Development of a non-hydroxamate dual matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7/-13 inhibitor

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules22091548

Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) is a member of the MMP superfamily and is able to degrade extracellular matrix proteins such as casein, gelatin, fibronectin and proteoglycan. MMP-7 is a validated target for the development of small molecule drugs against cancer. MMP-13 is within the enzyme class the most efficient contributor to type II collagen degeneration and is a validated target in arthritis and cancer. We have developed the dual MMP-7/-13 inhibitor ZHAWOC6941 with IC₅₀-values of 2.2 μM (MMP-7) and 1.2 μM (MMP-13) that is selective over a broad range of MMP isoforms. It spares MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -9, -12 and -14, making it a valuable modulator for targeted polypharmacology approaches.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules22091548

molecules
Article
Development of a Non-Hydroxamate Dual Matrix
Metalloproteinase (MMP)-7/-13 Inhibitor
ID
Thomas Fischer and Rainer Riedl *
Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology,
Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland;
thomas.fischer@zhaw.ch
* Correspondence: rainer.riedl@zhaw.ch; Tel.: +41-58-934-5618
Received: 26 August 2017; Accepted: 8 September 2017; Published: 14 September 2017
Abstract: Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) is a member of the MMP superfamily and is able to
degrade extracellular matrix proteins such as casein, gelatin, fibronectin and proteoglycan. MMP-7 is
a validated target for the development of small molecule drugs against cancer. MMP-13 is within
the enzyme class the most efficient contributor to type II collagen degeneration and is a validated
target in arthritis and cancer. We have developed the dual MMP-7/-13 inhibitor ZHAWOC6941 with
IC50-values of 2.2 µM (MMP-7) and 1.2 µM (MMP-13) that is selective over a broad range of MMP
isoforms. It spares MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -9, -12 and -14, making it a valuable modulator for targeted
polypharmacology approaches.
Keywords: matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor; polypharmacology; organic synthesis; drug discovery;
structure activity relationship
1. Introduction
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of calcium- and zinc-dependent endopeptidases
able to metabolize components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) [
of MMPs is strongly regulated by the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) [
in this network can lead to a series of serious diseases including, but not exclusively, different forms of
cancer or arthritis [ ]. The enzyme class has been in the focus of the pharmaceutical industry for
decades since their first description by Gross and Lapiere [ 10]. Many different MMP inhibitors are
known to date, demonstrating a range of potency and selectivity [11 21]. Early inhibitors of the target
1]. In healthy organisms, the activity
2
]. An imbalance
3–8
9,
–
family incorporated a hydroxamic acid moiety as a strong metal chelating group interacting with the
catalytic zinc which is conserved in all MMP isoforms [22]. This led to potent inhibitors, which however
did not display satisfying selectivity profiles [23]. In clinical trials those inhibitors failed due to painful
side effects such as the joint-stiffening musculoskeletal syndrome (MSS) [24,25]. Further development
led to more sophisticated inhibitors with superior selectivity profiles compared to hydroxamate
derivatives. For some MMPs very selective inhibitors are available nowadays. For example MMP-13,
the key player in collagen degradation and a valid target for arthritis and cancer [
selectively and with high affinity with a variety of ligands [27–29].
7,26], can be inhibited
Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) is a MMP-family member that differs from most of the
other isoforms because it lacks the haemopexin-like domain, found in all MMPs except for MMP-7,
MMP-23 and MMP-26 [4]. It is capable of activating the pro-forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 [30].
Overall and Kleifeld have reviewed the role of MMPs as drug targets and anti-targets in relation to
cancer therapy [31]. Several investigations indicate that MMP-7 is a validated drug target related
to cancer. It is associated with prostate cancer [32
,33], tumor proliferation [34], invasion of ovarian
cancer [30], gastric cancer [35] as well as colorectal cancer [36]. In mouse models the administration of
Molecules 2017, 22, 1548; doi:10.3390/molecules22091548
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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inhibitors addressing MMP-7 reduced the number of intestinal polyps [37]. Those findings suggest that
inhibitors of MMP-7 that spare other MMP isoforms could be promising compounds for the treatment
of the diseases.
Compounds
hydroxamate class that inhibit MMP-7 with IC50-values of 6 nM (
inhibit other members of the target class with the same potency leading to a lack in selectivity [38
1
(batimastat) and
2
(PDB code: TQJ) (Figure 1) are potent MMP inhibitors of the
) [38] and 79 nM ( ) [39] but also
40].
(PDB code: RSS) are weaker
1
2
–
The non-hydroxamate based compounds
3
(PDB code: TQI) and
4
inhibitors with IC50-values of 10
over MMP-1 and MMP-14 [39].
µM (
3) [39] and 850 nM (4) [41]. Compound 3 shows 10-fold selectivity
O
O
N
O
H
N
N
HO
N
N
H
HO
O
N
H
O
S
Br
N
N
S
N
O
S
1, Batimastat
2
N
O
H
O
N
S
F3C
Cl
N
O
O
H
NH
OH
HN
O
O
HO
3
4
Figure 1. Structures of different MMP-7 inhibitors.
As displayed in Figure 2, all co-crystallized MMP-7 inhibitors found in the Protein Data Bank
populate the active site, but only (PDB 2Y6D [39], green) penetrates the S1’ channel, which is
2
responsible for selective binding among different subtypes in this enzyme class [42].
Figure 2. Overlay of all known MMP-7 inhibitors, found in the Protein Data Bank, within the active
site. PDB codes: 1MMP, 1MMR, 1MMQ, 2DDY, 2Y6C, 2Y6D (ligand from 2Y6D depicted in green).

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Work conducted previously in our lab led to the potent (IC50 = 6 nM) and selective MMP-13
inhibitor 5 (Figure 3) that was selective over all tested subtypes of the target class [43].
O
O
OH
O
N
O
N
H
O
F
5, ZHAWOC5684
Figure 3. Previously identified potent and selective MMP-13 inhibitor.
Herein, we present an approach that enabled us to modify the characteristics of the MMP-13
inhibitor
5 towards a dual MMP-7/-13 inhibitor, while conserving the selectivity profile over other
MMP isoforms.
2. Results
2.1. Strategy of Inhibitor Development
Compound
and selectivity against the target enzyme with an IC50-value of 6 nM.
The selectivity profile of (Table 1) demonstrated high selectivity against all examined MMPs.
Nevertheless, initial inhibitory activity against MMP-7 was detected at an inhibitor concentration of
10 µM (Table 1). Consecutive dose dependent measurements revealed an IC50-value of 15.7 M against
MMP-7 resulting in a >2600 fold selectivity for MMP-13 over MMP-7. This finding motivated us to
investigate structural modifications of with the intention of improving the affinity against MMP-7
5 was originally designed as an MMP-13 inhibitor and displayed very high potency
5
µ
5
while maintaining the appealing selectivity profile over MMP family members being anti-targets in
cancer therapy such as MMP (-3, -8, -9, -12 and -14) [31].
Table 1. Selectivity profile of 5 against a variety of MMPs 1 [43].
MMP-1
MMP-2
MMP-3
MMP-7
MMP-8
MMP-9
MMP-12 MMP-14
91% 100%
100%
100%
100%
68%
97%
100%
1
Remaining enzymatic activity at 10 µM inhibitor concentration.
The initial scaffold was modified at the positions indicated by R1 and R2 in Figure 4 to probe the
effects of structural changes on the enzymatic activity of MMP-7 and the selectivity profile over other
MMP isoforms. At position R1 we examined the initial para fluorinated benzyl residue along with
a non-fluorinated benzyl and a methyl substituent with the aim of probing the influence of electronic
properties and size of the moiety tolerated for optimal interactions. As the S1’ pocket of MMP-7 is
smaller than in MMP-13, a smaller residue in this area is hypothesized to rather fit to the limited space
in MMP-7. At the R2 position, we varied the length of the aliphatic linker between the phenolic oxygen
and the carboxylic acid head group from 1–9 CH2 entities for the identification of the optimal chain
length for the inhibition of MMP-7.
O
O
O
R2
R1
N
N
H
O
Figure 4. Sites of modification R1 and R2.

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2.2. Chemistry
The synthetic routes to the intermediates
9
and 11 are illustrated in Scheme 1. The right
hand side fragment could be synthesized from the benzylated bromoalkylalcohol. In case this
intermediate could not be purchased, it was synthesized through protection of the according
bromoalkylalcohol with benzylbromide. A nucleophilic substitution reaction between the benzylated
bromoalkylalcohols and the commercially available methyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate led to the
intermediates 8a
blocks 9a . The left hand side fragments 11a
available 4-aminophthalimide 10 with the corresponding alkyl halide.
–
i
and by a consecutive saponification with potassium hydroxide to the building
–
i
–c
were synthesized by alkylation of the commercially
Scheme 1. Synthesis of intermediates
NaH, benzyl bromide, THF, RT, 3 d, 7a: 94%, 7b: 91%, 7c: 90%, 7d: 76%; (
acetate, Cs2CO3, DMF, RT, 18 h, 8a: 84%, 8b: 77%, 8c: 68%, 8d: 90%, 8e: 74%, 8f: 78%, 8g: 69%, 8h: 55%,
8i: 49%; ( ) KOH 10% in H2O, methanol, RT, 30 min., 9a: 95%, 9b: 98%, 9c: 90%, 9d: 91%, 9e: 73%,
9
and 11. Reagents, conditions and yields: (
a) Bromoalkyl alcohol,
b
) methyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)
c
9f: 94%, 9g: 96%, 9h: 81%, 9i: 99%; (d) 4-aminophthalimide 10, KOH, alkyl halide, DMF, RT, 18 h,
11a: 92%, 11b: 59%, 11c: 68%.
As displayed in Scheme 2, the aniline derivatives 11a
coupled to form the intermediates 12a via the formation of the acid chloride. By debenzylation of
the protected alcohol moieties with TMSI for 13a and hydrogen for 13b , and consecutive oxidation
employing TEMPO, the final compounds and 14a could be obtained as the free carboxylic acids in
–c and the carboxylic acids 9a–i were
–p
–p
5
–o

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moderate to good yields. Complete analytical data of the synthesized compounds and IC50-curves are
shown in the Supplementary Materials.
Scheme 2. Synthesis of the test compounds
DIPEA, THF, RT, 2 h, 12a: 11%, 12b: 80%, 12c: 62%, 12d: 64%, 12e: 44%, 12f: 34%, 12g: 18%, 12h: 38%,
12i: 63%, 12j: 46%, 12k: 72%, 12l: 55%, 12m: 58%, 12n: 36%, 12o: 47%, 12p: 57%; ( ) TMSI, CH2Cl2,
5 and 14a-o. Reagents, conditions and yields: (a) SOCl2,
b
RT, 2h, 13a: 22%; Pd/C 10%, ethanol, hydrogen atmosphere, RT, 2h, 13b: 39%, 13c: 71%, 13d: 60%,
13e: 24%, 13f: 6%, 13g: 24%, 13h: 59%, 13i: 30%, 13j: 18%, 13k: 34%, 13l: 15%, 13m: 44%, 13n: 26%,
◦
13o: 53%, 13p: 24%; (
c
) TEMPO, sodium phosphate 0.67 M in H2O pH 6.7, NaClO2, NaOCl, ACN, 40 C,
4 h, 14a: 36%, 14b: 38%, 14c: 86%, 14d: 67%, 14e: 62%, 14f: 96%, 14g: 55%, 14h: 50%, 14i: 39%, 14j: 33%,
14k: 62%, 14l: 97%, 5: 50%, 14m: 59%, 14n: 56%, 14o: 30%.
2.3. Biological Evaluation
The synthesized compounds were examined in in vitro assays to determine their inhibitory
potential against MMP-7 and MMP-13. Table 2 depicts the structure activity relationship of the
novel inhibitors.
Compound 14i could be identified as the most potent MMP-7 inhibitor within the series displaying
an IC50-value of 2.2
(IC50-value of 1.2 M, Figure S1b), this qualifies 14i as a dual MMP-7/MMP-13 inhibitor in the low
micromolar range.
µM (Figure S1a). In combination with a remaining affinity towards MMP-13
µ
Consecutively, we tested inhibitor 14i in single dose assays against a set of MMP isoforms in
order to determine its selectivity profile. Table 3 shows the remaining enzymatic activity at an inhibitor
concentration of 10 µM.
The remaining enzymatic activities in the range of >70—100% at an inhibitor concentration of
10 µM indicate IC50-values against those enzymes higher than 10 µM.

