Design, synthesis, and SAR studies of novel polycyclic acids as potent and selective inhibitors of human 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1).

Starting from high throughput screening hit 2-adamantyl acetic acid 3, a series of polycyclic acids have been designed and synthesized as novel, potent, and selective inhibitors of human 11β-HSD-1. Structure-activity relationships of two different regions of the chemotype (polycyclic ring and substituents on quaternary carbon) are discussed.