The discovery and synthesis of JNJ 31020028, a small molecule antagonist of the Neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor

A series of small molecules based on a chemotype identified from our compound collection were synthesized and tested for binding affinity (IC50) at the human Neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor (NPY Y2). Six of the 23 analogs tested possessed an NPY Y2 IC50 ⩽ 15 nM. One member of this series, JNJ 31020028, is a selective, high affinity, receptor antagonist existing as a racemic mixture. As such a synthetic route to the desired enantiomer was designed starting from commercially available (S)-(+)-mandelic acid.