3-Substituted Quinolines as RORγt Inverse Agonists.

We have previously reported the syntheses of a series of 3,6-disubstituted quinolines as modulators of the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). These molecules, such as 1, are potent binders but are high molecular weight and they exhibited poor solubility at pH 2 and pH 7. This manuscript details our efforts at improving physical chemical properties for this series of compounds by increasing the diversity at the 3-position (i.e. introducing heteroatoms and lowering the molecular weight). These efforts have led to molecules such as 27 and 30 which are potent binders with improved solubility.