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Table 2. Inhibitory data for MMP-7 and MMP-13.
O
O
O
O
OH
R
N
n
N
H
O
Inhibitor
R
n
% Activity MMP-7 1
% Activity MMP-13 1
IC50 MMP-7 (µM) 2
IC50 MMP-13 (µM) 2
3
14a ZHAWOC6649
14b ZHAWOC5474
14c ZHAWOC4765
14d ZHAWOC4766
14e ZHAWOC5131
14f ZHAWOC5133
14g ZHAWOC6650
14h ZHAWOC6651
14i ZHAWOC6941
14j ZHAWOC6942
14k ZHAWOC6644
14l ZHAWOC5463
5 ZHAWOC5684
CH3
benzyl
benzyl
benzyl
benzyl
benzyl
benzyl
benzyl
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2
3
4
5
6
7
100.2 ± 4.4
89.9 ± 10.0
93.1 ± 1.7
91.3 ± 0.4
93.2 ± 3.3
59.4 ± 0.2
53.8 ± 0.8
25.9 ± 0.5
n.d.
23.7 ± 3.3
58.7 ± 2.7
35.8 ± 5.1
2.6 ± 1.3
1.0 ± 0.2
2.5 ± 0.1
1.0 ± 0.1
16.0 ± 0.14
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
2.244 ± 0.200
0.556 ± 0.125
0.035 ± 0.001
0.151 ± 0.031
0.150 ± 0.031
1.670 ± 0.429
1.249 ± 0.282
7.117 ± 0.940
n.d.
n.d.
3.179 ± 0.249
2.248 ± 0.204
6.204 ± 1.853
n.d.
benzyl
benzyl
n.d.
n.d.
4F-benzyl
4F-benzyl
4F-benzyl
4F-benzyl
4F-benzyl
4F-benzyl
98.0 ± 7.3
85.1 ± 2.2
67.5 ± 2.6
69.2 ± 0.1
47.5 ± 5.1
64.5 ± 3.7
37.0 ± 0.2
3.6 ± 1.1
n.d.
1.2 ± 0.1
1.9 ± 0.5
34.6 ± 2.3
n.d.
0.361 ± 0.052
0.006 ± 0.003
n.d.
15.650 ± 1.520
14m ZHAWOC6645
14n ZHAWOC6637
14o ZHAWOC6646
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
Remaining enzyme activity at 10 µM inhibitor concentration, measured in duplicate; 2 Measured in duplicate. Not determined.
1
3

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Table 3. Selectivity profile of 14i against a variety of MMPs 1.
MMP-1 MMP-2 MMP-3 MMP-8 MMP-9 MMP-12 MMP-14
100% 98% 73% 80% 87% 97% 91%
Remaining enzymatic activity at 10 µM inhibitor concentration.
1
3. Discussion
The initial compound
5
was modified with the aim of improving its inhibitory potential against
MMP-7. A first modification led to compound 14a, here the para-fluorobenzyl residue has been
replaced by a methyl group resulting in a total loss of inhibition. This indicated that an aromatic
moiety is important for protein ligand interactions such as π-stacking to aromatic amino acids in this
area of the receptor. Therefore we decided to conserve a benzyl group in this area of the molecule.
We crafted two series of compounds one with the original fluorinated benzyl residue and the second
with a non-fluorinated benzyl moiety. In both series the length of the aliphatic linker between the
phenolic oxygen and the carboxylic acid head group was varied. The series containing a fluorine
atom was equipped with different linkers ranging from 2 to 7 CH2 entities in length. Here, a tendency
could be observed that longer linkers corresponded to better inhibition of MMP-7 with an optimum
at six carbons in 14n, which demonstrated remaining enzymatic activity of 47.5% at 10 µM inhibitor
concentration. A similar trend could be observed for the ensemble lacking the fluorine atom. A chain
length between one and four carbons was not tolerated and resulted in very low to no inhibition.
With longer linkers, better inhibition could be achieved with an optimum at 8 CH2 entities. The most
potent inhibitor of the series 14i displayed an IC50-value of 2.2
MMP-13. Compared to MMP-7 inhibitors in literature, our compound is with a low single digit
micromolar IC50 amongst the most potent non-hydroxamate compounds [39 41 44], and to the best of
µM against MMP-7 and 1.2 µM against
,
,
our knowledge unique in displaying selectivity over a wide range of other MMP isoforms [39,41].
We performed molecular docking experiments to examine potential binding modes of 14i with
MMP-7 and MMP-13. The water molecules present in the used co-crystal structures (PDB: 2Y6D [39
]
for MMP-7 and 2OW9 [45] for MMP-13) were set to inactive with respect to the force field prior to the
docking experiment to enable the ligand to populate all space available in the active site. The water
molecule which is expected to populate the remaining coordination site at the zinc(II) ion (Figure 5a) is
not present in the co-crystal structure (2Y6D) used for the docking experiments as this is replaced by
the zinc-chelating ligand within the complex.
For MMP-7 two low energy docking poses were found with significantly diverse binding modes.
As visible in Figure 5a (the non zinc-binding mode), the ligand interacts with four amino acids of the
receptor by the establishment of hydrogen bonds to Ala182, Ala184, Gly244 and Asp245. In this pose
the ligand does not coordinate to the catalytic zinc(II) ion. The aliphatic linker between the scaffold
and the carboxylic acid populates the hydrophobic S1’ channel and the phthalimide blocks the groove
at the active site. The benzyl residue can be engaged in π-interactions with Tyr172 and Phe185. In the
second pose, depicted in Figure 5c (the zinc-binding mode), the benzyl moiety populates the S1’ pocket
and interacts with Tyr241 via a face to edge aromatic interaction.
The para-substituted phenyl ring and the aliphatic linker chain populate the cleft where the
substrate is recognized and block the active site. The carboxylic acid head group ligates the catalytic
zinc(II) ion, which is known to be a strong interaction leading to enhanced affinity between the ligand
and the target enzyme. Both of the proposed binding modes qualify as reasonable explanations for the
appealing affinity towards MMP-7 without the need of hydroxamic acids as zinc-binding fragments
and can be used for further structure-based optimization of the inhibitor. Docking of 14i into MMP-13
(Figure 5e) revealed a binding mode where the phthalimide oxygens and the amide oxygen form
hydrogen bonds to the backbone amino acids Thr224, Thr226 and Met232 and the unsubstituted
benzyl ring populates the S1’* selectivity loop, buried deep in the S1’ channel. The carboxylate head

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group chelates the catalytic zinc(II) ion and interacts with Ala167 and Glu202 by the formation of
hydrogen bonds.
Figure 5. Cont.

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Figure 5. Cont.

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Figure 5. Potential binding modes of 14i in MMP-7 and MMP-13, (
MMP-7; ( ) interaction map of the non zinc-binding pose in MMP-7; ( ) zinc-binding mode in MMP-7;
) interaction map of the zinc-binding pose in MMP-7; ( ) zinc-binding docking pose in MMP-13;
(f) interaction map of the zinc-binding pose in MMP-13.
a) non zinc-binding mode in
b
c
(
d
e

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4. Materials and Methods
4.1. General Information
All reagents and solvents were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Buchs, Switzerland), TCI
(Zwijndrecht, Belgium) or Fluorochem (Hadfield, UK) and used as received. Solvents were stored
over 4 Å molecular sieves. NMR spectra were recorded at 25 ◦C on an AVANCE III HD 500 One Bay
spectrometer (Bruker, Fällanden, Switzerland) with a magnetic field of 11.75 T. For 1H-NMR spectra
a frequency of 500 MHz resulted. Chemical shifts are reported in ppm from tetramethylsilane as internal
standard. Data are reported as follows: chemical shift, multiplicity (s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet,
q = quartet, quint. = quintet, br. = broad, m = multiplet), coupling constants (Hz), integration.
For 13C-NMR spectra a frequency of 125 MHz resulted. Chemical shifts are reported in ppm
from tetramethylsilane as internal standard. The multiplicities of the signals were determined by
DEPT measurements. Low-resolution mass spectrometry was performed on a MSQ Plus device
(Thermo Scientific, Reinach, Switzerland). High-resolution mass spectrometry was performed on
an 6530 Q-TOF (Agilent Technologies, Basel, Switzerland). NMR spectra, HRMS spectra and IC50 curves
can be found in the Supplementary Materials.
4.2. Chemistry
5-Amino-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindole-1,3-dione (11a; ZHAWOC3444): Potassium hydroxide (0.35 g
,
6.17 mmol) was added to a solution of 4-aminophthalimide 10 (1.00 g, 6.17 mmol) in dimethylformamide
(30 mL) and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 h. Iodomethane (0.88 g, 6.17 mmol) was
added and it was stirred for another 18 h at the same temperature. Water (50 mL) and ethyl acetate (50 mL)
was added and the resulting phases were separated. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried
over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuum. Purification by chromatography on silica gel (Gradient:
0–100% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) afforded the title compound 11a as a yellow solid (1.00 g, 92% yield):
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 7.46 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 6.90 (d, J = 2.00 Hz, 1H), 6.77 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 2.00 Hz,
1H), 6.42 (br. s, 2H), 2.94 (s, 3H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
117.33, 116.84, 107.42, 23.83 ppm. MS (m/z): 177 [M + H]+.
δ = 168.87, 168.57, 155.27, 135.10, 125.17,
In analogy to ZHAWOC3444 the following derivatives were synthesized, employing the alkyl bromide
instead of the alkyl iodide:
5-Amino-2-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindole-1,3-dione (11b; ZHAWOC899): The title compound 11b was
obtained as a yellow solid in 59% yield: 1H-NMR DMSO-d6):
δ = 7.51 (d, J = 8.04 Hz, 1H), 7.21–7.38 (m,
5H), 6.96 (d, J = 1.94 Hz, 1H), 6.82 (dd, J = 8.04 Hz, 1.94 Hz, 1H), 6.51 (s, 2H), 4.68 (s, 2H) ppm
.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 168.06, 167.69, 155.07, 137.20, 134.41, 128.51, 127.25, 125.02, 116.67, 116.44,
107.09, 40.43 ppm. MS (m/z): 253 [M + H]+.
5-Amino-2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindole-1,3-dione (11c; ZHAWOC3199): The title
compound 11c was obtained as a yellow solid in 68% yield: 1H-NMR DMSO-d6):
δ
= 7.49 (d, J = 8.14 Hz,
1H), 7.33–7.28 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.93 (d, J = 1.94 Hz, 1H), 6.80 (dd, J = 8.14 Hz, 1.94 Hz, 1H),
6.50 (s, 2H), 4.65 (s, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 168.50, 168.11, 161.82 (d, J = 243.45 Hz, 1C),
δ
155.55, 134.88, 133.90 (d, J = 3.02 Hz, 1C), 129.95 (d, J = 8.25 Hz, 2C), 125.52, 117.14, 116.87, 115.76
(d, J = 21.43 Hz, 2C), 107.58, 40.22 ppm. MS (m/z): 271 [M + H]+.
{[(7-Bromoheptyl)oxy]methyl}benzene (7a; ZHAWOC7096): 1-bromoheptanol (5.00 g, 25.62 mmol) was
dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (45 mL) under an argon atmosphere. Benzylbromide (4.5 mL,
38.43 mmol) and sodium hydride (2.05 g, 85.4 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred for
3 days. The reaction was quenched with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate and diluted with water
(20 mL) and extracted with diethyl ether (3
sodium sulphate and concentrated in vacuum. Purification by chromatography on silica gel
×
30 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried over
(Gradient: 0–100% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) afforded the title compound 7a as a colorless oil (6.86 g,
94% yield): 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.42–7.28 (m, 5H), 4.53 (s, 2H), 3.49 (t, J = 6.59 Hz, 2H), 3.43

