1-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-3-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenoxy]-piperidine analogs as potent and selective inhibitors of nitric oxide formation.

Abstract A new series of 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-3-[4-(1 H -Imidazol-1-yl)phenoxy]-piperidine analogs were designed and identified as potent and selective inhibitors of NO formation based both on the crystal structure of a murine iNOS Δ114 monomer domain/ inhibitor complex and inhibition of the NO formation in human A172 cell assays. Compound 12S showed high potency and high iNOS selectivity versus nNOS and eNOS.