Potent and selective biphenyl azole inhibitors of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aFABP)

X-ray crystal structure of an FABP inhibitor bound to the active site of aFABP. Herein we report the first disclosure of biphenyl azoles that are nanomolar binders of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aFABP or aP2) with up to thousand-fold selectivity against muscle fatty acid binding protein and epidermal fatty acid binding protein. In addition a new radio-ligand to determine binding against the three fatty acid binding proteins was also synthesized.