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(t, J = 6.82 Hz, 2H), 1.91–1.84 (m, 2H), 1.69–1.61 (m, 2H), 1.50–1.33 (m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
= 138.67, 128.36, 127.63, 127.50, 72.90, 70.34, 33.98, 32.76, 29.67, 28.60, 28.12, 26.04 ppm. MS (m/z):
285 [M + H]+.
δ
In analogy to ZHAWOC7096 the following derivatives were synthesized:
{[(8-Bromooctyl)oxy]methyl}benzene (7b; ZHAWOC6856): The title compound 7b was obtained as a
1
colorless oil in 91% yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 7.37–7.25 (m, 5H), 4.44 (s, 2H), 3.51 (t, J = 6.73 Hz,
2H), 3.41 (t, J = 6.52 Hz, 2H), 1.81–1.74 (m, 2H), 1.56-1.49 (m, 2H), 1.39–1.23 (m, 8H) ppm. 13C-NMR
(DMSO-d6):
δ = 139.20, 128.66, 127.84, 127.75, 72.25, 70.03, 35.67, 32.69, 29.61, 29.13, 28.54, 27.94, 26.08
ppm. MS (m/z): 299 [M + H]+.
{[(9-Bromononyl)oxy]methyl}benzene (7c; ZHAWOC6852): The title compound 7c was obtained as a
colorless oil in 90% yield: 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 7.37–7.25 (m, 5H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 3.46 (t, J = 6.62 Hz, 2H),
3.40 (t, J = 6.89 Hz, 2H), 1.88–1.81 (m, 2H), 1.64–1.57 (m, 2H), 1.45–1.27 (m, 10H) ppm. 13C-NMR
(CDCl3):
δ = 138.73, 128.36, 127.64, 127.49, 72.89, 70.49, 34.04, 32.84, 29.77, 29.39, 29.37, 28.72, 28.17,
26.17 ppm. MS (m/z): 313 [M + H]+.
{[(10-Bromodecyl)oxy]methyl}benzene (7d; ZHAWOC6853): The title compound 7d was obtained as a
colorless oil in 76% yield: 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 7.37–7.24 (m, 5H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 3.46 (t, J = 6.62 Hz, 2H),
3.39 (t, J = 6.82 Hz, 2H), 1.87–1.81 (m, 2H), 1.64–1.57 (m, 2H), 1.44–1.26 (m, 12H) ppm. 13C-NMR
(CDCl3):
δ = 138.75, 128.36, 127.63, 127.48, 72.89, 70.52, 34.06, 32.86, 29.79, 29.49, 29.45, 29.39, 28.77,
28.19, 26.20 ppm. MS (m/z): 327 [M + H]+.
Methyl 2-{4-[2-(benzyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}acetate (8a; ZHAWOC7100): Under an argon atmosphere,
methyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate (3.51 g, 21.14 mmol) and caesium carbonate (13.78 g, 42.28 mmol)
were suspended in dimethylformamide (130 mL), the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature
for 2 h. Benzyl-2-bromoethylether (5.00 g, 23.25 mmol) was added and it was stirred at ambient
temperature for further 12 h. Water (250 mL) and ethyl acetate (250 mL) were added and the resulting
phases separated. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuum.
Purification by chromatography on silica gel (gradient: 0–100% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) afforded
1
the title compound 8a as a white solid (5.30 g, 84% yield): H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 7.38–7.26 (m, 5H),
7.19–7.15 (m, 2H), 6.92–6.88 (m, 2H), 4.55 (s, 2H), 4.13–4.10 (m, 2H), 3.78–3.74 (m, 2H), 3.60 (s, 3H), 3.59
(s, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 172.33, 157.88, 138.78, 130.83, 128.70, 127.99, 127.89, 126.83,
114.83, 72.55, 68.71, 67.53, 52.06, 39.72 ppm. MS (m/z): 301 [M + H]+.
In analogy to ZHAWOC7100 the following derivatives were synthesized:
Methyl 2-{4-[3-(benzyloxy)propoxy]phenyl}acetate (8b; ZHAWOC4496): The title compound 8b was
obtained as a white solid (1.46 g, 77% yield): 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 7.35–7.20 (m, 5H), 7.19–7.13 (m, 2H),
6.87–6.79 (m, 2H), 4.49 (s, 2H), 4.04 (t, J = 6.24 Hz, 2H), 3.65 (s, 3H), 3.63 (t, J = 6.15 Hz, 2H), 3.53 (s, 2H), 2.05
(quint., J = 6.20 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 172.39, 158.21, 138.49, 130.30, 128.43, 127.65,
127.61, 1276.04, 114.69, 73.07, 66.86, 64.89, 51.99, 40.33, 29.80 ppm. MS (m/z): 337 [M + Na]+.
Methyl 2-{4-[4-(benzyloxy)butoxy]phenyl}acetate (8c; ZHAWOC4534): The title compound 8c was
1
obtained as a white solid in 68% yield: H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.37–7.22 (m, 5H), 7.20–7.12 (m, 2H),
6.86–6.79 (m, 2H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 6.08 Hz, 2H), 3.66 (s, 3H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.53 (t, J = 6.08 Hz,
2H), 1.93–1.72 (m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 172.40, 158.22, 138.59, 130.26, 128.40, 127.66, 127.57,
125.93, 114.63, 72.94, 69.95, 67.67, 51.99, 40.32, 26.40, 26.18 ppm. MS (m/z): 351 [M + Na]+.
Methyl 2-(4-{[5-(benzyloxy)pentyl]oxy}phenyl)acetate (8d; ZHAWOC5921): The title compound 8d was
1
obtained as a white solid in 90% yield: H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.43–7.30 (m, 5H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H),
6.93–6.88 (m, 2H), 4.56 (s, 2H), 3.99 (t, J = 6.46 Hz, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 3.61 (s, 2H), 3.56 (t, J = 6.46 Hz,
2H), 1.89–1.81 (m, 2H), 1.79–1.72 (m, 2H), 1.66–1.58 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
= 172.22, 158.18,
δ

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138.59, 130.16, 128.28, 127.53, 127.42, 125.82, 114.51, 72.84, 70.15, 67.71, 51.82, 40.20, 29.48, 29.05, 22.77
ppm. MS (m/z): 343 [M + H]+.
Methyl 2-(4-{[6-(benzyloxy)hexyl]oxy}phenyl)acetate (8e; ZHAWOC5946): The title compound 8e was
1
obtained as a white solid in 74% yield: H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.39–7.34 (m, 4H), 7.32–7.27 (m, 1H),
7.22–7.18 (m, 2H), 6.88–6.84 (m, 2H), 4.53 (s, 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 6.51 Hz, 2H), 3.70 (s, 3H), 3.58 (s, 2H), 3.50
(t, J = 6.51 Hz, 2H), 1.84–1.76 (m, 2H), 1.71–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.53–1.43 (m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 172.42, 158.31, 138.73, 130.29, 128.41, 127.68, 127.55, 125.91, 114.65, 72.94, 70.37, 67.92, 52.02, 40.37,
29.78, 29.30, 26.07, 25.99 ppm. MS (m/z): 357 [M + H]+.
Methyl 2-(4-{[7-(benzyloxy)heptyl]oxy}phenyl)acetate (8f; ZHAWOC7097): The title compound 8f was
1
obtained as a white solid in 78% yield: H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.37–7.29 (m, 4H), 7.29–7.22 (m, 1H),
7.18–7.13 (m, 2H), 6.86–6.79 (m, 2H), 4.49 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.63 Hz, 2H), 3.66 (s, 3H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.46
(t, J = 6.63 Hz, 2H), 1.79–1.71 (m, 2H), 1.66–1.59 (m, 2H), 1.49–1.31 (m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 172.38, 158.30, 138.74, 130.7425, 128.37, 127.63, 127.50, 125.86, 114.62, 72.89, 70.44, 67.94, 51.99,
40.34, 29.75, 29.25, 26.19, 26.05 ppm. MS (m/z): 371 [M + H]+.
Methyl 2-(4-{[8-(benzyloxy)octyl]oxy}phenyl)acetate (8g; ZHAWOC6857): The title compound 8g was
1
obtained as a white solid in 69% yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 7.36–7.24 (m, 5H), 7.18–7.13 (m, 2H),
6.88–6.83 (m, 2H), 4.43 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.31 Hz, 2H), 3.59 (s, 3H), 3.58 (s, 2H), 3.41 (t, J = 6.31 Hz,
2H), 1.71–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.56–1.50 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.24 (m, 8H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 172.36,
158.06, 139.21, 130.79, 128.66, 127.84, 127.75, 126.54, 114.74, 72.25, 70.05, 67.81, 52.07, 39.71, 29.64, 29.25,
29.20, 29.13, 26.12, 25.94 ppm. MS (m/z): 385 [M + H]+.
Methyl 2-(4-{[9-(benzyloxy)nonyl]oxy}phenyl)acetate (8h; ZHAWOC6854): The title compound 8h was
obtained as a white solid in 55% yield: 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.36–7.31 (m, 4H), 7.29–24 (m, 1H), 7.20–7.14
(m, 2H), 6.86–6.82 (m, 2H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.83 Hz, 2H), 3.67 (s, 3H), 3.55 (s, 2H), 3.46 (t,
J = 6.74 Hz, 2H), 1.79–1.72 (m, 2H), 1.64–1.58 (m, 2H), 1.46–1.27 (m, 10H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 172.40, 158.30, 138.74, 130.23, 128.35, 127.62, 127.47, 125.82, 114.61, 72.88, 70.51, 68.00, 51.99, 40.33,
29.79, 29.53, 29.43, 29.35, 29.29, 26.21, 26.05 ppm. MS (m/z): 399 [M + H]+.
Methyl 2-(4-{[10-(benzyloxy)decyl]oxy}phenyl)acetate (8i; ZHAWOC6855): The title compound 8i was
obtained as a white solid in 49% yield: 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.35–7.31 (m, 4H), 7.29–24 (m, 1H), 7.19–7.14
(m, 2H), 6.86–6.82 (m, 2H), 4.49 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.65 Hz, 2H), 3.67 (s, 3H), 3.54 (s, 2H), 3.46 (t,
J = 6.65 Hz, 2H), 1.79–1.72 (m, 2H), 1.64–1.58 (m, 2H), 1.46–1.27 (m, 12H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 172.40, 158.33, 138.78, 130.25, 128.36, 127.63, 127.48, 125.84, 114.62, 72.89, 70.54, 68.01, 51.98, 40.33,
29.82, 29.56, 29.55, 29.50, 29.41, 29.31, 26.23, 26.08 ppm. MS (m/z): 413 [M + H]+.
2-{4-[2-(Benzyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}acetic acid (9a; ZHAWOC7101): The ester (8a) (5.20 g, 11.33 mmol) was
dissolved in methanol (300 mL) and stirred at ambient temperature. Potassium hydroxide 10% in water
(300 mL) was added over 10 min. and the mixture was stirred for another 20 min. Methanol was removed
in vacuum and the aqueous phase extracted with diethyl ether (200 mL). The aqueous phase was acidified
with concentrated hydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether (300 mL). The second organic
phase was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuum to obtain the title compound 9a as a
1
white solid (4.71 g, 95% yield): H–NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.25 (s, 1H), 7.38–7.33 (m, 4H), 7.31–7.26 (m,
1H), 7.20–7.14 (m, 2H), 6.92–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.55 (s, 2H), 4.13–4.09 (m, 2H), 3.78–3.74 (m, 2H), 3.49 (s, 2H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 173.44, 157.72, 138.78, 130.84, 128.71, 128.00, 127.89, 127.53, 114.73,
72.56, 68.72, 67.53, 40.26 ppm. MS (m/z): 285 [M − H]−.
In analogy to ZHAWOC7101 the following derivatives were synthesized:
2-{4-[3-(Benzyloxy)propoxy]phenyl}acetic acid (9b; ZHAWOC4497): The title compound 9b was obtained as
a white solid (0.48 g, 98% yield): 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 12.24 (br. s, 1H), 7.36–7.23 (m, 5H), 7.20–7.11 (m,
2H), 6.90–6.80 (m, 2H), 4.48 (s, 2H), 4.02 (t, J = 6.33 Hz, 2H), 3.59 (t, J = 6.33 Hz, 2H), 3.49 (s, 2H), 1.99

