Design and synthesis of 2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives as 17β-HSD10 inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

It has been reported that 17β-HSD10 plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease. Here, a total of 44 2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives were designed and synthesized as novel 17β-HSD10 inhibitors based on rational design and SAR studies. Among them, compound 33 (N-(4-(1,4,6-trimethyl-1H-benzo[d] imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide) showed high inhibitory efficacy (17β-HSD10 IC(50) = 1.65 ± 0.55 μM) and low toxicity (HepaRG IC(50) >100 μM). The Morris water maze experiment revealed that compound 33 could alleviate cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine in mice. This study facilitates the further development of more potent 17β-HSD10 inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.