Synthesis and biological evaluation of biphenyl amides that modulate the US28 receptor.

To prepare and biologically evaluate 38 new potential US28 allosteric modulators, we employed a straightforward synthetic route involving radical arylation. The study was based on a former lead structure but with the dihydroisoquinolinone moiety replaced by substituted biphenyls. The investigation of structure-activity relationships among the new biphenyl-derived ligands led to a preliminary pharmacophore model and the discovery of four promising candidates with full inverse agonist properties.