Molecules 2017, 22, 1548
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(quint., J = 6.33 Hz, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6:
δ
= 173.43, 157.83, 139.00, 130.79, 128.66, 127.83,
127.77, 127.38, 114.67, 72.40, 66.76, 64.99, 40.29, 29.64 ppm. MS (m/z): 299 [M − H]−.
2-{4-[4-(Benzyloxy)butoxy]phenyl}acetic acid (9c; ZHAWOC4535): The title compound 9c was obtained
as a white solid in 90% yield: 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ
= 8.90 (br. s, 1H), 7.36–7.23 (m, 5H), 7.19–7.11 (m, 2H),
6.86–6.78 (m, 2H), 4.51 (s, 2H), 3.94 (t, J = 6.03 Hz, 2H), 3.55 (s, 2H), 3.53 (t, J = 6.03 Hz, 2H), 1.92–1.71
(m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 177.93, 158.34, 138.47, 130.41, 128.42, 127.73, 127.62, 125.32, 114.68,
72.93, 69.93, 67.67, 40.20, 26.35, 26.14 ppm. MS (m/z): 313 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[5-(Benzyloxy)pentyl]oxy}phenyl)acetic acid (9d; ZHAWOC5922): The title compound 9d was
1
obtained as a white solid in 91% yield: H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.36–7.26 (m, 5H), 7.20–7.16 (m, 2H),
6.88–6.83 (m, 2H), 4.53 (s, 2H), 3.94 (t, J = 6.48 Hz, 2H), 3.55 (s, 2H), 3.57 (t, J = 6.48 Hz, 2H), 1.83–1.76
(m, 2H), 1.74–1.67 (m, 2H), 1.59–1.51 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
= 177.20, 158.31, 138.48,
δ
130.39, 128.40, 127.71, 127.59, 125.48, 114.64, 72.90, 70.21, 67.83, 40.21, 29.47, 29.09, 22.79 ppm. MS (m/z):
327 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[6-(Benzyloxy)hexyl]oxy}phenyl)acetic acid (9e; ZHAWOC5947): The title compound 9e was
1
obtained as a white solid in 73% yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.23 (br. s, 1H), 7.36–7.23 (m, 5H),
7.18–7.12 (m, 2H), 6.87–6.81 (m, 2H), 4.44 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.50 Hz, 2H), 3.47 (s, 2H), 3.42 (t, J = 6.50 Hz,
2H), 1.73–1.65 (m, 2H), 1.59–1.52 (m, 2H), 1.45–1.33 (m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 173.45,
157.90, 139.20, 130.79, 128.66, 127.84, 127.75, 127.25, 114.64, 72.27, 70.01, 67.77, 40.26, 29.63, 29.14, 25.96,
25.85 ppm. MS (m/z): 341 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[7-(Benzyloxy)heptyl]oxy}phenyl)acetic acid (9f; ZHAWOC7098): The title compound 9f was
1
obtained as a white solid in 94% yield: H-NMR (CDCl3):
δ = 7.35–7.32 (m, 4H), 7.30–7.25 (m, 1H),
7.20–7.16 (m, 2H), 6.87–6.83 (m, 2H), 4.50 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.57 Hz, 2H), 3.58 (s, 2H), 3.47 (t, J = 6.66 Hz,
2H), 1.80–1.73 (m, 2H), 1.66–1.59 (m, 2H), 1.48–1.34 (m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3):
= 158.43, 138.67,
δ
130.34, 128.35, 127.63, 127.48, 125.12, 114.67, 72.87, 70.42, 67.95, 39.85, 29.20, 26.14, 26.00 ppm. MS
(m/z): 355 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[8-(Benzyloxy)octyl]oxy}phenyl)acetic acid (9g; ZHAWOC6858): The title compound 9g was obtained
1
as a white solid in 96% yield: H–NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.23 (br. s, 1H), 7.36–7.24 (m, 5H), 7.16–7.11
(m, 2H), 6.87–6.82 (m, 2H), 4.44 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.50 Hz, 2H), 3.47 (s, 2H), 3.41 (t, J = 6.55 Hz, 2H),
1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.57–1.50 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.23 (m, 8H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6,):
δ
= 173.45, 157.89,
139.21, 130.78, 128.66, 127.84, 127.75, 127.27, 114.63, 72.24, 70.05, 67.81, 40.27, 29.64, 29.25, 29.20, 29.14,
26.12, 25.95 ppm. MS (m/z): 369 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[9-(Benzyloxy)nonyl]oxy}phenyl)acetic acid (9h; ZHAWOC6861): The title compound 9h was
1
obtained as a white solid in 81% yield: H–NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.24 (br. s, 1H), 7.36–7.24 (m, 5H),
7.16–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.87–6.82 (m, 2H), 4.43 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.56 Hz, 2H), 3.46 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.56 Hz,
2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.57–1.49 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.23 (m, 10H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 173.45,
157.89, 139.21, 130.78, 128.66, 127.83, 127.74, 127.27, 114.63, 72.24, 70.05, 67.81, 40.27, 29.65, 29.43, 29.25,
29.20, 29.16, 26.15, 25.98 ppm. MS (m/z): 383 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[10-(Benzyloxy)decyl]oxy}phenyl)acetic acid (9i; ZHAWOC6862): The title compound 9i was
1
obtained as a white solid in 99% yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.24 (br. s, 1H), 7.36–7.24 (m, 5H),
7.16–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.87–6.82 (m, 2H), 4.43 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.38 Hz, 2H), 3.46 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.38 Hz,
2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.57–1.49 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.23 (m, 12H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 173.45, 157.89, 139.21, 130.79, 128.66, 127.83, 127.74, 127.27, 114.63, 72.24, 70.06, 67.81, 40.27, 29.65,
29.42, 29.28, 29.22, 29.16, 26.16, 25.99 ppm. MS (m/z): 397 [M − H]−.
2-(4-{[5-(Benzyloxy)pentyl]oxy}phenyl)-N-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)acetamide
(
12a; ZHAWOC6647): The acid 9d (0.92 g, 2.80 mmol) was stirred in an excess of thionyl chloride at
55 ◦C for 1 h. After removal of excess thionyl chloride under vacuum, the acid chloride was dissolved
in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) and added to a solution of 5-amino-2-methylisoindoline-1,3-dione (11a, 0.41 g,

Molecules 2017, 22, 1548
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2.33 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (12 mL) under argon at ambient temperature. Diisopropylethylamine
(1.00 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 h. After removal of the
tetrahydrofuran in vacuum, ethyl acetate (70 mL) and 10% citric acid (70 mL) were added and the
resulting phases were separated. The organic phase was washed with 10% sodium bicarbonate (70 mL)
and brine (70 mL), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuum. Purification by
chromatography on silica gel (Gradient: 0–100% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane) afforded the title
1
compound 12a as a yellow solid (0.12 g, 11% yield): H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.69 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d,
J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.85 (dd, J = 8.19 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J = 8.19 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.89–6.85
(m, 2H), 4.44 (s. 2H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.52 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.43 (t, J = 6.47 Hz, 2H), 3.00 (s, 3H), 1.74–1.66
(m, 2H), 1.63–1.56 (m, 2H), 1.50–1.42 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.90, 168.26, 168.12,
158.03, 145.04, 139.18, 133.82, 130.64, 128.68, 127.86, 127.77, 127.55, 126.09, 124.55, 123.52, 114.82,
113.09, 72.28, 69.98, 67.80, 42.97, 29.39, 28.96, 24.19, 22.85 ppm. MS (m/z): 487 [M + H]+.
In analogy to ZHAWOC6647 the following derivatives were synthesized:
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[2-(benzyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC5467): The title compound 12b was obtained as a yellow solid in 80% yield: 1H-NMR (DMSO-
d6): = 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.85 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.21 Hz, 1.85 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.21 Hz, 1H),
7.36–7.23 (m, 12H), 6.93–6.89 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.55 (s, 2H), 4.13–4.10 (m, 2H), 3.77–3.74 (m, 2H), 3.64
(s, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 170.90, 167.94, 167.76, 157.84, 145.30, 138.77, 137.21, 130.67,
(12b;
δ
δ
129.04, 128.70, 127.99, 127.88, 127.86, 127.83, 127.76, 124.93, 114.89, 113.33, 72.53, 68.70, 67.54, 42.95,
41.31 ppm. MS (m/z): 521 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[3-(benzyloxy)propoxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC4511): The title compound 12c was obtained as a yellow solid (2.50g, 62% yield): H-NMR
(12c;
1
(DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.31 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d,
J = 8.31 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.91–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.47 (s, 2H), 4.02 (t, J = 6.35 Hz,
2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.57 (t, J = 6.35 Hz, 2H), 1.97 (quint., J = 3.65 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 170.92, 167.93, 167.76, 157.93, 145.30, 139.00, 137.21, 133.54, 130.66, 129.04, 128.67, 127.84, 127.83, 127.79,
127.63, 124.92, 123.81, 114.83, 113.33, 72.35, 66.72, 65.02, 42.96, 41.31, 29.61 ppm. MS (m/z): 535 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[4-(benzyloxy)butoxy]phenyl}acetamide 12d
ZHAWOC4752): The title compound 12d was obtained as a yellow solid in 64% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
(
;
δ
J = 8.23 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.45 (s. 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 6.27 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.48 (t, J = 6.27 Hz, 2H), 1.79–1.72 (m, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 170.95, 167.96, 167.78, 157.99, 145.32, 139.14, 137.23, 133.55, 130.65, 129.06, 128.69, 127.89, 127.87,
127.84, 127.78, 127.56, 125.73, 124.94, 123.83, 114.84, 113.34, 72.28, 69.75, 67.66, 42.97, 41.32, 26.29, 26.10
ppm. MS (m/z): 549 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-(4-{[5-(benzyloxy)pentyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide (12e
;
ZHAWOC5979): The title compound 12e was obtained as a white solid in 44% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
J = 8.23 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.44 (s. 2H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.47 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.43 (t, J = 6.39 Hz, 2H), 1.74–1.66 (m, 2H), 1.63–1.56 (m, 2H), 1.50–1.42 (m, 2H) ppm.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 158.01, 145.30, 139.17, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63, 129.05,
128.67, 127.85, 127.83, 127.76, 127.51, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 114.82, 113.33, 72.27, 69.97, 67.79, 42.96,
41.31, 29.38, 28.95, 22.84 ppm. MS (m/z): 563 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-(4-{[6-(benzyloxy)hexyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide (12f
ZHAWOC5980): The title compound 12f was obtained as a white solid in 34% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d,
;
δ
J = 8.23 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.43 (s. 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.43 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.41 (t, J = 6.43 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.58–1.51 (m, 2H), 1.44–1.32 (m, 4H) ppm.

