142.21, 140.89, 135.56, 135.13, 130.94, 130.42, 130.37, 128.40, 128.32, 128.20, 126.90, 126.09, 125.97, 125.14, 125.06, 122.97, 109.84, 84.38, 75.11, 56.94, 40.96, 40.42, 38.14, 34.72, 31.56, 28.36, 27.67, 22.09, 19.02. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=594.2178, calcd for C₃₂H₃₆ClN₃O₄S, 594.2188.

[Image Omitted]

Product 3e: white solid (75%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.62 (d, J=1.72 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (dq, J=4.12, 2.68, 1.96 Hz, 3H), 7.54 (dd, J=7.92, 1.74 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (ddd, J=7.02, 3.24, 1.68 Hz, 2H), 7.37 (d, J=7.92 Hz, 1H), 7.29-7.22 (m, 1H), 7.11 (td, J=7.58, 1.09 Hz, 1H), 6.87 (d, J=7.86 Hz, 1H), 4.48 (d, J=6.05 Hz, 1H), 4.10 (dt, J=10.05, 8.30 Hz, 1H), 3.72 (td, J=9.49, 3.36 Hz, 1H), 3.16 (s, 3H), 2.91 (s, 3H), 2.51 (dt, J=13.15, 8.72 Hz, 1H), 2.41-2.36 (m, 1H), 2.37 (d, J=14.32 Hz, 1H), 2.28 (d, J=14.28 Hz, 1H), 2.15 (h, J=6.88 Hz, 1H), 1.11 (s, 9H), 1.04 (d, J=6.83 Hz, 3H), 0.78 (d, J=6.65 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.42, 171.59, 167.22, 142.78, 141.23, 139.73, 134.39, 133.93, 129.85, 129.21, 127.60, 127.23, 127.19, 126.69, 125.70, 125.31, 125.09, 124.40, 124.23, 121.74, 108.46, 65.33, 53.94, 45.72, 45.39, 37.13, 33.69, 33.32, 30.34, 29.68, 29.08, 21.31, 18.05. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=586.2834, calcd for C₃₅H₄₀ClN₃O₃, 586.2831.

[Image Omitted]

Product 3f: white solid (61%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.58-7.49 (m, 4H), 7.48 (s, 1H), 7.44 (dd, J=8.00, 1.78 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (td, J=6.08, 3.36 Hz, 2H), 7.184 (t, J=6.85 Hz 1H), 7.03 (t, J=6.76 Hz 1H), 6.81 (d, J=7.92 Hz, 1H), 4.75 (s, 2H), 4.03 (d, J=6.58 Hz, 2H), 3.50 (dt, J=11.50, 7.22 Hz, 1H), 2.37-2.14 (m, 1H), 2.05 (dt, J=13.26, 6.87 Hz, 2H), 1.41 (d, J=3.89 Hz, 9H), 0.98 (d, J=6.77 Hz, 3H), 0.68 (d, J=6.63 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.50, 155.15, 142.61, 140.09, 139.85, 136.58, 133.96, 132.09, 129.13, 128.04, 127.61, 127.39, 126.86, 125.62, 124.94, 124.75, 124.26, 124.20, 121.73, 108.43, 78.72, 61.51, 56.40, 49.84, 44.96, 34.60, 29.78, 27.45, 20.55, 17.95. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=545.2554, calcd for C₃₃H₃₇ClN₂O₃, 545.2565.

[Image Omitted]

Product 4a: white solid (75%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.73 (td, J=8.43, 7.83, 3.14 Hz, 3H), 7.62 (t, J=7.79 Hz, 1H), 7.57 (s, 1H), 7.45 (d, J=7.58 Hz, 1H), 7.43-7.40 (m, 1H), 7.38 (dd, J=7.85, 1.77 Hz, 1H), 7.32-7.19 (m, 1H), 7.18-7.05 (m, 2H), 6.95 (d, J=7.91 Hz, 1H), 6.54 (d, J=3.05 Hz, 1H), 4.17 (d, J=5.78 Hz, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 3.62 (ddd, J=11.26, 7.78, 5.71 Hz, 1H), 2.39 (overlapped, 2H), 2.17 (q, J=6.66 Hz, 1H), 1.53 (s, 9H), 1.10 (d, J=6.76 Hz, 3H), 0.80 (d, J=6.67 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.49, 155.15, 143.23, 142.95, 136.15, 133.72, 132.93, 128.84, 128.77, 127.73, 127.34, 127.14, 126.11, 124.51, 124.16, 123.70, 121.53, 120.12, 118.15, 108.59, 106.89, 99.83, 78.63, 67.16, 55.44, 45.04, 34.71, 31.91, 29.78, 27.47, 20.49, 17.98. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=536.2912, calcd for C₃₄H₃₇N₃O₄, 536.2908.

[Image Omitted]

Product 4b: white solid (82%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.63 (d, J=9.08 Hz, 2H), 7.59 (d, J=6.69 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (t, J=7.82 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (s, 1H), 7.34 (d, J=7.52 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (dd, J=8.31, 1.43 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (d, J=7.57 Hz, 1H), 7.16 (d, J=7.73 Hz, 1H), 7.06-6.96 (m, 2H), 6.81 (d, J=7.89 Hz, 1H), 6.43 (d, J=3.04 Hz, 1H), 4.59 (d, J=6.79 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (dt, J=10.33, 7.36 Hz, 1H), 3.78 (overlapped, 4H), 2.44-2.35 (m, 2H), 2.08 (h, J=6.83 Hz, 1H), 1.29 (s, 9H), 0.91 (d, J=6.83 Hz, 3H), 0.66 (d, J=6.61 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.56, 161.42, 143.26, 136.14, 133.66, 132.95, 128.90, 128.75, 127.43, 127.33, 127.10, 126.25, 124.63, 124.00, 123.98, 121.39, 120.10, 118.17, 108.63, 106.97, 99.81, 67.17, 53.37, 45.41, 38.46, 34.60, 31.97, 29.33, 27.03, 20.76, 17.71. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=520.2945, calcd for C₃₄H₃₇N₃O₂, 520.2959.

