Achieving improved permeability by hydrogen bond donor modulation in a series of MGAT2 inhibitors

Monoacylglycerolacetyltransferase-2 (MGAT2) is a potential target for the treatment of type II diabetes. We report here the optimisation of a series of MGAT2 inhibitors with regard to their potency and permeability. Improvements in permeability, as measured by increased flux in a Caco-2 assay, were achieved through substitution at the 9-position of the core. We propose that reduction of the NH hydrogen-bond donor strength was primarily responsible for these effects.