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13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 170.93, 167.93, 167.75, 158.03, 145.31, 139.18, 137.21, 133.53, 130.63, 129.04,
128.65, 127.85, 127.84, 127.74, 127.50, 125.71, 124.91, 123.80, 114.80, 113.33, 72.25, 69.99, 67.79, 42.97,
41.31, 29.62, 29.11, 25.95, 25.83 ppm. MS (m/z): 577 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-(4-{[7-(benzyloxy)heptyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide (12g
ZHAWOC7099): The title compound 12g was obtained as a white solid in 18% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.72 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
;
δ
J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.43 (s. 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.41 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.41 (t, J = 6.41 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.58–1.50 (m, 2H), 1.43–1.26 (m, 6H) ppm.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 158.03, 145.31, 139.20, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63, 129.04,
128.66, 127.86, 127.83, 127.74, 127.50, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 114.81, 113.32, 72.24, 70.02, 67.80, 42.96,
41.31, 29.59, 29.09, 29.01, 26.12, 25.95 ppm. MS (m/z): 591 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-(4-{[8-(benzyloxy)octyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide (12h
ZHAWOC7095): The title compound 12h was obtained as a white solid in 38% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
;
δ
J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 4.43 (s. 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.47 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.47 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.56–1.49 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.24 (m, 8H) ppm.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 158.03, 145.31, 139.20, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63, 129.04,
128.65, 127.86, 127.83, 127.74, 127.49, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 114.80, 113.32, 72.24, 70.04, 67.82, 42.96,
41.31, 29.63, 29.24, 29.19, 29.12, 26.11, 25.94 ppm. MS (m/z): 605 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-(4-{[9-(benzyloxy)nonyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide (12i
ZHAWOC6931): The title compound 12i was obtained as a white solid in 63% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.25 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d,
;
δ
J = 8.25 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 4.42 (s. 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.64 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.64 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.56–1.48 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.21 (m, 10H) ppm.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.93, 167.76, 158.03, 145.31, 139.20, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63, 129.04,
128.65, 127.86, 127.83, 127.74, 127.49, 125.72, 124.92, 123.81, 114.80, 113.33, 72.24, 70.05, 67.83, 42.96,
41.31, 29.64, 29.42, 29.23, 29.17, 29.14, 26.14, 25.96 ppm. MS (m/z): 619 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-(4-{[10-(benzyloxy)decyl]oxy}phenyl)acetamide (12j
ZHAWOC6932): The title compound 12j was obtained as a white solid in 46% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.85 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.85 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
;
δ
J = 8.23 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 12H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.42 (s. 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.65 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.65 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.55–1.48 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.21 (m, 12H) ppm.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 158.03, 145.31, 139.20, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63, 129.04,
128.65, 127.86, 127.83, 127.74, 127.49, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 114.80, 113.32, 72.23, 70.04, 67.83, 42.96,
41.31, 29.64, 29.40, 29.26, 29.19, 29.14, 26.15, 25.97 ppm. MS (m/z): 633 [M + H]+.
2-{4-[3-(Benzyloxy)propoxy]phenyl}-N-{2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}
acetamide (12k; ZHAWOC6641): The title compound 12k was obtained as a yellow solid in 72% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.27 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.27 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.28 (m, 6H), 7.26–7.22 (m, 3H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.71 (s,
2H), 4.47 (s, 2H), 4.02 (t, J = 6.50 Hz, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.57 (t, J = 6.23 Hz, 2H), 2.00–1.94 (m, 2H) ppm.
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.91, 167.73, 161.92 (d, J = 243.23 Hz, 1C), 157.95, 145.31, 139.01,
133.55, 133.45 (d, J = 3.05 Hz, 1C), 130.67, 130.09 (d, J = 7.75 Hz, 2C), 128.69, 127.86, 127.80, 127.64,
125.72, 124.93, 123.82, 115.82 (d, J = 21.40 Hz, 2C), 114.85, 113.34, 72.36, 66.73, 65.02, 42.96, 40.63, 29.61
ppm. MS (m/z): 553 [M + H]+.
2-{4-[4-(Benzyloxy)butoxy]phenyl}-N-{2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}
acetamide (12l; ZHAWOC7102): The title compound 12l was obtained as a yellow solid in 55% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.89 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.21 Hz, 1.89 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.21 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.28 (m, 7H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s,

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2H), 4.45 (s, 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 6.10 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.48 (t, J = 6.20 Hz, 2H), 1.80–1.73 (m, 2H), 1.71–1.64
(m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 170.94, 167.92, 167.74, 161.92 (d, J = 243.56 Hz, 1C), 157.99,
δ
145.32, 139.14, 133.56, 133.45 (d, J = 2.99 Hz, 1C), 130.65, 130.09 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 2C), 128.69, 127.89,
127.78, 127.55, 125.73, 124.94, 123.81, 115.83 (d, J = 21.63 Hz, 2C), 114.83, 113.34, 72.28, 69.75, 67.66,
42.96, 40.63, 26.30, 26.10 ppm. MS (m/z): 567 [M + H]+.
2-(4-{[5-(Benzyloxy)pentyl]oxy}phenyl)-N-{2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-iso-indol-
5-yl}acetamide (12m; ZHAWOC5682): The title compound 12m was obtained as a yellow solid in 58%
1
yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.72 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (dd, J = 8.27 Hz, 1.82 Hz,
1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.21 (m, 9H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 4.44
(s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.45 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.43 (t, J = 6.40 Hz, 2H), 1.73–1.66 (m, 2H), 1.62–1.55 (m,
2H), 1.50–1.42 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.92, 167.89, 167.71, 161.90 (d, J = 243.23 Hz,
1C), 158.01, 145.30, 139.17, 133.54, 133.45 (d, J = 3.06 Hz, 1C), 130.63, 130.08 (d, J = 8.28 Hz, 2C), 128.66,
127.84, 127.75, 127.50, 125.71, 124.92, 123.80, 115.81 (d, J = 21.43 Hz, 2C), 114.81, 113.33, 72.27, 69.97,
67.79, 42.96, 40.62, 29.38, 28.95, 22.84 ppm. MS (m/z): 603 [M + Na]+.
2-(4-{[6-(Benzyloxy)hexyl]oxy}phenyl)-N-{2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-iso-indol-5-
yl}acetamide (12n; ZHAWOC6640): The title compound 12n was obtained as a yellow solid in 36%
1
yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.83 Hz,
1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.26 (m, 7H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.89–6.85 (m,
2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 4.43 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.38 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.41 (t, J = 6.45 Hz, 2H), 1.73–1.65
(m, 2H), 1.59–1.51 (m, 2H), 1.44–1.33 (m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.89, 167.72,
161.90 (d, J = 243.56 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.31, 139.19, 133.54, 133.44 (d, J = 3.08 Hz, 1C), 130.63, 130.08
(d, J = 8.34 Hz, 2C), 128.66, 127.84, 127.74, 127.49, 125.71, 124.92, 123.80, 115.81 (d, J = 21.43 Hz, 2C),
114.80, 113.32, 72.25, 69.99, 67.79, 42.96, 40.62, 29.62, 29.11, 25.95, 25.83 ppm. MS (m/z): 595 [M + H]+.
2-(4-{[7-(Benzyloxy)heptyl]oxy}phenyl)-N-{2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-iso-indol-
5-yl}acetamide (12o; ZHAWOC6635): The title compound 12o was obtained as a yellow solid in 47%
1
yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.72 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (dd, J = 8.26 Hz, 1.81 Hz,
1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.26 (m, 7H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.89–6.85 (m,
2H), 4.71 (s, 2H), 4.42 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.35 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.45 Hz, 2H), 1.71–1.64
(m, 2H), 1.57–1.49 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.27 (m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.92, 167.89, 167.71,
161.90 (d, J = 242.72 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.30, 139.20, 133.54, 133.44 (d, J = 2.97 Hz, 1C), 130.63, 130.08
(d, J = 8.38 Hz, 2C), 128.65, 127.83, 127.73, 127.49, 125.71, 124.92, 123.80, 115.81 (d, J = 21.54 Hz, 2C),
114.80, 113.32, 72.24, 70.02, 67.80, 42.96, 40.62, 29.59, 29.09, 29.01, 26.12, 25.95 ppm. MS (m/z): 609 [M + H]+.
2-(4-{[8-(Benzyloxy)octyl]oxy}phenyl)-N-{2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-iso-indol-5-
yl}acetamide (12p; ZHAWOC6638): The title compound 12p was obtained as a yellow solid in 57%
1
yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.72 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.81 Hz,
1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.23 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.26 (m, 7H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.89–6.85 (m,
2H), 4.71 (s, 2H), 4.42 (s, 2H), 3.91 (t, J = 6.51 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (t, J = 6.51 Hz, 2H), 1.71–1.64
(m, 2H), 1.57–1.49 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.25 (m, 8H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.90, 167.72,
161.90 (d, J = 243.01 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.30, 139.20, 133.55, 133.44 (d, J = 3.21 Hz, 1C), 130.63, 130.08
(d, J = 8.28 Hz, 2C), 128.65, 127.83, 127.74, 127.48, 125.71, 124.93, 123.80, 115.81 (d, J = 21.37 Hz, 2C),
114.80, 113.32, 72.24, 70.04, 67.82, 42.96, 40.62, 29.63, 29.24, 29.18, 29.12, 26.11, 25.93 ppm. MS (m/z):
623 [M + H]+.
2-{4-[(5-Hydroxypentyl)oxy]phenyl}-N-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)acetamide
(13a;
ZHAWOC6648): The benzyl ether 12a (0.12 g, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (3.00 mL)
under an argon atmosphere. Trimethylsilyl iodide (0.35 ml) was added and stirred at room temperature
for 2 h. The reaction was quenched by an addition of methanol (10 mL). The solvent was removed in
vacuum and the residue purified by column chromatography on silica gel (gradient: 0–100%
methanol in dichloromethane) to afford the title compound 13a as a white solid (0.03 g, 28% yield):

