The class
Fluorinated benzamide CETP inhibitors reach sub-micromolar potency, with fluorine position dictating activity (Med Chem 2017)
Original title: Molecular Docking and Pharmacophore Modeling Studies of Fluorinated Benzamides as Potential CETP Inhibitors
Researchers synthesised five fluorinated 3-benzylamino benzamide compounds (8a-8c, 13a, 13b) targeting cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity. Compounds 8b and 8a showed the highest CETP inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 0.75 and 4.1 micromolar respectively. A p-OCF3 group enhanced CETP inhibitory activity more than a bulkier p-OCF2CHF2 tetrafluoroethoxy group, which appeared to hinder proper orientation in the binding domain, while meta-fluorine derivatives outperformed para-fluorine ones, leaving ortho-fluorine analogues the weakest against CETP. Ligand-based and structure-based drug design confirmed hydrophobic interactions mediate ligand-protein complex formation, explaining the observed activity pattern.
Original abstract
Background: Hyperlipidemia is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a hydrophobic glycoprotein that facilitates the transfer of cholesteryl ester from the atheroprotective high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to the proatherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
Methods: In this work, synthesis and characterization of five fluorinated 3-benzylamino benzamides 8a-8c, 13a and 13b that target CETP activity were carried out.
Results: Benzamides 8b and 8a showed the highest CETP inhibitory activities with an IC50 of 0.75 μM and 4.1 μM respectively. It was found that the presence of p-OCF3 group (as in 8a-8c) enhances CETP inhibitory activity more than p-OCF2CHF2 (as in 13a and 13b) which could be attributed to the bulkiness of the tetrafluoroethoxy group hindering their proper orientation in the binding domain. Additionally m-F derivatives were found to have higher activity against CETP than p-F ones leaving the o-F analogues with the weakest anti-CETP bioactivity.
Conclusion: Ligand-based and structure-based drug design strategies confirm that hydrophobic interaction mediates ligand/protein complex formation and explains the activity of our verified molecules.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.