[Image Omitted]

Product 4c: white solid (80%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 7.66-7.60 (m, 2H), 7.59 (dd, J=4.48, 2.71 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (t, J=7.84 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (s, 1H), 7.33 (d, J=7.56 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (dd, J=8.26, 1.41 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (d, J=8.13 Hz, 1H), 7.17 (d, J=7.77 Hz, 1H), 7.06-6.92 (m, 2H), 6.82 (d, J=7.90 Hz, 1H), 6.43 (d, J=3.02 Hz, 1H), 4.44 (d, J=6.06 Hz, 1H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.67 (dd, J=9.61, 3.51 Hz, 1H), 3.63 (brs, 1H), 2.44 (dt, J=13.25, 8.66 Hz, 1H), 2.38-2.30 (m, 2H), 2.29 (d, J=14.34 Hz, 1H), 2.23 (d, J=14.31 Hz, 1H), 2.10 (h, J=6.75 Hz, 1H), 1.05 (s, 9H), 0.98 (d, J=6.79 Hz, 3H), 0.73 (d, J=6.67 Hz, 3H). ¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 177.42, 170.14, 143.23, 136.14, 133.57, 132.91, 128.85, 128.76, 127.52, 127.11, 126.79, 126.20, 124.54, 124.11, 123.85, 121.47, 120.10, 118.16, 108.65, 106.96, 99.80, 65.36, 53.96, 45.74, 45.44, 33.45, 31.97, 30.34, 29.70, 21.28, 20.03, 18.07. ESI-HRMS [M+H]⁺ m/z=534.3109, calcd for C₃₅H₃₉N₃O₂, 534.3115.

Example 2: Liver X Receptor Activity Test of the Compounds Obtained in Example 1

(1) Cell culture: human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T cells) were cultured in DMEM (high glucose) medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin-streptomycin under conditions of 37° C. and 5% CO₂.

(2) Transfection: HEK293T cells were seeded in a 96-well plate with a cell density of 2×10⁴cells/well. After 24 hours, the cells were transfected according to instructions of Lipofectamine™ 3000 reagent. The specific steps of transfection were as follows:

- {circle around (1)} adding 15 μL of L3000 reagent to 500 μL of DMEM (high sugar) medium, and vortex oscillating for 2 seconds;
- {circle around (2)} mixing 6.5 μg of pGL3/(DR-4)-c-fos-FF-luc plasmid, 0.13 μg of pCMV/Renilla-luc plasmid, 1.3 μg of pSG5/hLXRα (or pSG5/hLXRβ plasmid), 1.3 μg of pSG5/hRXRα plasmid, and 19 μL of P3000 reagent in 500 μL of DMEM (high sugar) medium;
- {circle around (3)} adding the plasmid mixture to a liposome mixture and standing by at room temperature for 20 minutes; and
- {circle around (4)} adding 10 μL of liposome-DNA solution to each well of the 96-well plate, and gently shaking the 96-well plate to mix well.

(3) Drug intervention: after 5 hours of transfection, the compounds to be tested were added, and the plate was placed in an incubator to continue culturing for 20 hours.

(4) Detection: dual-luciferase reporter gene system was used for detection. The specific steps of detection were as follows:

- {circle around (1)} aspirating the original medium in the 96-well plate, adding cell lysate to the 96-well plate at 20 μL/well, and quickly shaking the plate at room temperature for 20 minutes;
- {circle around (2)} adding samples to a 384-well plate at 20 μL/well;
- {circle around (3)} adding firefly luciferase substrate to each well at 10 μL/well, and measuring chemiluminescence after 7 seconds; and
- {circle around (4)} adding Renilla luciferase substrate to the same sample well at 100 μL/well, and measuring chemiluminescence after 7 seconds.

Result processing: the results were analyzed using Renilla luciferase activity to correct the firefly luciferase activity. The liver X receptor inverse agonist activity of the compounds is shown in Table 1. By analyzing Table 1, it can be found that compounds 2a, 2a-1, 2a-2, 2b, 2c, 2d, etc. can inversely activate liver X receptors. Among them, compound 2a-1 has the best inverse agonist activity, and thus it was used for the study of lipid-lowering activity and mechanism. In addition, the liver X receptor agonist activities of the compounds are shown in Table 2. From Table 2, it can be seen that compounds 3a, 3b, and 3c can activate liver X receptors.

TABLE 1

Liver X receptor inverse agonist activity of the compounds

LXRα
LXRβ

IC₅₀
% Inverse agonist
IC₅₀
% Inverse agonist

Compound
(μM)^a
effect^b
(μM)^a
effect^b

SR9238
0.16
93
0.10
78

2a
3.23
77
0.39
83

2a-1
2.25
81
0.36
85

2a-2
9.06
56
1.04
75

2b
8.16
50
3.44
59

2c
8.57
46
1.79
77

2e
NA
NA
8.64
59

2d
7.54
55
2.40
78

3d
3.56
66
4.57
56

3e
NA
NA
NA
NA

3f
NA
NA
6.97
51

4a
NA
NA
NA
NA

4b
NA
NA
NA
NA

4c
NA
NA
10.08
64

TABLE 2

Liver X receptor agonist activity of the compounds.

LXRα

LXRβ