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1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d, J = 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.85 (dd, J = 8.22 Hz, 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.80
(d, J = 8.22 Hz, 1H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.36 (t, J = 5.10 Hz, 1H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.45 Hz,
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (td, J = 5.82 Hz, 5.10 Hz, 2H), 3.00 (s, 3H), 1.74–1.66 (m, 2H), 1.51–1.38 (m, 4H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.92, 168.27, 168.13, 158.05, 145.06, 133.82, 130.65, 127.55, 126.08,
124.56, 123.5, 114.81, 113.10, 67.89, 61.08, 42.96, 32.69, 29.06, 24.19, 22.61 ppm. MS (m/z): 397 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]acetamide (13b; ZHAWOC5473):
The benzyl ether (12b) (0.77 g, 1.48 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (70 mL). Palladium 10% on
activated charcoal (0.15 g, 0.13 mmol) was added and a hydrogen atmosphere was applied at 1 bar.
After stirring at ambient temperature for 2 h the mixture was filtered over celite and concentrated in
vacuum. Purification by chromatography on silica gel (gradient: 0–100% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane)
afforded the title compound 13b as a white solid (0.25 g, 39% yield): 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.78 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.20 Hz, 1.78 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.20 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.22 (m,
7H), 6.92–6.87 (m, 2H), 4.84 (t, J = 4.79 Hz, 1H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 5.04 Hz, 2H), 3.70 (q, J = 4.45 Hz
2H), 3.64 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 158.04, 145.32, 137.21, 133.54,
δ = 10.74 (br. s,
,
δ
130.65, 129.04, 127.86, 127.83, 127.59, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 114.84, 113.33, 69.94, 60.04, 42.95, 41.31 ppm.
MS (m/z): 431 [M + H]+.
In analogy to ZHAWOC5473 the following derivatives were synthesized:
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-[4-(3-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl]acetamide (13c; ZHAWOC4512):
The title compound 13c was obtained as a white solid (0.65 g, 71% yield): 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.25 Hz, 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.25 Hz, 1H),
7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.91–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.52 (t, J = 4.60 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (t, J = 6.42 Hz, 2H),
3.64 (s, 2H), 3.54 (m, 2H), 1.84 (quint., J = 6.31 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 170.93, 167.94,
167.76, 158.03, 145.30, 137.21, 133.54, 130.64, 129.04, 127.86, 127.83, 127.51, 125.72, 124.92, 123.81, 114.80,
113.32, 64.99, 57.77, 42.95, 41.31, 32.60 ppm. MS (m/z): 445 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-[4-(4-hydroxybutoxy)phenyl]acetamide (13d; ZHAWOC4753):
1
The title compound 13d was obtained as a white solid in 60% yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 10.74 (s,
1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.22 (m,
7H), 6.91–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 4.44 (t, J = 4.54 Hz, 1H), 4.95 (t, J = 6.44 Hz, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 3.44
(m, 2H), 1.76–1.69 (m, 2H), 1.59–1.51 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.94, 167.76,
158.02, 145.32, 137.21, 133.54, 130.54, 129.04, 127.86, 127.83, 127.50, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 114.81, 113.33,
67.82, 60.86, 42.96, 41.31, 29.47, 25.91 ppm. MS (m/z): 459 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[(5-hydroxypentyl)oxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC5130): The title compound 13e was obtained as a white solid in 24% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.72 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.84 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.26 Hz, 1.84 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
(13e;
δ
J = 8.26 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.25 (m, 5H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.36 (t, J = 5.16 Hz,
1H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.50 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.40 (td, J = 6.20 Hz, 5.16 Hz, 2H), 1.73–1.66 (m, 2H), 1.50–1.38 (m,
4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.94, 167.77, 158.04, 145.30, 137.21, 133.54, 130.64, 129.05,
127.86, 127.83, 127.49, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 114.81, 113.33, 67.89, 61.07, 42.96, 41.32, 32.68, 29.06, 22.61
ppm. MS (m/z): 473 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[(6-hydroxyhexyl)oxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC5132): The title compound 13f was obtained as a white solid in 6% yield: 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.23 Hz, 1H),
(13f;
δ
7.35–7.25 (m, 5H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 4.33 (t, J = 5.16 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t,
J = 6.50 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.38 (td, J = 6.32 Hz, 5.16 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.65 (m, 2H), 1.47–1.29 (m, 6H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.94, 167.77, 158.03, 145.30, 137.21, 133.54, 130.64, 129.05,
127.86, 127.83, 127.49, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 114.81, 113.33, 67.82, 61.10, 42.95, 41.32, 32.95, 29.22, 25.90,
25.74 ppm. MS (m/z): 487 [M + H]+.

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N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[(7-hydroxyheptyl)oxy]phenyl}acetamide
(13g;
ZHAWOC7103): The title compound 13g was obtained as a white solid in 24% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.25 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
J = 8.25 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 4.32 (t, J = 4.98 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t,
J = 6.43 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.37 (td, J = 6.43 Hz, 4.98 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.65 (m, 2H), 1.45–1.25 (m, 8H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.94, 167.77, 158.03, 145.30, 137.21, 133.54, 130.64, 129.05,
127.86, 127.82, 127.49, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 114.81, 113.32, 67.83, 61.14, 42.96, 41.31, 32.94, 29.14, 29.12,
26.04, 25.93 ppm. MS (m/z): 501 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[(8-hydroxyoctyl)oxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC7137): The title compound 13h was obtained as a white solid in 59% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.20 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
(13h;
δ
J = 8.20 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.18 (m, 7H), 6.92–6.83 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 4.31 (t, J = 4.90 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t,
J = 6.13 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.37 (td, J = 6.43 Hz, 4.90 Hz, 2H), 1.75–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.46–1.19 (m, 10H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.95, 167.96, 167.78, 158.05, 145.32, 137.23, 133.56, 130.65, 129.06,
127.87, 127.84, 127.50, 125.73, 124.94, 123.82, 114.81, 113.33, 67.85, 61.18, 42.96, 41.32, 33.00, 29.38, 29.30,
29.16, 25.98, 25.93 ppm. MS (m/z): 515 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[(9-hydroxynonyl)oxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC6936): The title compound 13i was obtained as a white solid in 30% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d,
(13i;
δ
J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.31 (t, J = 5.12 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t,
J = 6.46 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.36 (td, J = 6.25 Hz, 5.12 Hz, 2H), 1.71–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.43–1.23 (m, 12H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.93, 167.76, 158.03, 145.31, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63, 129.04,
127.85, 127.83, 127.49, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 114.80, 113.33, 67.84, 61.18, 42.96, 41.31, 33.01, 29.53, 29.37,
29.22, 29.16, 26.00, 25.96 ppm. MS (m/z): 529 [M + H]+.
N-(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)-2-{4-[(10-hydroxydecyl)oxy]phenyl}acetamide
ZHAWOC6937): The title compound 13j was obtained as a white solid in 18% yield: 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.16 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d,
(13j;
δ
J = 8.16 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.31 (t, J = 4.99 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t,
J = 6.46 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.36 (td, J = 6.25 Hz, 4.99 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.22 (m, 14H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 158.03, 145.30, 137.21, 133.54, 130.64, 129.04,
127.86, 127.83, 127.49, 125.72, 124.93, 123.80, 114.80, 113.32, 67.83, 61.18, 42.95, 41.31, 33.01, 29.51, 29.45
29.40, 29.24, 29.15, 26.81, 25.97 ppm. MS (m/z): 543 [M + H]+.
N-{2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}-2-[4-(3-hydroxypropoxy)-
phenyl]acetamide (13k; ZHAWOC6642): The title compound 13k was obtained as a white solid in 34%
1
yield: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.99 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.99 Hz,
1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m,
2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 4.52 (t, J = 5.15 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (t, J = 6.53 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.56–3.52 (m, 2H), 1.84
(quint. J = 6.25 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.95, 167.92, 167.74, 161.92 (d, J = 242.66 Hz,
1C), 158.05, 145.32, 133.56, 133.46 (d, J = 2.98 Hz, 1C), 130.65, 130.09 (d, J = 8.37 Hz, 2C), 127.52, 125.73,
124.94, 123.82, 115.83 (d, J = 21.42 Hz, 2C), 114.81, 113.34, 65.00, 57.78, 42.95, 40.63, 32.60 ppm. MS
(m/z): 463 [M + H]+.
N-{2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}-2-[4-(4-hydroxybutoxy)-phenyl]
acetamide (13l; ZHAWOC5462): The title compound 13l was obtained as a white solid in 15% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.22 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.22 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s,
2H), 4.43 (t, J = 5.11 Hz, 1H), 3.94 (t, J = 6.58 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.44 (td, J = 6.38 Hz, 5.11 Hz, 2H),
1.76–1.68 (m, 2H), 1.58–1.51 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 170.93, 167.90, 167.72, 161.90 (d,
J = 243.27 Hz, 1C), 158.02, 145.30, 133.55, 133.44 (d, J = 3.06 Hz, 1C), 130.64, 130.08 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 2C),

