ROCK inhibitors 3: Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 7-azaindole-based Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors.

Abstract Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors are potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of a variety of disorders including hypertension, glaucoma and erectile dysfunction. Here we disclose a series of potent and selective ROCK inhibitors based on a substituted 7-azaindole scaffold. Substitution of the 3-position of 7-azaindole led to compounds such as 37 , which possess excellent ROCK inhibitory potency and high selectivity against the closely related kinase PKA.