Synthesis and SAR of 2-phenyl-1-sulfonylaminocyclopropane carboxylates as ADAMTS-5 (Aggrecanase-2) inhibitors

Abstract A series of 1-sulfonylaminocyclopropanecarboxylates was synthesized as ADAMTS-5 (Aggrecanase-2) inhibitors. After an intensive investigation of the central cyclopropane core including its absolute stereochemistry and substituents, we found compound 22 with an Agg-2 IC 50  = 7.4 nM, the most potent ADAMTS-5 inhibitor reported so far.