Molecules 2017, 22, 1548
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127.49, 125.71, 124.93, 123.80, 115.82 (d, J = 21.38 Hz, 2C), 114.81, 113.32, 67.82, 60.86, 42.95, 40.62, 29.47,
25.91 ppm. MS (m/z): 477 [M + H]+.
N-{2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}-2-{4-[(5-hydroxypentyl)oxy]-phenyl}
acetamide (13m; ZHAWOC5683): The title compound 13m was obtained as a white solid in 44% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.84 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.20 Hz, 1.84 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.20 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s,
2H), 4.36 (t, J = 5.10 Hz, 1H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.45 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.42–3.38 (m, 2H), 1.73–1.65 (m,
2H), 1.50–1.37 (m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.90, 167.72, 161.90 (d, J = 242.58
Hz, 1C), 158.04, 145.30, 133.55, 133.44 (d, J = 3.08 Hz, 1C), 130.64, 130.07 (d, J = 8.33 Hz, 2C), 127.49,
125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 115.82 (d, J = 21.42 Hz, 2C), 114.80, 113.33, 67.88, 61.07, 42.95, 40.62, 32.68, 29.05,
22.61 ppm. MS (m/z): 513 [M + Na]+.
N-{2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}-2-{4-[(6-hydroxyhexyl)oxy]-phenyl}
acetamide (13n; ZHAWOC6643): The title compound 13n was obtained as a white solid in 26% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (dd, J = 8.19 Hz, 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.19 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s,
2H), 4.33 (t, J = 5.12 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.51 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.38 (td, J = 6.32 Hz, 5.12 Hz, 2H),
1.73–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.47–1.28 (m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.95, 167.92, 167.74, 161.92 (d,
J = 242.69 Hz, 1C), 158.05, 145.31, 133.56, 133.46 (d, J = 3.11 Hz, 1C), 130.65, 130.09 (d, J = 8.39 Hz, 2C),
127.50, 125.73, 124.94, 123.82, 115.83 (d, J = 21.32 Hz, 2C), 114.82, 113.34, 67.82, 61.11, 42.96, 40.63, 32.96,
29.22, 25.91, 25.75 ppm. MS (m/z): 505 [M + H]+.
N-{2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}-2-{4-[(7-hydroxyheptyl)oxy]-phenyl}
acetamide (13o; ZHAWOC6636): The title compound 13o was obtained as a white solid in 53% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.18 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.18 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s,
2H), 4.32 (t, J = 5.11 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.48 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.37 (td, J = 6.35 Hz, 5.11 Hz, 2H),
1.73–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.45–1.23 (m, 8H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.90, 167.72, 161.90 (d,
J = 243.10 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.31, 133.55, 133.45 (d, J = 3.10 Hz, 1C), 130.64, 130.07 (d, J = 8.23 Hz, 2C),
127.49, 125.71, 124.93, 123.81, 115.82 (d, J = 21.48 Hz, 2C), 114.80, 113.33, 67.83, 61.14, 42.96, 40.62, 32.94,
29.14, 29.13, 26.04, 25.93 ppm. MS (m/z): 519 [M + H]+.
N-{2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}-2-{4-[(8-hydroxyoctyl)oxy]-phenyl}
acetamide (13p; ZHAWOC6639): The title compound 13p was obtained as a white solid in 24% yield:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.88 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.20 Hz, 1.88 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.20 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.25–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11 (m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s,
2H), 4.31 (t, J = 5.12 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.57 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.37 (td, J = 6.48 Hz, 5.12 Hz, 2H),
1.73–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.45–1.21 (m, 10H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.94, 167.90, 167.72, 161.90 (d,
J = 243.48 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.30, 133.55, 133.44 (d, J = 3.05 Hz, 1C), 130.64, 130.07 (d, J = 8.38 Hz, 2C),
127.48, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 115.82 (d, J = 21.51 Hz, 2C), 114.80, 113.33, 67.84, 61.17, 42.95, 40.62, 32.99,
29.38, 29.30, 29.15, 25.97, 25.93 ppm. MS (m/z): 533 [M + H]+.
5-(4-{[(2-Methyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)pentanoic acid (14a
;
ZHAWOC6649): The alcohol (13a) (27 mg, 0.07 mmol), TEMPO (24 mg, 0.02 mmol) and 0.67 M aqueous
sodium phosphate (0.80 ml) in acetonitrile (1.00 mL) were stirred and heated to 40 ◦C. NaClO2 (40 mg, in
0.12 mL water) and 0.25% NaOCl (0.05 mL) were added in parallel dropwise and it was stirred for 4 h.
After cooling to ambient temperature, water (1.0 mL) was added and the mixture was poured in an
ice cold solution of Na2SO3 (0.12 g in 2 mL water). The aqueous phase was extracted with diethyl
ether (10 mL), acidified with 10% citric acid and again extracted with diethyl ether (2
×
10 mL). The organic
phases were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuum to obtain the title compound 14a
1
as a white solid (10 mg, 36% yield, purity 96%): H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.04 (br. s, 1H), 10.75 (s,
1H), 8.18 (d, J = 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.86 (dd, J = 8.15 Hz, 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (d, J = 8.15 Hz, 1H), 7.26–7.22

Molecules 2017, 22, 1548
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(m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.25 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 3.00 (s, 3H), 2.23 (t, J = 7.43 Hz, 2H),
1.74–1.67 (m, 2H), 1.66–1.59 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 170.90, 168.26, 168.13, 157.99,
δ
145.06, 133.81, 130.63, 127.58, 126.07, 124.54, 123.53, 114.81, 113.11, 67.61, 42.96, 34.34, 28.70, 24.19, 21.90
ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C22H22N2O6: 410.1478, found: 410.1473.
In analogy to ZHAWOC6649 the following derivatives were synthesized:
2-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)acetic
ZHAWOC5474): The title compound 14b was obtained as a white solid in 38% yield and 98% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 11.54 (s, 1H), 8.27 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (dd, J = 8.26 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.80
(d, J = 8.26 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.23 (m, 5H), 7.18–7.13 (m, 2H), 6.77–6.72 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.13 (s, 2H),
3.62 (s, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 171.34, 171.20, 168.02, 167.83, 158.38, 145.76, 137.25, 133.43,
acid
(14b;
δ
δ
130.17, 129.04, 127.82, 127.79, 126.93, 125.44, 124.75, 123.98, 114.77, 113.46, 68.32, 42.95, 41.27 ppm.
HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C25H20N2O6: 444.1321, found: 444.1330.
3-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)propanoic acid (14c
ZHAWOC4765): The title compound 14c was obtained as a white solid in 86% yield and 98% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 11.94 (br. s, 1H), 10.77 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.75 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (dd, J = 8.22 Hz,
1.75 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.22 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.22 (m, 7H), 6.91–6.87 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 4.14 (t, J = 6.02 Hz
2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 2.67 (t, J = 6.02 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 172.81, 171.71, 170.91, 167.94,
;
δ
,
δ
167.77, 157.70, 145.32, 137.21, 133.53, 130.69, 129.04, 127.85, 127.82, 125.71, 124.91, 123.82, 114.80,
113.34, 64.08, 42.93, 41.31, 34.67 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C26H22N2O6: 459.1557,
found: 459.1538.
4-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)butanoic acid
ZHAWOC4766): The title compound 14d was obtained as a white solid in 67% yield and 95% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 12.14 (br. s, 1H), 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.21 Hz,
(14d;
δ
1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.21 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 6.41 Hz,
2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 2.36 (t, J = 6.41 Hz, 2H), 1.92 (quint., J = 6.75 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 174.55, 170.92, 167.94, 167.77, 157.86, 145.30, 137.21, 133.54, 130.66, 129.05, 127.86, 127.83, 127.66,
125.72, 124.93, 123.82, 114.84, 113.33, 67.02, 42.94, 41.31, 30.61, 24.72 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+
calculated for C27H24N2O6: 473.1713, found: 473.1699.
5-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)pentanoic acid (14e
ZHAWOC5131): The title compound 14e was obtained as a white solid in 62% yield and 99% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 10.75 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.25 Hz, 1.83 Hz, 1H), 7.83
(d, J = 8.25 Hz, 1H), 7.34–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.18 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H)
2.27 (t, J = 7.35 Hz, 2H), 1.74–1.67 (m, 2H), 1.66–1.59 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 174.85,
;
δ
,
δ
170.93, 167.94, 167.76, 157.97, 145.31, 137.21, 133.53, 130.64, 129.04, 127.85, 127.82, 127.55, 125.71,
124.91, 123.81, 114.81, 113.33, 67.55, 42.95, 41.31, 33.81, 28.60, 21.71 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+
calculated for C28H26N2O6: 487.1870, found: 487.1853.
6-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)hexanoic acid
ZHAWOC5133): The title compound 14f was obtained as a white solid in 96% yield and 94% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 12.01 (br. s, 1H), 10.76 (s, 1H), 8.22 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.90 (dd, J = 8.27 Hz,
(14f;
δ
1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 1H), 7.36–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 3.93 (t, J = 6.48
Hz, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 2.20 (t, J = 7.26 Hz, 2H), 1.73–1.66 (m, 2H), 1.59–1.51 (m, 2H); 1.44–1.37 (m, 2H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 177.22, 171.23, 168.02, 167.83, 158.00, 145.78, 137.25, 133.44, 130.63,
129.04, 127.83, 127.79, 127.77, 125.45, 124.77, 123.96, 114.67, 113.47, 67.99, 42.86, 41.27, 38.78, 29.35,
26.76, 26.37 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C29H28N2O6: 501.2026, found: 501.2027.
7-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)heptanoic acid (14g
ZHAWOC6650): The title compound 14g was obtained as a white solid in 55% yield and 84% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 11.72 (br. s, 1H), 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.27 Hz,
;
δ

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1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 1H), 7.40–7.20 (m, 7H), 6.90–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.74 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.41 Hz
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.20 (t, J = 7.28 Hz, 2H), 1.73–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.55–1.47 (m, 2H); 1.44–1.36 (m, 2H), 1.35–1.28
(m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR ( DMSO-d6):
= 174.95, 170.96, 167.96, 167.79, 158.04, 145.32, 137.23, 133.56,
,
δ
130.65, 129.06, 127.88, 127.84, 127.65, 125.74, 124.95, 123.83, 114.82, 113.34, 67.78, 42.96, 41.32, 34.06,
29.01, 28.75, 25.72, 24.90 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C30H30N2O6: 514.2104,
found: 514.2096.
8-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)octanoic acid
ZHAWOC6651): The title compound 14h was obtained as a white solid in 50% yield and 92% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 10.79 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.21 Hz, 1.81 Hz, 1H), 7.84
(14h;
δ
(d, J = 8.21 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.48 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s,
2H), 2.16 (t, J = 7.31 Hz, 2H), 1.71–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.52–1.45 (m, 2H); 1.42–1.22 (m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR
(DMSO-d6):
δ = 170.97, 167.96, 167.79, 158.04, 145.35, 137.23, 133.55, 130.65, 129.06, 127.87, 127.84,
127.52, 125.71, 124.93, 123.83, 114.82, 113.35, 67.82, 42.95, 41.31, 34.53, 29.10, 29.04, 28.97, 25.87, 25.08
ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C31H32N2O6: 528.2260, found: 528.2245.
9-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)nonanoic acid
ZHAWOC6941): The title compound 14i was obtained as a white solid in 39% yield and 96% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 11.99 (br. s, 1H), 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.21 Hz,
1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.21 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.47 Hz
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.18 (t, J = 7.34 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.52–1.45 (m, 2H); 1.42–1.35 (m, 2H), 1.33–1.22
(m, 6H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 174.99, 170.94, 167.94, 167.77, 158.03, 145.31, 137.21, 133.54,
(14i;
δ
,
δ
130.63, 129.04, 127.86, 127.83, 127.49, 125.71, 124.93, 123.81, 114.81, 113.33, 67.84, 42.96, 41.31, 34.20,
29.17, 29.13, 29.11, 28.98, 25.95, 24.98 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C32H34N2O6:
542.2417, found: 542.2406.
10-(4-{[(2-Benzyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl)carbamoyl]methyl}phenoxy)decanoic acid
ZHAWOC6942): The title compound 14j was obtained as a white solid in 33% yield and 98% purity:
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 12.01 (br. s, 1H), 10.76 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dd, J = 8.15 Hz,
1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.15 Hz, 1H), 7.35–7.21 (m, 7H), 6.89–6.85 (m, 2H), 4.73 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.51 Hz
2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.17 (t, J = 7.51 Hz, 2H), 1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.52–1.44 (m, 2H); 1.43–1.35 (m, 2H), 1.33–1.20
(m, 8H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
= 170.95, 167.94, 167.77, 158.02, 145.32, 137.21, 133.54, 130.63,
(14j;
δ
,
δ
129.04, 127.86, 127.82, 127.50, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 114.81, 113.33, 67.83, 42.96, 41.31, 34.29, 29.33,
29.18, 29.16, 29.13, 29.02, 25.96, 25.03 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C33H36N2O6:
556.2573, found: 556.2568.
3-{4-[({2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}carbamoyl)methyl]-phenoxy}
propanoic acid (14k; ZHAWOC6644): The title compound 14k was obtained as a white solid in 62%
1
yield and 97% purity: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.35 (br. s, 1H), 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.86 Hz, 1H),
7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.86 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.31 (m, 2H), 7.26–7.22 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.12
(m, 2H), 6.91–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 4.14 (t, J = 6.10 Hz, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 2.66 (t, J = 6.10 Hz, 2H)
ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 172.71, 170.90, 167.91, 167.73, 161.91 (d, J = 239.42 Hz, 1C), 157.71,
145.30, 133.55, 133.45 (d, J = 3.29 Hz, 1C), 130.69, 130.07 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 2C), 127.81, 125.73, 124.93, 123.82,
115.82 (d, J = 21.45 Hz, 2C), 114.81, 113.34, 64.09, 42.93, 40.63, 34.66 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+
calculated for C26H21FN2O6: 476.1384, found: 476.1391.
4-{4-[({2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}carbamoyl)methyl]-phenoxy}
butanoic acid (14l; ZHAWOC5463): The title compound 14l was obtained as a white solid in 97% yield
1
and 97% purity: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 11.99 (br. s, 1H), 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.89
(dd, J = 8.34 Hz, 1.80 Hz, 1H), 7.84 (d, J = 8.34 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.32 (m, 2H), 7.26–7.22 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.12
(m, 2H), 6.91–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 3.96 (t, J = 6.39 Hz, 2H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 2.73 (t, J = 7.37 Hz, 2H),
1.92 (quint., J = 6.69 Hz, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 174.54, 170.91, 167.90, 167.72, 161.91 (d,
J = 243.34 Hz, 1C), 157.85, 145.30, 133.54, 133.44 (d, J = 3.06 Hz, 1C), 130.66, 130.07 (d, J = 8.32 Hz, 2C),

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127.66, 125.71, 124.92, 123.81, 115.81 (d, J = 21.45 Hz, 2C), 114.83, 113.33, 67.00, 42.94, 40.62, 30.57,
24.70 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C27H23FN2O6: 490.1540, found: 490.1538.
5-{4-[({2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}carbamoyl)methyl]-phenoxy}
pentanoic acid (14m; ZHAWOC5684): The title compound 14m was obtained as a white solid in 50%
1
yield and 96% purity: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 11.92 (br. s, 1H), 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.82 Hz, 1H),
7.89 (dd, J = 8.25 Hz, 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.25 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.31 (m, 2H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11
(m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 3.94 (t, J = 6.16 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.27 (t, J = 6.41 Hz, 2H),
1.75–1.67 (m, 2H), 1.66–1.59 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 174.83, 170.93, 167.90, 167.72,
161.90 (d, J = 243.25 Hz, 1C), 157.97, 145.30, 133.54, 133.44 (d, J = 3.03 Hz, 1C), 130.64, 130.07 (d, J = 8.24 Hz,
2C), 127.55, 125.71, 124.93, 123.81, 115.81 (d, J = 21.45 Hz, 2C), 114.81, 113.33, 67.54, 42.95, 40.63, 33.76,
28.59, 21.69 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for C28H25FN2O6: 505.1776, found: 505.1758.
6-{4-[({2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}carbamoyl)methyl]-phenoxy}
hexanoic acid (14n; ZHAWOC6645): The title compound 14n was obtained as a white solid in 59%
1
yield and 97% purity: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 11.98 (br. s, 1H), 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.82 Hz, 1H),
7.89 (dd, J = 8.23 Hz, 1.82 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.23 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.31 (m, 2H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11
(m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.45 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.22 (t, J = 7.29 Hz, 2H),
1.73–1.65 (m, 2H), 1.59–1.51 (m, 2H), 1.45–1.37 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 174.88, 170.93,
167.90, 167.73, 161.90 (d, J = 243.07 Hz, 1C), 158.01, 145.30, 133.55, 133.45 (d, J = 3.11 Hz, 1C), 130.64,
130.07 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 2C), 127.52, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 115.82 (d, J = 21.46 Hz, 2C), 114.81, 113.33,
67.75, 42.95, 40.63, 34.09, 28.91, 25.63, 24.74 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated for
C29H27FN2O6: 518.1853, found: 518.1840.
7-{4-[({2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}carbamoyl)methyl]-phenoxy}
heptanoic acid (14o; ZHAWOC6637): The title compound 14o was obtained as a white solid in 56%
1
yield and 99% purity: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.03 (br. s, 1H), 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.85 Hz, 1H),
7.89 (dd, J = 8.24 Hz, 1.85 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.24 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.31 (m, 2H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11
(m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.47 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.19 (t, J = 7.51 Hz, 2H),
1.72–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.54–1.47 (m, 2H), 1.43–1.36 (m, 2H), 1.35–1.28 (m, 2H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 174.98, 170.94, 167.91, 167.73, 161.90 (d, J = 243.56 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.31, 133.55, 133.46 (d, J = 2.14 Hz,
1C), 130.64, 130.08 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 2C), 127.51, 125.72, 124.93, 123.81, 115.82 (d, J = 21.52 Hz, 2C), 114.81,
113.34, 67.78, 42.95, 40.63, 34.20, 29.02, 28.78, 25.73, 24.96 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+ calculated
for C30H29FN2O6: 532.2010, found: 532.2013.
8-{4-[({2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)methyl]-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-5-yl}carbamoyl)methyl]-phenoxy}
octanoic acid (14p; ZHAWOC6646): The title compound 14p was obtained as a white solid in 30% yield
1
and 99% purity: H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 12.00 (br. s, 1H), 10.74 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 1.87 Hz, 1H), 7.89
(dd, J = 8.27 Hz, 1.87 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 8.27 Hz, 1H), 7.37–7.31 (m, 2H), 7.26–7.21 (m, 2H), 7.17–7.11
(m, 2H), 6.90–6.86 (m, 2H), 4.72 (s, 2H), 3.92 (t, J = 6.47 Hz, 2H), 3.63 (s, 2H), 2.19 (t, J = 7.39 Hz, 2H),
1.71–1.64 (m, 2H), 1.53–1.45 (m, 2H), 1.42–1.35 (m, 2H), 1.34–1.24 (m, 4H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ
= 174.98, 170.94, 167.90, 167.73, 161.90 (d, J = 242.92 Hz, 1C), 158.03, 145.31, 133.55, 133.45 (d, J = 3.11 Hz,
1C), 130.63, 130.07 (d, J = 8.32 Hz, 2C), 127.49, 125.71, 124.93, 123.81, 115.82 (d, J = 21.55 Hz, 2C), 114.81,
113.33, 67.82, 42.95, 40.62, 34.20, 29.09, 28.98, 28.94, 25.86, 24.94 ppm. HRMS-TOF (m/z): [M + H]+
calculated for C31H31FN2O6: 546.2166, found: 546.2169.
4.3. In Vitro Assays
Single dose duplicate assays for the determination of the remaining enzymatic activity at 10 µM
inhibitor concentration as well as IC50 values, using 10 concentrations starting at 10 µM with 3 fold
dilution, for MMP-7 and MMP-13 were determined at Reaction Biology Corporation (Malvern, PA,
USA). The substrate used for the determinations was the (5-FAM/QXLTM) FRET peptide (sequence
= QXL® 520-
γ-Abu-Pro-Cha-Ab-Sm-Hi-Al-Dab(5-FAM)-Ala-Lys-NH2 (Abu = 2-aminobutyric acid,

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Cha = β-cyclohexylalanine, Dab = diaminobutyric acid, Smc = S-methyl-L–cysteine, QXL® 520 =
quencher, 5-FAM = fluorescence dye); supplier AnaSpec Inc., Fremont, CA, USA, product code:
AS-60581-01). The buffer consisted of 50 mM HEPES at pH 7.5 with 10 mM CaCl2 and 0.01% Brij-35.
0.1 mg/mL BSA (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) was added before use. As a control inhibitor
GM6001 (ilomastat, Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, NY, USA) was used. For selectivity examinations
single dose duplicate assays were performed in the same manner as described above on the MMP-1, -2, -3,
-8, -9, -12 and -14 isoforms.
4.4. In Silico Studies
Molecular modeling experiments were performed using the Molecular Operating Environment
MOE 2015.10 from Chemical Computing Group (Montreal, QC, Canada). Co-crystal structures of
MMP-7 are available from the Protein Data Bank. For the actual work PDB code: 2Y6D was selected
for the computational studies. In MOE the pocket was prepared for the dockings via the Protonate
3D method applying the default values for temperature 300 K, pH 7 and salt 0.1. The ligands to be
docked to the protein were imported from SD files to receive a MOE compatible molecular database.
As the SD files did not contain 3D coordinates, they were generated directly using MOE rebuild3D
with an RMSD gradient of 0.1. For docking experiments the Amber10:EHT force field [46,47] was
used. The triangle matcher placement was applied with a rigid receptor. The docked poses were
subsequently analyzed with respect to their scores and interactions with the target enzyme.
5. Conclusions
A highly potent and selective MMP-13 inhibitor was modified to obtain a dual MMP-7/-13
inhibitor with selectivity over a variety of MMP isoforms. We were able to modify the original
molecule with a focus on gaining potency against MMP-7 while decreasing its potency against MMP-13.
The IC50-value against MMP-7 could be improved from 15.7 µM to 2.2 µM by removing the fluorine
atom from the benzylic ring and by elongating the aliphatic linker between the phenolic oxygen and
the carboxylic acid head group from 4 to 8 CH2 entities. Further improvements with respect to the
inhibitor’s potency are imaginable by rigidification of the flexible aliphatic linker to yield beneficial
entropy terms for the ligand-enzyme complex, for example by the incorporation of non-saturated
fragments such as alkenes or alkynes. The improvements towards MMP-7 inhibition decreased the
potency on MMP-13 drastically from 6 nM to 1.2 µM resulting in a dual inhibitor in the low micromolar
range equally potent against MMP-7 and MMP-13. To our knowledge, this inhibitor is the first of
its kind that simultaneously inhibits the two validated drug targets MMP-7 and MMP-13 selectively.
This is of utmost interest in polypharmacology, because here two or more targets are addressed at the
same time to tackle one disease [48,49].
Supplementary Materials: Supplementary materials related to this article, including complete analytical data of
the synthesized compounds and IC50-curves, are available online.
Acknowledgments: The authors are grateful to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) for financial
support. We thank Roland Josuran for HRMS measurements and Loris Peduto and Jasmin Gassmann for
technical assistance.
Author Contributions: Thomas Fischer was involved in the design and synthesis of the inhibitors and in writing
this article. Rainer Riedl was involved in the conception and supervision of the research and in writing this article.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of the compound ZHAWOC6941 (14i) are available from the authors.
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